Readings for Confirmation Mass
  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    This year we are having our Confirmations on a weeknight (Friday, May 13). Normally, we do them on a Sunday, which makes things easier, since we just do the Sunday Mass. Since this year the Bishop will be using Masses for Various Needs 4: For the Conferral of Confirmation (this is definitive: we already checked with his office), we need to figure out what to do with the readings. This seems to be one of those places where the rubrics could be tightened up a bit. The Lectionary doesn't specify the number of readings (1 + Gospel; or 2 + Gospel); and Elliott's Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite says, No. 548: "In the Liturgy of the Word, the normal Sunday readings may be replaced by the Confirmation readings (in the lectionary or the rite) on Sundays in the Season of the Year and on Sundays in the Christmas Season, that is, when the Ritual Mass may be used. On days when the Ritual Mass is not used, one or more readings may be chosen from the Confirmation readings." Which doesn't clarify anything. Does the Ceremonial of Bishops or Rite of Confirmation (newest version) clarify the number of readings for Confirmation?

    I need to fill in the "liturgical planning form" for the diocese and return in a few days.

    Thanks for your help.
  • ServiamScores
    Posts: 2,883
    FWIW, the planning guide we get from our diocese calls for Epistle & Gospel, and has a spot for "second reading (if used)" so at least in our diocese a second reading is optional.

    From my records, this is what we've done in the past:
    ___________________________________________-

    FIRST READING: Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23a,24-25 (We've also used Ephesians 4:1–6)
    (Lectionary IV, n. 765-10, p. 312)

    RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 117
    (Lectionary IV, n. 766-5, p. 319)

    SECOND READING (if used): n/a

    GOSPEL: Matthew 5:1-12a (We've also used John 14:15–17)
    (Lectionary IV, n. 768-1, p. 322)


  • rich_enough
    Posts: 1,048
    FYI, here is the complete list of reading options for confirmation (source). (Numbers refer to sections of the official lectionary.)

    While I would presume that a second reading before the gospel would be used on a Sunday, I see no requirement for a Mass on a weekday. FWIW, the confirmations I have played for (usually on a Saturday) have included a second reading. I suppose you should check with the bishop's office and see.

    READING I: (764)
    1) Isa 11:1-4ab
    2) Isa 42:1-3
    3) Isa 61:1-3abcd, 6ab, 8c-9
    4) Ezek 36:24-28
    5) Joel 2:23a, 26—3:1-3a 765:

    READING II (765)
    1) Acts 1:3-8
    2) Acts 2:1-6, 14, 22b-23, 32-33
    3) Acts 8:1bc, 4, 14-17
    4) Acts 10:1, 33-34a, 37-44
    5) Acts 19:1b-6a
    6) Rom 5:1-2, 5-8
    7) Rom 8:14-17
    8) Rom 8:26-27
    9) 1 Cor 12:4-13
    10) Gal 5:16-17, 22-23a, 24-25
    11) Eph 1:3a, 4a, 13-19a
    12) Eph 4:1-6 766:

    RESPONSORIAL PSALM (766)
    1) Ps 22:23-24ab, 26-27, 28+31-32
    2) Ps 23:1b-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
    3) Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 9-10a, 11-12
    4) Ps 104:1ab+24, 27-28, 30-31, 33-34
    5) Ps 117:1bc, 2
    6) Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 8-9, 10-11, 15-16, 21

    GOSPEL ACCLAMTION VERSE (767)
    1) John 14:16
    2) John 15:26b, 27a
    3) John 16:13a; 14:26d
    4) Rev 1:5a, 6a
    5) [non-biblical]
    6) [non-biblical]

    GOSPEL (768)
    1) Matt 5:1-12a
    2) Matt 16:24-27
    3) Matt 25:14-30
    4) Mark 1:9-11
    5) Luke 4:16-22a
    6) Luke 8:4-10a, 11b-15
    7) Luke 10:21-24
    8) John 7:37b-39
    9) John 14:15-17
    10) John 14:23-26
    11) John 15:18-21, 26-27
    12) John 16:5-7, 12-13a
    Thanked by 1ServiamScores
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,467
    These were the rules, if your lectionary has been revised recently they may have changed -
    Lectionary General Introduction

    b Arrangement of the readings for Sundays and Solemnities of the Lord
    66. The following are features proper to the readings for Sundays and the solemnities of the Lord:
    1. Each Mass has three readings: the first from the Old Testament, the second from an
    apostle (that is, either from a letter or from Revelation, depending on the season),
    and the third from the gospels.This arrangement ...

    c. Arrangement of the readings for weekdays
    69. The weekday readings have been arranged in the following way:
    1. Each Mass has two readings: the first is from the Old Testament or from an apostle
    (from a letter or Apocalypse), and during the Easter season from Acts; the second,
    from the gospels. ...

    e. Readings for ritual Masses, Masses for various needs and occasions, votive Masses, and Masses for the dead
    72. For ritual Masses, Masses for various needs and occasions, votive Masses, and Masses for the dead, the texts for the readings are arranged as just described,
    Thanked by 1Salieri
  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    Since section 'e' refers to section 'd', which says "...the Order of Readings appears in the order in which they are to be read at Mass..." So it would make sense then to use one reading before the Gospel, since Old Testament & New Testament lessons are placed before the Responsorial Psalms for the Confirmation Mass in the Lectionary (rather than groupings for First Readings, then Responsorial Psalms, then Second Readings, as in the same Lectionary for Masses for the Dead). Yes?
  • a_f_hawkins
    Posts: 3,467
    Yes, if the lectionary lists no readings after the RP then there is not to be a reading after the RP. Funeral Masses are allowed on some Sundays or Solemnities, so readings after the RP are listed.
    Thanked by 1Salieri
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