THE CATHOLIC LECTIONARY WEBSITE
by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

An Overview of the Contents of the First and Second Editions of the Lectionary for Mass
with

Synoptic Comparison Charts of Lectionary Numbers and Section Titles

The second edition of the Lectionary for Mass (Latin 1981, USA 1998-2002) is substantially the same but also larger than the first edition (Latin 1969, USA 1970). The sections containing the readings for Sunday Masses and Weekday Masses during the liturgical seasons are nearly identical in both editions, except for the addition of some optional readings and the relocation of the Chrism Mass (from #39 to #260, as explained below).

The other sections of the Lectionary, however, are significantly longer in the second edition, with many new reading options added for certain Masses already found in the first edition, and new Masses added to several sections. The Propers of the Saints now recommend specific readings for almost all saints, rather than simply cross-referencing to the Commons. Many additions and some rearrangements have also been made in the sections containing Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, and Votive Masses. Finally, the readings proposed for the Masses for the Dead have been placed in a separate section at the end of the revised Lectionary.

As a result of all these shifts and additions, the numbers assigned to each set of readings are frequently different in the revised Lectionary than in the first edition. However, the numbers in the USA editions are always identical to those of the corresponding Latin edition. The following pages provide detailed overviews of the changes in each section of the Lectionary. For an explanation of the abbreviations used here, see the page summarizing the Various Editions of the Lectionary for Mass.

OVERVIEW TABLE:

SECTION TITLES in OLM69
& Translation in USL70
OLM69
=USL70
OLM81
=USL98‑02
SECTION TITLES in OLM81
& Translation in USL98‑02
PROPRIUM DE TEMPORE
Proper of Seasons
1-509 1-509 PROPRIUM DE TEMPORE
Proper of Seasons (Chrism Mass shifted)
PROPRIUM DE SANCTIS
Proper of the Saints
510-700 510-700 PROPRIUM DE SANCTIS (many new readings; several new saints)
Proper of Saints
COMMUNIA
Commons
701-742 701-742 COMMUNIA
Commons
MISSAE RITUALES
Ritual Masses
743-799 743-826 MISSAE RITUALES (several new Masses)
Ritual Masses
MISSAE AD DIVERSA
Masses for Various Occasions
800-895 827-967 MISSAE PRO VARIIS NECESSITATIBUS (several added)
Masses for Various Needs and Occasions
MISSAE VOTIVAE
Votive Masses
896-929 968-1010 MISSAE VOTIVAE (several new Masses, many readings added)
Votive Masses
[included within the section of
Ritual Masses in OLM69 & USL70
]
x 1011-1026 MISSAE DEFUNCTORUM (now a separate section at the end)
Masses for the Dead


PROPRIUM DE TEMPORE / Proper of Seasons (##1-509 in both OLM69 & OLM81)

The structure of the first part of the Lectionary for Mass is substantially unchanged in the revised edition, with one major exception: the Chrism Mass (traditionally held on the morning of Holy Thursday, but liturgically no longer considered part of the Easter Triduum) was moved from #39 in OLM69 (the beginning of the subsection for the Easter Triduum) to #260 in OLM81 (the end of the subsection for the Weekdays of Lent).

This change caused a shift in the Lectionary numbers for all the other readings in between; that is, the numbers for all the readings between #40 and #260 in OLM69 are one less in OLM81.

The Latin names of the liturgical seasons are identical in OLM69 and OLM81, but the English equivalents were changed in some cases, with slightly longer and more literal translations in USL98-02 than in USL70.

SECTION & SUBSECTION TITLES in OLM69
& Translations in USL70
OLM69
=USL70
OLM81
=USL98‑02
SECTION & SUBSECTION TITLES in OLM81
& Translations in USL98‑02
I. LECTIONES PRO DOMINICIS
I. Sunday Readings
1-175 1-174 I. LECTIONES PRO DOMINICIS
I. Sunday Readings
TEMPUS ADVENTUS
Advent Season
1-12 1-12 TEMPUS ADVENTUS
Season of Advent
TEMPUS NATIVITATIS
Christmas Season
13-21 13-21 TEMPUS NATIVITATIS
Season of Christmas
TEMPUS QUADRAGESIMAE
Lenten Season
22-38 22-38 TEMPUS QUADRAGESIMAE
Season of Lent
TRIDUUM PASCHALE et TEMPUS PASCHALE
Easter Triduum and Easter Season
[starts with the Chrism Mass, #39]
39-64 39-63 TRIDUUM PASCHALE et TEMPUS PASCHALE
Easter Triduum and Season of Easter
TEMPUS «PER ANNUM»
Season of the Year
65-164 64-163 TEMPUS «PER ANNUM»
Ordinary Time
SOLLEMNITATES DOMINI
TEMPORE «PER ANNUM» OCCURRENTES
Solemnities of the Lord during the Season of the Year
165-173 164-172 SOLLEMNITATES DOMINI
TEMPORE «PER ANNUM» OCCURRENTES
Solemnities of the Lord during Ordinary Time
TEXTUS COMMUNES pro cantu psalmi responsorii
Common Texts for Sung Responsorial Psalms
174-175 173-174 TEXTUS COMMUNES pro cantu psalmi responsorii
Common Texts for Sung Responsorial Psalms
II. LECTIONES PRO FERIIS
II. Weekday Readings
176-509 175-509 II. LECTIONES PRO FERIIS
II. Weekday Readings
TEMPUS ADVENTUS
Advent Season
176-202 175-201 TEMPUS ADVENTUS
Season of Advent
TEMPUS NATIVITATIS
Christmas Season
203-219 202-218 TEMPUS NATIVITATIS
Season of Christmas
TEMPUS QUADRAGESIMAE
Lenten Season
220-260 219-260 TEMPUS QUADRAGESIMAE
Season of Lent [ends with the Chrism Mass, #260]*
TEMPUS PASCHALE
Easter Season
261-304 261-304 TEMPUS PASCHALE
Season of Easter
TEMPUS «PER ANNUM»
Season of the Year
305-509 305-509 TEMPUS «PER ANNUM»
Ordinary Time
Note: USL02 puts the beginning of "Holy Week" (##257-260) in a separate subsection between the Season of Lent and the Season of Easter.

PROPRIUM DE SANCTIS / Proper of Saints (##510-700 in both OLM69 & OLM81)

In all editions of the Lectionary, this section is subdivided according to the twelve months of the calendar year.

For most saints already on the liturgical calendar before 1969, the old Lectionary simply gave cross-references to the appropriate sections of the "Commons"; very few saints had their own "Proper" readings.

The revised Lectionary, however, proposes specific readings for most saints, in addition to providing cross-references to the Commons. For saints added to the liturgical calendar since 1969, the readings for their celebrations have a letter added to the number in appropriate chronological order, so that the numbering of the rest of the Lectionary remains unchanged.

For example, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Jan. 4), St. John Neumann (Jan. 5), and Bl. André Bessette (Jan. 6) are assigned ##510A, 510B, and 510C, respectively, so that St. Raymond of Peñafort (Jan. 7) remains #511. Similarly, St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe (August 14) was added as #620A, between the saints of August 13 (#620) and August 15 (#621).


COMMUNIA / Commons (##701-742 in both OLM69 & OLM81)

OLM81 retains the same categories for the Commons as in OLM69, although in many cases more choices have been added to the reading selections proposed for the various Masses.

SECTION TITLES in OLM69
& Translation in USL70
OLM69
=USL70
OLM81
=USL02
SECTION TITLES in OLM81
& Translation in USL02
IN DEDICATIONE ECCLESIAE
Dedication of a Church
701-706 701-706 IN ANNIVERSARIO DEDICATIONIS ECCLESIAE
The Common of the Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church
COMMUNE BEATAE MARIAE VIRGINIS
Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
707-712 707-712 COMMUNE BEATAE MARIAE VIRGINIS
The Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
COMMUNE MARTYRIUM
Common of Martyrs
713-718 713-718 COMMUNE MARTYRIUM
The Common of Martyrs
COMMUNE PASTORUM
Common of Pastors
719-724 719-724 COMMUNE PASTORUM
The Common of Pastors
COMMUNE DOCTORUM ECCLESIAE
Common of Doctors of the Church
725-730 725-730 COMMUNE DOCTORUM ECCLESIAE
The Common of Doctors of the Church
COMMUNE VIRGINUM
Common of Virgins
731-736 731-736 COMMUNE VIRGINUM
The Common of Virgins
COMMUNE SANCTORUM ET SANCTARUM
Common of Saints
737-742 737-742 COMMUNE SANCTORUM ET SANCTARUM
The Common of Holy Men and Women

MISSAE RITUALES / Ritual Masses (##743-799 in OLM69, and ##743-826 in OLM81)

OLM81 adds readings for several more Ritual Masses, slightly changes the names of a few others, and newly subdivides this part of the Lectionary into nine sections, several of which now also have numbered subsections.

Only the English translations of the names and titles are included in the table here, to provide a better overview of the new subsections.

Section and Subsection Titles in USL70 OLM69
=USL70
OLM81
=USL02
Section and Subsection Titles in USL02
.
The Preparation and Baptism of Adults
743: Beginning of the Catechumenate
744: Election
745: First Scrutiny
746: Second Scrutiny
747: Third Scrutiny
748: Presentation of the Creed
749: Presentation of the Lord’s Prayer
750: Rites of Immediate Preparation [OLM81 drops]
751: Baptism during the Easter Vigil
752-756: Christian Initiation apart from the Easter Vigil
 
743-756
 
743-755
I. For the Conferral of Christian Initiation
    1. Catechumenate and Christian Initiation of Adults
    743: Entrance into the Order of Catechumens
    744: Election or Enrollment of Names
    745: First Scrutiny
    746: Second Scrutiny
    747: Third Scrutiny
    748: Presentation of the Creed
    749: Presentation of the Lord’s Prayer
X
    750: Baptism during the Easter Vigil
    751-755: Christian Initiation Apart from the Easter Vigil
Baptism of Children 757-761 756-760     2. Conferral of Infant Baptism
Reception of the Baptized into the
Full Communion of the Church
762 761-763     3. Reception of Baptized Christians into the Full Communion
    of the Catholic Church [new texts, not just cross-references]
Confirmation 763-767 764-767     4. Confirmation
First Communion of Children 768 769     5. First Communion for Children
Holy Orders 769-773 770-774 II. For the Conferral of Holy Orders
x . 775-779 III. For Admission to Candidacy for the Diaconate
    and the Priesthood
x .  
780-784
IV. For the Conferral of Ministries
    1. Institution of Readers
x . 785-789     2. Institution of Acolytes
x .  
790-795
V. For the Pastoral Care of the Sick and Dying
    1. Anointing of the Sick
x . 796-800     2. Viaticum
Marriage (pro Nuptiis) 774-778 801-805 VI. For the Conferral of the Sacrament of Marriage (pro Sponsis)
Blessing of Abbots and Abbesses 779-783 806-810 VII. For the Blessing of Abbots and Abbesses
Consecration of Virgins and Religious Profession 784-788 811-815 VIII. For the Consecration of Virgins and Religious Profession
x .  
816
817-822
823-826

IX. For the Dedication or Blessing of a Church or Altar
    1. Dedication of a Church
    2. Dedication of an Altar
    3. Blessing of a Chalice and Paten
Masses for the Dead 789-793 [cf.1011] [Moved to a new section at the end, after the Votive Masses]
Burial of Baptized Children 794-798 [cf.1017] "
Burial of Non-Baptized Children 799 [cf.1023] "

MISSAE AD DIVERSA / Masses for Various Occasions (##800-895 in OLM69 & USL70)
renamed
MISSAE PRO VARIIS NECESSITATIBUS / Masses for Various Needs and Occasions (##827-967 in OLM81 & USL02)

OLM81 adds readings for several new Masses and changes the order and the titles of a few others. The four main sections of OLM69 are retained, but OLM81 also numbers the subsections sequentially (from 1 to 31) and adds cross-references to the corresponding Masses in the Missale Romanum (called the Sacramentary in English).

Again, only the English translations of the names and titles are included in the table here, to provide a better overview of the subsections.

.
Section & Subsection Titles in USL70: OLM69
=USL70
OLM81
=USL02
Section & Subsection Titles in USL02

MR#

I: For the Church 800-830 827-881 I: For the Holy Church

 .

x . 827-831 1. For the Church

1

For the Election of a Pope or Bishop 800-804 . [see ##833-837 below]

.

For Pope or Bishop, including their anniversaries 805 832 2. For the Pope or a Bishop, especially on their anniversaries

2+3

[see ##800-804 above] . 833-837 3. For the Election of a Pope or a Bishop

4

[see ##826-830 below] . 838-842 4. For a Council or Synod or a Spiritual or Pastoral Meeting

5
16

x . 843-847 5. For Priests

6+7

x . 848-851 6. For Ministers of the Church

8

x . 852-856 7. For Religious

10

For Vocations of Priests and Religious 806-810 857-861 8. For Vocations to Holy Orders or Religious Life

9+11

x . 862-866 9. For the Laity

12

For Unity of Christians 811-815 867-871 10. For the Unity of Christians

13

For the Spread of the Gospel 816-820 872-876 11. For the Evangelization of Peoples

14

For Persecuted Christians 821-825 877-881 12. For Persecuted Christians

15

Pastoral or Spiritual Meetings 826-830 . [see ##838-42 above]

.

II: For Civil Needs 831-840 882-901 II: For Public Needs

.

x . 882-886 13. For the Country or a City,
or For Those who Serve in Public Office, or For the Congress,
or For the President, or For the Progress of Peoples

17–21

For Peace and Justice 831-835 887-891 14. For Peace and Justice

22

x . 892-896 15. For Reconciliation

22b

In Time of War and Civil Disturbances 836-840 897-901 16. In Time of War or Civil Disturbance

23

III: For Various Public Needs 841-885 902-947 III: In Various Public Circumstances

 .

Beginning of the New Year 841-845 902-906 17. For the Beginning of the Civil Year

24

Blessing of Man's Labor 846-850 907-911 18. For the Blessing of Human Labor

25

For Productive Land 851-855 912-916 19. For Productive Land

26

After the Harvest 856-860 917-921 20. After the Harvest

27

For Those Suffering from Famine or Hunger 861-865 922-926 21. In Time of Famine, or For Those who Suffer from Famine

28

For Refugees and Exiles 866-870 927-931 22. For Refugees and Exiles

29

x . 932 23. For Those Held Captive

30+31

For the Sick 871-875 933-937 24. For the Sick

32

For Any Need 876-880 938-942 25. In Time of Earthquake, or For Rain, or For Good Weather,
or To Avert Storms, or For Any Need

34–38

In Thanksgiving 881-885 943-947 26. In Thanksgiving to God

39

IV: For Particular Needs 886-895 948-967 IV: For Various Needs

 .

For Forgiveness of Sins 886-890 948-952 27. For the Remission of Sins

40

x . 953-956 28. For the Promotion of Charity, or To Foster Harmony,
or For Family and Friends

41-42
44

x . 957 29. For the Family

43

x . 958-962 30. For our Oppressors

45

For a Happy Death 891-895 963-967 31. For the Grace of a Happy Death

46

MR# = Cross-references to the corresponding Masses in the Missale Romanum (the Sacramentary).

MISSAE VOTIVAE / Votive Masses (##896-929 in OLM69, and ##968-1010 in OLM81)

OLM81 adds several new Votive Masses, changes the order and the titles of a few others, and again adds cross-references to the corresponding Masses in the Missale Romanum (the Sacramentary). The Latin names are identical in OLM69 and OLM81, but the English equivalents were changed in some cases, with slightly longer and more literal translations in USL98-02 than in USL70.

SECTION TITLE in OLM69
& Translation in USL70
OLM69
=USL70
OLM81
=USL02
SECTION TITLE in OLM81
& Translation in USL02

MR#

DE SANCTISSIMA TRINITATE
Holy Trinity
896 968 DE SANCTISSIMA TRINITATE
The Most Holy Trinity

1

DE MYSTERIO SANCTAE CRUCIS
Triumph of the Holy Cross
897-903 969-975 DE MYSTERIO SANCTAE CRUCIS
The Mystery of the Holy Cross

2

DE SANCTISSIMA EUCHARISTIA
Holy Eucharist
904-909 976-981 DE SANCTISSIMA EUCHARISTIA
The Most Holy Eucharist

3

x . 982 DE D. N. IESU CHRISTO, SUMMO ET AETERNO
SACREDOTE
Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest

3B

DE SACRATISSIMO CORDE IESU
Sacred Heart – [moved below in 1981]
910-915 983-988 DE SANCTISSIMO NOMINE IESU
The Most Holy Name of Jesus

4

DE PRETIOSISSIMO SANGUINE IESU
Precious Blood
916-921 989-994 DE PRETIOSISSIMO SANGUINE D. N. IESU CHRISTI
The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

5

DE SANCTISSIMO NOMINE IESU
Holy Name – [moved above in 1981]
922-927 995-1000 DE SACRATISSIMO CORDE IESU
The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

6

DE SPIRITU SANCTO
Holy Spirit
928 1001 DE SPIRITU SANCTO
The Holy Spirit

7

x . 1002 DE BEATA MARIA VIRGINE
The Blessed Virgin Mary
    DE BEATA MARIA, ECCLESIAE MATRE
    The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
    DE SANCTISSIMO NOMINE MARIAE
    The Most Holy Name of Mary

8

8B

8C

x . 1003 DE SANCTIS ANGELIS
The Holy Angels

9

x . 1004 DE S. IOSEPH
Saint Joseph

10

DE OMNIBUS APOSTOLIS
AUT DE UNO APOSTOLO
All or One of the Apostles
929 1005 DE OMNIBUS SANCTIS APOSTOLIS
All the Holy Apostles

11

x . 1006 DE SS. PETRO ET PAULO, APOSTOLIS
Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

12

x . 1007 DE SS. PETRO, APOSTOLIS
Saint Peter, Apostle

13

x . 1008 DE SS. PAULO, APOSTOLIS
Saint Paul, Apostle

14

[see above #929] [929] 1009 DE UNO SANCTO APOSTOLO
One Holy Apostle

15

x . 1010 DE OMNIBUS SANCTIS
All the Saints

16

MR# = Cross-references to the corresponding Masses in the Missale Romanum (the Sacramentary).

MISSAE DEFUNCTORUM / Masses for the Dead (## 789-799 in OLM69, and ##1011-1026 in OLM81)

OLM81 places these Masses in a separate section at the very end of the Lectionary, adds many more choices for the various readings, and again provides cross-references to the corresponding Masses in the Missale Romanum (the Sacramentary). The Latin names and English translations are slightly different for a few of these.

[Not in a separate section in OLM69, but
included among the Ritual Masses, above.]
OLM69
=USL70
OLM81
=USL02
SECTION TITLE in OLM81
& Translation in USL02
MR#
PRO DEFUNCTIS
Masses for the Dead
[ 789-793 ] 1011-1016 MISSAE DEFUNCTORUM
Masses for the Dead
I-IV
In exsequiis parvuli baptizati
Burial of Baptized Children
[ 794-798 ] 1017-1022 In exsequiis parvuli baptizati
Funerals for Baptized Children
V.A
In exsequiis parvuli nondum baptizati
Burial of Non-Baptized Children
[ 799 ] 1023-1026 In exsequiis parvuli nondum baptizati
Funerals for Children who Died before Baptism
V.B
MR# = Cross-references to the corresponding Masses in the Missale Romanum (the Sacramentary).

 

View or download a Color-Highlighted Version of This Page (in PDF format), to see more easily all the differences explained above.

See also an Analysis of the Detailed Differences between the 1970 and 1998 United States editions of the Lectionary.

 

Main Lectionary Page 1998/2002 USA Edition 1992 Canadian Edition
Links to Other Websites 1970 USA Edition Roman Missal (pre-Vatican II)

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