- The Word of God -

The New Lectionary for Sundays and Solemnities

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has decreed that the Solemnity of Pentecost, 31 May 2009, is the date for official implementation of the new Lectionary.  From this date, this is the only English-language Lectionary for Sundays and Solemnities permitted for liturgical use in Canada.  It has been approved by the Bishops of Canada and confirmed by the Vatican Congregation for Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in a decree of recognitio issued on 10 July 2007.

In the next several months, we will also receive the other volumes of the Lectionary: the Ritual for Weddings, Funerals and other rituals, the Book of the Gospels, and the Weekday.

As well, there is a new translation of the Roman Missal, which contains all the prayers we pray at Mass, including the Gloria, the Creed, and the Eucharistic Prayers, being prepared.  It will be more than a year before this will be introduced in Canada. 

The new Lectionary is the fruit of several years of work by bishops and other scholars, in continual consultation with the Holy See.  The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation of the Scriptures is the basis for the Lectionary, because of the fidelity of its translation and the standard of its language.  

Several different factors made it necessary to prepare this new Lectionary.  You can read more about it at:  www.cccb.ca/site/index.php?lang=eng.  The fundamental point is the Church’s constant concern that we, the People of God, be richly nourished at the Table of God’s Word, so that the Word may become flesh in our lives.  Let us receive this gift with joy and thanksgiving.

Thanks be to God!