Lectionary

The New Lectionary - Why?

The Lectionary which contains the Scripture readings for Mass and the Sacraments, is changing as part of the continuing process of revising Liturgical translations. The process began with the Roman Missal in 2011 and has continued with all the other Liturgical texts The New Lectionary will use both the English Standard Version – Catholic Edition of the Bible and the Abbey Psalter for the Psalms.

These changes are meant to make the Biblical translations more faithful to the original languages, to reflect current Biblical Scholarship and to provide a text for use in Liturgical settings that is more proclaimable and where appropriate more inclusive. The New Lectionary will become mandatory for use in all Catholic Parishes in England and Wales from Advent 2024. In readiness for these changes, a new set of Lectionaries (in four volumes) and a Book of the Gospels will be purchased for our Parish.

The New Lectionary - Description

The Ambo Edition is the standard Lectionary for parishes and Mass centres. Exquisitely bound in padded leather, and adorned with gold-blocking, gilded edges and multiple ribbon markers, these volumes are both sturdy and worthy for the proclamation of the Word of God.

Four Volumes

The new Lectionary is now divided into 4 volumes:

I: Sundays, Solemnities, Feasts of the Lord.

II: Weekdays: Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time (weeks 1-9), Lent, Easter. Proper of Saints: December – June, Commons.

III: Weekdays: Ordinary Time (6-34). Proper of Saints: June – November, Commons.

IV: Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, Votive Masses, Masses for the Dead.

Beauty and Durability

Binding: Bound in deluxe padded bonded leather with gold blocking on the front, back and spine. A ribbed spine increases durability and ensures the volume will lie flat and keep its shape.

Paper: 65gsm ivory low reflectivity high contrast and low show-through FSC sustainably sourced paper.

Detail: Gilt page edges and liturgically coloured ribbons (2 in volume I and 5 in volumes II-IV).

Slipcase: Each volume comes with a rigid cloth bound slipcase for protection when not in use.

Contents

Text: Typeset in an updated specially modified version of Stone font with rubrics in red.

Clarity: Text set in sense lines for ease of proclaimability.

Study Aids: In-line verse numbers simplify cross-referencing for preaching and study.

Calendar: A complete Proper of Saints with new saints and updated national calendars.

Index: Fully indexed with page numbers and Lectionary numbers for all biblical references, psalms and feasts, including national propers.

Music: New music settings for Gospel Sequences.

Donor Bookplates

Each set comes with four stickers that can be inscribed with the names of those who donate to the new liturgical books on behalf of their parish or chapel.

Pagination

Vol I 1120pp • Vol II 1104pp • Vol III 1408pp • Vol IV 1176pp

The Book of the Gospels

The Book of the Gospels is the central object of the Liturgy of the Word and the first in importance among liturgical objects after the chalice and paten. This is because it is a visible sign of Jesus Christ, the Word of God. For this reason it should be handsomely bound, sometimes made of precious metal and decorated with jewels, rich fabric or artistic embroidery.

For the same reason, at the start of the Mass, the Book is solemnly carried in by Deacon Chris during the entrance procession, and then enthroned in the middle of the altar. It is again carried in procession, and when available accompanied by the acolytes with candles and honoured with incense, before the proclamation of the Gospel.

The contents are so important that the proclamation of the Gospel during the Mass is a role reserved to priest or deacon, never a lay person – although we are all encouraged to study the Gospels and the rest of sacred scripture privately. Its proclamation is a ministerial, not a presidential role. In practice this means that although Father Christopher is the (main) celebrant at the Mass it is not he but Deacon Chris or a concelebrating priest who will proclaim the Gospel. The importance of the Gospels, the words of Jesus, the Word, Himself, is further stressed by the congregation standing and the altar servers standing and turning towards the ambo during its proclamation.