Mass Readings

[Mary52627]

I help teach RCIA class and a question was asked that I did not know how to answer.----Who decided and when was it decided what readings would be read on each Sunday and week-day masses? The question caught my attention because on one Sunday after going to Sunday Mass, I went with a friend to a protestant church and the readings were the same—at least the gospel was----I really don’t remember if there were more readings.
If anyone can help me, I sure would appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[Pug]

If you rummage about on the internet, you can find several articles about it. In the mid 1900’s, the Cathlic Church revised the lectionary, or the list of bible passages they read on each particular Sunday. I think it was right after Vat2. They did such a good job of it that other churches borrowed it and used it nearly whole. Over time, as the other churches used it, some of them got together and altered it somewhat, so that it was more appropriate for their church, but a large part of it still matches ours. There have been different changes in different churches over time, but some attempt has been made to be matching.

I believe the Episcopal, Methodist, some form of Lutheran, etc. have the matching lectionary to ours. My memory may be a bit faulty on this, but I had to answer this question for someone once and I looked it up back then. I bet someone else will dig up more info for you before I can find my old research.

 

[Jakub]

I can’t answer your question, but you can check the liturgical calendar located at the Adoremus site, quite accurate & helpful.

james

 

[mylo]

This (sorta) came up in RCIA last night - the priest said that in 1970 the readings were selected, with the Old Testament reading being the foundation that the New Testament/Gospel readings fulfilled - sorta linking past with the present; which is why it seems like there’s a lot of jumping around in OT for the readings.

 

[mercygate]

mylo:

This (sorta) came up in RCIA last night - the priest said that in 1970 the readings were selected, with the Old Testament reading being the foundation that the New Testament/Gospel readings fulfilled - sorta linking past with the present; which is why it seems like there’s a lot of jumping around in OT for the readings.

That’s right – and what a brilliant job they did of linking the texts. That lectionary would be the one thing that would prevent me from becoming a “born-again” proponent of the Tridentine Latin Mass.

 

[GodSoldier]

Another question along those lines…

I believe that I heard once that the Lectionary is on a 3 year cycle.

Does this mean that every chapter and verse from the Bible is read eventually over that cycle, or that a “sampling” of each book is covered over that time?

 

[Mary52627]

You are all so helpful! Thanks for the info and the web sites----will do some research and find an answer for her. -------and if anyone else can help, all will be greatly received. Thanks!

 

[Pug]

At the Vatican II Council in 1963, the following declaration was made: “The treasures of the Bible are to be opened more lavishly, so that a richer share in God’s word may be provided for the faithful. In this way a more representative portion of Holy Scripture will be read to the people in the course of a prescribed number of years.”

This decision led to six years of compressed biblical and historical lectionary studies, experimentation, and revisions, with a thoroughness unequaled in Christian history. In 1969 the Roman Catholic Church published a new lectionary based on a three-year cycles plus a psalm for each Sunday…

Worship leaders of many denominations acknowledged it as the most carefully prepared, most comprehensive, and probably the finest lectionary in Christian history. A completely unexpected development, particularly in North America, was the appropriation of this Roman Lectionary by Protestant and Anglican/Episcopal churches…

I couldn’t find my old research, but I got this from an Episcopal website here.

GodSoldier,

No, it does not actually cover it all. In three years you will hear most of it, if you go to daily mass as well as Sunday. It is more than a sampling, though. It is very extensive coverage. The New Testament coverage is excellent, but the OT is not complete.

BTW, the weekday readings are on a two year cycle. The Sundays are on the three year cycle. The weekdays you hear nice long OT readings quite often.

 

[Brenda_V]

GodSoldier:

Another question along those lines…

I believe that I heard once that the Lectionary is on a 3 year cycle.

Does this mean that every chapter and verse from the Bible is read eventually over that cycle, or that a “sampling” of each book is covered over that time?

The Sunday readings are indeed on a three year cycle. You will actually hear all the Gospels read in this three year cycle but the rest, especially OT is way too extensive to get this way. The “new” year and cycle will begin with the First Sunday of Advent which is the last Sunday in Nov. this year. We will end up with a full four weeks of Advent this year because Christmas falls on a Sunday

As someone else said, the OT reading (first reading on a Sunday Mass) is always connected to the Gospel reading.

Now if you include your Weekday Mass readings (usually only one reading from the OT and a Gospel reading) you will get more of the Bible read to you and this is done on a two year cycle.

Brenda V.