Mass Gospel Readings Book

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Hi folks,

I’m looking for a good Catholic commentary, or book of reflections, on the Sunday Gospel readings for the liturgical year. Maybe some compendium of the early church fathers, doctors etc…

thanks,

bobo
 
There is no compendium or commentary of the early Church fathers on the Gospel readings that follow the liturgical year because our current cycle was not around then. You would have to look at one of the fathers’ commentaries on Scripture and then search through it yourself.

There are a number of Scripture commentaries that follow the Church’s liturgical calendar for the readings which you may enjoy, however. Here are two I have worked with. The first one is meant for lectors but I think the extra insight helps in understanding.

Workbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers 2009 USA
At Home with the Word 2009 Large Print Edition
 
The Magnificat also offeres some very good commentaries about the Gospels. In fact, some of these vary from the Church Fathers all the way to Pope Benedict XVI. They even have some reflections from G.K. Chesterton and others.
 
In Conversation with God by Fernandez is truly excellent, written by a follower of Saint Josemaria Escriva and draws heavily from the writings of Saint Josemaria and other saints and Church fathers. It is geared toward those of us living in the world, workers, professionals, university students, parents, etc., and gives us concrete ways to live our faith and evangelize.

It has meditations on the Mass readings for every day of the year (Years A, B, and C for Sundays; one selection for weekdays, sometimes from Year 1 and sometimes from Year 2).

Each day’s meditation is about six (small) pages, divided into three sections (in case you want to spread it out over the day?).

It is published in seven pocket-size volumes, which can be bought as a boxed set amazon.com/Conversation-God-Meditations-Each-Year/dp/0906138191/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232332775&sr=8-1 or individually if you don’t want to buy them all at once:
  • one volume for Advent/Christmas
  • one volume for Lent/Easter
  • three volumes for Ordinary Time
  • two volumes for special feasts (selected saints’ feasts, etc.)
 
Thanks people. In Conversation with God looks good.

I am in Ireland you see and Magnificat is using the NAB whereas here we use the JB version for Mass readings.

So I will probably order the 7-box set as above from Amazon!!
 
The best Commentary I can offer is the Haydock Bible Commentary, which a complete commentary, but then again it doesn’t go by which Gospel is read on a specific Sunday just a commentary of the whole Bible in there respective books, chapters and verses
 
bobolink said:
Thanks people. In Conversation with God looks good.

I am in Ireland you see and Magnificat is using the NAB whereas here we use the JB version for Mass readings.

So I will probably order the 7-box set as above from Amazon!!
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Just a word of caution — In Conversation with God does not contain the complete Mass readings themselves, just the meditations. I don’t know which translation it uses in the citations. (It probably doesn’t matter much; a good meditation is a good meditation, regardless of which Bible translation the author was reading.)
 
PhilotheaZ said:
Just a word of caution — In Conversation with God does not contain the complete Mass readings themselves, just the meditations. I don’t know which translation it uses in the citations. (It probably doesn’t matter much; a good meditation is a good meditation, regardless of which Bible translation the author was reading.)
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Ah yes. That is what I assumed.

I’ve been deprived of good reflections, it just struck me recently, that for all my books, not one addresses this need. Time to do something about that I think.
 
This set of 7 books is pretty expensive, but if good, worth it.

My question is: with any changes that may be made in the New Mass, is this series likely to become in any way obsolete any time soon?
 
Thanks.

I’m wondering though, is the Lectionary likely to change in any substantial way in the near future?
 
bobolink said:
Thanks.

I’m wondering though, is the Lectionary likely to change in any substantial way in the near future?
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I haven’t heard anything to that effect. There may be some changes in the way readings are translated, but I have not heard of any changes to the selection of Scripture passages.
 
Word Among Us wau.org is a monthly devotional, which you can buy with the order of the Mass and the actual readings for each day of the month, or simply with the devotional commentary on each day’s readings, and several supplemental articles on a seasonal or topical theme. Very well worth the money, easy to read and carry.

You don’t say if you want a formal bible study type commentary, devotional commentary, or what. WAU also sells several excellent bible studies suitable for individuals or small groups, including some of the Emaus Road studies, and concordances, bible dictionaries and other aids.
 
puzzleannie said:
Word Among Us wau.org is a monthly devotional, which you can buy with the order of the Mass and the actual readings for each day of the month, or simply with the devotional commentary on each day’s readings, and several supplemental articles on a seasonal or topical theme. Very well worth the money, easy to read and carry.

You don’t say if you want a formal bible study type commentary, devotional commentary, or what. WAU also sells several excellent bible studies suitable for individuals or small groups, including some of the Emaus Road studies, and concordances, bible dictionaries and other aids.
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Well I would like something of a devotional nature, something to help me understand and apply the Mass readings to my own life and such, but with some theological stuff too. I want something that is ‘meaty’ yet devotional, but not dry academical material.

From what I understand of it, the *In Conversation with God *series may be suitable.
 
I should also add that, although I think it a good resource, I do not wish to subscribe to Magnificat for 3 reasons:
  1. I have already a Divine Office book
  2. I already have a daily and Sunday Missal
  3. I don’t like the ‘throw-away’ nature of the publication and the on-going costs of subscription
But as regards content, it is good from what I’ve seen.

Would *In Conversation with God *match the content of Magnificat?
 
Sorry to be posting consecutively, but I wondered if anyone could comment on the similarities and differences between the content of Magnificat, The Word Among Us, and In Conversation with God?

I think if In Conversation with God was of comparable quality in terms of content and usefulness, it would be better value for money in the long-term, having paid for itself in four years in terms of subscription costs.
 
bobolink said:
Sorry to be posting consecutively, but I wondered if anyone could comment on the similarities and differences between the content of Magnificat, The Word Among Us, and In Conversation with God?

I think if In Conversation with God was of comparable quality in terms of content and usefulness, it would be better value for money in the long-term, having paid for itself in four years in terms of subscription costs.
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From my experience with them (very limited in the case of Magnificat and Word Among Us):
  • The Magnificat reflections are good, but brief.
  • The reflections in Word Among Us are a little bit “fluffy” for my taste, not enough meat in them. (My personal opinion, with apologies to those who find them helpful!)
  • If I want to be spiritually challenged in how I am living out my Christian calling, I’d go with Fernandez’s In Conversation with God (I specify the author here because there may be other works with the same title written by others).
 
PhilotheaZ said:
From my experience with them (very limited in the case of Magnificat and Word Among Us):
  • The Magnificat reflections are good, but brief.
  • The reflections in Word Among Us are a little bit “fluffy” for my taste, not enough meat in them. (My personal opinion, with apologies to those who find them helpful!)
  • If I want to be spiritually challenged in how I am living out my Christian calling, I’d go with Fernandez’s In Conversation with God (I specify the author here because there may be other works with the same title written by others).
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I understand what you are saying and I appreciate your advice, so thanks for that!

We have a good magazine here in the UK, it’s called BIBLE ALIVE. I like it, I get it at Christmas and Lent sometimes. It’s reflections are ideal for reading over breakfast, I find, but are a bit too brief for if I wanted something a bit more detailed later in the day.

*Magnificat *would render my considerable investment in Missals and Divine Office redundant, so that’s out. I like the look of The Word Among Us, having tried the free online subscription, but I need to keep things simple or my head will explode! I have enough stuff to read without adding to it!

That’s why I think meditations/reflections on their own is all I would need, rather than meditations plus articles, which I’d not expect to get time or whatnot to actually read.
 
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