Why do we have the readings we have on the days we have them? Roman Catholics enjoy the rotation of readings from the Lectionary for Mass because they offer a rich presentation of the Bible, anchor the Liturgy of the Word, and provide a source of private meditation. But how did the pairing of all these readings come about? In Words without Alloy, Paul Turner traces the history of the lectionary as if it were a person coming to full maturity. By following the development of the lectionary, readers may come to a deeper appreciation of the One whose words it speaks.