Jerome's Lectionary

Alexander Ring dates the Historic Lectionary back to Jerome. "What we know today as the Historic Lectionary comes to us from the Comes Hieronymi (Jerome). The date and authorship of this document is disputed, however at the very latest it was written by someone in 471. Having the name of Jerome attached to it made this document influential on its own, but when it was included in the Leonine Sacramentary it became a standard text for the Western Church. Even then, it provided assigned readings only for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. The rest of the year was still covered by optional propers included in the comes, or by the whim of the local bishop or pastor."

Just a side note: Alexander Ring seems to draw a connection between the propers of the Lectionary to the Lectionary itself. It makes me leery to think that the Lectionary is the Liturgy.

He makes note of the time frame and the connection to Jerome which can cause problems historically. It covers the major part of the Church year. One might have greater implication to see the start of a view of the Church year as apart from the Hebrew year. These would be texts which Jerome might have selected one year and people just latched on to them. Remember how these famous Church Fathers were loved by Christians throughout the World.

I am not going to deny any of this to be true. But I would say that he leaves open a large part of the year for the preacher to be able to select different areas which the congregation may need to be instructed. I also do not know from his references whether these were single texts or combinations of texts which would be preached upon during these seasons. But this is thus the first Lectionary people may have for the Church. Thank you.

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