Old Testament
The Book of Joel
The Book of Joel is the thirty-fourth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 3 chapters and 73 verses.
About Joel
About Joel · Prophetic oracles
Joel took a devastating locust plague and read it as a rehearsal of the day of the Lord, calling Judah to fasting and a rending of hearts rather than garments. Nothing is known of the prophet beyond his name, and his date is debated. He wrote to turn disaster into repentance and repentance into hope, ending with the promise that God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh — the text Peter stood up to quote when that promise arrived at Pentecost.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 34 of 46, 34 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 3 |
| Verses | 73, as Bless numbers them |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of 1 of 3 chapters · 6 notes |
| Catechism | 4 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 3 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Joel 1
20 versesThe prophet describes the judgments that shall fall upon the people, and invites them to fasting and prayer.
Joel 2
32 versesNo summary from Challoner.
Joel 3
21 versesNo summary from Challoner.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
1 quotation from 1 saint linked to passages of Joel in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Peter Chrysologus · on Joel 2:12
On this theme
Let us use fasting to make up for what we have lost by despising others. Let us offer our souls in sacrifice by means of fasting.
Sermon 43, c. 440
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Joel is read at the principal Mass on 6 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ash Wednesday | First Reading | Joel 2:12-18 | |
| Wednesday of the First Week in Lent | Verse before the Gospel | Joel 2:12-13 | |
| Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent | Verse before the Gospel | Joel 2:12-13 | |
| Thursday of the Third Week of Lent | Verse before the Gospel | Joel 2:12-13 | |
| computed | Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 |
| computed | Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Joel 4:12-21 |
| computed | Ash Wednesday | First Reading | Joel 2:12-18 |
| computed | Wednesday of the First Week of Lent | Verse before the Gospel | Joel 2:12-13 |
| computed | Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent | Verse before the Gospel | Joel 2:12-13 |
| computed | Thursday of the Third Week of Lent | Verse before the Gospel | Joel 2:12-13 |
| computed | Fifth Sunday of Lent | Verse before the Gospel | Joel 2:12-13 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.