Q: The General Introduction to the Lectionary n. 12 says: “In the celebration of Mass the biblical readings with their accompanying chants from the Sacred Scriptures may not be omitted, shortened, or, worse still, replaced by non-biblical readings.“ But is another scriptural text that is not explicitly in the Mass Lectionary permitted? Occasionally for weddings (especially for Biblically-literate couples), and less commonly, for funerals, persons want to use a scripture that is not indicated in the Lectionary for that ritual Mass. 

For example, suppose a man named John wants to use John 1:6-8, 19-28 for his wedding (”A man named John was sent from God …“) That pericope does not appear in the options for Gospels at a Wedding Mass (Mass Lect. n. 805), but it does appear in Lect n. 8 (3rd Sunday of Advent, B), and is included in n. 16 (Christmas Day) and n. 19 (Second Sunday After Christmas). Would it be permissible to use that for a Wedding Mass?

What of scriptures not appearing anywhere in the Lectionary for Mass? Sirach 11:28 (“Call no man happy before his death…”) does not appear in any Mass Lectionary (though it does appear in the Office of Readings, First Week in Ordinary Time); could that be used at a funeral Mass?

Thanks for any information you can provide.

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A: As I indicated here, https://paulturner.org/scripture-readings-for-a-vigil-and-funeral/, none of the readings at the funeral for Pope Benedict XVI came from the official selections for Catholic funerals.

And here’s an earlier post: https://paulturner.org/funeral-readings-3/ citing an earlier post:  https://paulturner.org/funeral-readings-2/

In my view, the same would apply to weddings.

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