The Matins Lectionary: The Complete Readings from the Traditional Roman Breviary

The Matins Lectionary: The Complete Readings from the Traditional Roman Breviary

Compiled by Samuel McIlheran · Published by TAN Books

Overview

Recover a lost treasure of Catholic tradition.

For centuries, the Divine Office formed the heart of the Church’s daily prayer. Among its richest hours was Matins, an early morning offering of Psalms, Sacred Scripture, the lives of the saints, and the luminous wisdom of the Church Fathers. The Matins Lectionary restores this spiritual treasury in full, presenting the complete cycle of readings from the Traditional Roman Breviary as they existed before the 1960 reform of Pope John XXIII, when nearly sixty percent of the Patristic and hagiographical readings were removed.

In his Motu Proprio promulgating the simplified Breviary, Pope John XXIII urged clerics to secure the writings of the Fathers, “so rich in wisdom and piety,” and to read and meditate upon them constantly. This volume answers that call, placing back into your hands the very readings that nourished monks, priests, and lay faithful for generations.

Drawing from the Douay-Rheims Bible and newly revised translations of hagiographical and Patristic texts, this single volume offers a full year of daily spiritual reading aligned with the traditional liturgical calendar. While not containing the entirety of Sacred Scripture, it draws from every book of the Bible, guiding you through its high points as the Church herself intended, season by season, feast by feast.

On feast days, you will encounter six additional lessons: the life of the saint or commentary on the mystery being celebrated, followed by a passage from the day’s Gospel and a three-part Patristic reflection. On Sundays, nine lessons provide a profound spiritual preparation for Holy Mass, especially for those attached to the Traditional Roman Rite. With the rich octaves of the traditional calendar, you are invited to linger for days with Saint Joseph, the Sacred Heart, or the Angelic Doctor, letting their wisdom shape your prayer.

Scripture. Saints. The Fathers. Every day. Now in English.

• Restores the complete pre-1960 Matins readings of the Traditional Roman Breviary
• Includes Scripture from the Douay-Rheims Bible and newly revised Patristic translations
• Provides a full year of structured daily spiritual reading
• Aligns with the traditional liturgical calendar, including feasts and octaves
• Offers nine Sunday lessons for deep preparation before Holy Mass

From the Book

“Since the readings from the Fathers have also been somewhat reduced, We earnestly exhort all clerics to secure the writings of the Fathers, so rich in wisdom and piety, and to read and meditate on them constantly.”
— Pope John XXIII, Motu Proprio on the Breviary Reform

Intended Audience

This volume is ideal for priests, religious, and laity attached to the Traditional Latin Mass, as well as anyone seeking a deeper, more contemplative rhythm of life rooted in the Church’s perennial tradition. It is especially valuable for those who desire substantial daily spiritual reading, richer preparation for Mass, and sustained immersion in Scripture and the Fathers.

FAQs

Does this book contain the full text of Matins prayers?
No. This is a companion volume containing all the readings from Matins, not the Psalms and other prayers of the Office itself.

Is this the complete set of readings or only the ones removed in 1960?
This volume includes the entire cycle of Matins readings as they existed before the 1960 reform, not merely the omitted selections.

Can this be used apart from the Breviary?
Yes. The readings are structured for daily use and can serve as a stand-alone year-long spiritual formation plan aligned with the traditional calendar.