Why do we lose one or two daily readings in december

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Big_George

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Morning all,

I am hoping someone can explain why in December, around the 16th, the sequence of the readings skips ahead 1, 2, or more readings.

What I mean is that in 2010, Dec 16 was Lectionary# 190, the next day it was Lect# 193.
This year Dec 16 will be Lect# 191 and the 17th will be 193.
In 2012 the 16th will be a Sunday, but the Lect# for the Saturday the 15th is 186 , then on Monday the 17th the Lect# jumps to 193.

So it seems that on Dec 17 the Lect# will always be 193 and then continue from there.

Why?

Thanks in advance,

George
 
You are correct. This is because there are specific readings for December 17th through to December 24th. These are the last 8 days before Christmas and with Christmas form a Novena.
 
From December 17 - 23 the Liturgy celebrates the O Antiphons for the last seven days of Advent. This is a rich tradition full of meaning and wonder!
The O Antiphons express the Church’s longing and expectation for the Messiah, her startled wonderment at the fullness of grace which the Christ-Child is about to bestow on the world. Their theme is the majesty of the Savior, His wisdom, His faithfulness and sanctity, His justice and mercy, His covenant with His chosen people, who in their ingratitude broke faith with Him. They are concerned with His power and love as King and Redeemer of the world, His relation to every soul as Emmanuel, God-with-us. (With Christ Through the Year by Bernard Strasser)
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According to Professor Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one — Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia — the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion. (Fr. William Saunders)
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And just to round out the explanations: 16-Dec will range among: Saturday of the II Week of Advent, III Sunday of Advent, or *Weekdayname *of the III Week of Advent, which is why the reading number for that date varies.

tee
 
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