The new Italian version of the Lectionary of the Roman Missal, prepared according to the editio typica altera of the Ordo lectionum Missae, uses the version of the Holy Bible edited by the Italian Episcopal Conference, approved according to the deliberations of the Episcopate.
It was confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments with decree Prot. No. 842/06/L of 12 July 2006.
This edition is to be considered “typical” for the Italian language, official for liturgical use. The Lectionary may be used from 2 December 2007, the first Sunday of Advent; it will become mandatory on 2 November 2010.
This was the main reason why, with the permission of the then Visitor (2022), I compiled the new edition of the Lectionary for Masses for the use of the Congregation of the Mission and the Company of the Daughters of Charity in Italian. As regards the spelling, as with the Missal, Fr Erminio Antonello demonstrated his expertise.
The structure of this new liturgical book is based on that of the previous edition, but the important fact is that this new edition of the Vincentian Lectionary is a separate volume and not part of the Vincentian Missal as was the case with the previous edition. In fact, every liturgical book must have its own constitution, because it must express its own meaning in the celebration. Indeed, the Lectionary and even more so the Gospel Book are symbols of the word of God that resounds in the words and gestures of the celebrating assembly: in the proclamation, in the singing and in the various gestures of the reader and the assembly. The importance of the sign of the book, its decoration and its placement become fundamental.
This liturgical book has been divided into four parts:
a) There are four possible readings to choose from, with accompanying psalms.
b) Five options can be chosen as the Gospel, with the corresponding Alleluia verse.
The Masses for the Solemnity of Saint Vincent de Paul have been divided into three sections:
a) The Mission;
b) Charity;
c) The Priesthood
Each theme has been subdivided into readings outside of Eastertide and readings during Eastertide. There is a wide choice of biblical texts. The second readings, with their corresponding responsorial psalms, may be used on a date other than 27 September to celebrate St Vincent’s feast day, if there are reasonable pastoral reasons for doing so.
There is also variety within the three schemes for the choice of Gospel passages
a) We have divided the readings into those outside Eastertide and those within Eastertide, since the solemnity of St Louise falls on 9 May each year.
b) For each scheme, there are first readings outside of Eastertide and a first reading during Eastertide, with the corresponding responsorial psalms.
c) For the second reading, there is a single scheme: there are readings to choose from, followed by the corresponding responsorial psalms, if, during the liturgical year, it is desired – for pastoral reasons – to celebrate Saint Louise as a feast day.
d) There are three Gospel passages to choose from.
Compared to the previous edition, we have decided to add readings from the respective Commons of Saints, such as: Common of Martyrs; Common of Pastors; Common of Virgins; Common of Saints. This material may be useful when, again for pastoral reasons, we wish to celebrate one of our memorials (C.M. – F.d.C.) as a feast day.
The lectionary concludes with the intentions of the universal prayer for the solemnities and feasts of our saints.
Other spontaneous intentions may be added to those proposed in the lectionary.
As I wrote in the article on the Missal, for Provinces that intend to use the Italian translation of the Vincentian Lectionary as a model:
1. They can request it from the Vincentian Liturgical Centre in Rome; the printed text.
2. They can request the files containing the liturgical books from me and translate them into their own language. Write or telephone to:
Fr. Giorgio Bontempi C.M.
@: giorgiobontempi53@gmail.com
Tel. +39 349 302668
