TALK #4:

THE LITURGY OF THE

WORD
by: Niño Risalino DS. Martin
An educator, lector, psalmist, traveler, and shower thrice
on a date.
 HOLY MASS
 It is the central expression of the Christian faith.
 It forms the heart, the source, and summit of life.
 It is the celebration of God’s faithful following the
life of Christ from Word to Sacrament.
 IT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF PRAISE AND
WORSHIP.
LITURGICAL CYCLE
The center
of our
journey is
the LORD.
LITURGICAL SEASONS

 Advent Season
 Christmas Season
 Lenten Season (Lent)
 Paschal Triduum
 Easter Season
 Ordinary Season
 ADVENT SEASON
• Is about the waiting for the birth of Jesus Christ.
• It runs for more or less 4 weeks
• Liturgical color: Violet (or Pink: Gaudete Sunday)
 CHRISTMAS SEASON
• It is the Birth of Jesus Christ.
• It runs for more or less 3 weeks (from the birth of
Christ to the Baptism of the Lord)
• Liturgical color: White
 ORDINARY SEASON
• It is about the ministry of Jesus. About
His works, His miracles, His Parables.
• The longest season in the Liturgical Calendar
• First part is after Christmas Season
• Second part is after Pentecost Sunday
• It runs for more or less 34 weeks
• Liturgical color: Green
 LENTEN SEASON
• A season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving
• It runs for 40 days
(from Ash Wednesday to Black Saturday)
• Sundays of Lent is not included in fasting because
Sunday is still a feast day.
• Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat.
• Liturgical color: Violet (or Pink: Laetare Sunday)
 SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM
• Commemorating the passion, death, and
resurrection of our Lord.

o Maundy Thursday of the Lord’s Supper

o Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord
o Holy Saturday: The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night
 EASTER SEASON
• It is the Resurrection of our Lord.
• It is the season of great joy.
• It runs for 50 days (including eight Sundays:
6 Sundays of Easter, Ascension Sunday, and
Pentecost Sunday)
• Liturgical color: White or Gold (for Easter),
Red (Pentecost Sunday)
 DEGREES OF THESE
LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS
 Sundays – original feast day. (weekly
commemoration of the Lord’s Resurrection)
 Solemnities – greatest feast day
 Feasts – commemorative celebration
 Memorials – simple remembrance
 Obligatory memorial (M)
 Optional memorial (m)
 Ferials – weekday masses
 FEASTS, SOLEMNITIES,
MEMORIALS
• Red – for Martyrs, Apostles, and Evangelists
• White – for Non-Martyred Saints, feast of
Our Lady (Mama Mary), and feast of Our
Lord (with the exception of Palm Sunday,
and Good Friday)
READINGS IN THE MASS
SUNDAY CYCLE
YEAR A / TAONG A
YEAR B / TAONG B
YEAR C / TAONG K

WEEKDAY CYCLE
YEAR I
YEAR II
YEAR A YEAR B YEAR C
2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022
2023 2024 2025
2026 2027 2028
2029 2030 2031

YEAR I YEAR II
2019 2020
2021 2022
2023 2024
2025 2026
2027 2028
2029 2030
READINGS IN THE MASS
GOSPEL READINGS
YEAR A – MATTHEW

YEAR B – MARK
(with JOHN in the Bread of Life Discourse)

YEAR C – LUKE

EASTER SEASON – JOHN

HOLY MASS

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

- focuses on the introductory parts with
emphasis on the readings.

THE LITURGY OF THE

EUCHARIST
- focuses on bringing the Church to an
encounter with Jesus – body, blood, soul,
divinity – in the form of the Bread and
Wine.
 LITURGY OF THE WORD
 It is an avenue to hear specific passages from the
Sacred Scriptures
 It is an important part of the Mass as it forms love
for God’s Word as an encounter with God’s
revelation and message to humanity.
 In the readings, explained by the homily, God is
speaking to His people, opening up to them the
mystery of redemption and salvation, and nourishing
their spirit; Christ is present to the faithful through
His own word. (GIRM (30, 31))
GESTURES IN THE HOLY
MASS
 STAND (Entrance)
 SEATED (Readings, and Psalm)
 STAND (Gospel)
 KNEEL (reflect and ask forgiveness)
 WALK (apply/share/put into practice)

OTHER GESTURES:
 GENUFLECT
 BOW
BOOKS USED IN THE MASS

 LECTIONARY
 BOOK OF THE GOSPELS
(EVANGELARIUM)
 ROMAN MISSAL
 LECTIONARY
 It contains all the readings for every
celebration.
 EVANGELARIUM
 The Book of the Gospels contains the
Gospel writings of the four evangelists:
MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, and JOHN.
 It is carried in procession.
 ROMAN MISSAL
 It contains the prayers used by the
celebrant.
 ORDO
 A book that contains lists of offices
and celebrations of the Roman
Catholic Church for each day of the
year.
 FUNCTIONS AS LECTORS
 1ST READER: Reads the 1st Reading. In absence of the deacon,
he/she will carry the Book of the Gospels during the procession,
he/she will search the Gospel Reading on that day to be read by
the priest/deacon. He/she will read the Responsorial Psalm in
absence of the psalmist/cantor.
 PSALMIST: Sings the responsorial psalm after the 1st Reading,
especially on Sundays, solemnities, and feast days.
 2ND READER: Reads the 2nd Reading after the Responsorial
Psalm. If there is the Book of the Gospels, he/she will close the
Lectionary and put it at the side of the lectern after he/she reads
the 2nd Reading. In absence of the Prayer Leader, the 2nd Reader
will be the Prayer Leader.
 FUNCTIONS AS LECTORS
 PRAYER LEADER: Reads the intentions in the Prayers of
the Faithful.
 COMMENTATOR: Guides the congregation in their
participation of the Holy Mass. Reads the Mass intentions,
announcements, and publications of the marriage banns. And
reads the Entrance and/or Communion Antiphon if there are
no Entrance and/or Communion Hymn
 AS LECTORS…
 We should be an effective proclaimers of the Word
of God.
 We should know the dynamics of the Liturgy of the
Word.
 We should appreciate the value of internal and
external preparations during services.
 We should be familiar with the books used in Mass,
as well as the Liturgical Calendar and celebrations.