Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church follows a three-year cycle of Sunday readings at Mass, designated as Year A, Year B, and Year C. This cycle was established after the Second Vatican Council to provide Catholics with a more diverse selection of readings from the Bible, specifically the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Each year in the cycle is dedicated to a different Gospel: Year A to Matthew, Year B to Mark, and Year C to Luke. The Gospel of John is typically read during Easter and other liturgical seasons. To determine the current cycle year, one can add the digits of the calendar year; if the sum is divisible by three, it is Year C, followed by Year A and then B. For example, 2019 was Year C (12, the sum of its digits, is divisible by 3).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of years in the cycle | 3 |
| Cycle years | A, B, C |
| Cycle order | B follows A, C follows B, then back to A |
| Cycle length | 3 years |
| Cycle start | First Sunday of Advent |
| Cycle basis | Readings from the three synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke |
| Year A Gospel | St. Matthew |
| Year B Gospel | St. Mark |
| Year C Gospel | St. Luke |
| Year A example | December 2016 through November 2017 |
| Year B example | December 2017 through November 2018 |
| Year C example | December 2015 through November 2016 |
| Determining the current cycle year | Sum the digits of the calendar year. If the sum is divisible by three, it is Year C. |
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What You'll Learn
The three-year cycle
The Catholic Church has a three-year cycle of readings, designated as Year A, Year B, and Year C. This cycle is built around readings from the three synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Each of the three years is dedicated to a different Gospel: Year A to the Gospel of Matthew, Year B to the Gospel of Mark, and Year C to the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of John is typically read during Easter and other liturgical seasons, such as Advent, Christmas, and Lent.
To determine which year in the cycle it is, one simple method is to 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, the sum of its digits is 12 (2 + 0 + 1 + 9 = 12), which is divisible by three, so 2019 was Year C.
The liturgical year in the Catholic Church begins with the Season of Advent, which starts four Sundays before Christmas. It is a time of preparation and reflection, with readings focusing on Eschatology, Messianic expectations, and teachings about the end times, especially from the prophet Isaiah. The Season of Advent is followed by the Season of Christmas, which celebrates the Incarnation, Nativity, and Birth of Jesus Christ.
During the three-year cycle, the Old Testament readings are selected to reflect themes from the Gospel, and the Psalms often respond to God's Word given in the First Reading. The Second Reading, usually an Epistle, is chosen independently and typically follows the order of the preceding Sunday. While the readings at Mass provide a vignette for meditation and support individual prayer life, they are not intended to be a comprehensive course in salvation history. Therefore, Catholics are encouraged to engage with Scripture outside of Mass to deepen their understanding of the Faith.
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The Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John
The Four Evangelists are believed to be real people, divinely inspired, and not just code words for anonymous authors. While the authorship of the Gospels is debated by scholars, there is good evidence that the Gospels of Matthew and John were written by eyewitnesses, and the Gospels of Mark and Luke were written by close associates of apostles. Matthew and John were two of the original Twelve Apostles, and Mark and Luke are believed to have been apostolic men.
In the Catholic Church, the Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John are read in a three-year cycle, known as Year A, Year B, and Year C. Each year is dedicated to a different Gospel, with the Gospel of St. John typically used during Holy Week and the Easter season. The liturgical year begins in Advent, and the readings are selected to provide a varied selection of Scripture to the faithful.
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The liturgical year
The Sunday readings during the liturgical year follow a three-year cycle, designated as Year A, Year B, and Year C. Each year is dedicated to a different Gospel: Year A to the Gospel of St. Matthew, Year B to the Gospel of St. Mark, and Year C to the Gospel of St. Luke. The Gospel of St. John is typically used during Holy Week and for solemnities. The three-year cycle was established after the Second Vatican Council to provide a varied selection of readings from the Bible and to put more emphasis on the Word of God. To determine the current cycle year, add the digits of the calendar year, and if they are divisible by three, then it is Year C. For example, 2019 is Year C (2 + 0 + 1 + 9 = 12, and 12 is divisible by 3).
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The Second Vatican Council
Pope John XXIII intended the council to be a means of spiritual renewal for the church and an opportunity for Christians separated from Rome to join in a search for Christian unity. This was a significant shift from the Church's previous position of hostility or indifference towards non-Catholics. The decree Unitatis redintegratio ("Restoration of Unity", 1964) states that the restoration of unity among all Christians was one of the principal concerns of the council.
The work of the council continued under Pope John's successor, Pope Paul VI, with sessions convened each autumn until its completion in December 1965. The council's teachings and changes have had a lasting impact on the Catholic Church, with Pope John Paul II affirming that Vatican II "remains the fundamental event of the life of the contemporary Church."
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The Lectionary
In Year A, the Gospel of St. Matthew is primarily used, followed by the Gospel of St. Mark in Year B, and the Gospel of St. Luke in Year C. The Gospel of St. John is typically read during solemnities, Holy Week, and the Easter season of every year. The Old Testament readings are selected to reflect the themes from the Gospels, and the Psalms often follow suit. The second reading is usually an Epistle and typically follows the order of the preceding Sunday.
To determine the current cycle year, a simple method is to add the digits of the calendar year and check if the sum is divisible by three. If it is, then it is Year C; otherwise, you can determine the year by following the cycle pattern (Year A, Year B, Year C). The USCCB liturgical calendar can also be referenced to confirm the current year's designation.
The Catholic Church introduced the three-year cycle of readings after the Second Vatican Council, replacing the previous yearly cycle. This revision aimed to provide a broader exposure to the Bible and enhance the liturgical experience. The Lectionary is subject to ongoing revisions to improve the accuracy of biblical translations and make them more accessible and inclusive for liturgical use.
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Frequently asked questions
The years A, B, and C refer to the three-year cycle of Sunday readings at Mass in the Catholic Church.
The three-year cycle is based on readings from the three synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
One simple way to determine the cycle year is to add the digits of the calendar year and see if they are divisible by three. If it is divisible by three, then it is "Year C".
