Electric Prayer

Background: The bishops of England, Wales and Scotland have decreed that on 1 December 2024 the inhabitants of those countries must stop using the Jerusalem Bible for the readings at Mass and start using the English Standard Version (a flavour of the RSV) instead.

• This affects the readings at Mass only, not the Liturgy of the Hours.
• Nobody outside these countries is affected in any way at all.

How it works

In England, Wales and Scotland, before 1 December 2024, you will see the Jerusalem Bible.

In England, Wales and Scotland, from 1 December 2024 onwards, you will see the ESV.

What you may need to do

If you have an old version of a Universalis app or program, you will need to update it. In general this is automatic, but as with everything to do with computers, “automatic” things do not always happen. Windows and Android seem particularly unreliable. Here are instructions for updating manually. This does not cost anything.

If you are using a local calendar for anywhere outside England, Wales or Scotland, you will need to change it. Hitherto it hasn’t been noticeably bad to be using (for instance) the worldwide General Calendar instead of your local one – you will have missed a few local feasts, that is all. But now the translations are different as well, you need to set the local calendar to match where you really are. Here are the instructions. It isn’t complicated.

If you need help

Send us a Contact Us message. The instructions are here.