[Verginius Rufus]

There used to be two main readings in the Sunday Mass--the Epistle and the Gospel (but the Epistle could sometimes be from one of the other books such as Acts), but there were also shorter bits of Scripture, mostly from Psalms. During Lent the daily Mass would have a "Lectio" (reading) from the Old Testament as well as a Gospel.

Some of the Old Testament readings were from books accepted by the Catholic Church and by the Eastern churches but rejected by Luther. Sirach was used so often it became known as Ecclesiasticus. The reading for the Saturday before Laetare Sunday (the 4th Sunday of Lent) was the story of Susanna and the elders from Daniel (an episode relegated to the Apocrypha by the Protestant Reformers).

[NYer]

There used to be two main readings in the Sunday Mass--the Epistle and the Gospel

This is stil true in the Maronite Church. The Liturgical Year began on November 3 with Consecration of the Church Sunday, followed yesterday with Renewal of the Church Sunday. The history behind this is quite interesting.

"Then I, John, saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Rv 21:2)
Icon Description

Originally there were four or five Sundays in honor of the Church during the Maronite liturgical year. These celebrations were first observed in Jerusalem on September 13, 365, in honor of the dedication of the Church of the Resurrection. Today, there remain only two Sundays: The Sunday of the Consecration of the Church and the Sunday of the Dedication of the Church.

No specific sanctuary or edifice is being commemorated, but rather the universal Church of Christ, the light of the world. The Church is the leaven which will save the world and guide it to salvation and perfection.

The celebrations in honor of the Church coincide with the Jewish Festival of the Dedication of the Temple (Hannukah), which is also known as the Festival of Lights. The origins of the Jewish feast are found in a time of great persecution and heroism, in Jewish history. The King of Syria, Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 BC) led a movement which intended to abandon the religious and cultural traditions of the Hebrews and adopt those of the pagan Greeks. Antiochus plundered the Temple treasury, suppressed Jewish worship and installed an altar dedicated to Zeus in the Temple.

Through the military successes of Judas Maccabe, the Temple was recovered, purified and dedicated in 165 BC (1 Mc 4:36-60). In order to thank the Lord, the Feast of the Dedication was to be celebrated for eight days.

The Christian feast of the Dedication of the Church recalls that the Church of Christ, while constantly in need of purification, has conquered all false teachings and gods. The powers of darkness and evil have no power over the Light. It is through the Church that Christ's salvific mission is accomplished in the world. For that reason, it is aptly called the "Light of the Nations" (Lumen Gentium, 1).

The diaconal proclamation on both Sundays is: "Though art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church".