Daily Readings....

[Romans1513]

Ok, so how does the cycle of daily readings work? Are they different by country? Can the priest or someone decide to change the reading for a particular day?

Yesterday, the first reading was my very favorites, and it really spoke a lot to me and answered some questions I've had. I didn't pay close enough attention to the gospel, then, (its soooo easy to tune out when its a different language, even when you understand!) so I went on USCCB and looked up the readings... and the first reading was not the same. At first I thought maybe I had misunderstood the Spanish, but then I realized later that I know for sure I heard the reading I thought I did. I looked on the Chilean Episcopal Conference site, and they only listed the gospel, which was the same as the gospel on USCCB. Any possible explanations, besides God giving me an incredible birthday present with that Mass?

Thanks!

[bonoducchi]

Since yesterday was a weekday on Ordinary Time, there is a bit of latitude in the readings. For example, in "Masses with special groups" readings may be chosen to fit the occasion. Or the priest may have been playing catch-up with readings from Monday if he used readings from the common for the Memorial of Robert Bellarmine. Or a Mass for the dead may have been celebrated, and the gospel proper for the day may have been selected by coincidence. Or there may be a local calendar or lectionary variant. What first reading did you actually hear?

Edited September 19, 2007 by VaticanIILiturgist

[thessalonian]

Some variations are allowed but in general the daily readings are the same throughout the world from what I understand. In general the preists should not change them. Some days they are given alternatives. It is a thing of humility to have the Church set the readings for the year rather than the local pastor picking and choosing what he wants to preach from. "Well for the next three years we are going to go through Romans and John and Ephesians."

The lectionary is set up so that the whole scripture is covered over three years. I believe the New Testament is covered in a year and all of the Gospels on Sundays. I have some computer software that is supposed to figure this out if I can get around to finishing it.

[Romans1513]

It was 1 Corinthians 13. I'm not sure where it began (possibly at the end of 12? I've heard that segment grouped together before) but it included to the end of chapter 13. Kind of a "cliche" favorite, I know, but it has special meaning for me since I read St. Therese's comments on it at a retreat, and then it was the Sunday reading at the retreat the next day!

Edited September 19, 2007 by Romans1513

[bonoducchi]

The reading you heard is the proper reading the 24th Wednesday in OT in cycle II - we are currently in cycle I. My suspicion is that lector accidentally read the wrong reading, although it may have been providence since it seems to have been particularly meaningful for you. Have you been hearing 1 Timothy otherwise?

In regards to Thessalonian's post, the current ordinary lectionary covers 71% of the New Testament and 14% of the Old.

Edited September 19, 2007 by VaticanIILiturgist

[Aloysius]

what's up with the oft-repeated idea that the whole Bible is read in a 3 year cycle?

I always heard that, and it wasn't until all the controversy about the Motu Proprio that I ever heard those percentages.

[Luthien]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1388807' date='Sep 19 2007, 08:53 PM']what's up with the oft-repeated idea that the whole Bible is read in a 3 year cycle?

I always heard that, and it wasn't until all the controversy about the Motu Proprio that I ever heard those percentages.[/quote]
This is L_D...

What do you mean dude? I don't understand your question.

[bonoducchi]

[quote name='Aloysius' post='1388807' date='Sep 19 2007, 06:53 PM']what's up with the oft-repeated idea that the whole Bible is read in a 3 year cycle?

I always heard that, and it wasn't until all the controversy about the Motu Proprio that I ever heard those percentages.[/quote]

Don't know....it was never the case. Those have always been the percentages but the notion that the entire Bible is read has always been prevelant. But honestly, who would want to listen to the entire Book of Proverbs being proclaimed?

Certainly, a greater portion on scriptures is made available to the faithful at Mass as per SC, but nowhere near all of it.

Still, our current lectionary is one of the great treasures of Vatican II. May we be grateful to those that designed it, and he who inspired it (and those who proofread it!).

[thessalonian]

[quote name='VaticanIILiturgist' post='1389008' date='Sep 20 2007, 10:03 AM']Don't know....it was never the case. Those have always been the percentages but the notion that the entire Bible is read has always been prevelant. But honestly, who would want to listen to the entire Book of Proverbs being proclaimed?

Certainly, a greater portion on scriptures is made available to the faithful at Mass as per SC, but nowhere near all of it.

Still, our current lectionary is one of the great treasures of Vatican II. May we be grateful to those that designed it, and he who inspired it (and those who proofread it!).[/quote]

My preliminary work with the computer program I mentioned above in fact indicats that over 3 years, including weekdays a great majority of the scriptures are in fact read or sun in Mass. The Psalms and proverbs and much of Wisdom and Sirach and Ecclesisties and Song of Songs are in the responsorial psalm. Sounds like I need to work on finishing my computer program this weekend.

[Romans1513]

[quote name='VaticanIILiturgist' post='1388780' date='Sep 19 2007, 07:11 PM']The reading you heard is the proper reading the 24th Wednesday in OT in cycle II - we are currently in cycle I.[/quote]
How did you find that out? Is there a website for that? I know how to figure out what reading is on a particular day, but not how to find out what day is for a particular reading.

[quote]although it may have been providence[/quote]

And it was my birthday too. how cool is that? lol

[quote]Have you been hearing 1 Timothy otherwise?[/quote]
Don't know... I don't usually go there for daily Mass, just for Sunday Mass. I know its right on Sundays.

[bonoducchi]

[quote name='Romans1513' post='1391977' date='Sep 23 2007, 10:14 PM']How did you find that out? Is there a website for that? I know how to figure out what reading is on a particular day, but not how to find out what day is for a particular reading.[/quote]

Odd years (after January 1) are weekday cycle I.
Even years (after January 1) are weekday cycle II.

In the back of the lectionary, there is an index of the readings and their lectionary numbers. Make sure you are looking at the right index, however, since some publishers split up Sundays/Solemnities and weekdays/masses for various needs and occasions/masses for the dead. I do that occasionally when I'm preparing the books for a funeral and get all perturbed because a reading isn't in the lectionary, which then necessitates me photocopying from another part of the lectionary and paper-clipping it in volume IV.

Edited September 24, 2007 by VaticanIILiturgist