India’s Roman Rite Catholic Bishop’s Conference has published a new Lectionary for use in English-language Masses in India using the English Standard Version. The following details are available on their Facebook page:
The New English Lectionary will be released on Sunday 16 February 2020 and it will come into effect from Palm Sunday, 5 April 2020 onwards. The old Lectionaries should be replaced with the new Lectionary.
The English Standard Version Catholic Edition (ESVCE) has been used throughout in the new Lectionary. The ESVCE is considered one of the most accurate translations of the Holy Bible in English to the original manuscripts. The Lectionary has been prepared in accordance with the Ordo Lectionum Missae, Editio Typica Altera and according to the Indian Liturgical Calendar, incorporating special readings for Solemnities, Feasts and Memorials of the Indian Saints and votive Masses for our country.
The three volume English Lectionary will be published by the CCBI while the printing and circulation is outsourced to ATC. The Lectionary cost is Rs. 7500/- the prepublication offer is Rs.5000. Postage will be Rs 500/- extra. The prepublication offer of the Lectionary will be available till 31 December, 2019.
The Book of Gospels will be published along with the Lectionary. The Book of Gospels is also essential for all parishes and provincial house chapels for solemn liturgical celebrations and needs to be carried reverently in the entrance processions so that it may be seen by the faithful participating in the liturgical celebration.
The cost of the Book of Gospels is Rs. 2000/- and the prepublication offer is Rs.1700/- The prepublication offer will be available till 31 December, 2019. Postage will be Rs.100/- extra.
These Liturgical Books are mandatory wherever the Liturgy in English is celebrated.For copies of Lectionary and Book of Gospels contact: Email: info@atcpublishers.com; Mobile: +91-9886730224
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara
Deputy Secretary General
Conference of Catholic Bishops of India
Like their Catholic edition of the ESV, the Lectionary is published by the Asian Trading Corporation in Bangalore. The 3 volume set costs Rs. 7500/- (approximately $105). They are also publishing a matching edition of the Book of Gospels, which will cost Rs. 2000/ (approximately $28). Judging by the picture of its cover, the Book of Gospels seems to be based on the Gospel Book for Kenya prepared by Ignatius Press. Some more details on the new editions can be found in the latest ATC Catalogue. Here it tells us that “Psalms from Abbey Psalms and Canticles,” which I am presuming means that they will be the Revised Grail translation as it will shortly be published by the USCCB. The Lectionary measures 190mm x 275mm (approximately 7.5” x 11”), which seems a little small to me for a full sized liturgical edition. The Book of Gospels is slightly bigger (230mm x 350mm), although I think the publisher’s claim that this constitutes an “impressive size” is a little exaggerated.
I personally am not a fan of the ESV, but not being fully aware of the liturgical situation in India, I doubt that my opinion counts for much. I believe that this Lectionary will replace the current RSV edition that they had been using for their English-language liturgies. This was the third edition of that Lectionary published by the Catholic Press in Ranchi, which is copyrighted for 1970, 1997, 2009. I think that they may also have been using a Jerusalem Bible Lectionary. I suppose, on one level, it might make sense to go with the ESV as it is basically a revision of the RSV. Although it is also slightly ironic to note that the same ATS catalogue that advertises the new ESV Lectionary is still promoting an edition of the RSV that they describe as being the “only major modern translation of the Catholic Bible available in standard English.”
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