The Lectionary is the book of Scripture readings used during the Mass. Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s document On the Sacred Liturgy, said:
The treasures of the bible are to be opened up more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the
table of God's word. In this way a more representative portion of the Holy Scriptures will be read to the people in the
course of a prescribed number of years (SC, 51).
The lectionary used in the ordinary form of the Roman rite comes to us as a result of this prescription from the council. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishop website explains:
The Lectionary is arranged in two cycles, one for Sundays and one for weekdays.
The Sunday cycle is divided into three years, labeled A, B, and C. 2008 was Year A. 2009 was Year B, 2010 is Year C, etc. In
Year A, we read mostly from the Gospel of Matthew. In Year B, we read the Gospel of Mark and chapter 6 of the Gospel of
John. In Year C, we read the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of John is read during the Easter season in all three years. The first
reading, usually from the Old Testament, reflects important themes from the Gospel reading. The second reading is usually
from one of the epistles, a letter written to an early church community. These letters are read semi-continuously. Each
Sunday, we pick up close to where we left off the Sunday before, though some passages are never read.
The weekday cycle is divided into two years, Year I and Year II. Year I is read in odd-numbered years (2009, 2011, etc.) and
Year II is used in even-numbered years (2010, 2012, etc.) The Gospels for both years are the same. During the year, the
Gospels are read semi-continuously, beginning with Mark, then moving on to Matthew and Luke. The Gospel of John is read
during the Easter season. For Advent, Christmas, and Lent, readings are chosen that are appropriate to the season. The
first reading on weekdays may be taken from the Old or the New Testament. Typically, a single book is read semi-
continuously (i.e., some passages are not read) until it is finished and then a new book is started.
The year of the cycle does not change on January 1, but on the First Sunday of Advent (usually late November) which is the
beginning of the liturgical year.
In addition to the Sunday and weekday cycles, the Lectionary provides readings for feasts of the saints, for common
celebrations such as Marian feasts, for ritual Masses (weddings, funerals, etc.), for votive Masses, and for various needs.
These readings have been selected to reflect the themes of these celebrations (“Bible: Liturgy,” United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, USCCB.org, retrieved 6 Mar. 2015).
Following the readings of the Lectionary is a great way to deepen our understanding of Scripture. First, because of the range of texts used, simply following the Mass readings over the course of the year will expose a person to a wide range of biblical texts. Second, the Scriptures are set in the context of the liturgy, which is their original context. In the early Church, people heard the Scriptures proclaimed in the context of the Mass. Third, the Scripture readings are at times linked by theme, and sometimes one reading will throw light on another reading. This helps us to see the unity of Scripture as a whole. Though it is composed of many books, it is ultimately one book, since God is the primary author of all the books. So, for example, what may initially appear as a mysterious or unclear text from the Old Testament becomes clear when it is heard in relation to a specific Gospel reading.
The treasures of the bible are to be opened up more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the
table of God's word. In this way a more representative portion of the Holy Scriptures will be read to the people in the
course of a prescribed number of years (SC, 51).
The lectionary used in the ordinary form of the Roman rite comes to us as a result of this prescription from the council. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishop website explains:
The Lectionary is arranged in two cycles, one for Sundays and one for weekdays.
The Sunday cycle is divided into three years, labeled A, B, and C. 2008 was Year A. 2009 was Year B, 2010 is Year C, etc. In
Year A, we read mostly from the Gospel of Matthew. In Year B, we read the Gospel of Mark and chapter 6 of the Gospel of
John. In Year C, we read the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of John is read during the Easter season in all three years. The first
reading, usually from the Old Testament, reflects important themes from the Gospel reading. The second reading is usually
from one of the epistles, a letter written to an early church community. These letters are read semi-continuously. Each
Sunday, we pick up close to where we left off the Sunday before, though some passages are never read.
The weekday cycle is divided into two years, Year I and Year II. Year I is read in odd-numbered years (2009, 2011, etc.) and
Year II is used in even-numbered years (2010, 2012, etc.) The Gospels for both years are the same. During the year, the
Gospels are read semi-continuously, beginning with Mark, then moving on to Matthew and Luke. The Gospel of John is read
during the Easter season. For Advent, Christmas, and Lent, readings are chosen that are appropriate to the season. The
first reading on weekdays may be taken from the Old or the New Testament. Typically, a single book is read semi-
continuously (i.e., some passages are not read) until it is finished and then a new book is started.
The year of the cycle does not change on January 1, but on the First Sunday of Advent (usually late November) which is the
beginning of the liturgical year.
In addition to the Sunday and weekday cycles, the Lectionary provides readings for feasts of the saints, for common
celebrations such as Marian feasts, for ritual Masses (weddings, funerals, etc.), for votive Masses, and for various needs.
These readings have been selected to reflect the themes of these celebrations (“Bible: Liturgy,” United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, USCCB.org, retrieved 6 Mar. 2015).
Following the readings of the Lectionary is a great way to deepen our understanding of Scripture. First, because of the range of texts used, simply following the Mass readings over the course of the year will expose a person to a wide range of biblical texts. Second, the Scriptures are set in the context of the liturgy, which is their original context. In the early Church, people heard the Scriptures proclaimed in the context of the Mass. Third, the Scripture readings are at times linked by theme, and sometimes one reading will throw light on another reading. This helps us to see the unity of Scripture as a whole. Though it is composed of many books, it is ultimately one book, since God is the primary author of all the books. So, for example, what may initially appear as a mysterious or unclear text from the Old Testament becomes clear when it is heard in relation to a specific Gospel reading.
Additional Resources
Daily Mass Readings: a link to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website where you can find the Mass readings for the day.
The General Introduction to the Lectionary (Second Edition): issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship, this introduction gives an in-depth discussion of the lectionary and the various parts of the Liturgy of the Word.
Daily Mass Readings: a link to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website where you can find the Mass readings for the day.
The General Introduction to the Lectionary (Second Edition): issued by the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship, this introduction gives an in-depth discussion of the lectionary and the various parts of the Liturgy of the Word.