| Here is a list of scriptural readings from the Lectionary for Mass. The selections suggested for Masses for the Dead have been augmented by a number of additional selections.
The list gives the bible reference, and the key phrase. One may find the complete texts at:http://www.usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/index.cfm I hope this will be of help for mourners, preachers and liturgy committees. Usually there are three readings. One from the Old Testament, a second from the New Testament (Epistles), and the third, the Gospel reading. |
| Old Testament Readings | Ref.# | |
| 1 | Job 19:1, 23-27 "...I know that my Vindicator lives..." | 789,1 |
| 2 | Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 "...A time to be born, a time to die..." | 453 |
| 3 | Ecclesiastes 11:9--12:8 "...Before the silver cord is snapped..." | 454 |
| 4 | Song of Solomon 2:8-14 "...Arise my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!..." | 198 |
| 5 | Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23f "...God did not make death, nor does he rejoice..." | 99 |
| 6 | Wisdom 3:1-9 "...The souls of the just are in the hand of God..." | 84 |
| 7 | Wisdom 4:7-15 "...The just man, though he die early, shall be at rest..." | 85 |
| 8 | Sirach 1:1-10 "...All wisdom comes from the Lord..." | 341 |
| 9 | Sirach 2:1-11 "...in fire gold is tested....Compassionate is the Lord..." | 342 |
| 10 | Sirach 44:1, 10-15 "...Now will I praise those godly men,... | 606 |
| 11 | Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9 "...he will destroy death forever..." | 789,4 |
| 12 | Isaiah 26:7-19 "...your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise..." | 392 |
| 13 | Isaiah 35:1-10 "...Here is your God, he comes with vindication..." | 182 |
| 14 | Isaiah 40:1-11 "Comfort...to my people..." | 183 |
| 15 | Isaiah 40:25-31 "...Though youths stagger and fall...they will soar..." | 184 |
| 16 | Jeremiah 17:5-10 "...I, the Lord, alone probe the mind and test the heart..." | 234 |
| 17 | Lamentations 3:17-26 "...My portion is the Lord, says my soul..." | 789,5 |
| 18 | Ezekiel 37:12-14 "O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise..." | 34 |
| 19 | Daniel 12:1-3 "...the wise shall shine brightly..." | 789,6 |
| 20 | Micah 7:7-9 "...though I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light..." | 244 |
| 21 | Zephaniah 3:14-18 "...Shout for joy...the Lord has removed the judgment..." | 9 |
| 22 | Malachi 3:13-20 "...And a record book was written before him..." | 464 |
| 23 | 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 "...he made atonement for the dead..." | 789,7 |
| New Testament Readings | Ref.# | |
| 1 | Romans 5:1-5 "...We know that affliction makes for endurance..." | 167 |
| 2 | Romans 8:1-11 "...he...will bring your mortal bodies to life..." | 478 |
| 3 | Romans 8:26-30 "...God makes all things work together for the good..." | 481 |
| 4 | Romans 10:8-13 " No one who believes in him will be put to shame..." | 24 |
| 5 | Romans 11:33-36 "...How deep are the riches and the wisdom...of God..." | 122 |
| 6 | 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 "God's folly is wiser than men,...weakness, more powerful" | 29 |
| 7 | 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 "...Let him who would boast, boast in the Lord... | 430 |
| 8 | 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 ...Eye has not seen, ear..heard...what God has prepared.." | 77 |
| 9 | 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 "...if Christ was not raised, your faith is worthless..." | 79 |
| 10 | 2 Corinthians 4:6-10 "...this treasure we possess in earthen vessels..." | 87 |
| 11 | 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 ...The old order has passed away; now all is new!" | 603 |
| 12 | Ephesians 1:3-10 "...he likewise predestined us...to be his sons..." | 105 |
| 13 | Ephesians 1:11-14 "...In Christ we were chosen..." | 471 |
| 14 | Ephesians 2:4-10 "...By this favor you were saved... not your own doing" | 32 |
| 15 | Philippians 3:8-14 "...I run toward the prize to which God calls me..." | 36 |
| 16 | Colossians 3:1-4 "...After all, you have died! Your life is hidden now..." | 43 |
| 17 | Colossians 3:12-24 "...you will receive an inheritance from him..." | 785,11 |
| 18 | 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 "...We belong neither to darkness nor to night..." | 432 |
| 19 | 2 Timothy 1:8-10 "Bear your share of the hardship...He has robbed death..." | 25 |
| 20 | 2 Timothy 4:6-18 "... I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.." | 591 |
| 21 | Titus 2:11-14 "...he who sacrificed himself for us, to redeem us..." | 15 |
| 22 | Titus 3:4-7 "...he saved us, not because of any righteous deeds..." | 15 |
| 23 | Hebrews 4:12-16 "...Nothing is concealed from him;...let us hold fast..." | 310 |
| 24 | Hebrews 5:7-9 "...he learned obedience from what he suffered..." | 35 |
| 25 | Hebrews 12:18-24 "...you have drawn near to...the heavenly Jerusalem..." | 121 |
| 26 | James 5:7-10 "Be patient,...until the coming of the Lord..." | 7 |
| 27 | 1 Peter 1:3-9 "...you may for a time have to suffer...faith...fire-tried gold" | 44 |
| 28 | 2 Peter 3:12-17 "...Look for the coming of the day of God..." | 354 |
| 29 | 1 John 5:1-5 "...Who, then, is conqueror of the world?..." | 560 |
| 30 | Revelation 22:12ff "...I am the Alpha and the Omega....Come, Lord Jesus..." | 62 |
| Gospel Readings | Ref.# | |
| 1 | Matthew 5:1-12a "The Eight Beatitudes" | 128 |
| 2 | Matthew 11:25-30 "come to me . . . and I will give you rest." | 129 |
| 3 | Matthew 18:19-20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name" | |
| 4 | Matthew 25:1-13 "Look. The bridegroom comes. Go out to meet him" | 130 |
| 5 | Matthew 25:31-46 "Come, you whom my Father has blessed" | 131 |
| 6 | Mark 10:13-16 "Let the children come to me" | |
| 7 | Mark 13:33-37 "...you do not know when the appointed time will come." | 3 |
| 9 | Mark 15:33-46 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" | |
| 10 | Mark 15:33--16:6 "Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last" | 132 |
| 11 | Luke 7:11-17 "Young man, I say to you, arise." | 133 |
| 12 | Luke 12:35-40 "Be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,..." | 134 |
| 13 | Luke 20:34-38 "They can no longer die, for they are like angels" | |
| 14 | Luke 23:33-43 "Today you will be with me in paradise." | 135 |
| 15 | Luke 23:44--24:6a "Father, I put my life in your hands." | 136 |
| 16 | Luke 24:13-35 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..." | 137 |
| 17 | Luke 24:13-35 "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer..." | 137 |
| 18 | John 5:24-29 "Whoever hears my word and believes has passed from..." | |
| 19 | John 6:37-40 "All who believe in the Son will have eternal life..." | 138 |
| 20 | John 6:51-58 "All who eat this bread will live for ever...." | 139 |
| 21 | John 11:17-27 "I am the resurrection and the life." | 140 |
| 22 | John 11:32-45 "Lazarus, come out." | 141 |
| 23 | John 12:23-28 "If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies..." | 142 |
| 24 | John 14:1-6 "There are many rooms in my Father's house." | 143 |
| 25 | John 17:24-26 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me..." | 144 |
| 26 | John 19:17-30 "Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirits." |