The Matins Lectionary: The Complete Readings from the Traditional Roman Breviary

Recover a Lost Treasure of Catholic Tradition.

The Matins Lectionary is an English translation of all the Lessons from the Office of Matins as they would have been before the 1960 reform by Pope John XXIII. In that reform, around 60% of readings were removed in order to simplify the Divine Office. In his Motu Proprio promulgating the reduced Breviary, John XXIII said: "Furthermore, since the readings from the Fathers have also been somewhat reduced, We earnestly exhort all clerics to secure the writings of the Fathers, so rich in wisdom and piety, and to read and meditate on them constantly." To that end, and that of the edification of the faithful, we have the Matins Lectionary.

For centuries, the Divine Office formed the heart of the Church's daily prayer. Among its richest hours was Matins--an early morning offering of Psalms, Scripture, saints' lives, and Patristic wisdom. The Matins Lectionary restores this spiritual treasure, presenting the complete cycle of readings from the Traditional Roman Breviary as they existed before the 1960 reforms. This is a companion to the prayers of Matins that includes all the readings from Matins, not just the missing ones.

With selections from the Douay-Rheims Bible and newly revised translations of hagiographical and Patristic texts, this single volume offers a full year of daily spiritual reading. Enrich your prayer life with the same reflections that nourished monks, priests, and lay faithful for centuries. Whether you're preparing for Mass, seeking to deepen your knowledge of the saints, or longing for a more contemplative rhythm of life, The Matins Lectionary is your gateway to the Church's living tradition of daily sanctification.

While not the whole content of the Bible, these readings come from every book, so one reads through the highlights of the Sacred Scriptures in a way that fits the liturgical calendar for each particular season or day. If there was a feast on that day, then there would be six more readings afterward; three were usually the life of the Saint of the day or a history of or commentary on the feast, and the last three would be a snippet of the day's Gospel followed by a three-part commentary by one of the Church Fathers on that Gospel passage. Each Sunday has nine lessons which, if read in the morning prior to mass, serve as a spiritual preparation for that day's mass: truly a benefit to all the faithful attached to the Traditional liturgy. What's more, as the calendar used to contain numerous octaves, there is ample opportunity for extended reflection on the great saints and mysteries of the faith. Spend a week meditating on Saint Joseph or the Sacred Heart; let St. Thomas Aquinas enflame your love of the Holy Eucharist. All of this and more is contained in this Spiritual Treasury compiled by Holy Mother Church and finally made available in the English language.

Scripture. Saints. The Fathers. Every day. In English.