THE SAME RESPONSORIAL PSALM FOR 3 WEEKS IN A ROW

By Tim Claubaugh

There is something very unique about this time in August within the church year. That is for 3 weeks in a row, the church uses the same Responsorial Psalm. This is the only time within the 3 year cycle of the readings that this happens.

The church takes the scripture readings and spreads them out over a three year period (cycles A, B, & C) so that in 3 years time, you have heard most of the readings from scripture. We are currently in cycle B, and this is the only time during that 3 year cycle where the same Responsorial Psalm is used for three weeks in a row.

The past Sunday (August 9, 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time) we sang Psalm 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 with the antiphon "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

This coming Sunday (August 16, 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time) we will sing Psalm 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7 with the antiphon "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Finally for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time (August 23), we again sing from Psalm 34, however, this time the verses will be 2-3, 16-17, 18-19, and 20-21.

You will notice that Sunday's 19 and 20 are the same except for one less verse (vs. 8-9 is not used on the 20th Sunday. On the 21st Sunday, there are three verses that are used later in the Psalm, however, the Psalm begins with Vs. 2-3 just like the previous 2 Sundays.