Index Lectionum: A Comparative Table of Readings for the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Roman Rite (Lectionary Study Aids)

This book should be in the library of anybody serious about the comparing the Bible readings used in both the Ordinary (i.e., Novus Ordo Mass) and Extraordinary (i.e., Tridentine Latin Mass) forms of the Roman Rite used by the Catholic Church. I had known that readings had been added when the expanded Lectionary had been created for the Novus Ordo, but I had no idea that readings had been subtracted (!) from the those used until I had recently read Dr. Kwasniewski's "The Once and Future Roman Rite."This book mainly consists of several comparative tables allowing the reader to search by Bible verses, or feast days. There is also an extremely informative introduction by Dr. Kwasnieski that explains how the readings for the Novus Ordo tend to bowdlerize the readings of any subjects deemed "too hard" for the modern Catholic.Since I have a particular devotion to St. Athanasius, I thought I would check that as a test of the changes made to the Lectionary. Sure enough, one of the readings for his feast day (2 Cor. 4:5-15) was removed from the Tridentine Latin Mass in favor of another (1 Jn. 5:1-5) in the Novus Ordo. So, a reading that taught Christians may have to suffer due to being followers of Jesus Christ, is discarded in favor of a reading that teaches that we're to love mankind because we love Jesus. While both readings are true, the somber message is discarded for the happy, "feel-good" message. Since that part of St. Paul's 2 Cor. reiterates part of the the Beatitudes (see Mt. 5:11), and St. Athanasius did suffer defending the eternal nature of the Word of God during the Arian Heresy, it is a curious change.In fairness, Dr. Kwasniewski's introduction does state that not all the changes were bad, and he thought some the additions were laudable. However, in light of over 50-year's experience, the Novus Ordo and the attendant changes to the readings have borne bad fruit. This book will be invaluable for a devout Catholic to find more "meaty" readings for various feast days.

A complete treatment of the scriptural usage in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass across both the Novus Ordo and Traditional Latin Mass. Kwasienewski's forward, an examination of what scriptures from the Latin Mass were excluded from the Novus Ordo, should also be sold as a separate booklet.

Well researched and organized. It has greatly improved my understanding of lectionary themes and has helped me in my preaching and teaching.

Livre très intéressant, permettant de comparer la situation en ce qui concerne les lectures de la messe d'avant le concile vatican II avec l'état actuel. L'introduction est un peu tendancieuse, surtout pour un livre qui n'est en somme qu'un grand tableau. Les utilisateurs de ce genre de livre sont en général bien aptes de tirer leurs conclusions eux-mêmes.