The Sunday Lectionary: Ritual Word, Paschal

The Sunday Lectionary examines a key aspect of the liturgical use of the Bible: how the Lectionary puts biblical flesh on the bones of the liturgical calendar and gives paschal shape to the Christian year. Although the current Lectionary has been in use since 1969, its history, purpose, and structure remains relatively unknown to the many who proclaim or hear its readings. The Sunday Lectionary contributes to a theology of proclamation by explaining the principles that underlie the Lectionary's selection of biblical passages and its patterns of reading distribution that structure the Sundays, feast days, and seasons of the liturgical year.

Fr. Normand Bonneau, O.M.I., Th.D. is associate professor of New Testament at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada.

Abbreviations

ix

(2)

Introduction

xi

PART ONE: HISTORY OF THE LECTIONARY AND ITS REFORM

3

(56)

1 A Brief History of Lectionaries

3

(18)

What Is a Lectionary?

3

(1)

A Brief History of Lectionaries

4

(17)

Jewish Lectionary Tradition

5

(1)

Scripture in the Ancient Synagogue

6

(2)

Early Christian Worship

8

(1)

Scripture and the Sunday Eucharist

9

(2)

The Earliest Christian Lectionaries

11

(2)

The Middle Ages

13

(1)

The Missale Romanum of 1570

14

(7)

2 The Vatican II Reform of the Lectionary

21

(10)

Historical Context of the Vatican II Lectionary Reform

21

(1)

Chronology of the Vatican II Lectionary Reform

22

(2)

Five Principles Guiding Lectionary Reform

24

(4)

1. The scriptures are an essential component of liturgical celebration

25

(1)

2. Priority is to be given to the Sunday and Feast Day Lectionary

26

(1)

3. The Lectionary is to contain more scripture

26

(1)

4. The Lectionary is to be adapted to modern times

27

(1)

5. The Lectionary is to take into account previous tradition

28

(1)

Coetus XI

28

(3)

3 The Work of Coetus XI

31

(28)

The Paschal Mystery as Unifying Theme

31

(3)

Continuity and Discontinuity: The Roman Missal of 1570

34

(1)

A Three-Year Cycle of Readings

35

(2)

Advantages of a Three-Year Cycle

37

(1)

Three Readings for Each Sunday and Feast Day

38

(2)

The Preeminence of the Gospel Reading

40

(2)

The First Reading: The Old Testament

42

(2)

The Second Reading: The Apostolic Writings

44

(1)

Principles of Reading Selection and Distribution

45

(2)

Length of Readings

47

(1)

The Proportion of the Bible in the Sunday and Feast Day Lectionary

48

(1)

Determining What Constitutes a Reading

49

(3)

The Ecumenical Import of the Sunday and Feast Day Lectionary

52

(3)

Conclusion

55

(4)

PART TWO: ARCHITECTURE OF THE SUNDAY AND FEAST DAY LECTIONARY

59

(104)

Introduction

59

(4)

4 The Easter Triduum

63

(16)

Principles of Readings Selection and Distribution

64

(1)

Resurrection of the Lord-Easter Vigil (During the Night)

64

(4)

Mass of the Lord's Supper

68

(4)

Celebration of the Lord's Passion

72

(2)

Resurrection of the Lord-Easter Sunday

74

(3)

Conclusion

77

(2)

5 The Easter Season

79

(16)

Principles of Reading Selection and Distribution

80

(1)

Gospel Readings for the Easter Season

81

(5)

The First Readings from the Acts of the Apostles

86

(3)

Readings from the Apostolic Writings for the Easter Season

89

(3)

Conclusion

92

(1)

Note on the Vigil of Pentecost

92

(3)

6 The Season of Lent

95

(16)

Principles of Reading Selection and Distribution

96

(1)

Gospel Readings for the Season of Lent

97

(5)

Old Testament Readings for the Season of Lent

102

(3)

Readings from the Apostolic Writings for the Season of Lent

105

(2)

Passion (Palm) Sunday

107

(2)

Conclusion

109

(2)

7 The Christmas Season

111

(18)

Principles of Reading Selection and Distribution

112

(1)

Readings for the Christmas Season

112

(1)

Christmas

113

(5)

Epiphany

118

(2)

Other Major Celebrations of the Christmas Season

120

(8)

Feast of the Holy Family (Sunday within the Octave of Christmas)

121

(2)

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

123

(2)

Second Sunday after Christmas

125

(1)

Baptism of the Lord

126

(2)

Conclusion

128

(1)

8 The Season of Advent

129

(12)

Principles of Reading Selection and Distribution

131

(1)

Gospel Readings for Advent

132

(2)

Old Testament Readings for Advent

134

(3)

Readings from the Apostolic Writings for Advent

137

(2)

Conclusion

139

(2)

9 The Sundays in Ordinary Time

141

(22)

Principles of Reading Selection and Distribution

142

(1)

Gospel Readings for the Sundays in Ordinary Time

143

(9)

Old Testament Readings for the Sundays in Ordinary Time

152

(5)

Readings from the Apostolic Writings for the Sundays in Ordinary Time

157

(3)

Conclusion

160

(1)

Note on the Solemnities of the Lord during Ordinary Time

161

(2)

Conclusion

163

(4)

Bibliography

167

(5)

Subject Index

172

(3)

Index of Names

175

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The Sunday Lectionary: Ritual Word, Paschal Shape

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

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