Pope Francis instituted the celebration of Word of God Sunday with the issue of the apostolic letter Aperruit Ellis.

“Devoting a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world. Here, we are reminded of the teaching of Saint Ephrem: “Who is able to understand, Lord, all the richness of even one of your words? There is more that eludes us than what we can understand. We are like the thirsty drinking from a fountain. Your word has as many aspects as the perspectives of those who study it. The Lord has coloured his word with diverse beauties, so that those who study it can contemplate what stirs them. He has hidden in his word all treasures, so that each of us may find a richness in what he or she contemplates” (Commentary on the Diatessaron, 1, 18),” writes Pope Francis in Aperruit Ellis.

"The day provides opportunities to celebrate the Word of God in new and diverse ways" says Archbishop Patrick O’Regan, Chairman of the Australian Bishops Commission for Liturgy. 

Click here to read a reflection by Fr Tom Elich, Editor, Liturgy News.