Office of the Permanent Diaconate: ——Permanent Deacons – Current Ritual Books in Use

Complete ceremonial manual for the celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Faithful to the renewal of worship authorized by the Second Vatican Council, Ceremonies combines precise guidance to these rites with a pastoral and spiritual approach. A high ideal of noble Catholic worship is consistently maintained, respecting the “continuity of our tradition”.
Ceremonies sets out the liturgical duties of bishops, priests and deacons, acolytes and servers, lectors and eucharistic ministers etc., hence it is invaluable for clergy and seminarians and all who teach or study the liturgy. Ceremonies includes a wide range of guidance on such useful themes as: vessels and vestments, how to carry out ceremonial actions, the deacon, ministering the Eucharist to the sick, children’s liturgy, Eucharistic adoration, Eucharistic processions, celebrating vespers in a parish, eucharistic ministries and the laity, the location of the tabernacle, etc.

Contains all the Gospel readings used in Mass for Sundays, solemnities, and feasts, often carried in a solemn procession at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Word. It is a special, large-format edition of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) from the Lectionary, designed to be a beautiful and venerated symbol of God’s Word during worship. 

Contains the Scripture readings for the Mass, organized by the liturgical year for Sundays, weekdays, and special occasions like feasts and funerals. It is structured in a three-year cycle for Sundays and a two-year cycle for weekdays, with readings typically consisting of an Old Testament passage, a New Testament letter, and a Gospel reading. This arrangement is designed to show the unity of the Old and New Testaments and how Christ fulfills the scriptures. 

Provides a structure for Catholic communities to gather for worship on Sundays when a priest is unavailable. These services, led by a designated lay minister or deacon, replace the Sunday Mass and include forms like the Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion, Morning Prayer with Communion, or Evening Prayer with Communion.

Official daily prayer of the Church, structured around praying at specific times throughout the day to sanctify it. It consists of psalms, hymns, readings from scripture, and prayers that are prayed communally or individually. The main hours are Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, with other services including Midday Prayer and Night Prayer.

Note: the Second Edition of the LOTH is currently being reviewed by the Vatican and is estimated to be published during 2026, 2027, or 2028.

Official ritual book for Catholic funeral rites, which are structured around three main events: the Vigil for the Deceased, the Funeral Liturgy, and the Rite of Committal. These rites celebrate the hope of resurrection, offer prayer for the deceased, and provide comfort to the living by focusing on faith, and affirming the union of the living and the dead in the community of saints.

This Order was revised in 2019 to take into account some of the changes from the Roman Missal – Third Edition. However, it has yet to be retranslated like other ritual books.

Includes several key elements such as the sign of the cross, Scripture readings, anointing with holy oils, a renunciation of sin, and the reception of the white garment and candle, which symbolize rebirth and new life in Christ. The second edition has been updated to align with the current translation of the Roman Missal and other liturgical changes.

Liturgical rite for weddings, typically consisting of the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, the Celebration of Matrimony, the Liturgy of the Eucharist (if celebrated within Mass), and the Concluding Rite. The core of the rite is the couple’s exchange of consent and the blessing and exchange of rings. This order can be celebrated either within a Mass or as a separate ceremony, depending on the circumstances, such as if one partner is not Catholic.

Process for welcoming adults into the Church through prayer, instruction, and ritual. It is for unbaptized individuals, those baptized in other Christian faiths seeking full communion, and Catholics who were baptized as infants but received no religious training. The process involves stages of learning and spiritual formation, culminating in the reception of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, typically at the Easter Vigil.

As of the Date of First Use, these Psalms and Canticles may be used in place of the Psalms or Canticles in all of the ritual books.

Contains prayers and blessings for Catholic families to use in their homes. It is a resource for daily use and special occasions, with sections on basic prayers, daily prayers, seasonal blessings, and prayers for various life events and needs, such as sickness, grief, or family celebrations. 

Provides instructions for the rites and ceremonies a bishop performs, such as Mass, sacraments, and diocesan governance and serves as a model for other liturgical celebrations and is used by bishops, masters of ceremonies, diocesan liturgical offices, and seminary libraries. It outlines the specific roles, vestments, and actions a bishop undertakes to ensure solemnity and proper authority in liturgical settings.

The Rites of the Catholic Church: Volume One, Second Edition includes an introduction by Paul Turner, and contains the following major liturgical texts:
—–Christian Initiation (General Introduction)
—–National Statutes for the Christian Initiation of Adults
—–The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
—–The Order of Baptism of Children
—–The Order of Confirmation
—–The Order of Penance
—–Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery outside Mass
—–The Order of Blessing the Oil of Catechumens and of the Sick and of ———–Consecrating the Chrism
—–The Order of Celebrating Matrimony
—–The Order of Anointing of the Sick and of Their Pastoral Care
—–The Order of Christian Funerals

Rites of the Catholic Church: Volume One, Second Edition will be published on February 15, 2026

This study edition contains the officially approved texts and rubrics for the following:
—–Institutions of Readers and Acolytes;
—–Ordination of Deacons, Priests, and Bishops;
—–Rite of Religious Profession;
—–Blessing of Persons: Abbot, Abbess; Consecrating to a Life of Virginity;
—–Rite of Commissioning Special Ministers of Holy Communion;
—–Dedication of a Church and Altar.
—–Appendices include:
———-Reception of the Bishop in the Cathedral Church,
———-Blessing of Pontifical Insignia,
———-the Rite of the Blessing of Oils,
———-the Rite of Consecrating the Chrism,
———-Crowning of the Image of the Blessed Virgin.

Complete ceremonial manual for the celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Faithful to the renewal of worship authorized by the Second Vatican Council, Ceremonies combines precise guidance to these rites with a pastoral and spiritual approach. A high ideal of noble Catholic worship is consistently maintained, respecting the “continuity of our tradition”.
Ceremonies sets out the liturgical duties of bishops, priests and deacons, acolytes and servers, lectors and eucharistic ministers etc., hence it is invaluable for clergy and seminarians and all who teach or study the liturgy. Ceremonies includes a wide range of guidance on such useful themes as: vessels and vestments, how to carry out ceremonial actions, the deacon, ministering the Eucharist to the sick, children’s liturgy, Eucharistic adoration, Eucharistic processions, celebrating vespers in a parish, eucharistic ministries and the laity, the location of the tabernacle, etc.