Joshua Bennett
The Catholic Church follows a three-year cycle of Sunday readings, namely Year A, Year B, and Year C. Each liturgical year starts with the first Sunday of Advent and marks the transition from one lectionary cycle to the next. The lectionary cycles were introduced after the Second Vatican Council ordered a change in the Sunday Mass readings to encourage Catholics to familiarize themselves with the entire Holy Bible. The liturgical year 2020, for instance, began in December 2019. The USCCB liturgical calendar can be referred to for clarification on the year of Sunday readings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Liturgical Years | 3 |
| Names of Liturgical Years | Year A, Year B, Year C |
| Start of Liturgical Year | First Sunday of Advent |
| Readings in Year A | Gospel of Matthew |
| Readings in Year B | Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John |
| Readings in Year C | Gospel of Luke |
| Readings during Easter in all years | Gospel of John |
| Readings during Easter Season | First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles |
| Year Preceding 2020 Liturgical Year | 2019 |
| Year Preceding 2022 Liturgical Year | 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
The three-year cycle of Catholic Sunday Readings
The Catholic Church has three liturgical years, namely Year A, Year B, and Year C. Each liturgical year starts with the first Sunday of Advent and marks the transition from one lectionary cycle to the next. The lectionary cycles were introduced after the Second Vatican Council ordered a change in the Sunday Mass Readings so that Catholics would familiarise themselves with the entire Holy Bible.
The Old Testament reading is selected to reflect a theme from the Gospel, and the Psalm often does the same. The second reading, usually an Epistle, typically follows the order of the preceding Sunday. The weekday lectionary includes a reading from the Old Testament, Acts, Revelation, or the Epistles; a responsorial Psalm; and a reading from one of the Gospels. These readings are generally shorter than those appointed for Sundays.
To determine the current cycle year, one can add the digits of the calendar year and see if they are divisible by three. If the sum is divisible by three, then it is "Year C". For example, for the year 2019, 2 + 0 + 1 + 9 = 12, which is divisible by 3, so 2019 was "Year C".
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The liturgical year
Advent is a time when Christians remember the wise men's visit to Jesus and use an 'Advent wreath' of candles to mark the Sundays of Advent, lighting a new candle each week. This is followed by Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus and the fulfilment of the prophecy that "a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son".
After Christmas comes Epiphany, which marks the recognition of the newborn Jesus by the world. This is followed by the Feast of the Presentation, also known as Candlemas, which remembers Jesus being brought to the Temple by his parents. Ash Wednesday then marks the start of Lent, a season of self-examination, penitence, and preparation for Easter. Lent is described as lasting forty days (excluding Sundays) and recalls Jesus's temptation in the wilderness.
Easter celebrates Jesus's resurrection, leading to his Ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Ordinary Time then resumes until the end of the year, allowing for continuous reading from the Bible and the exploration of other themes.
In the Catholic Church, there are three Liturgical Years: Year A, Year B, and Year C. Each Liturgical Year starts with the first Sunday of Advent and marks the transition from one lectionary cycle to the next. These lectionary cycles were introduced after the Second Vatican Council ordered a change in the Sunday Mass Readings so that Catholics would become familiar with the entire Holy Bible. As a result, Catholics now have a three-year cycle of Sunday Readings built around the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
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The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke
In the Catholic Church, there are three Liturgical Years: Year A, Year B, and Year C. Each Liturgical Year starts with the first Sunday of Advent, marking the transition from one lectionary cycle (A, B, or C) to the next. These lectionary cycles were introduced after the Second Vatican Council mandated a change in the Sunday Mass Readings. The goal was to ensure that Catholics would become familiar with the entire Holy Bible. This change resulted in the current three-year cycle of Catholic Sunday Readings, which are centred on the readings from the three synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
The Gospel of Matthew, the focus of Year A readings, was written for a Jewish audience. It extensively quotes the Old Testament and uniquely emphasises "the kingdom of heaven." Mark's Gospel, which forms the basis of Year B readings, was written for a Roman audience and accounts for about 90% of Matthew's content and 50% of Luke's. It includes explanatory elaborations and Aramaisms, such as "Talitha kum!". Luke's Gospel, featured in Year C, was directed towards a broader Gentile audience and highlights Jesus' acts of compassion towards Gentiles and Samaritans.
The three-year cycle of Sunday readings in the Catholic Church, encompassing Years A, B, and C, provides a varied selection of scriptures from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This cycle enriches the spiritual experience of the faithful by offering a comprehensive exploration of God's word, particularly during significant seasons like Easter, Lent, and Advent.
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The Second Vatican Council
The council produced sixteen documents, including four constitutions, nine decrees, and three declarations. These documents covered a range of topics, from the theology of the episcopate and the laity to the relationship between the Church and the state. One of the most significant outcomes of the council was the emphasis on ecumenism, or fostering unity among all Christians. This was a reversal of the Church's previous position of hostility or indifference towards non-Catholics. The council also ordered a change in the Sunday Mass Readings, creating a three-year cycle of readings from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, to encourage Catholics to familiarise themselves with the whole Bible.
Another important aspect of the Second Vatican Council was the increased lay involvement in church matters. For the first time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, women were allowed to attend an assembly of bishops, although their participation was limited to that of observers. The council also emphasised the role of the Church in scrutinising the signs of the times and interpreting them in light of the Gospel, a principle that continues to inform the mission of many Catholic institutions.
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The USCCB liturgical calendar
The Catholic Church follows a three-year liturgical cycle, consisting of Year A, Year B, and Year C. Each liturgical year starts with the first Sunday of Advent, marking the transition from one lectionary cycle to the next. The lectionary cycles were introduced after the Second Vatican Council ordered a change in the Sunday Mass Readings, with the aim of familiarizing Catholics with the whole Holy Bible.
Year A focuses on the Gospel of Matthew, Year B on the Gospel of Mark, and Year C on the Gospel of Luke. During the Easter Season, the First Reading always comes from the Acts of the Apostles. The liturgical year also includes other days of prayer and special observances promoted by the Holy See or the USCCB, such as Holy Days of Obligation.
The USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) publishes a yearly liturgical calendar for the Dioceses of the United States of America. This calendar provides detailed information for each day, including the celebration, rank, liturgical color, citations for the Lectionary for Mass, and the Psalter cycle for the Liturgy of the Hours. The USCCB liturgical calendar serves as a valuable resource for Catholics in the United States, helping them navigate the liturgical year and its associated readings, prayers, and observances.
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Frequently asked questions
The Catholic Church has three liturgical years: Year A, Year B, and Year C.
Each liturgical year begins on the first Sunday of Advent.
In Year A, the Sunday Gospel Readings are from the Gospel of Matthew. In Year B, they are from the Gospel of Mark. In Year C, they are from the Gospel of Luke.
You can refer to the USCCB liturgical calendar, which states which year we are in for the Sunday readings.
