Lectionis

Lectionis is a term encountered primarily in Latin scholarly usage, referring to readings or lessons in a textual or liturgical context. It is the genitive form of lectio, meaning “reading” or “lesson,” and in English-language discussions it is often used to denote the body of readings rather than a standalone book.

In its broad sense, lectionis denotes the set of readings assigned for a particular purpose, such as a daily or Sunday sequence in a lectionary, or the specific passages designated for study, recitation, or worship. The term emphasizes the content of the readings themselves rather than the physical manuscript or book that contains them.

In liturgical practice, lectionis underpins the organization of services by presenting the appointed scriptures or gospel passages for a given day or feast. Lectionaries, the actual collections used in worship, are built from these readings, but lectionis refers to the readings as a corpus and to the choices made by a church tradition.

In textual criticism and philology, lectionis can describe variant readings found across manuscripts. Scholars may discuss different lectiones (readings) within a textual tradition, evaluating their authenticity, provenance, and impact on interpretation.

Today the term is most often found in academic articles, historical lexica, and discussions of liturgical history. It remains a niche, technical term rather than a common element of contemporary liturgical practice.

See also: lectio, lectionary, textual criticism, manuscript tradition.