New Lectionary
On this Third Sunday of Easter we are reminded at the end of the Gospel passage that the disciples and through them passed down to us, that we are the witnesses to all that took place over these days of Holy Week and Easter – to what we have heard and experienced. Our Mission is to witness to this by our lives.
With the Grand National taking place this weekend I was trying to find the name of a horse that had some connection with Easter but unusually this year there was very little religious references in the horses names this year. The only link I could find was that the word ‘Mission’ occurs which has some resonance with today’s gospel. So my prediction for the winner this year is Mahler’s Mission.
This Sunday morning the BBC Radio 4 morning worship programme after the 8am news features a pre-recorded celebration of Mass for this Sunday. This was recorded when the BBC were at our Cathedral, prior to the broadcasting of Midnight Mass. It features the homily given by Bishop Neylon, the Youth Choir and a husky Dean who was recovering from a heavy cold. Also, this Sunday we welcome a visiting choir, St Faith’s Choir from Crosby, who will lead the music for the Solemn Mass. Next Sunday we welcome Civic Leaders from across the North West to the Annual Civic mass. Archbishop Malcolm will be here to preside at this Mass prior to heading off to Rome with Frs Peter and Derek for the Junior Clergy annual retreat.
A New Lectionary, which includes the scripture readings for Mass and the Sacraments, will come into use in England and Wales from Advent 2024;
The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has confirmed the approval by the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales for the new Lectionary.
The Lectionary, which includes the scripture readings for Mass and the sacraments, will come into use in Catholic parishes in England and Wales from Advent 2024. Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery, wrote to Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, confirming the new translation of the Lectionary, which has been done in collaboration with the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland.
He said: “The use of the English Standard Version – Catholic Edition, already in use in India, along with the Abbey Psalms and Canticles will help to ensure that the Word of the Lord reaches God’s holy people without alloy.
“The collaboration of the Episcopal Conference with the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland is another notable feature of this project which highlights the importance of different episcopal conferences within a small geographical area working together for the overall good of the Catholic population in the British Isles.
“What has now been achieved ensures that a stable version of the Lectionary will endure in Great Britain for years to come. Both Conferences are to be commended for this cooperation.”
The Lectionary was revised after the Second Vatican Council. Paragraph 51 of Second Vatican Council document Sacrosanctum Concilium said: “The treasures of the bible are to be opened up more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God’s word.”
Canon Anthony O’Brien
CATHEDRAL DEAN
