ILL THERE SOON BE a new Lectionary for Catholics in the United States? Ever since the publication of the Roman Missal, 3rd Edition, people have been asking.
Of course nobody knows for sure, but the answer appears to be a solid “no.”
On 11 November 2011 at 9:24am, the Bishop’s Liturgy Committee said:
There is no plan to do a major revision of the Lectionary at this time. There are some minor adjustments that will be made to the Lectionary texts, but those will not result in anything more than a reprint of the current edition, and parishes will only need to purchase them when they are ready to replace worn-out volumes, which happens with all liturgical books at some time.
— Executive Director, Secretariat of Divine Worship (courtesy CMAA forum)
During the June 2012 meeting of the USCCB, Cardinal Wuerl said they are only beginning to consider the possible revision of the Lectionary:
Cardinal Donald Wuerl: Now, as I began, obviously this isn’t going to be done overnight. But we’re asking simply to begin this process so that we will have all of this eventually to bring back. This isn’t being said facetiously, I don’t expect that I will … be presenting this. [laughter] But it’s the time to start, and we have all the pieces in place, and all of the principles in place. So we get started. The sooner we get started, the sooner some of you will live to see it. [laughter]
When asked which scholars will be involved, Cardinal Wuerl replied: “At this point we are not able to do that because we haven’t even begun the process of surfacing the names.”
IT’S TRUE THAT WHENEVER THE LECTIONARY does get revised, all current hymnals and Missals — GIA Worship IV, Lumen Christi Missal, OCP Journeysongs, Jogues Illuminated Missal, etc. — will have to be updated. However, based on what the authorities have said, this could easily take 10-20 years (see above).
HERE IS A BRIEF EXPLANATION of the various “current” books. After you read this, you’ll probably wish you hadn’t, because your head will start spinning:
MASS READINGS : — From the current New American Bible.
SACRAMENTARY PARTS : — ICEL (© 2010/11), is a translation of the 2001 Missale Romanum.
RESPONSORIAL PSALMS : — Based on the 1970 New American Bible, but with many changes made by the USCCB. Some day, perhaps in 20 years, the “Revised Grail Psalter” (copyright GIA and others) will replace this translation.
RESP. PS. ANTIPHONS : — ICEL (© 1970), these don’t match the current NAB, the 1970 NAB, the “Lectionary” NAB, or the Revised Grail.
ROMAN GRADUAL : — There is no official translation in the United States.
UPDATE:
From T. M. on Facebook (12 May 2014):
The editors, from the Catholic Biblical Association, have been chosen and the process of translation will begin this summer. The USCCB is working to do something good here, really, since they are seeking to have a Bible translation (a revised NABRE) which will match the Lectionary readings, as well as the ones found in other prayer books. As you can imagine, the process of translation and getting liturgical approval from Rome will take some time. I have been told by people in the know that it will be about ten years.
