THE CATHOLIC LECTIONARY WEBSITE by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.
Liturgical Introductions and Conclusions for Scripture Readings
Liturgical Introductions:
A reading from the Book of Genesis (or Exodus, Joshua, Proverbs, Job, etc., for most OT books).
A reading from the first(or second)Book of Samuel (or Kings, Chronicles, Maccabees).
A reading from the Book of the prophetIsaiah (or Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, etc., for all prophets).
A reading from the Song of Songs. (the only OT text not “from the Book of…”)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (or Mark, Luke, John).
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (or Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians).
A reading from the first(or second) Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (or Thessalonians).
A reading from the first (or second) Letter of Paul to Timothy.
A reading from the Letter of Paul to Titus (or Philemon).
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. (not “…of Paul to the Hebrews”)
A reading from the Letter ofJames (or Jude).
A reading from the first (or second, or third) Letter of Peter (or John).
A reading from the Book of Revelation. (not plural “Revelations”)
Liturgical Conclusions:
After the 1st and 2nd readings:
Lector: “The Word of the Lord.” (not “This is the Word of …”)
Response: “Thanks be to God.”
After the Gospel proclamation :
Deacon or Priest: “The Gospel of the Lord.” (not “This is the Gospel of …”)
Response: “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.”
Alternate Introductions: (mentioning “Saint”)
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (or Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians).
A reading from the first(or second) Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (or Thessalonians).
A reading from the first (or second) Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus (or Philemon).
A reading from the Letter of Saint James (or Jude).*
A reading from the first (or second, or third) Letter of Saint Peter (or John).
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew (or Mark, Luke, John).*
*Notes:
The Lectionary for Mass (1998/2002) is inconsistent with the use of the title “Saint” before names.
The title “Saint” is explicitly added before the names of most of the Apostles (Paul, Peter, John, Jude), but curiously not before the names of the four Evangelists
(Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
In contrast, the Spanish translation of the Roman Missal does have “San Mateo,” “San Marcus,” etc.
The usage is inconsistent for James:
Readings 695.1, 716.7, 740.13, and 792.13 have “A reading from the Letter of Saint James.”
But readings 883.9, 883.10, 888.3, 898.3, 903.2, 923.2, 934.4, and 939.3 (all in the section of “Masses for Various Needs and Occasions”) merely say “A reading from the Letter of James.”
Although Paul is called “Saint,” Timothy and Titus are not;
The Lectionary says, “A reading of the first Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy,” rather than “…Saint Paul to Saint Timothy” (or Saint Titus).