Votive Mass Readings
Date: June 6, 2026
Author: Fr. Edward McNamara, LC
Question: I plan to celebrate the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit in the coming feria days. May I use the daily readings, or should I use the readings assigned for the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit? Also, if I use the readings for the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit (which is Pentecost Sunday), do I have the freedom to choose any, or should I use Year A if we are in Year A? — L.P.C., San Francisco, California
Answer: The General Instruction of the Roman Missal says the following regarding votive Masses:
"368. Since the liturgy of the Sacraments and Sacramentals has as its effect that for the faithful who are properly disposed almost every event in life is sanctified by the divine grace that flows from the Paschal Mystery, and because the Eucharist is the Sacrament of Sacraments, the Missal provides examples of Mass formularies and orations that may be used in the various occasions of Christian life for the needs of the whole world or for the needs of the Church, whether universal or local.
"369. In view of the rather broad possibilities of choice among the readings and orations, it is desirable that Masses for Various Needs and Occasions be used in moderation, that is, when truly required.
"370. In all the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, unless expressly indicated otherwise, it is permissible to use the weekday readings and also the chants between them, if they are suited to the celebration.
"371. Among Masses of this kind are included Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, and Votive Masses.
"375. Votive Masses of the mysteries of the Lord or in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary or of the Angels or of any given Saint or of all the Saints may be said in response to the devotion of the faithful on weekdays in Ordinary Time, even if an Optional Memorial occurs. However, it is not permitted to celebrate as Votive Masses those that refer to mysteries related to events in the life of the Lord or of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the exception of the Mass of the Immaculate Conception, since their celebration is an integral part of the course of the liturgical year.
"376. On days when there occurs an Obligatory Memorial or on a weekday of Advent up to and including December 16, of Christmas Time from January 2, and of Easter Time after the Octave of Easter, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions and Votive Masses are in principle forbidden. If, however, some real necessity or pastoral advantage calls for it, in the estimation of the rector of the church or the Priest Celebrant himself, a Mass appropriate to the same may be used in a celebration with the people.
"377. On weekdays in Ordinary Time when an Optional Memorial occurs or when the Office is of the weekday, it is permissible to celebrate any Mass for Various Needs and Occasions, or use any prayer for the same, but to the exclusion of Ritual Masses.
"378. Particularly recommended is the Saturday commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, because it is to the Mother of the Redeemer that in the Liturgy of the Church firstly and before all the Saints veneration is given."
With respect to the readings to be used for votive Masses, we find the following indications in the Introduction to the Lectionary:
"d. Readings for celebrations of the saints
"70. Two groups of readings are provided for celebrations of the saints:
1. The Proper of Saints provides the first group, for solemnities, feasts, or memorials and particularly when there are proper texts for such celebrations. Sometimes in the Proper, however, there is a reference to the most appropriate among the texts in the Commons as the one to be given preference.
2. The commons of Saints provide the second, more extensive group of readings. There are, first, appropriate texts for the different classes of saints (martyrs, pastors, virgins, etc,), then a great many texts that deal with holiness in general. These are for alternative use whenever the Commons are indicated as the source for the choice of readings. As to their sequence, all the texts in this part of the Order of Readings appear in the order in which they are to be read at Mass. Thus, the Old Testament texts are first, then the texts of an apostle, followed by the psalms and verses between the readings, and finally the texts from the gospels. The rationale of this arrangement is that, unless otherwise noted, the celebrant may choose at will from such texts, in view of the pastoral needs of the assembly taking part in the celebration.
"71. As to their sequence, all the texts in this part of the Order of Readings appear in the order in which they are to be read at Mass. Thus, the Old Testament texts are first, then the texts of an apostle, followed by the psalms and verses between the readings, and finally the texts from the gospels. The rationale of this arrangement is that, unless otherwise noted, the celebrant may choose at will from such texts, in view of the pastoral needs of the assembly taking part in the celebration.
"e. Readings for ritual Masses, Masses for various needs and occasions, votive Masses, and Masses for the dead:
"72. For ritual Masses, Masses for various needs and occasions, votive Masses, and Masses for the dead, the texts for the readings are arranged as just described, that is, many texts are grouped together in the order of their use, as in the Commons of Saints."
As our reader mentions, the readings for the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit correspond to those of Pentecost Sunday.
Therefore, as we can see from the abovementioned norms, the celebrant has a wide-ranging choice for the readings that accompany the celebration of the votive Mass.
He may always choose the readings of the corresponding weekday. This would generally be the preferred option, especially if there are going to be several votive Masses of the Holy Spirit for some special intention.
This is a general criterion of the lectionary which recommends that the continuous readings of Sacred Scripture during the weekday cycle not be interrupted too frequently by readings from the common.
If for a good reason the celebrant desires to take one or more readings from the common, he may choose any of the three-year ABC cycle and even take one reading from one cycle and the Gospel from another, provided he maintains the proper order of readings and psalms.
The rules would be similar for other votive Masses.
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