Table of Readings from the Experimental Lectionary in use in England & Wales, Scotland and Ireland, 1965-69

With the text of the decrees authorising the use of the Lectionary,

and an extract from A. Bugnini, The Reform of the Liturgy 1948-1975

Compiled by Matthew Hazell, M.A.

from Lectionary for the Masses of the Week (2 vols.; London: Burns & Oates, 1966).

Introduction Between the later stages of the Second Vatican Council and the promulgation of the revised lectionary, various episcopal conferences were granted permission to expand the selection of readings used at weekday Masses, on an experimental basis. The first bishops to seek permission were the Germans, closely followed by the Swiss and the Dutch.1 Once Paul VI had authorised this experimentation at the request of the Consilium,2 a number of other conferences quickly asked if they could participate. Among them were the English and Welsh bishops, who received permission in 1966. However, there was not one unified, single scheme of readings that conferences could ask for permission to use. Conferences were able to design their own schemes and submit them to the Consilium, but in practice they tended to adopt one of three schemes: the German scheme, the French scheme, or a scheme drafted by the Consilium itself.3 According to a review of the published volumes by J.B. OConnell,4 the episcopal conferences of the British Isles adopted the German scheme.

1 The Germans asked for permission in late 1964, with the Swiss and Dutch bishops making similar requests in early 1965; all three conferences were given permission on 12th May 1965. Cf. A. Bugnini, The Reform of the Liturgy 1948-1975 (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1990), p. 407. See Appendix 2 for more details. 2 The Consilium ad exsequendam constitutionem de sacra liturgia (Advisory body for the implementation of the constitution on the sacred liturgy) was a committee established by Pope Paul VI on 25th Jan 1964. It was mainly responsible for carrying out the reform of the liturgy in accord with Sacrosantum Concilium, the Second Vatican Councils constitution on the liturgy. 3 Bugnini, Reform, p. 408 n. 5. 4 New Weekday Mass Lectionary in The Catholic Herald, 20th Jan 1967, p. 6: One of the first hierarchies to submit a scheme was that of Germany. This was approved by the Consilium on October 15, 1965, and the same schemeusing different English versions of the Biblewas adopted by and approved for Ireland (December

For England and Wales, the imprimatur for the lectionary was given by Archbishop George Dwyer (1908-87), who was the president of the National Liturgy Commission and who had, at that point, recently been translated from the Diocese of Leeds to the Archdiocese of Birmingham. The experimental lectionary and the reformed lectionary A cursory glance at the structure of this experimental lectionary reveals certain features that would come to characterise the reformed lectionary.

1. The principle of semi-continuous reading In the reformed order of readings, one of the principles of the arrangement of readings for Sundays and Solemnities of the Lord, as well as weekdays, is that of semi-continuous reading (the other is harmony of themes).5 This experimental order6 also has this as one of its key features, as will readily be seen from the tables.

2. A two year weekday cycle of readings The current lectionary has a two year scheme of readings for weekdays, just as this experimental weekday cycle does. There is, however, a major difference between the two. In the experimental cycle, Year I uses exclusively NT readings

4, 1965), England and Wales (March 12, 1966), and Scotland (September 6, 1966). 5 Cf. General Introduction to the Lectionary (henceforth GIL), nn. 66.3, 69. 6 It is worth noting that, according to Bugnini, the French experimental order of readings was organised around the principle of continuous reading (lectio continua), rather than semi-continuous.

alongside the Gospel readings I (with the exception of Advent), and Year II uses exclusively OT readings with the Gospel (with the exception of Eastertide). In the reformed lectionary, the first reading alternates every few weeks between the OT and NT, the number of weeks depending on the length of the books read.7

3. The separation of the propers of the saints from their commons The decree attached to the experimental lectionary allows the readings to be used in Masses of the 3rd and 4th class when they do not have their own.8 In practice, this means that, for celebrations of the saints whose readings are taken from the commons, those readings can be replaced with the experimental weekday readings. This is a precursor to the way in which the reformed lectionary makes the use of the commons of the saints almost entirely optional, and privileges the weekday cycle of readings.9

This experimental order of readings gives us some insights into the period during and immediately after Vatican II. In a limited way, we can see that the ideas and concepts behind certain features of the reformed lectionary predate the reform itself.

7 Cf. GIL n. 110. Bugnini mentions that the French experimental cycle shifted from the OT to the NT every few weeks, just as the current lectionary does (Reform, p. 408; cf. Appendix 2). 8 Lectiones propositae assumuntur in Missis III et IV classis, quae proprias non habent; see Appendix 1 for the full text of the decrees. 9 Cf. GIL nn. 78, 82-83.

Unfortunately, there is a near-complete absence of scholarly work dealing with Coetus 11, the Consilium study group in charge of reforming the lectionary. In fact, there has not been very much research into the workings of any of the Consilium study groups; only recently has this research really begun.10 Hopefully in the near future, more scholars will examine the activity of the Consilium in detail, for such work is vital to understanding how and whether the mutual enrichment desired by Pope Benedict can be accomplished.

M.P. Hazell

10 Lauren Pristas looks at the work of groups 1 (calendar) and 18bis (orations of the Missal) in her recent book The Collects of the Roman Missals: A Comparative Study of the Sundays in Proper Seasons before and after the Second Vatican Council (London: Bloomsbury, 2013). Stanislaus Campbell, F.S.C. examines the work of group 9 (the Breviary) in his book From Breviary to Liturgy of the Hours (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1995), and David Pitt looks at the work of group 22 (rite of adult initiation) in Revising the Rite of Adult Initiation: The Structural Reform of the Ordo Initiationis Christianae Adultorum 1964-72 (PhD thesis, University of Notre Dame, 2007, 3 vols.). Sadly, to the best of my knowledge, there is no similar research in English dealing with group 11.

Season Day Lesson/Epistle

Gospel Year I Year II

Advent

Week 1

Mon Isa. 1:2-9; 10:20-22a Isa. 40:12-18, 26-31 Lk. 1:5-22

Tue Isa. 6:1-13 Isa. 41:8-18, 20 Lk. 1:23-25

Wed Isa. 7:1-15 Isa. 42:8-14a, 16 Lk. 1:26-33

Thu Isa. 9:1-6 Isa. 44:1-8, 21-22 Lk. 1:34-38

Fri Isa. 12:1-6 Isa. 49:13-19, 25-26b Lk. 1:39-45

Sat Isa. 14:1, 3-5, 7-10, 12-15, 24-27 Isa. 51:3-8 Lk. 1:46-55

Week 2

Mon Isa. 25:1-9 Isa. 51:9-16 Lk. 1:57-66

Tue Isa. 26:1-13 Isa. 52:1-6 Lk. 1:67-75

Wed Isa. 28:14-19 Isa. 52:7-10 Lk. 1:67, 76-80

Thu Isa. 29:9-24 Isa. 55:1-7 Lk. 3:7-9

Fri Isa. 30:8-15, 18 Isa. 55:8-11 Lk. 3:10-14

Sat Isa. 32:1-4, 15-18 Isa. 56:1-7 Lk. 3:15-18

Week 3

Mon Isa. 33:13-22 Isa. 59:9b-21 Jn. 1:6-8, 15

Tue Isa. 40:1-8 Isa. 60:1, 10-22 Jn. 1:19-23

Thu Isa. 42:1-7 Isa. 61:1-9 Jn. 1:24-28

Week 4

Day 1 Isa. 43:1-7, 10-13 Isa. 62:1-5, 10-12 Jn. 1:29-31

Day 2 Isa. 44:23-28 Isa. 63:15-64:4 Jn. 3:25-30

Day 3 Isa. 45:15-24 Isa. 65:17-25 Jn. 5:33-36a

Day 4 Isa. 49:1-9 Isa. 66:1-2, 5-9 Mt. 1:1-2a, 6b, 12a, 16-17

Christmastide

Dec 29 1 Jn. 1:1-4 Ecclus. 24:1-9 Jn. 1:1-5

Dec 30 1 Jn. 1:5-2:2 Ecclus. 1:1-10, 15 Jn. 1:9-14

Dec 31 1 Jn. 2:3-11 Ecclus. 2:7-18 Jn. 1:16-18

Jan 2 1 Jn. 2:12-17 Ecclus. 14:22-15:9 Jn. 3:16-21

Jan 3 1 Jn. 2:22-27 Ecclus. 16:24-17:20 Jn. 3:31-36

Jan 4 1 Jn. 2:28-3:3 Ecclus. 18:1-14 Jn. 5:19-21

Jan 5 1 Jn. 3:4-10 Ecclus. 17:21-31 Jn. 5:22-24

Time aft Epiphany

Jan 7 1 Jn. 3:11-24 Wis. 3:1-11 Jn. 5:25-30

Jan 8 1 Jn. 4:1-6 Ecclus. 39:16-30, 39-41 Jn. 5:31-32, 37-40

Jan 9 1 Jn. 4:7-18 Wis. 1:1-15 Jn. 5:41-47

Jan 10 1 Jn. 4:19-5:4 Wis. 6:11-19, 22-25 Jn. 8:31-36

Jan 11 1 Jn. 5:13-21 Ecclus. 4:12-22 Jn. 8:42-47a

Jan 12 2 Jn. 4-9 Wis. 7:21b-30 Jn. 12:44-50

Jan 14 3 Jn. 3-8 Ecclus. 33:7-15 Jn. 1:35-51

Season Day Lesson/Epistle

Gospel Year I Year II

Time aft Epiphany

Jan 15 Rom. 1:1-6 Ecclus. 32:18-28 Mk. 1:14-20

Week 2

Mon Rom. 1:8-17 Gen. 2:4b-25 Mk. 1:40-45

Tue Rom. 1:18-23 Gen. 3:1-24 Mk. 2:1-12

Wed Rom. 2:1-11 Gen. 1:1-16a, 25 Mk. 2:13-17

Thu Rom. 2:12-16 Gen. 6:5-8, 13a-14; 7:1-5, 7, 16b, 10, 12, 17b, 22-23; 8:6a, 2b, 3a, 6b, 8-12, 13b, 20-22

Mk. 2:18-22

Fri Rom. 3:21-28 Gen. 9:1-17 Mk. 2:23-28

Sat Rom. 4:18-25 Gen. 11:1-9 Mk. 3:1-6

Week 3

Mon Rom. 5:1-11 Gen. 12:1-8; 13:14-18 Mk. 3:7-12

Tue Rom. 5:18-21 Gen. 14:8-16 Mk. 3:13-19

Wed Rom. 6:1-11 Gen. 14:17-24 Mk. 3:20-21, 31-35

Thu Rom. 6:17-23 Gen. 15:1-6 Mk. 4:1-2, 26-29, 33-34

Fri Rom. 7:18-25 Gen. 17:1-8, 10, 12, 14-16 Mk. 4:35-40

Sat Rom. 8:1-11 Gen. 18:1-15 Mk. 5:1-20

Week 4

Mon Rom. 8:12-17 Gen. 18:20-32 Mk. 5:21-24a, 35b-43

Tue Rom. 8:26-30 Gen. 19:15-25 Mk. 5:24b-34

Wed Rom. 9:1-5 Gen. 21:1-8 Mk. 6:1-6a

Thu Rom. 9:15-24 Gen. 22:1-9 Mk. 6:6b-13

Fri Rom. 9:25-29 Gen. 25:21-34 Mk. 6:14-29

Sat Rom. 10:1-4 Gen. 27:41-45; 28:10-22 Mk. 6:30-34

Week 5

Mon Rom. 10:5-13 Gen. 29:15-30 Mk. 7:24b-30

Tue Rom. 10:14-21 Gen. 1-3, 17-18; 32:4-14a Mk. 7:31-37

Wed Rom. 11:1-2a, 11-16 Gen. 32:23-33; 35:9-15 Mk. 8:1-9

Thu Rom. 11:17-24 Gen. 49:1-2, 8-12, 22-26, 28b Mk. 8:11-13

Fri Rom. 11:25-32 Gen. 50:15-21 Mk. 8:14-21

Sat Rom. 11:33-36 Ex. 1:8-14, 22; 2:1-10 Mk. 8:22-26

Week 6

Mon Rom. 12:1-8 Ex. 2:23b-24; 3:1-15 Mk. 8:27-30

Tue Rom. 12:9-16 Ex. 4:10-17, 27-31 Mk. 8:31-33

Wed Rom. 13:1-7 Ex. 5:1-5, 9, 19-23; 7:1-6 Mk. 8:34-37

Thu Rom. 13:8-10 Ex. 1:1, 4-8; 12:21-33 Mk. 8:38; 9:1

Fri Rom. 14:1-12 Ex. 13:20-22; 14:5-6, 9-14 Mk. 9:11-13

Sat Rom. 15:14-19 Ex. 14:15-31 Mk. 9:30-37

Season Day Lesson/Epistle

Gospel Year I Year II

Septuagesima

Mon Gal. 1:1-5 Ex. 16:2-7, 11-18, 31, 35 Mk. 9:38-41

Tue Gal. 1:6-10 Ex. 17:1-7 Mk. 10:1-12

Wed Gal. 1:11-24 Ex. 17:8-15 Mk. 10:13-16

Thu Gal. 2:1-10 Ex. 19:2-11 Mk. 10:17-22

Fri Gal. 2:11-14 Ex. 19:16-25 Mk. 10:23-27

Sat Gal. 2:15-21 Ex. 20:1-21 Mk. 10:28-31

Sexagesima

Mon Gal. 3:1-5 Ex. 24:1-18 Mk. 10:41-45

Tue Gal. 3:6-9 Ex. 32:1-6, 15-20 Mk. 10:46-52

Wed Gal. 3:10-14 Ex. 32:30-34; 33:12-17 Mk. 11:11-14, 20-25

Thu Gal. 3:24-28 Ex. 33:18-23; 34:5-9, 29-35 Mk. 11:27-33

Fri Gal. 4:12-15, 18-20 Num. 13:17-33 Mk. 12:13-17

Sat Gal. 5:1, 4-6 Num. 14:1-10, 26-35 Mk. 12:18-27

Quinquagesima Mon Gal. 5:13-15 Num. 21:4-9 Mk. 12:35-37

Tue Gal. 6:14-18 Num. 22:2, 5-6, 12, 36-38; 24:15-19 Mk. 12:41-44

Eastertide

Week 1

Mon 1 Pet. 1:3-12 Col. 1:3-8 Jn. 6:24b-34

Tue 1 Pet. 1:13-16 Col. 1:9-13 Jn. 6:35-40

Wed 1 Pet. 1:17-21 Col. 1:14-23 Jn. 6:41-47

Thu 1 Pet. 1:22-25 Col. 1:24-29 Jn. 6:48-51

Fri 1 Pet. 3:1-7 Col. 2:1-7 Jn. 6:52-59

Sat 1 Pet. 3:8-12 Col. 2:8-15 Jn. 6:60-69

Week 2

Mon 1 Pet. 3:13-17 Col. 2:16-23 Jn. 10:1-6

Tue 1 Pet. 4:1-6 Col. 3:5-12 Jn. 10:7-10

Wed 1 Pet. 4:7-11 Col. 3:12-17 Jn. 10:11-13

Thu 1 Pet. 4:12-19 Col. 3:18-21 Jn. 10:14-18

Fri 1 Pet. 5:1-5 Col. 3:22-4:1 Jn. 10:27-30

Sat 1 Pet. 5:6-11 Col. 4:2-6 Jn. 10:34-38

Week 3

Mon Eph. 1:3-10 Heb. 1:1-3, 13-14 Jn. 13:31b-33

Tue Eph. 1:11-14 Heb. 2:5-9 Jn. 13:34-35

Wed Eph. 1:15-18 Heb. 2:10-15 Jn. 13:36; 14:1-7

Thu Eph. 1:19-23 Heb. 3:1-6 Jn. 14:8-14

Fri Eph. 2:1-7 Heb. 3:7-15 Jn. 15:1-8

Sat Eph. 2:8-10 Heb. 4:9-13 Jn. 15:9-13

Week 4 Mon Eph. 2:11-18 Heb. 4:14-16; 5:1-10 Jn. 15:14-17

Season Day Lesson/Epistle

Gospel Year I Year II

Eastertide

Week 4 (cont.)

Tue Eph. 2:19-22 Heb. 5:11-6:8 Jn. 15:18-25

Wed Eph. 3:1-7, 20-21 Heb. 6:9-12 Jn. 16:1-4

Thu Eph. 4:1-6 Heb. 7:24-28 Jn. 16:16-20

Fri Eph. 4:11-16 Heb. 8:1-4, 8-13 Jn. 16:21-24

Sat Eph. 4:17-20 Heb. 10:4-10 Jn. 16:25-30, 33

Week 5

Mon Eph. 4:21-24 Heb. 10:11-18 Jn. 2:23-25; 3:1-8

Tue Eph. 4:25-5:2 Heb. 10:19-25 Jn. 3:11b-15

Fri Eph. 5:8-14 Heb. 10:32-39 Jn. 17:11-19

Sat Eph. 5:15-20 Heb. 11:1-3, 8-10 Jn. 17:20-26

Week 6

Mon Eph. 5:21-23 Heb. 12:1-11 Jn. 14:15-17

Tue Eph. 6:1-4 Heb. 12:12-14, 18-24 Jn. 14:25-26

Wed Eph. 6:5-8 Heb. 12:25-29 Jn. 15:26-27

Thu Eph. 6:10-18a Heb. 13:1-6 Jn. 16:5-11

Fri Eph. 6:18b-23 Heb. 13:7-17, 20-21 Jn. 16:12-15

Time aft Pentecost

Week 1

Mon Acts 2:14, 22-36 Josh. 1:1-9 Lk. 4:14-30

Tue Acts 2:37-47 Josh. 3:1-16 Lk. 5:1-11

Wed Acts 3:14-15, 19-26 Josh. 6:1-5, 15-21 Lk. 6:12-19

Fri Acts 4:32-37 Josh. 11:16, 18-19, 23; 21:43-45 Lk. 6:20-23

Sat Acts 5:17-35, 38-42 Josh. 24:1, 19-28 Lk. 6:24-26

Week 2

Mon Acts 6:1-7 Judg. 2:20-22 Lk. 8:1-3

Tue Acts 8:1-4 Judg. 4:1-16 Lk. 8:16-21

Wed Acts 8:1, 9-14, 18-24 Judg. 6:1, 11-24 Lk. 9:1-9

Thu Acts 9:1-22 Judg. 7:15b-25a Lk. 9:18-23

Sat Acts 9:23-31 Judg. 16:4-6, 16-30 Lk. 9:28-36

Week 3

Mon Acts 9:32-43 1 Sam. 1:1-20 Lk. 9:37-43

Tue Acts 11:1-18 1 Sam. 3:1-14 Lk. 9:51b-56

Wed Acts 11:19-26 1 Sam. 4:1-11 Lk. 9:57-58

Thu Acts 13:1-12 1 Sam. 6:21; 7:1, 3-13 Lk. 9:59-62

Fri Acts 13:13-14a, 49-52; 14:25-27 1 Sam. 8:1-9; 9:1a, 2-4a, 5-6, 15-17, 26b-27; 10:1

Lk. 10:1-2

Sat Acts 15:5-6, 13-20 1 Sam. 12:1, 13-25 Lk. 10:3-7

Week 4 Mon Acts 15:36, 40-41; 16:1a, 6-10 1 Sam. 11:1-7, 11-15 Lk. 10:8-12

Season Day Lesson/Epistle

Gospel Year I Year II

Time aft Pentecost

Week 4 (cont.)

Tue Acts 17:16b, 22-33 1 Sam. 13:7b-14 Lk. 10:13-16

Wed Acts 20:17-38 1 Sam. 15:10-27a Lk. 10:17-20

Thu Acts 21:27b-33, 39-40 1 Sam. 16:14-23 Lk. 10:21-24

Fri Acts 22:30; 23:1, 6-11 1 Sam. 18:6-16 Lk. 10:25-28

Sat Acts 28:16-17a, 23b-31 1 Sam. 31:1-7 Lk. 10:25, 29b-37

Week 5

Mon 1 Cor. 1:4-9 1 Sam. 16:1-13 Lk. 10:38-42

Tue 1 Cor. 1:10-17 1 Sam. 17:1-4, 8-9, 11, 32, 37, 40-51 Lk. 11:1-4

Wed 1 Cor. 1:18-25 1 Sam. 20:1-9, 16-17 Lk. 11:5-8

Thu 1 Cor. 1:26-2:5 1 Sam. 26:1-12 Lk. 11:9-13

Fri 1 Cor. 2:6-16 2 Sam. 5:1-12 Lk. 11:14-20

Sat 1 Cor. 3:1-9 2 Sam. 6:12-22 Lk. 11:21-26

Week 6

Mon 1 Cor. 3:10-23 2 Sam. 7:1-16 Lk. 11:29-32

Tue 1 Cor. 4:9-16 2 Sam. 11:1-9, 14-17 Lk. 11:33-36

Wed 1 Cor. 5:1-5 2 Sam. 12:1-14 Lk. 11:37-41

Thu 1 Cor. 5:9-12 2 Sam.12:15b-25 Lk. 11:42-44

Fri 1 Cor. 6:1-11 2 Sam. 15:13-18, 30; 18:1a, 5-7, 9, 15, 31-32; 19:1-3

Lk. 11:45-46

Sat 1 Cor. 6:12-20 2 Sam. 24:2, 10-25 Lk. 11:47-51

Week 7

Mon 1 Cor. 7:1-7 1 Kgs. 1:32-40 Lk. 11:52-54

Tue 1 Cor. 7:8-14 1 Kgs. 3:2-15 Lk. 12:1-3

Wed 1 Cor. 7:17, 20-24 1 Kgs. 8:1-13 Lk. 12:4-7

Thu 1 Cor. 7:25-34 1 Kgs. 8:22-30, 62-66 Lk. 12:8-12

Fri 1 Cor. 9:1-4, 13-23 1 Kgs. 10:1-13 Lk. 12:13-15

Sat 1 Cor. 10:14-22 1 Kgs. 11:1-13 Lk. 12:16-21

Week 8

Mon 1 Cor. 12:12-31a 1 Kgs. 12:1-13, 16 Lk. 12:22-31

Tue 1 Cor. 14:1-4, 23-25 1 Kgs. 12:20-33 Lk. 12:32-34

Wed 1 Cor. 14:26-33 1 Kgs. 13:1-10 Lk. 12:35-38

Thu 1 Cor. 15:12-19 1 Kgs. 14:12-31 Lk. 12:39-40

Fri 1 Cor. 15:20-28 1 Kgs. 15:1-15 Lk. 12:42-46

Sat 1 Cor. 15:35-49 1 Kgs. 16:23-26, 29-34 Lk. 12:47-48

Week 9

Mon 2 Cor. 1:3-11 1 Kgs. 17:1-16 Lk. 12:49-53

Tue 2 Cor. 1:19-22 1 Kgs. 18:21-40 Lk. 12:54-56

Wed 2 Cor. 2:14-17 1 Kgs. 18:41-46 Lk. 12:57-59

Season Day Lesson/Epistle

Gospel Year I Year II

Time aft Pentecost

Week 9 (cont.)

Thu 2 Cor. 3:7-9, 12-18 1 Kgs. 19:1-8 Lk. 13:1-5

Fri 2 Cor. 4:1-6 1 Kgs. 19:9-18 Lk. 13:6-9

Sat 2 Cor. 4:7-18 1 Kgs. 19:19-21 Lk. 13:10-17

Week 10

Mon 2 Cor. 5:1-10 1 Kgs. 21:1-19 Lk. 13:18-21

Tue 2 Cor. 5:11, 14-20 2 Kgs. 9:1-7 Lk. 13:22-24

Wed 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1 2 Kgs. 11:1-4, 11-20 Lk. 13:25-27

Thu 2 Cor. 8:1-2, 7-9 2 Kgs. 16:5-16 Lk. 13:28-30

Fri 2 Cor. 9:6-12 2 Kgs. 17:6-19 Lk. 13:31-33

Sat 2 Cor. 11:1-4, 13-15 2 Kgs. 17:24-34 Lk. 13:34-35

Week 11

Mon Phil. 1:3-11 2 Kgs. 18:1-8 Lk. 14:1-6

Tue Phil. 1:12-18a 2 Kgs. 18:13, 28-37 Lk. 14:7-11

Wed Phil. 1:20-26 2 Kgs. 19:1-7 Lk. 14:12-14

Thu Phil. 1:27-30 2 Kgs. 19:8-19 Lk. 14:15-24

Fri Phil. 2:1-4 2 Kgs. 19:20-36 Lk. 14:25-27

Sat Phil. 2:12-18 Jer. 7:1-15 Lk. 14:28-35

Week 12

Mon Phil. 3:7-9 2 Kgs. 21:1-9 Lk. 15:1-7

Tue Phil. 3:10-14 2 Kgs. 22:8-20 Lk. 15:8-10

Wed Phil. 3:17-21 2 Kgs. 23:1-12 Lk. 15:11-32

Thu Phil. 4:1, 4-7 2 Kgs. 23:29-35 Lk. 16:1-8

Fri Phil. 4:8-9 Jer. 36:1-6a, 10-20 Lk. 16:9-12

Sat Phil. 4:11b-13, 18-20 Jer. 36:21-30 Lk. 16:13

Week 13

Mon 1 Thess. 1:5-6 2 Kgs. 24:8-17 Lk. 16:14-15

Tue 1 Thess. 1:6-10 Jer. 37:1-9 Lk. 16:16-18

Wed 1 Thess. 2:1-8 Jer. 37:10-21 Lk. 16:19-31

Thu 1 Thess. 2:9-12 Jer. 38:1-13 Lk. 17:1-3a

Fri 1 Thess. 2:13-16 Jer. 38:14-23 Lk. 17:3b-4

Sat 1 Thess. 2:17; 3:11-13 2 Kgs. 25:1-12 Lk. 17:5-6

Week 14

Mon 1 Thess. 4:1-8 Ezra 1:1-11 Lk. 17:7-10

Tue 1 Thess. 4:9-12 Ezra 3:1-6 Lk. 17:11-19

Wed 1 Thess. 4:13-17 Ezra 4:1-5 Lk. 17:20-21

Thu 1 Thess. 5:1-11 Neh. 1:1-4; 2:1-8 Lk. 17:22-25

Fri 1 Thess. 5:12-15 Neh. 4:1-3, 8-16 Lk. 17:26-32

Sat 1 Thess. 5:16-24 Neh. 8:1-12 Lk. 17:33-37

Season Day Lesson/Epistle

Gospel Year I Year II

Time aft Pentecost

Week 15

Mon 2 Thess. 1:3-12 1 Mac. 1:11-25 Lk. 18:1-8

Tue 2 Thess. 2:1-12 2 Mac. 6:1-9 Lk. 18:9-14

Wed 2 Thess. 2:13-17 1 Mac. 2:15-28 Lk. 19:1-10

Thu 2 Thess. 3:1-5 1 Mac. 3:10-26 Lk. 19:11-27

Fri 2 Thess. 3:6-12 1 Mac. 4:36-59 Lk. 19:37-40

Sat 2 Thess. 3:13-16 1 Mac. 9:7-21 Lk. 19:41-44

Week 16

Mon Jas. 1:2-8 Dan. 2:26-28a, 31-45 Mt. 4:23-25

Tue Jas. 1:9-11 Dan. 4:16-24 Mt. 5:1-12

Wed Jas. 1:12-18 Dan. 7:1-14 Mt. 5:13-16

Thu Jas. 1:19-27 Dan. 7:15-27 Mt. 5:17-19

Fri Jas. 2:1-7 Dan. 9:2-7, 15-19 Mt. 5:20-22

Sat Jas. 2:8-13 Dan. 10:1, 4-12a; 11:1-4 Mt. 5:23-24

Week 17

Mon Jas. 2:14-19 Jer. 1:1-10 Mt. 5:27-28

Tue Jas. 2:20-26 Jer. 1:11-19 Mt. 5:29-30

Wed Jas. 3:1-6 Jer. 2:1-13 Mt. 5:31-32

Thu Jas. 3:7-12 Jer. 2:14-22 Mt. 5:33-37

Fri Jas. 3:13-18 Jer. 3:6-13 Mt. 5:38-41

Sat Jas. 4:1-3 Jer. 3:14-20 Mt. 5:43-48

Week 18

Mon Jas. 4:4-12 Jer. 7:21-28 Mt. 6:1-4

Tue Jas. 4:13-17 Jer. 11:18-23 Mt. 6:5-8

Wed Jas. 5:1-6 Jer. 12:1-5 Mt. 6:16-18

Thu Jas. 5:7, 9-12 Jer. 15:10, 15-21 Mt. 5:17-19

Fri Jas. 5:13-15 Jer. 17:12-18 Mt. 6:22-23

Sat Jas. 5:16-20 Jer. 20:7-13 Mt. 6:24-34

Week 19

Mon 2 Pet. 1:3-11 Jer. 23:1-8 Mt. 7:1-6

Tue 2 Pet. 1:16a, 19-21 Jer. 27:1-8 Mt. 7:7-12

Wed 2 Pet. 2:1-3 Jer. 28:1-17 Mt. 7:13-14

Thu 2 Pet. 3:3-13 Jer. 29:1-14 Mt. 7:15-20

Fri Jude 3-4, 12-13 Jer. 30:18-22 Mt. 7:21-23

Sat Jude 17-25 Jer. 31:31-37 Mt. 7:24-27

Week 20

Mon 1 Tim. 1:5-11 Ezk. 1:1-14, 24-28 Mt. 9:27-34

Tue 1 Tim. 1:12-17 Ezk. 2:1-4 Mt. 11:1-6

Wed 1 Tim. 2:1-7 Ezk. 17:1-20 Mt. 11:7-10

Season Day Lesson/Epistle

Gospel Year I Year II

Time aft Pentecost

Week 20 (cont.)

Thu 1 Tim. 2:8-11, 15 Ezk. 17:22-24 Mt. 11:11-15

Fri 1 Tim. 3:2-7 Ezk. 18:1-13 Mt. 11:16-19

Sat 1 Tim. 3:15-16 Ezk. 18:20-32 Mt. 11:25, 28-30

Week 21

Mon 1 Tim. 4:12-16 Ezk. 33:1-9 Mt. 13:1-9

Tue 1 Tim. 5:1-17 Ezk. 33:10-20 Mt. 13:10-15

Wed 1 Tim. 5:17-22 Ezk. 34:1-16 Mt. 13:24-30

Thu 1 Tim. 6:3-10 Ezk. 34:23-31 Mt. 13:34-43

Fri 1 Tim. 6:11b-16 Ezk. 37:1-14 Mt. 13:44-46

Sat 1 Tim. 6:17-19 Ezk. 40:1-3; 43:1-7a Mt. 13:47-52

Week 22

Mon 2 Tim. 1:1-11 Hos. 1:1-2:1 Mt. 18:1-5

Tue 2 Tim. 2:1-7 Hos. 4:1-10 Mt. 18:6-7

Wed 2 Tim. 2:8-13 Hos. 10:1-12 Mt. 18:10, 12-14

Thu 2 Tim. 2:14-16, 19-21 Hos. 11:1-11 Mt. 18:15-18

Fri 2 Tim. 3:1-9 Hos. 13:1-9 Mt. 18:19-20

Sat 2 Tim. 3:14-17 Hos. 14:2-10 Mt. 18:21-35

Week 23

Mon Rev. 1:1-8 Am. 1:1; 2:4-16 Mt. 19:1-9

Tue Rev. 1:9-20 Am. 5:1-15 Mt. 19:11-12

Wed Rev. 2:1-7 Am. 5:18-24 Mt. 19:13-15

Thu Rev. 2:8-11 Am. 6:1-7 Mt. 19:16-22

Fri Rev. 2:12-17 Am. 7:7-17 Mt. 19:23-26

Sat Rev. 2:18-29 Am. 9:8-15 Mt. 19:27-30

Week 24

Mon Rev. 3:1-6 Jon. 1:1-16 Mt. 21:14-17

Tue Rev. 3:7-13 Jon. 2:1; 3:1-10 Mt. 21:18-22

Wed Rev. 3:14-22 Jon. 4:1-11 Mt. 21:23-27

Thu Rev. 4:1-11 Ruth 1:1-19a Mt. 21:28-32

Fri Rev. 5:1-5 Ruth 1:19b-2:2 Mt. 21:33-41

Sat Rev. 5:6-14 Ruth 2:3-18 Mt. 21:42-46

Week 25

Mon Rev. 6:1-8 Job 1:6-21 Mt. 22:1-14

Tue Rev. 6:9-11 Job 2:1-13 Mt. 22:15-22

Wed Rev. 6:12-17 Job 3:1-7, 11-15 Mt. 22:23-30

Thu Rev. 7:1-4 Job 11:1, 13-20 Mt. 22:31-33

Fri Rev. 7:9-17 Job 19:1, 21-27 Mt. 22:34-40

Sat Rev. 8:1-6 Job 38:1-5; 40:2-5; 42:2-6 Mt. 22:41-46

Season Day Lesson/Epistle

Gospel Year I Year II

Time aft Pentecost

Week 26

Mon Rev. 12:1-2 Judith 4:1-2, 9-15 Mt. 23:1-4

Tue Rev. 12:13-18 Judith 7:8-15 Mt. 23:5-12

Wed Rev. 13:1-10 Judith 9:5-14 Mt. 23:13-15

Thu Rev. 13:11-18 Judith 13:11-20 Mt. 23:16-22

Fri Rev. 14:1-5 Judith 14:11-15:2 Mt. 23:34-36

Sat Rev. 14:14-20 Judith 16:1-5, 13-16 Mt. 23:37-39

Week 27

Mon Rev. 17:1-6 Eccl. 1:1-13 Mt. 24:1-2

Tue Rev. 18:1-3 Eccl. 3:1-11 Mt. 24:3-5

Wed Rev. 18:4-6 Eccl. 5:1-6 Mt. 24:6-8

Thu Rev. 18:9-11, 15-19 Eccl. 7:5-14 Mt. 24:9-14

Fri Rev. 18:21-24 Eccl. 5:8-19 Mt. 24:15-22

Sat Rev. 19:1-10 Eccl. 12:1-9, 13-14 Mt. 24:23-28

Last

Mon Rev. 19:11-16, 19-21 Joel 2:1-11 Mt. 24:29-31

Tue Rev. 20:1-3, 7-10 Mic. 6:1-8 Mt. 24:32-36

Wed Rev. 20:11-15 Hab. 3:3-19 Mt. 24:37-42

Thu Rev. 21:1-8 Zeph. 1:14-2:3 Mt. 25:1-12

Fri Rev. 21:9-14, 22-27; 22:1-5 Zech. 14:5c-11 Mt. 25:14-30

Sat Rev. 22:6-7, 16-17, 20-21 Mal. 3:1-2, 17; 4:2-4 Mt. 25:31-46

Requiem Masses

Lesson I Rom. 8:12-23 Gospel I Mt. 25:31-46

II Rom. 14:7-9 II Lk. 12:35-40

III 1 Cor. 15:12-22 III Lk. 16:19-31

IV 2 Cor. 4:10-5:1 IV Lk. 23:39-43

V 2 Cor. 5:1-10 V Jn. 12:23-28

VI Rev. 21:2-5 VI Jn. 17:24-26

Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart

Lesson I 1 Jn. 4:7-12 Gospel I Jn. 7:37-39

II Phil. 1:8-11 II Mt. 11:25-30

III Col. 1:18-23 III Mt. 12:14-21

Lectionary for Children and Young People

Week following Lesson/Epistle Gospel

1 Sun aft Pent 1 Jn. 4:7-12 Lk. 6:37-38

2 Sun aft Pent Acts 2:42-47 Jn. 13:33-35

3 Sun aft Pent Acts 3:1-10 Mk. 6:7-13

4 Sun aft Pent Acts 4:13, 16-21 Mt. 10:23, 28-31

5 Sun aft Pent Acts 4:32-35 Mk. 16:15-18

6 Sun aft Pent Acts 9:1-9 Jn. 15:14-17

7 Sun aft Pent Acts 9:10-19a Jn. 14:15-18

8 Sun aft Pent Acts 9:19b-25 Jn. 15:18-21

9 Sun aft Pent Acts 14:8-18 Lk. 22:24-27

10 Sun aft Pent Acts 16:11-15 Mt. 10:40-42

11 Sun aft Pent Gen. 15:1-2a, 5-6a Mt. 4:18-22

12 Sun aft Pent Gen. 28:10-13, 15-17 Jn. 1:45-51

13 Sun aft Pent Ex. 3:1-8, 10 Jn. 4:21, 23-26

14 Sun aft Pent Ex. 14:15-16, 18-21, 26-28; 15:1 Mk. 4:35-40

15 Sun aft Pent Ex. 19:1-8 Lk. 10:21-22

16 Sun aft Pent Ex. 24:4b-11 Lk. 22:14-20

17 Sun aft Pent 1 Sam. 3:2-10 Lk. 6:12-16

18 Sun aft Pent 1 Sam. 16:4b-13b Jn. 10:27-29

19 Sun aft Pent 1 Kgs. 8:10, 22-23a, 27b-30a Jn. 2:13-20

20 Sun aft Pent Ezk. 34:11-16 Mt. 9:35-38

21 Sun aft Pent Rev. 1:12-18 Jn. 12:28-32

22 Sun aft Pent Rev. 4:2b, 6b, 8b-11 Mt. 7:17-21

23 Sun aft Pent Rev. 19:1-2a, 4-7 Lk. 12:39-40, 43-46

24 Sun aft Pent Rev. 21:2, 22-27 Lk. 12:32-34

(If there are more than 24 weeks after Pentecost in any year,

the appropriate readings from the time after Epiphany may be used.)

Appendix 1: Latin text of the decrees regulating the use of the experimental

lectionary in England and Wales, with English translation

Latin text taken from Lectionary for the Masses of the Week (2 vols.; London: Burns & Oates, 1966), pp. i-ii. English translation by Matthew Hazell.

CONSILIUM AD EXSEQUENDAM CONSTITUTIONEM DE SACRA LITURGIA

Prot. n. 838-66

Dioecesium Angliae et Cambriae

Instante Coetu Episcoporum, facultatibus huic Consilio a Summo Pontifice Paulo Pp.VI tributis, perlibenter probamus et ad experimentum adhibendum concedimus ordinem pericoparum pro diebus ferialibus, ita ut thesauri biblici largius aperiantur et ditior mensa verbi Dei paretur

fidelibus (Const. de sacra Liturgia, art.51). Huiusmodi autem concessio hisce circumscribitur condicionibus: 1. Ordo pericoparum adhibendus ille est, qui huic decreto adnectitur. 2. Lectiones propositae assumuntur in Missis III et IV classis, quae proprias non habent, ita tamen ut primo anno series lectionum ex Evangelio cum lectionibus ex aliis libris N.T. componatur; altero vero anno eaedem lectiones ex Evangelio cum lectionibus e libris V.T. coniungantur. 3. Lectiones pro Missis defunctorum etiam in Missis I et II classis, excepta Commemoratione omnium defunctorum, adhiberi possunt.

CONSILIUM FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY

Prot. n. 838-66

Dioceses of England and Wales

At the request of the Conference of Bishops, the Consilium, by the faculties granted to it by the Supreme Pontiff Paul VI, gladly approves and permits the use of this experimental order of pericopes for ferial days, in order that the treasures of the Bible be opened up more

lavishly and richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of Gods word (SC 51). This is permitted under these restricted conditions: 1) The order of pericopes to be used is the one that is attached to this decree. 2) The readings are to be used in Masses of the 3rd and 4th class when they do not have their own, in such a way, however, that in the first year the Gospel reading is placed with readings from the other books of the New Testament, and in the second year the same Gospel readings are placed with readings from the Old Testament. 3) The readings may be used for Masses for the dead even in Masses of the 1st and 2nd class, except on the Commemoration of all the dead.

4. Applicatio huius concessionis remittitur facultativa singulis Episcopis, qui experimenti limites et normas practicas pro sua dicione statuent. 5. Relationes de experimento eiusque fructibus fient a singulis animarum pastoribus ad Episcopos, qui eas ad Commissionem liturgical penes Coetum Episcoporum mittent. 6. Relatio generalis ab eadem Commissione praebebitur Coetui Episcoporum, ac dein huic Consilio transmittetur. 7. Experimentum eo usque protrahi valet, donec aliter sit provisum. Contrariis quibuslibet minime obstantibus. E Civitate Vaticana, die 12 martii 1966

Iacobus Card. Lercaro Praeses

A. Bugnini, C.M.

a Secretis

4) The application of these concessions is left for individual bishops to facilitate, who authoritatively draw up the limits of the experiment and practical norms. 5) Pastors of souls are to give account of the fruits resulting from the experiment to the bishop, who will send them to the liturgical Commission of the Conference of Bishops. 6) A general account by the same Commission is to be presented to the Conference of Bishops, and this will be transmitted to the Consilium. 7) The experiment is to be continued, until other provisions are made. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding. Vatican City, 12th March 1966

Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro Prefect

A. Bugnini, C.M.

Secretary

CONSILIUM AD EXSEQUENDAM CONSTITUTIONEM DE SACRA LITURGIA

Prot. n. 1225-66

Angliae et Cambriae

Instante Exc.mo Domino Georgio Dwyer, Archepiscopo Archdioecesis Birminghamiensis et Praeside Commissionis liturgicae Angliae et Cambriae, litteris die 4 aprilis 1966 datis, facultatibus huic Consilio a Summo Pontifice Paulo Pp. VI tributis, perlibenter probamus et ad experimentum concedimus ordinem pericoparum pro diebus ferialibus, adhibendum in Missis puerorum et puellarum. Contrariis quibuslibet minime obstantibus. E Civitate Vaticana, die 29 aprilis 1966.

Iacobus Card. Lercaro

A. Bugnini, C.M. a Secretis

CONSILIUM FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY

Prot. n. 1225-66

England and Wales

At the request of His Excellency Lord George Dwyer, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Birmingham and President of the Liturgical Commission of England and Wales, in a letter dated 4th April 1966, the Consilium, by the faculties granted to it by the Supreme Pontiff Paul VI, gladly approves and permits the use of this experimental order of pericopes for ferial days, for use in Masses with boys and girls. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding. Vatican City, 29th April 1966

Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro

A. Bugnini, C.M. Secretary

Appendix 2: Extract from A. Bugnini, The Reform of the Liturgy 1948-1975, pp. 406-409

The compilation and publication of the Lectionary of the Roman Missal was preceded by the use of more limited lectionaries for weekday Masses (Ordo lectionum per ferias). These had a providential twofold effect: they educated the faithful to a taste for Sacred Scripture on a broad scale, and they yielded valuable guidelines, based on experience, for the compilation of the definitive set of readings.

The desire for a greater variety in the readings was stimulated by the introduction of the vernaculars. Repetition of the same readingsespecially on weekdays, when the Scriptures of the preceding Sunday were read over and over, and in the Commonscreated boredom and did not promote prayer. A variety of plans was therefore called for.

1. The German Plan

Once the vernacular was introduced, the German Church found itself

impoverished as far as Scripture readings were concerned. As a matter of fact, at an earlier date, on the initiative of Cardinal Michael Faulhaber, Archbishop of Munich and Freising, and with the consent of the Ordinaries of the German diocese, it had become the custom at Mass that while the celebrant was reading the approved pericopes in Latin, a lector read in German other pericopes on which the homily was then preached. However, this practice ceased once permission was given to read the epistle and gospel in German.

On November 6, 1964, therefore, the episcopal conferences asked Rome that on ordinary Sundays of the year and on second- and fourth-class weekdays that lacked their own readings the multi-year cycle of readings already in use in various dioceses or published in Liturgisches Jahrbuch might be used experimentally. When the request was presented to

the Holy Father on December 17, 1964, he answered that discussion of this matter should be postponed (January 4, 1965). Similar requests came from the Swiss (January 15, 1965) and Dutch (March 28, 1965) episcopal conferences.

These petitions were studied at the fifth general meeting of the Consilium (April 1965). The Fathers showed themselves in favor of the experiment. The Consilium regarded it as an excellent means of quickly securing valuable information for a future judgment, since the experiment would involve peoples who differed in culture, preparation, and mentality. In addition, the experiment would facilitate the organizational work involved in producing an official set of Scripture readings for Mass.

At an audience on May 12, 1965, Cardinal Lercaro brought the matter up once more to the Holy Father, who now acceded to the requests of the episcopal conferences of Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. [...]

The announcement of the permission aroused great interest, and a number of other conferences asked if they might join in the experiment.

2. The French Plan

After Germany, France too drew up a plan that was approved for

experiment, on the same conditions, on April 20, 1966. The readings were published by the Centre Nationale de Pastorale Liturgique in pamphlets entitled Lectures pour les Messes de semaine.

This Lectionary was based on the principle of the continuous reading (lectio continua) of books of the Bible; the purpose of this was to make the faithful aware of the main lines of the economy of salvation. Once this principle was followed, however,

it was no longer possible to correlate the two readings.

The first reading was taken now from the New Testament, now from the Old, a shift from the one to the other taking place every two or three weeks. Since only a small part of the Old Testament could be read, preference was given to the Law and the Prophets. The readings were generally short. For the gospel, the passages peculiar to a given evangelist were chosen, but parallel passages were included (though not more than two for the same event or parable.)

The songs between the readings were chosen for their relevance to one of the two readings, preferably the first.

The French system was adopted in the French-speaking countries but also by some others.

3. The Consilium Plan

The set of readings prepared by the Consilium was presented to the

conferences that had not asked for permission to use the German or the French plan.

It followed the calendar then in use, even for those parts that is was foreseen would be changed, such as Septuagesima, Passiontide, the Ember Days, and the octave of Pentecost. The general principles governing the Lectionary had been approved by the Consilium at its general meeting of October 1966, along with the schemas for the weekday readings of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, and the Easter season.

After general information the schema gave the list of pericopes for the various seasons of the liturgical year. This order of readings was the one that, with suitable changes suggested by experiment, would be adopted three years later as the usage of the Roman Rite.

The new system of readings for weekdays reached the entire Church in one or other of the three plans just described and was met with very lively interest. One proof of this is the many publications aimed at helping the faithful to understand and meditate on the Scriptures read each day in the liturgy of the Mass.

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