The Book of Revelation contains 22 chapters with a total of 404 verses. Of those, no more than 41 verses total are read on Sundays, and only every third year during the Easter Season (Year C) or on the Solemnity of Christ the King (Year B).
Thus, about 90% of the Book of Revelation is never read at Sunday Masses.
Lect. # | Sunday / Feast | Second Reading | Content |
161 | Christ the King – B | Rev 1:5-18 | Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Coming in Glory |
260 | Chrism Mass (Holy Week) | Rev 1:5-18 | Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Coming in Glory |
45 | 2nd Sunday of Easter – Year C | Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 | Vision of the Risen Lord Jesus |
48 | 3rd Sunday of Easter – Year C | Rev 5:11-14 | Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain |
51 | 4th Sunday of Easter – Year C | Rev 7:9, 14b-17 | Uncountable Crowd of Elect in Triumph |
54 | 5th Sunday of Easter – Year C | Rev 21:1-5a | New Heaven and New Earth |
57 | 6th Sunday of Easter – Year C | Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 | Vision of the New Jerusalem |
61 | *7th Sunday of Easter – Year C | Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 | Epilogue: Come, Lord Jesus! |
*Note: In some parts of the United States (the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston; Hartford; New York; Newark; Philadelphia; Washington, DC; Atlanta; and the state of Nebraska), the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord is still celebrated on the traditional date, the 40th day of the Easter Season, which is Thursday in the 6th week of Easter. Elsewhere in the USA, the Feast of the Ascension is now transferred to the 7th Sunday of Easter, in which case the readings normally prescribed for this Sunday are replaced by the readings prescribed for the Ascension of the Lord.
WEEKDAYS:
At weekday Masses, only between 16 and 28 verses of Revelation are read every year.
Another 99 verses are read during the last two weeks of Ordinary Time, but only every other year (Year II = even-numbered years).
Lect. # | Solemnity/Feast or Weekday | First Reading: Year II | Content |
667 | Nov. 1: Solemnity: All Saints | Rev 7:2-4, 9-14 | The 144,000 & Uncountable Multitude of the Elect |
622 | Aug. 15: Solemnity: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab | Vision of the Woman & the Dragon |
647 | Sept. 29: Feast: Sts. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels |
Rev 12:7-12ab (option 2) |
Michael & His Angels Battle the Dragon |
629 | Aug. 24: Feast: St. Bartholomew, Apostle |
Rev 21:9b-14 |
Names of the 12 Apostles on the City’s Foundations |
497 | Week 33 - Mon | Rev 1:1-4; 2:1-5 | Introduction; The Letter to Ephesus |
498 | Week 33 - Tues | Rev 3:1-6, 14-22 | The Letter to Sardis; The Letter to Laodicea |
499 | Week 33 - Wed | Rev 4:1-11 | The First Vision of Worship at God's Throne |
500 | Week 33 - Thurs | Rev 5:1-10 | The Second Vision of God's Throne (Scroll & Lamb) |
501 | Week 33 - Fri | Rev 10:8-11 | The Seer Eats the Little Scroll |
502 | Week 33 - Sat | Rev 11:4-12 | The Two Witnesses, killed and raised |
503 | Week 34 - Mon | Rev 14:1-3, 4b-5 | The Lamb and the 144,000 Followers |
504 | Week 34 - Tues | Rev 14:14-19 | Reaping the Earth's Harvest |
505 | Week 34 - Wed | Rev 15:1-4 | The Elect sing the Song of Moses |
506 | Week 34 - Thurs | Rev 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a | The Fall of Babylon; Rejoicing in Heaven |
507 | Week 34 - Fri | Rev 20:1-4, 11—21:2 | The Final Judgment; New Heavens & New Earth |
508 | Week 34 - Sat | Rev 22:1-7 | New Jerusalem: The River of Life |
OPTIONAL READINGS:
Readings from the Book of Revelation are listed among the many selections that may be chosen for several other categories of special/occasional Masses, especially during the Season of Easter.
The current edition of the Lectionary for Mass (2002) also prints readings for most "Memorials" and "Optional Memorials" of the Saints, but these readings are all still optional.
Only the four "Solemnities" and "Feasts" listed above have "Proper Readings."
The various categories of Masses are listed in the second column of the following table:
Lect. # | Category | Description | Reading (esp. during Easter) |
970.3 | Votives | The Mystery of the Holy Cross | Rev 1:5-8 |
977.3 | Votives | The Most Holy Eucharist | Rev 1:5-8 |
990.1 | Votives | The Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ | Rev 1:5-8 |
536 | Saints: Memorial | Feb. 24: St. Polycarp, bishop & martyr | Rev 2:8-11 |
565 | Saints: Opt. Mem. | May 18: St. John I, pope & martyr | Rev 3:14b, 20-22 |
738.2 | Commons | Common of Holy Men and Women | Rev 3:14b, 20-22 |
797.3 | Rituals | Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Dying: 2. Viaticum | Rev 3:14b, 20-22 |
812.15 | Rituals | For the Consecration of Virgins and Religious Profession | Rev 3:14b, 20-22 |
853.6 | Various | I.7: For Religious | Rev 3:14b, 20-22 |
996.1 | Votives | The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | Rev 3:14b, 20-22 |
970.4 | Votives | The Mystery of the Holy Cross | Rev 5:6-12 |
996.2 | Votives | The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | Rev 5:6-12 |
828.7 | Various | I.1: For the Church | Rev 7:2-4, 9-14 |
878.7 | Various | I.12: For Persecuted Christians | Rev 7:9-10, 14b-17 |
1018.1 | Dead | Funerals for Baptized Children | Rev 7:9-10, 15-17 |
977.4 | Votives | The Most Holy Eucharist | Rev 7:9-14 |
990.2 | Votives | The Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ | Rev 7:9-14 |
562 | Saints: Opt. Mem. | May 12: Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs | Rev 7:9-17 |
714.2 | Commons | Common of Martyrs | Rev 7:9-17 |
818.2 | Rituals | For the Dedication of an Altar | Rev 8:3-4 |
708.2 | Commons | Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab |
550 | Saints: Memorial | April 11: St. Stanislaus, bishop & martyr | Rev 12:10-12a |
714.3 | Commons | Common of Martyrs | Rev 12:10-12a |
1012.2 | Dead | Masses for the Dead | Rev 14:13 |
563 | Saints: Opt. Mem. | May 12: St. Pancras, martyr | Rev 19:1, 5-9a |
732.1 | Commons | Common of Virgins | Rev 19:1, 5-9a |
738.3 | Commons | Common of Holy Men and Women | Rev 19:1, 5-9a |
752.13 | Rituals | Christian Initiation of Adults Apart from the Easter Vigil | Rev 19:1, 5-9a |
802.13 | Rituals | For the Conferral of the Sacrament of Marriage | Rev 19:1, 5-9a |
1012.3 | Dead | Masses for the Dead | Rev 20:11—21:1 |
792.16 | Rituals | Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Dying: 1. Anointing of the Sick | Rev 21:1-7 |
939.4 | Various | III.25: In Time of Earthquake, or For Rain, or For Good Weather, or To Avert Storms, or For Any Need |
Rev 21:1-5a, 6b-7 |
1012.4 | Dead | Masses for the Dead | Rev 21:1-5a, 6b-7 |
613 | Saints: Opt. Mem. | Aug. 5: Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome | Rev 21:1-5a |
702.2 | Commons | Common of the Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church | Rev 21:1-5a |
708.3 | Commons | Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Rev 21:1-5a |
732.2 | Commons | Common of Virgins | Rev 21:1-5a |
828.8 | Various | I.1: For the Church | Rev 21:1-5a |
1018.2 | Dead | Funerals for Baptized Children | Rev 21:1a, 3-5a |
553 | Saints: Memorial | April 23: St. George, martyr | Rev 21:5-7 |
714.4 | Commons | Common of Martyrs | Rev 21:5-7 |
738.4 | Commons | Common of Holy Men and Women | Rev 21:5-7 |
702.3 | Commons | Common of the Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church | Rev 21:9b-14 |
828.9 | Various | I.1: For the Church | Rev 21:9b-14 |
812.16 | Rituals | For the Consecration of Virgins and Religious Profession | Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 |
792.17 | Rituals | Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Dying: 1. Anointing of the Sick | Rev 22:17, 20-21 |
797.4 | Rituals | Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Dying: 2. Viaticum | Rev 22:17, 20-21 |
Note: Despite its length, this table includes only a few additional verses from the Book of Revelation that are not already used on Sundays and Weekdays (the first two tables above).
There are only 15 additional verses (Rev 2:8-11; 8:3-4; 14:13; 19:5-8; 21:5b-7, 9b; and 22:21), and some of these are very rarely chosen or needed (e.g., "Dedication of an Altar").
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