The Epistles & Gospels in English

Cover image: The Epistles and Gospels in English. Title page from: “Here begynneth the Pystels and Gospels of every Sonday & holy Daye in the yere.” [bound with: “Thys prymer in Englyshe and in Laten”]. [Rouen]: Printed by Nicolas Le Roux, 1538. Image from the Arca Artium Collection, Saint John’s University. Used by permission.

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It is commonly asserted in both scholarly and popular accounts that the Catholic laity did not regularly hear or understand the liturgical scripture readings in the decades and centuries preceding the Second Vatican Council. This has seemed indisputable due to the obvious fact that they were read by the priest in Latin at the altar (and not to the people in their own language). This claim, however, is not supported by the historical record. Rather, from at least the 900s onward there was a widespread and continuous custom of Catholic priests reciting English translations of the Sunday scripture readings (the “epistles and gospels”) from the pulpit for the benefit of the laity during the Mass.

This research aims to provide the first comprehensive study of English epistles and gospels books, and the history of the recitation of English vernacular scripture from the pulpit, across five major historical periods between 971 and 1964. Twenty illustrations are provided, including several manuscripts and rare books which have never before been publicly available.

The following is a short illustrated summary of the paper, in article form. It is given here for the benefit of readers who wish for an overview of the research before reading the paper.

Epistles & Gospels in English – Summary

February 27, 2023 No Comments

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