In his Apostolic Letter Aperuit illis issued September 30, 2019, Pope Francis instituted the celebration of Sunday of the Word of God, which is held every year on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. In 2025, it will be celebrated on the weekend of January 25/26. Each pastor determines how it will be celebrated in his parish(es).

The words that I spoke to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63)

On this page you will find the following resources:

• Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Aperuit illis (Sept. 2019)
• Note from Congregation for Divine Worship (Dec. 2020)
• Suggestions from Pope Francis on how to celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God
• Homily notes based on the Lectionary readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
• Additional resources from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Unlike the solemnities of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Body and Blood of Christ and other celebrations which highlight a particular doctrine of the faith, the Sunday of the Word of God will not have its own proper prayers (in this way it is like Divine Mercy Sunday). The prayers and readings are taken from the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Congregation for Divine Worship Note

On December 17, 2020, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, issued a “Note on the Sunday of the Word of God”, which is available online or as a download.

Online (Vatican website) 4-page document (PDF)

Clergy must hold fast to the Sacred Scriptures through diligent sacred reading and careful study. (Dei Verbum 25)

Aperuit illis

In his Apostolic Letter Aperuit illis, Pope Francis instituted the Sunday of the Word of the Word. Read the document online, or download and print it.

Online (Vatican website) 11-page document (PDF)

He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45)

Ways to Mark this Sunday

In his Apostolic Letter Aperuit illis (AI) Pope Francis writes, “I hereby declare that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God.”

The pope suggests the following ways to mark the Sunday of the Word of God. At the same time, he acknolwedges that parishes “have undertaken a wealth of initiatives to make the sacred Scripture more accessible to believers, to increase their gratitude for so great a gift, and to help them to strive daily to embody and bear witness to its teachings” (AI 2). In a similar vein, he invites parishes to mark the Sunday of the Word of God in “their own ways” (AI 3).

The Homily

• “On this Sunday, it would be particularly appropriate to highlight the proclamation of the word of the Lord and to emphasize in the homily the honor that it is due” (AI 3).
• “[P]astors are primarily responsible for explaining sacred Scripture and helping everyone to understand it. … Helping people to enter more deeply into the word of God through simple and suitable language will allow priests themselves to discover the beauty of the images used by the Lord to encourage the practice of the good. This is a pastoral opportunity that should not be wasted! … For many of our faithful, in fact, this is the only opportunity they have to grasp the beauty of God’s word and to see it applied to their daily lives. Consequently, sufficient time must be devoted to the preparation of the homily. … When we take time to pray and meditate on the sacred text, we can speak from the heart and thus reach the hearts of those who hear us, conveying what is essential and capable of bearing fruit” (AI 5).
• See paragraphs 135–159 of Evangelii gaudium (the link is to “The Gospel of Joy” on the Vatican website) for additional teaching by Pope Francis on the homily and preparing to preach.

Pray for Unity

• Pope Francis writes, “we are encouraged to strengthen our bonds with the Jewish people and to pray for Christian unity. … [T]he celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God has ecumenical value, since the Scriptures point out, for those who listen, the path to authentic and firm unity.”
• The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” is celebrated January 18–25, which will usually coincide with the Sunday of the Word of God.

Enthrone the sacred text during the Eucharistic celebration

• The General Instruction to the Roman Missal (the link is to the document on the USCCB website) contains the following instructions for the Deacon at Mass: “When he reaches the altar, if he is carrying the Book of the Gospels, he omits the sign of reverence and goes up to the altar. It is a praiseworthy practice for him to place the Book of the Gospels on the altar, after which, together with the Priest, he venerates the altar with a kiss” (GIRM 173). “During the singing of the Alleluia … having bowed to the altar, he (the Deacon) then takes up the Book of the Gospels which was placed on it and proceeds to the ambo, carrying the book slightly elevated” (GIRM 175).
• In the absence of a Deacon, the Priest himself does NOT carry the Book of the Gospels in the opening procession. However, he may process with it from the altar to the ambo. In the absence of a Deacon, place the Book of the Gospels on the altar before Mass, so that it be in place for the Priest to process with it to the ambo at the appropriate time (GIRM 133).

Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ. (St. Jerome)

Give away Bibles or one of the books of the Bible

• On various occasions throughout Pope Francis’ papacy (Oct. 5, 2014, Mar. 22, 2015, Mar. 12, 2016, etc.), bibles or one of the Gospels have been distributed in St. Peter’s Square.
• During the distribution of bibles on March 22, 2015, he said, “Take this Gospel and carry it with you, to read it often, every day. Carry it in your purse, in your pocket, read from it often, a passage every day.”

Teach the practice of lectio divina

• In AI 3 Pope Francis highlights lectio divina as a practice to pray daily with the Scriptures.
• In paragraph 87 of Verbum Domini, Pope Benedict XVI gives a succinct summary of and instructions on lectio divina.
• Pope Francis gives additional insights in paragraphs 152–153 of Evangelii gaudium.

Lectionary Readings

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

“On this Sunday [of the Word of God], it would be particularly appropriate to highlight the proclamation of the word of the Lord and to emphasize in the homily the honor that it is due” (AI 3).

General Homily Notes:

In Aperuit illis, Pope Francis quotes from the Second Vatican Council’s Dei verbum, Pope Benedict XVI’s Verbum Domini and his own Evangelii gaudium. In this same document, he also provides addition reflections on the Sacred Scripture. It can be a rich source of material in preparing to preach on the Sunday of the Word of God.

The following points were taken from paragraphs 140–149 of the Homiletic Directory (the link is to the document on the Vatican website), published in 2014 by the Congregation of Divine Worship.

• The Gospels for all three cycles for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time begin the narrative of Jesus’ public ministry. This Sunday follows the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord and the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time, which continues the Advent and Christmas theme of the manifestation of the Lord. This is the beginning of the presentation of the Lord’s life, teaching and preaching.
• For all the Sundays of Ordinary Time, the readings from the Old Testament and the Responsorial Psalms are chosen to harmonize with the Gospel, bringing out the unity of the Old and New Testaments, showing how revelation converges on the person and mission of Jesus. The homilest should not presume that the people will automatically see these connections.
• The unifying principle of the readings is Christ’s Paschal Mystery. This is the primary message proclaimed and celebrated during the Liturgy of the Word all throughout the liturgical year.

Your word, O Lord, is lamp for my feet and a light for my path. (Ps 119:105)

Years 2026, 2029, etc.
Lectionary No. 67

Homily Notes:

• In the Second Reading, St. Paul writes to the Corinthians: “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.” His mission is firmly rooted in the Word of God.
• In the Gospel, St. Matthew sees the mission of Jesus as fulfilling the prophecy recorded in the eighth chapter of the prophet Isaiah, which is given as the First Reading.
• Jesus calls his first disciples and begins his public ministry, which is summarized as “teaching … and proclaiming the gospel.” We, in imitation of Jesus, continue that same mission today.

First Reading: Is 8:23b-9:3

In Galilee of the Gentiles, the people have seen a great light.

Psalm Response: Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17

That all of you may agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you.

Alleluia Verse: Matt 4:23

Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people.

Gospel: Matt 4:12-23 or 4:12-17

Jesus went to Capernaum, so that what had been said through Isaiah might be fulfilled.

Years 2027, 2030, etc.
Lectionary No. 68

Homily Notes:

• In the First Reading, the prophet Jonah responds to the word of God and preaches to the people of Ninevah. Upon hearing it, they repent.
• The psalm is a plea for the Lord to teach us.
• The Gospel tells of the call of the first disciples by Jesus. They (unlike Jonah, who at first resisted God’s summons), respond spontaeneously to the invitation. They join Jesus in proclaiming the Gospel message, “This is the time of fulfillment. Repent and believe.”

First Reading: Jon 3:1-5, 10

The Ninevites turned from their evil way.

Psalm Response: Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Second Reading: 1 Cor 7:29-31

The world in its present form is passing away.

Alleluia Verse: Mark 1:15

The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

Repent and believe in the Gospel.

Years 2025, 2028, etc.
Lectionary No. 69

Homily Notes:

• In paragraphs 4 and 14 of Aperuit illis,  Pope Francis provides a brief commentary on the First Reading from Nehemiah. He concludes, “The Bible is the book of the Lord’s people, who, in listening to it, move from dispersion and division towards unity. The word of God unites believers and makes them one people.” The Second Reading is a beautiful reflection on the unity of the body from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
• The psalm is a reflection on the Law. We desire that all the faithful discover that the Lord’s words are “Spirit and life.”
• In the Gospel, St. Luke tells the story of Jesus reading from the prophet Isaiah (61:1–2) and applying the prophecy to himself.

First Reading: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

They read the book of the Law and they understood what was read.

Psalm Response: Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Second Reading: 1 Cor 12:12-30 or 12:12-14, 27

You are Christ’s body and individually members of it.

Alleluia Verse: Cf. Luke 4:18

The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, and to proclaim liberty to captives.

Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled.

Resources from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops [USCCB] provides a number of resources to assist in the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God:

• The Sunday of the Word of God page on their website (www.usccb.org/committees/divine-worship/sunday-word-god) provides catechetical, ecumenical, liturgical and prayer resources.
• They also provide a series of five videos about Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church on their website dedicated to the bible (catholic.bible/sunday-of-the-word-of-god).