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

The Book of the Gospels

Date of First Use: September 30, 2000
Date of Obligatory Use: December 3, 2000

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.

Lectionary for Mass – Volumes I-IV

Date of First Use: November 29, 1998
Date of Obligatory Use: May 19, 2002

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.

Liturgy of the Hours (Under Revision)

Date of First Use: 1975
Date of Obligatory Use: 1975

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 2027 or 2028.

The Order of Christian Funerals with Cremation Rite

Date of First Use: October 1, 1989
Date of Obligatory Use: November 2, 1989

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.

The Order of Baptism of Children

Date of First Use: February 2, 2020
Date of Obligatory Use: April 12, 2020

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.

The Order of Celebrating Matrimony

Date of First Use: September 8, 2016
Date of Obligatory Use: December 30, 2016

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.

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults

Date of First Use: December 21, 2024
Date of Obligatory Use: March 5,2025

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.

Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers

Date of First Use: October 2020

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.

Ceremonial of Bishops

Date of First Use: September 1, 1989
Date of Obligatory Use: September 1, 1989

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 (Under Revision)

Date of First Use: January 1, 1990
Date of Obligatory Use: Various

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.

Abbey Psalms and Canticles

Date of First Use: February 2020

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.