How does a parish select its readings for every Mass?

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Gc333

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Hello everyone,

I apologize for asking such a simple question that I should probably already know… however I am a catholic that came home and it was recently. Regardless, My question is: How are readings for the mass selected? and who selects them?

I always thought readings were selected by The Vatican… but now that I write it out… it just doesn’t sound right… anyway I have been curious about this because I wanted to know if every hand missal is the same or if I have to buy a specific one that my parish uses. I don’t understand! All of your help is appreciated! also if anybody needs prayers please don’t hesitate to PM me or ask in the comments.

In Christ,

Gary C
 
Gc333 said:
My question is: How are readings for the mass selected? and who selects them?
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There is a 3 year cycle of readings that have been published, it isn’t up to the bishop or parish priest. The old school Latin masses have a One Year cycle, using the same readings for Christmas, or the 7th Sunday after Pentecost or Quasimodo Sunday every year.

It is my understanding, although I haven’t been there to verify, that our Episcopalian and Lutheran friends use the same lectionary for their Sunday worship services
 
Augustinian said:
There is a 3 year cycle of readings that have been published, it isn’t up to the bishop or parish priest.
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For Sundays that is true. For weekday masses there is a two year cycle. However, some days have optional memorials and those readings may be used instead.

They should all be in the relevant missal though.
 
The parish doesn’t decide the cycle of readings, the Church does.
 
The local parish can choose to read the longer or shorter gospel reading those days that there are options. Sometimes there are two readings (OT+NT of which one is choosen), responsorial psalm and gospel reading for a weekday mass.

In Ordo (which is published every year by each diocese) all the readings are mentioned for each day as well as if there are saints, martyrs or patron days for some parishes to celebrate. Liturgical colours for different readings for those days when there are up to three differents options. When Gloria is said or sung and also which prayers in the Missal the priest prays during mass. It is usually the priest who decides which saint or martyr to celebrate if there are options to the ordinary liturgical season. I check this book before every mass so I know what to prepare for. It also says which saints not to celebrate if the celebration is on a Sunday as Sunday is more important as the Lord’s day than a saint.
 
The Church’s selected readings are called the lectionary. How it is exactly decided I don’t know. I imagine a committee put it together and it was approved by the Pope.

The Novus Ordo has a three year cycle for Sunday readings and a two year for daily readings. The Extraordinary Form has a one year cycle for the Sunday readings. I don’t know their cycle for daily readings.

Individual Masses can have other readings. I don’t know the rules but say if a priest was offering a special Mass for a group he could pick readings that would be relevant.

Also it is worth noting many Protestant churches (particularly Anglican/Episcopal and Lutheran) use a lectionary. Theirs is based off of the Catholic lectionary with some changes. Obviously they don’t have the books they omit from Holy Scripture. But it can also not be in sync with the Catholic lectionary. However it is very similar and probably most days the same.
 
It is the Vatican. It’s one universal Church. Readings in the OF are divided into 3 year cycles for Sunday; ABC, and two year cycles for weekdays. Year 1 and 2. However the readings can be different if a priest chooses to do readings for a saint day or other masses such as votive masses etc. The readings are in books called the Lectionaries. They are not in the Missal. However in the 1962 Missal of the EF the readings are in the Missal as there were no yearly cycles. Hence in the OF a lot more Bible is read at Mass. One of the only things I like about the OF over the EF. Hope that answers your question.
 
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Actually that’s not true. Lutherans and Anglicans don’t believe the deuterocanonical books are scripture however they are used in readings. To be honest I think the Episcopal church reads more of the apocrypha in services than we do. And their apocrypha actually includes 1 and 2 Esdras and the Prayer of Manesseh as well. The Prayer of Manesseh and the Song of the Three Children(the latter which is in our Bibles in Daniel 3) are cited in the Book of Common Prayer.

 
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I just, wanted to say thank you very much for all of the information provided to me! It was quite the help!

I cant believe that the Vatican is the ones who do it… I really like how they do it. The centralized structure of the church is beautiful and a mystery unto itself!
 
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