Alternative Epistle readings?

[ASD]

Although I might be missing something, I believe that the Priest who says daily Mass here has deliberately been skipping some readings at Mass and substituting other less difficult texts.

For example, for today’s Epistle (2009-08-20) we heard something from 1 Timothy instead of Judges 11:29-39a (Jephthah and his daughter). AFAIK, the readings from 1 Timothy weren’t related to the Memorial of St. Bernard, or anything similar? Rather, based on other similar examples, I think Father is skipping difficult texts like the story of Jephthah and his daughter.

So, questions:

1. 
   *]Was there some good reason to read from 1 Timothy today instead of Judges?
   *]If not, is that kind of substitution allowed?
   *]If, as I suspect, it is not allowed, what is one to do?
   

   TIA. ASD​

   Traditional Latin Mass: Translation and Grammar

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I think the alternate reading for the Memorial of St. Bernard is from the Book of Sirach 15:1-6.

As to why the priest chose a reading from 1 Timothy, I can’t answer that for him. Why not (politely) ask him?

 

[FrDavid96]

There is a selection from 1Timothy in the “common of saints” which essentially can be read on any saint’s day.

5, 3-10 (appropriate when the saint was a widow) about widows.

Does that sound familiar?

People do need to realize that when it comes to the readings selected for the day, the priest has rather a great deal of latitude in choosing the actual texts. The way that the liturgical laws with regard to the readings are written, very much is left to his discretion.

This doesn’t mean that a priest can simply choose any text from Sacred Scripture, but it does mean that there are many ways to legitimately apply the options given in the Lectionary.

Resources such as Ordos or missallettes often give the “default” options or the most commonly chosen options, or indeed the ones which make the most sense. However they cannot possibly list all of the legitimate options for any given day (with a few exceptions: the priest can’t do the votive Mass of the Sacred Heart on Easter Sunday for example). On weekdays in Ordinal time, there is so much latitude *granted by the Church *for choosing the readings that we often see posts here asking if the choices for a particular day were legitimate ones, based on the fact that these readings weren’t found in the sources consulted.

I am not one to defend a priest for choosing to change the Mass or the Lectionary at his own whims, so please don’t misunderstand me here. I’m trying to say that it is entirely possible that the choice of the reading was perfectly within the liturgical norms of the Church, even though that might not be obvious either with a quick look at the Lectionary, or even after a very careful look at it.

One thing to do is to find the actual chapter and verse of the reading. Then look in the table at the back of the Lectionary and see if that reading is listed as an option for any given selection of readings. If that selection can be cross-referenced to any reading which might be read on that particular day, then the option was a licit choice.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Our priests seem to always choose to read for the optional memorials etc, rather than the ordinary time readings for the day. So my Magnificat (or anything similar to that) never shows the same readings.

It would never occur to me to assume that the priest is deliberately picking ‘easier’ readings or even that he has choosen something not appropriate. When I see that the readings will be different, I simply close my book, listen carefully to the readings and any homily presente, and then rejoice in the ability to receive Our Lord every day in the Eucharist.

Please cultivate a sense of trust toward your priest, so that you assume he is doing the correct thing if something different than expected happens at Mass. Ask him politely about it at your next opportunity. I expect that the vast majority of the time, the reading, prayers, whatever, will be legitimate options that you were not aware of.

 

[ASD]

There is a selection from 1Timothy in the “common of saints” which essentially can be read on any saint’s day.

5, 3-10 (appropriate when the saint was a widow) about widows.

Does that sound familiar?

I don’t think so; not sure.

People do need to realize that when it comes to the readings selected for the day, the priest has rather a great deal of latitude in choosing the actual texts. …

Thanks for detailed info. It’s clear to me that the Priest whom we’re discussing is determined to resist the endless novelties and innovations that are common in our diocese. So, I was a little distressed when I thought he was doing something illicit (if that’s the right word).

Please cultivate a sense of trust toward your priest, so that you assume he is doing the correct thing if something different than expected happens at Mass. Ask him politely about it at your next opportunity. I expect that the vast majority of the time, the reading, prayers, whatever, will be legitimate options that you were not aware of.

Hmm. Since, in this case, it does seem quite likely that you’re right and I was wrong, that he was probably using a legit option of which I wasn’t aware, I’m not in a good position, rhetorically speaking, to object to that advice. Worse, I’ve been wrong about things like this in the past. E.g., I recently thought a Priest was wrong to do intinction; but apparently I was confused.

On the other hand, a visiting Priest at the same parish, presumably with the concurrence of the Priest whom we’re discussing, allowed a nun to speak during Mass at the time set aside for the homily.

In general, IMHO it’s best to cultivate a sense of trust toward the traditions of our Church. In fact, sometimes, I think that our liturgy would be in better condition if ordinary pew Catholics were a little less passive about changes imposed on them. Part of the bitter irony of our current situation is that it couldn’t have happened if there hadn’t been so many faithful who said, “Well, part of our tradition is to trust Father . . …”

 

[puzzleannie]

Please cultivate a sense of trust toward your priest, so that you assume he is doing the correct thing if something different than expected happens at Mass. Ask him politely about it at your next opportunity. I expect that the vast majority of the time, the reading, prayers, whatever, will be legitimate options that you were not aware of.

best answer yet
assume the priest is right unless you have definite proof otherwise. any other attitude is most damaging to spiritual growth and can even undermine the good that comes from daily Mass attendance

another possibility that occurs to me, although it probably would have been announced, is that todays Mass was a one year memorial for a deceased parishioner, or some other date of significance locally, and readings appropriate to that were chosen.