The Mass: The Liturgy of the Word

The Liturgy of the Word consists of the following:

On Sundays, the First Reading, usually taken from the Old Testament.
The Responsorial Psalm
The Second Reading, usually taken from the New Testament
The Alleluia
The Gospel
The Homily
The Profession of Faith
The Prayers of the Faithful

“In the readings… God is speaking to his people, opening up to them the mystery of redemption and salvation, and nourishing their spirit.” (GIRM, 55) “It is God himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the Church.” Our God is not silent God. He speaks to those whom He has created. “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, He spoke to us through His Son, whom he made heir of all things and through He created the universe.” (Heb 1:1-2)

Benedict XIV in Sacramentum Caritatis, 45 said: “I ask that the Liturgy of the Word always be carefully prepared and celebrated… I urge that every effort be made to ensure that the liturgical proclamation of the word of God is entrusted to well-prepared readers.” “Knowledge and study of the word of God enable us better to appreciate, celebrate and live the Eucharist... How true it is that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ”.