Roman Catholic Lectionary for Mass (2024)

FAQs

How does the Catholic Church choose readings for Mass? ›

The Scheme of Selection

In short, Sunday readings repeat every three years, called A, B, and C. In year A, the Gospels are mostly from Matthew, year B is mostly Mark, and year C is mostly Luke. The Old Testament reading is selected to reflect a theme from the Gospel, and the Psalm often does the same.

Since May 19, 2002, the revised Lectionary, based on the New American Bible is the only English-language Lectionary that may be used at Mass in the dioceses of the United States.

the Roman Missal the official liturgical book which contains the texts prayed by priest and people at every celebration of Mass. a Sunday or Weekday Missal which is a compilation of texts from the Missal (the prayers) and the Lectionary (the readings) brought together to assist people's participation in the Mass.

The Great Amen Priest: “Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever.” Response: “Amen.” The Sign of Peace: “Peace be with you.” Response to Dismissal Priest: “Go in the Peace of Christ.” Response: “Thanks be to God.”

The readings that we as Catholics use at Mass are not chosen by the priest or members of our parishes. Instead, the Roman Catholic Church around the world has a standard set of scripture readings which the Church has compiled in a set of lectionaries, or books of readings.

The Code of Canon Law states “the liturgical books approved by the competent authority are to be faithfully observed in the celebration of the sacraments; therefore, no one on personal authority may add, remove, or change anything in them” (CIC 846 §1).

The New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE) is a Bible translation approved for use by the Catholic Church, receiving the imprimatur of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1991.

The entire lectionary (including all daily Masses, funerals, weddings and other special occasions) includes about 90% of the Gospels, 55% of the rest of the NT and slightly over 13% of the OT.

Welcome to The New Lectionary!

The Lectionary, which is the book that contains the Scripture readings for Mass and the Sacraments, is changing as part of the continuing process of revising liturgical translations. The process began with the Roman Missal in 2011 and has continued with all the other liturgical texts.

THE PRESENT ROMAN MISSAL, now almost universally used in the Catholic Church wherever the Latin Rite prevails, consists essentially of two parts of very unequal length.

Which denominations use the common lectionary? ›

The CCT membership includes the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as many traditionally liturgical American and Canadian Protestant churches, including Lutheran, North American Anglican (Episcopal), Presbyterian, and (more loosely) Methodist.

Year B began on the 1st Sunday of Advent in 2023 and now continues in 2024. Year C will commence on the 1st Sunday of Advent towards the end of 2024. Sundays and Solemnities are in CAPITALS. Feasts are bold.

The eucharistic prayer is the most important and least understood prayer in the Catholic Mass. Most Catholics see it as the priest's prayer that is centered on the consecration of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

Masses with a single minister are permitted except in the following cases: when a concelebration is taking place in the same church or oratory, on Holy Thursday, and for the Mass of the Easter Vigil (see GIRM, 199, and Roman Missal, Thursday of Holy Week, 1).

Returning to your question, it is not OK to miss Mass on Sundays or Holy Days, even on vacation. Every Catholic who is traveling has the duty to learn where the nearest church is and what the Mass times are. One exception might be if one is traveling in a country where Mass isn't available.

Readings from Scripture are part of every Mass. At least two readings, one always from the Gospels, (3 on Sundays and solemnities) make up the Liturgy of the Word. In addition, a psalm or canticle is sung. These readings are typically read from a Lectionary, not a Bible, though the Lectionary is taken from the Bible.

In Masses for special groups, the Priest shall be allowed to choose texts more particularly suited to the particular celebration, provided they are taken from the texts of an approved Lectionary.

What is a Lector? This ministry may also be called reader or minister of the word. A lector is the person who proclaims the first or second reading at Mass. This person also may lead the Psalm (in the absence of a cantor) and the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass (in the absence of the deacon).

The Funeral Mass should include one scriptural reading from the Old Testament. An optional reading may be selected from the New Testament. The family may request a specific Gospel reading, and on most occasions the celebrant will use the family's choice, but the choice is up to the celebrant.