Sundays of Christmas
Nativity of the Lord
25 December Solemnity
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- proper
- Gloria
- Creed (all kneel at And was made man… (Et incarnatus…))
- proper Preface and inserts for Eucharistic Prayer I
- Office
- EP I: proper
- MP: proper, Sunday Week I
- EP II: proper
Vigil Mass |
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| Reading 1 | Isa 62:1-5 | The Lord takes delight in you. |
| Psalm | Ps 88:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 | I will sing for ever of your love, Lord. |
| Reading 2 | Acts 13:16-17, 22-25 | Paul's witness to Christ, the son of David |
| Gospel Acclamation | Tomorrow there will be an end to sin in the world and the saviour of the world will be king. | |
| Gospel | Matt 1:1-25 | The ancestry of Jesus Christ, the son of David. |
| shorter | Matt 1:18-25 | Mary will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus. |
Mass during the Night |
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| Reading 1 | Isa 9:1-7 | A son is given to us |
| Psalm | Ps 95:1-2a, 2b-3, 11-12, 13 | Today a saviour has been born to us; he is Christ the Lord. |
| Reading 2 | Titus 2:11-14 | God's grace has been revealed to the whole human race. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Luke 2:10-11 | I bring you news of great joy: today a saviour has been born to us, Christ the Lord. |
| Gospel | Luke 2:1-14 | Today a saviour has been born to us. |
Dawn Mass |
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| Reading 1 | Isa 62:11-12 | Look, your saviour comes. |
| Psalm | Ps 96:1, 6, 11-12 | This day new light will shine upon the earth. |
| Reading 2 | Titus 3:4-7 | It was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Luke 2: 14 | Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favour. |
| Gospel | Luke 2:15-20 | The shepherds found Mary and Joseph and the baby. |
Mass during the Day |
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| Reading 1 | Isa 52:7-10 | All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. |
| Psalm | Ps 97:1, 2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6 | All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. |
| Reading 2 | Heb 1:1-6 | God has spoken to us through his Son. |
| Gospel Acclamation | A hallowed day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, worship the Lord, for today a great light has shone down upon the earth. | |
| Gospel | John 1:1-18 | The Word was made flesh, and lived among us. |
| shorter | John 1:1-5, 9-14 | The Word was made flesh, and lived among us. |
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Sunday in the Octave of Christmas Feast
- When there is no Sunday occurring between 25 December and 1 January, this feast is celebrated on 30 December with one reading only before the Gospel.
- An alternative set of 1st and 2nd readings and psalm for optional use in Years B and C is provided in the Lectionary.
- Directory on Popular Piety
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- proper
- Gloria
- Creed (when celebrated on a Sunday)
- proper Preface and Christmas insert for Eucharistic Prayer I
- Office
- EP I: (only on a Saturday) proper, common of Blessed Virgin Mary
- MP: proper, Sunday Week I
- EP II: proper, common of Blessed Virgin Mary
| Year A | ||
| Reading 1 | Eccl 3:2-6. 12-14 | He who fears the Lord respects his parents |
| Psalm | Ps 127:1-2, 3, 4-5 r.1 | O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways! |
| Reading 2 | Col 3:12-21 | Family life in the Lord. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Col 3:15. 16 | May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts; let the message of Christ find a home with you. |
| Gospel | Matt 2:13-15, 19-23 | Take the child and his mother and escape into Egypt. |
| Year B | ||
| Reading 1 | Gen 15:1-6; 21:1-3 | Your heir shall be your own flesh and blood. |
| Psalm | Ps 104:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 r. 7.8 | He, the Lord, is our God. He remembers his covenant for ever. |
| Reading 2 | Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 | The faith of Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac |
| Gospel Acclamation | Heb 1: 1-2 | At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. |
| Gospel | Luke 2:22-40 | The child grew, filled with wisdom. |
| shorter | Luke 2:22, 39-40 | The child grew, filled with wisdom. |
| Year C | ||
| Reading 1 | 1 Sam 1:20-22, 24-28 | Samuel is made over to the Lord for the whole of his life. |
| Psalm | Ps 83:2-3, 5-6, 9-10 r.5 | They are happy who dwell in your house, O Lord. |
| Reading 2 | 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24 | We are called God's children, and that is what we are. |
| Gospel Acclamation | cf. Acts 16: 14 | Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. |
| Gospel | Luke 2:41-52 | Jesus is found by his parents sitting among the doctors. |
Mary, Mother of God
1 January Solemnity
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- Preface of BVM I and Christmas insert for Eucharistic Prayer I
- Office
- EP I: proper, common of Blessed Virgin Mary
- MP: proper, Sunday Week I
- EP II: proper, common of Blessed Virgin Mary
| Reading 1 | Num 6:22-27 | They are call down my name on the sons of Israel, and I will bless them. |
| Psalm | Ps 66: 2–3. 5. 6. 8. r. 2 | O God, be gracious and bless us |
| Reading 2 | Gal 4:4-7 | God sent his Son, born of a woman. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Heb 1: 1-2 | At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. |
| Gospel | Luke 2:16-21 | They found Mary and Joseph and the baby. When the eighth day came they gave him the name Jesus. |
2nd Sunday after Christmas
2 – 5 January
- The 2nd Sunday after Christmas is celebrated on a Sunday which falls on 2 – 5 January.
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- Proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- Christmas Preface
- Office
- EP I: proper, Sunday Week II
- MP: proper, Sunday Week II
- EP II: proper, Sunday Week II
| Reading 1 | Eccl 24: 1–2. 8–12 | The wisdom of God has pitched his tent among the chosen people. |
| Psalm | Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 r. John 1:14 | The Word was made flesh, and lived among us. or Alleluia! |
| Reading 2 | Eph 1:3-6, 15-18 | He determined that we should become his adopted sons through Jesus. |
| Gospel Acclamation | cf. 1Tim 3:16 | Glory be to you, O Christ, proclaimed to the pagans; Glory be to you, O Christ, believed in by the world. |
| Gospel | John 1:1-18 | The Word was made flesh, and live among us. |
| shorter | John 1:1-5, 9-14 | The Word was made flesh, and live among us. |
The Epiphany of the Lord
6 January Solemnity
- Holyday of Obligation (in England and Wales from 2018).
- transferred to adjacent Sunday when it falls on Saturday or Monday
- Directory on Popular Piety
- Colour
- White
- Vigil Mass
- proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface and insert in Eucharistic Prayer
- Mass
- proper
- Gloria
- [Announcement of moveable feasts for year after Gospel.]
- Creed
- proper Preface and insert in Eucharistic Prayer
- Office
- EP I: proper
- MP: proper, Sunday Week I
- EP II: proper
| Reading 1 | Isa 60:1-6 | Above you the glory of the Lord appears. |
| Psalm | Ps 71:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 r. cf. 11 | All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord. |
| Reading 2 | Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 | It has now been revealed that pagans share the same inheritance. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Matt 2:2 | We saw his star as it rose and have come to do the Lord homage. |
| Gospel | Matt 2:1-12 | We saw his star and have come to do the king homage. |
Baptism of the Lord
Feast
Sunday between 8 January-13 January
- Universal - when the Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated on Sunday 7 or 8 January the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated on the following Monday (8 or 9 January).
- England and Wales - when the Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated on Sunday 7 January the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated on the following Monday (8 January).
- An alternative set of 1st and 2nd readings and psalm for optional use in Years B and C is provided in the Lectionary.
- When the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated on Monday (8 or 9 January) there is only one reading before the Gospel which may be chosen from either the 1st and 2nd readings.
- Colour
- White
- Mass
- proper
- Gloria
- Creed
- proper Preface
- Office
- EP I: proper, [Epiphany]
- MP: proper, Sunday Week I
- EP II: proper, [Epiphany]
| Year A | ||
| Reading 1 | Isa 42:1-4, 6-7 | Here is my servant in whom my servant delights. |
| Psalm | Ps 28:1-2. 3-4. 9-10 r. 11 | The Lord will bless his people with peace. |
| Reading 2 | Acts 10:34-38 | God anointed him with the Holy Spirit |
| Gospel Acclamation | Mk 9:8 | The heavens opened and the Father's voice resounded: 'This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him. |
| Gospel | Matt 3:13-17 | As soon as Jesus was baptised he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him. |
| Year B | ||
| Reading 1 | Isa 55:1-11 | Come to the water. Listen and your soul will live. |
| Psalm | Isa 12:2-6 r. 6 | With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. |
| Reading 2 | 1 John 5:1-9 | The Spirit and water and blood. |
| Gospel Acclamation | cf. John 1:29 | John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. |
| Gospel | Mark 1:7-11 | You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him. |
| Year C | ||
| Reading 1 | Isa 40:1-5, 9-11 | The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it. |
| Psalm | Ps 103:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-30 4. 1 | Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are. |
| Reading 2 | Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 | He saved us by the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit. |
| Gospel Acclamation | Luke 3:16 | Some is coming, said John, someone greater than I. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. |
| Gospel | Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 | While Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened. |
Common Responsorial Psalms
| Common response | Today we have seen your glory, O Lord. | |
| Common Psalm | Ps 97: 1-6 r. 3 | All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. |
| Epiphany | ||
| Common Psalm | Ps 71: 1. 2. 7-8. 10-13 r. cf. 11 | Before you all kings shall fall prostrate, all nations shall serve you. |