The Medieval Lectionary

By Michael Marlowe

The tradition of reading specific portions of Scripture on certain days of the year began in a small way. Before the middle of the fourth century only the Gospel readings for Good Friday and Easter were traditional. By the end of the fifth century the readings on the six Sundays preceding Easter (Lent) had become traditional, and readings had also been established for Christmas and the two Sundays following it. By the end of the sixth century the readings on the five Sundays following Easter, the five Sundays preceding Christmas (Advent), and of the three Sundays preceding Lent, had become established. By the end of the seventh century the churches in and around Rome were using unofficial lectionaries which specified readings for every Sunday of the year. Towards the end of the eighth century the French king Charlemagne published such a lectionary, based upon one he had obtained from Rome, for the use of churches throughout his realm. At the end of the tenth century (AD 1000) this lectionary of Charlemagne, with a few local variations, had become traditional throughout the churches of Western Europe. The readings were still in Latin, as was the entire service. Only a small fraction of the people understood it, even in Rome.

In the sixteenth century, at the time of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther and his followers caused the Sunday readings to be done in German, but they continued to use the old lectionary. Likewise the moderate Protestants who took charge of the Church of England continued to use the old lectionary, with minor modifications. The more radical Calvinists in Switzerland, Scotland, and the Netherlands discarded the old lectionary, and adopted the custom of reading completely through selected books of the Bible.

Most American Lutherans and Episcopalians continued to use the old lectionary, with minor changes, until late in the twentieth century. At that time an entirely new, ecumenical, three-year lectionary was adopted by most of the churches who use a lectionary.

Below are two tables showing the readings of the medieval lectionary, with the variations of the Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Anglican churches. The first table shows the readings for Sundays, and the second table shows the readings for other special days. Following the tables is a Scripture index.


The Medieval Lectionary

As Represented in Lutheran, Anglican, and Roman Sources.
† marks Sundays which do not occur every year.
* marks Sundays which rarely occur.
Anglican variations are given in parentheses.
Roman Catholic in square brackets.

Index no.SUNDAYGOSPELEPISTLE
1Advent 1Mat 21:1-9 (1-13)Rom 13:11-14 (8-14)
1 Rom.Advent 1[Luke 3:1-6]"
2Advent 2Luke 21:25-36 (33)Rom 15:4-13
3Advent 3Mat 11:2-101 Cor 4:1-5
4Advent 4John 1:19-28Phil 4:4-7
5After ChristmasLuke 2:33-40Gal 4:1-7
5 Ang.After Christmas(Mat 1:18-25)"
*6After CircumcisionMat 2:13-231 Pet 4:12-19
*6 Ang.After Circumcision(Luke 2:15-21)(Rom 4:8-14)
*6 Rom.After Circumcision[Luke 2:21][Titus 2:11-15]
7After Epiphany 1Luke 2:41-52Rom 12:1-6
†8After Epiphany 2John 2:1-11Rom 12:6-16
†9After Epiphany 3Mat 8:1-13Rom 12:16-21
†10After Epiphany 4Mat 8:23-27 (34)Rom 13:8-10
†10 Ang.After Epiphany 4(Mat 8:23-34)(Rom 13:1-7)
†11After Epiphany 5Mat 13:24-30Col 3:12-17
*12After Epiphany 6Mat 17:1-92 Pet 1:16-21
*12 Ang.After Epiphany 6(Mat 24:23-31)(1 John 3:1-8)
*12 Rom.After Epiphany 6[Mat 13:31-35][1 Thess 1:2-10]
13SeptuagesimaMat 20:1-161 Cor 9:24-10:5 (9:24-27)
14SexagesimaLuke 8:4-152 Cor 11:19-12:9 (11:19-31)
15QuinquagesimaLuke 18:31-431 Cor 13:1-13
16Lent 1Mat 4:1-112 Cor 6:1-10
17Lent 2Mat 15:21-281 Thess 4:1-8
17 Rom.Lent 2[Mat 17:1-9]"
18Lent 3Luke 11:14-28Eph 5:1-9 (14)
19Lent 4John 6:1-15Gal 4:21-31
20Lent 5John 8:46-59Heb 9:11-15
21Palm SundayMat 21:1-9Phil 2:5-11
21 Ang.Palm Sunday(Mat 27:1-54)"
22EasterMark 16:1-81 Cor 5:6-8
22 Ang.Easter(John 20:1-10)(Col 3:1-7)
23After Easter 1John 20:19-311 John 5:4-12
24After Easter 2John 10:11-161 Pet 2:21-25
25After Easter 3John 16:16-231 Pet 2:11-20 (17) [19]
26After Easter 4John 16:5-15James 1:16-21
27After Easter 5John 16:23-30 (33)James 1:22-27
28After Easter 6John 15:26-16:41 Pet 4:7-11
29PentecostJohn 14:23-31 (15-31)Acts 2:1-13 [11]
30Trinity SundayJohn 3:1-15Rom 11:33-36 (Rev 4:1-11)
30 Rom.Trinity Sunday[Mat 28:18-20]Rom 11:33-36
31After Trinity 1Luke 16:19-311 John 4:16-21 (7-21)
31 Rom.After Trinity 1[omit][omit]
32After Trinity 2Luke 14:16-241 John 3:13-18 (24)
33After Trinity 3Luke 15:1-101 Pet 5:6-11
34After Trinity 4Luke 6:36-42Rom 8:18-23
34 Rom.After Trinity 4[Luke 5:1-11]" See Note below
35After Trinity 5Luke 5:1-111 Pet 3:8-15
36After Trinity 6Mat 5:20-26Rom 6:3-11
37After Trinity 7Mark 8:1-9Rom 6:19-23
38After Trinity 8Mat 7:15-23Rom 8:12-17
39After Trinity 9Luke 16:1-91 Cor 10:6-13 (1-13)
40After Trinity 10Luke 19:41-481 Cor 12:1-11
41After Trinity 11Luke 18:9-141 Cor 15:1-10
42After Trinity 12Mark 7:31-372 Cor 3:4-11 (9)
43After Trinity 13Luke 10:23-37Gal 3:15-22
44After Trinity 14Luke 17:11-19Gal 5:16-24
45After Trinity 15Mat 6:24-34Gal 5:25-6:10 (6:11-18)
46After Trinity 16Luke 7:11-17Eph 3:13-21
47After Trinity 17Luke 14:1-11Eph 4:1-6
48After Trinity 18Mat 22:34-461 Cor 1:4-9
49After Trinity 19Mat 9:1-8Eph 4:22-28 (17-32)
50After Trinity 20Mat 22:1-14Eph 5:15-21
51After Trinity 21John 4:46-54Eph 6:10-17 (20)
52After Trinity 22Mat 18:23-35 (21-35)Phil 1:3-11 [6-11]
†53After Trinity 23Mat 22:15-22Phil 3:17-21
†54After Trinity 24Mat 9:18-26Col 1:9-14 (Col 1:3-12)
†55After Trinity 25Mat 24:15-28 [35]1 Thess 4:13-18 [omit]
†55 Ang.After Trinity 25(John 6:5-14)(Jeremiah 23:5-8)
*56After Trinity 26Mat 25:31-462 Pet 3:3-14
*56 Ang.After Trinity 26(omit)(omit)
*56 Rom.After Trinity 26[omit][omit]
*57After Trinity 27Mat 25:1-131 Thess 5:1-11
*57 Ang.After Trinity 27(omit)(omit)
*57 Rom.After Trinity 27[omit][omit]

Note. On the fourth Sunday after Trinity the Roman Lectionary omits Luke 6:36-42 from the list of readings and moves all subsequent Gospel readings up one Sunday, but without moving the corresponding Epistle readings.


Readings for Feast Days that do not fall on Sunday

Index no.FESTIVALGOSPELEPISTLE
AChristmas EveLuke 2:1-14Titus 2:11-14
BChristmas DawnLuke 2:15-20Titus 3:4-7
CChristmas DayJohn 1:1-14Heb 1:1-12
DStephen's Day. Dec. 26Mat 23:34-39Acts 6:8-7:60 (7:55-60)
EJohn's Day. Dec. 27John 21:20-24 (19-25)1 John 1:1-10 (8) [Ecclesiasticus 15:1-6]
FInnocents' Day. Dec.28Mat 2:13-18Rev 14:1-5
GCircumcision. Jan.1Luke 2:21 (15-21)Gal 3:23-29 [Titus 2:11-15]
G Ang.Circumcision. Jan.1(Luke 2:15-21)(Rom 4:8-14)
HEpiphany. Jan.6Mat 2:1-12Isa 60:1-6 (Eph 3:1-12)
IAsh WednesdayMat 6:16-21Joel 2:12-17
KMaundy ThursdayJohn 13:1-151 Cor 11:23-32 (17-34) [20-32]
K Ang.Maundy Thursday(Luke 23:1-49)(1 Cor 11:17-34)
LGood FridayJohn 18:1-19:42Isa 52:13-53:12 [Exod 12:1-11]
L Ang.Good Friday(John 19:1-37)(Heb 10:1-25)
MMonday after EasterLuke 24:13-35Acts 10:34-41 [37-43]
NTuesday after EasterLuke 24:36-47Acts 13:26-33 (41)
OAscension DayMark 16:14-20Acts 1:1-11
PMonday after PentecostJohn 3:16-21Acts 10:42-48 (34-48)
QTuesday after PentecostJohn 10:1-11Acts 8:14-17
RAll Saints Day. Nov.1Mat 5:1-13Rev 7:2-13
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     


Scripture Index

Exodus 12:1-11 .... L Rom.
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 .... L
Isaiah 60:1-6 .... H
Jeremiah 23:5-8 .... †55 Ang.
Joel 2:12-17 .... I
Ecclesiasticus 15:1-6 .... E Rom.
Mat 1:18-25 .... 5 Ang.
Mat 2:1-12 .... H
Mat 2:13-23 .... *6
Mat 2:13-18 .... F
Mat 4:1-11 .... 16
Mat 5:1-13 .... R
Mat 5:20-26 .... 36
Mat 6:16-21 .... I
Mat 6:24-34 .... 45
Mat 7:15-23 .... 38
Mat 8:1-13 .... †9
Mat 8:23-27 (34) .... †10
Mat 9:1-8 .... 49
Mat 9:18-26 .... †54
Mat 11:2-10 .... 3
Mat 13:24-30 .... †11
Mat 13:31-35 .... *12 Rom.
Mat 15:21-28 .... 17
Mat 17:1-9 .... *12
Mat 17:1-9 .... 17 Rom.
Mat 18:23-35 (21-35) .... 52
Mat 20:1-16 .... 13
Mat 21:1-9 (1-13) .... 1
Mat 21:1-9 .... 21
Mat 22:1-14 .... 50
Mat 22:15-22 .... †53
Mat 22:34-46 .... 48
Mat 23:34-39 .... D
Mat 24:15-28 [35] .... †55
Mat 24:23-31 .... *12 Ang.
Mat 25:1-13 .... *57
Mat 25:31-46 .... *56
Mat 27:1-54 .... 21 Ang.
Mat 28:18-20 .... 30 Rom.
Mark 7:31-37 .... 42
Mark 8:1-9 .... 37
Mark 16:1-8 .... 22
Mark 16:14-20 .... O
Luke 2:1-14 .... A
Luke 2:15-20 .... B
Luke 2:15-21 .... *6, G Ang.
Luke 2:21 .... *6 Rom.
Luke 2:21 (15-21) .... G
Luke 2:33-40 .... 5
Luke 2:41-52 .... 7
Luke 3:1-6 .... 1 Rom.
Luke 5:1-11 .... 35
Luke 6:36-42 .... 34
Luke 7:11-17 .... 46
Luke 8:4-15 .... 14
Luke 10:23-37 .... 43
Luke 11:14-28 .... 18
Luke 14:1-11 .... 47
Luke 14:16-24 .... 32
Luke 15:1-10 .... 33
Luke 16:1-9 .... 39
Luke 16:19-31 .... 31
Luke 17:11-19 .... 44
Luke 18:9-14 .... 41
Luke 18:31-43 .... 15
Luke 19:41-48 .... 40
Luke 21:25-36 (33) .... 2
Luke 23:1-49 .... K Ang.
Luke 24:13-35 .... M
Luke 24:36-47 .... N
John 1:1-14 .... C
John 1:19-28 .... 4
John 2:1-11 .... †8
John 3:1-15 .... 30
John 3:16-21 .... P
John 4:46-54 .... 51
John 6:1-15 .... 19
John 6:5-14 .... †55 Ang.
John 8:46-59 .... 20
John 10:1-11 .... Q
John 10:11-16 .... 24
John 13:1-15 .... K
John 14:23-31 (15-31) .... 29
John 15:26-16:4 .... 28
John 16:5-15 .... 26
John 16:16-23 .... 25
John 16:23-30 (33) .... 27
John 18:1-19:42 .... L
John 19:1-37 .... L Ang.
John 20:1-10 .... 22 Ang.
John 20:19-31 .... 23
John 21:20-24 (19-25) .... E
Acts 1:1-11 .... O
Acts 2:1-13 [11] .... 29
Acts 6:8-7:60 (7:55-60) .... D
Acts 8:14-17 .... Q
Acts 10:34-41 [37-43] .... M
Acts 10:42-48 (34-48) .... P
Acts 13:26-33 (41) .... N
Rom 4:8-14 .... *6, G Ang.
Rom 6:3-11 .... 36
Rom 6:19-23 .... 37
Rom 8:12-17 .... 38
Rom 8:18-23 .... 34
Rom 11:33-36 .... 30
Rom 12:1-6 .... 7
Rom 12:6-16 .... †8
Rom 12:16-21 .... †9
Rom 13:1-7 .... †10 Ang.
Rom 13:8-10 .... †10
Rom 13:11-14 (8-14) .... 1
Rom 15:4-13 .... 2
1 Cor 1:4-9 .... 48
1 Cor 4:1-5 .... 3
1 Cor 5:6-8 .... 22
1 Cor 9:24-10:5 (9:24-27) .... 13
1 Cor 10:6-13 (1-13) .... 39
1 Cor 11:17-34 .... K Ang.
1 Cor 11:23-32 [20-32] .... K
1 Cor 12:1-11 .... 40
1 Cor 13:1-13 .... 15
1 Cor 15:1-10 .... 41
2 Cor 3:4-11 (9) .... 42
2 Cor 6:1-10 .... 16
2 Cor 11:19-12:9 (11:19-31) .... 14
Gal 3:15-22 .... 43
Gal 3:23-29 .... G
Gal 4:1-7 .... 5
Gal 4:21-31 .... 19
Gal 5:16-24 .... 44
Gal 5:25-6:10 .... 45
Gal 6:11-18 .... 45 Ang.
Eph 3:1-12 .... H Ang.
Eph 3:13-21 .... 46
Eph 4:1-6 .... 47
Eph 4:22-28 (17-32) .... 49
Eph 5:1-9 (14) .... 18
Eph 5:15-21 .... 50
Eph 6:10-17 (20) .... 51
Phil 1:3-11 [6-11] .... 52
Phil 2:5-11 .... 21
Phil 3:17-21 .... †53
Phil 4:4-7 .... 4
Col 1:3-12 .... †54 Ang.
Col 1:9-14 .... †54
Col 3:1-7 .... 22 Ang.
Col 3:12-17 .... †11
1 Thess 1:2-10 .... *12 Rom.
1 Thess 4:1-8 .... 17
1 Thess 4:13-18 .... †55
1 Thess 5:1-11 .... *57
Titus 2:11-14 .... A
Titus 2:11-15 .... *6, G Rom.
Titus 3:4-7 .... B
Heb 1:1-12 .... C
Heb 9:11-15 .... 20
Heb 10:1-25 .... L Ang.
James 1:16-21 .... 26
James 1:22-27 .... 27
1 Pet 2:11-20 (17) [19] .... 25
1 Pet 2:21-25 .... 24
1 Pet 3:8-15 .... 35
1 Pet 4:7-11 .... 28
1 Pet 4:12-19 .... *6
1 Pet 5:6-11 .... 33
2 Pet 1:16-21 .... *12
2 Pet 3:3-14 .... *56
1 John 1:1-10 (8) .... E
1 John 3:1-8 .... *12 Ang.
1 John 3:13-18 (24) .... 32
1 John 4:16-21 (7-21) .... 31
1 John 5:4-12 .... 23
Rev 4:1-11 .... 30 Ang.
Rev 7:2-13 .... R
Rev 14:1-5 .... F