October 20th - XXI Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of October. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the parable of the unjust and ungrateful servant who, forgiven his debts by the King, demands what is owed to him from others and shews complete ingratitude.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Exaudiat Dominus for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of October. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc were sung. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Primo dierum omnium. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) are sung. The lessons are the Incipitof the Second book of Machabees. The first lesson is longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. After ...sumus orantes pro vobis the lesson continues Regnante Demetrio anno ... until ... mensis Casleu (vv. 7 - 9). The second lesson is absent from the modern editions. It begins Anno centesimo octogesimo ... and continues until Per omnia benedictus Deus, qui tradidit impios (1:vv. 10 - 17). The third lesson contains the text of both the modern second and third lessons. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the writing of St. Chrysostom on the Psalms. These are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The seventh lesson is longer than that found in the modern editions and contains the text Quod ut manifestius...to si et ipsi dimittant minora peccantibus, about half of the modern eighth lesson. The eighth lesson begins Si autem ob factam and continues with all the remaining text of the modern eighth lesson but then continues Oblatus est ei unus... to ...et peccatoris appellari stultitiam, text not found in the modern books. The ninth lesson begins Sed quo modos.. and continues to..nec a prudentibus viris recipiendae text which, again, is absent from the modern books and then continues with Sic et Pater meus and the rest of the text of the modern ninth lesson. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150 are sung. The Office hymn is Aeterne. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc are sung.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or rector. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

At Vespers, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113, the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Hilarion and of St. Ursula and Others followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

October 13th - XX Sunday after Pentecost

The twentieth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the third Sunday of October. The Gospel pericopes from St. John's Gosple give the account of the healing of the ruler's son at Capharnaum.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday, Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147, were sung. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Lugebat autem Judam for the Saturday before the third Sunday of October. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine were sung. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn Primo dierum omnium. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons continue to be read from the First Book of the Machabees and are from its ninth chapter. These are identical to those found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Offices of St. Ambrose. These are, again, the same as those found in the modern editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel. These lessons are significantly longer than in the modern editions. By the eighth lesson all three modern lessons have been read and there is additional material from the homily to complete the Tridentine eighth lesson. The ninth lesson is entirely absent from the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Dominical psalms, Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150, are sung. The Office hymn is Aeterne. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc are sung.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

At Vespers, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113, the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following Office of St. Callistus followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

October 6th - XIX Sunday after Pentecost

The nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the second Sunday of October. The Gospel pericopes contain the parable of the wedding feast from St. Matthew's Gospel with the sobering concluding words of the LORD Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Vespers of Saturday, Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147, were sung. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Refulsit sol for the Saturday before the second Sunday of October. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine were sung. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Primo dierum omnium. In the first nocturn Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung. The lessons continue from the First Book of the Machabees. The first lesson includes part of the text from what is the second lesson in the modern books, Tunc ordinavit... until ...in locum immundum. The second lesson begins Et cogitavit... (from the middle of the modern second lesson) and continues with what is now part of the modern third lesson with Et acceperunt... until ...et mensam in templum. The third lesson begins Et incensum posuerunt... until ...qui prosperavit eis, i.e. continuing with vv. 52-55. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book on the City of God of St. Augustine. The fourth and fifth lessons are slightly longer than those in the modern books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Gregory on St. Matthews's Gospel. The seventh lesson does not appear in the modern editions. The eighth lesson consists of the modern seventh and half of the modern eighth lessons. The text of the ninth lesson consists of the rest of the modern eighth and ninth lessons and the inclusion of further texts from St. Gregory. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Dominical psalms, Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150, are sung. The Office hymn is Aeterne. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc are sung.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

At Vespers, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113, the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Mark and of SS Sergius and Others followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine . At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

September 29th - The Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel

The feast of the Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and this year the first Sunday of October, is commemorated in the Office and at and Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Stetit angelus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Tibi Christe splendor Patris. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Adaperiat Dominus etc for the Saturday before the first Sunday of October). The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Archangelorum Dominium, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is, again, Tibi Christe splendor Patris. In the first nocturn the antiphons Concussum est mare etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 8, 10 & 14. The lessons are taken from the prophet Daniel. These are the same as those found in the later editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn the antiphons Michael Archangele etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 18, 23 & 33. The lessons in the second nocturn are taken from a homily of St. Gregory the Great. Again, these are the same as those found in the later books. In the third nocturn the antiphons Angelus Archangelus Michael etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 95, 96 & 102. The lessons are a homily of St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. These are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form an extended eighth lesson of the day and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons of the homily of the Sunday. These are from a homily of St. Peter Chrysologus on St. Matthew's Gospel. The lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions with the seventh lesson (of the Sunday) consisting of both the modern seventh and eighth lessons. The eighth lesson consists of all of the modern ninth lesson and additional texts. The text of the ninth lesson is not found in the modern books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Stetit angelus etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Christe, sanctorum decus Angelorum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime the antiphon Stetit Angelus etc is sung with the festal psalms, Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii) and the lectio brevis is Factum est praelium. The antiphons from Lauds are sung at the Hours in the usual order.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the common preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons, psalms and hymn are as were sung at first Vespers yesterday except Ps. 137 is sung in place of Ps.116; the V&R and antiphon on the Magnificat are proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Jerome and of the Sunday. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

September 22nd - XVII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins this year, is green. It is the fourth Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes at Mattins and Mass come from the twenty-second chapter of St. Matthew and have the Pharisees asking the LORD what is the greatest commandment.

Yesterday afternoon at second Vespers of the feast of St. Matthew the Apostle the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn was Exsultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Adonai, Domine for Saturday before the fourth Sunday of September). The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn, Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14, the lessons are the Incipit of the book of Judith. These lessons are the same as in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Ambrose on Elias and fasting. These are significantly longer than those in the modern books. The text of the fifth and sixth lessons is not found in the modern books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Chrysostom on St. Matthews's Gospel. The eighth and ninth lessons are are longer than those found in modern editions. Today they are read together to form an extended eighth lesson of the Sunday and the ninth lesson is of St. Maurice & Companions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds, Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150, the Office hymn is Ecce. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of SS Maurice & Companions followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of is of SS Maurice & Companions, the third collect is of A cunctis. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Linus and of St. Thecla followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

September 15th - Octave Day of the Nativity of the BVM

The Octave-Day of the Nativity of the BVM is of double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is white. The Octave-Day outranks the semi-double sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost which is, this year, the third Sunday of September.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross were sung. The antiphons O magnum pietatis opus etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Vexilla regis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the following Octave-Day, of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September) and of St. Nicomedes. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. Hymns of Iambic metre, throughout the Octave have been sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is Nativitatem Virginis Mariae celebremus: * Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Quem terra. In the first nocturn the antiphons Benedicta tu etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 8, 18 & 23. The lessons are from occurring Scripture, the Incipit of the Book of Tobias, with the responsories of the feast. The first lesson continues with what, in the post-Clementine editions, the beginning of the second lesson Deinique, cum irent... to ...ministraret omnem decimationem. The second lesson begins Haec et his similia.. to ... salutis dabat eis, what is the end of the third lesson in the later editions. The third lesson, absent from modern editions, begins Cum autem venisset... and continues until ...solicitus exhibebat. (vv. 16 - 20). In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 44, 45 & 86. The lessons are taken from the writing of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude, Maria Virgo etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 95, 96 & 97. The homily is from St. Chrysostom on St. Luke's Gospel. The ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons of the homily for the Sunday, from St. Ambrose on St. Luke. These are slightly longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The Office hymn is O gloriosa Domina. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Nicomedes. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is In plateis

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect is of St. Nicomedes. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc., are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Ave, maris stella. After the collect of the Octave-Day commemorations are sung of the Sunday, of SS Cornelius and Cyprian and of SS Euphemia and Others. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Giotto, The Birth of the BVM, Wikipedia

September 8th - The Nativity of the BVM

The Nativity of the Mother of God is a double feast with Octave. The liturgical colour of the feast, and of its Octave, is white. The feast takes precedence over the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost which is, this year, the second Sunday of September.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of the BVM (Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The Office hymn was Ave, maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect are proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung (the antiphon on the Magnificat being In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second Sunday of September). At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is Nativitatem Virginis Mariae celebremus: * Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum, and the Office hymn, Quem terra, pontus, aethera, from the Common. In the first nocturn the antiphons Benedicta tua etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 8, 18 & 23. The lessons in the first nocturn are the Incipit of the Song of Songs, with its exquisite imagery. These are the same as in modern editions of the Breviary. The responsories are proper to the feast, Hodie est nata est beata Virgo Maria etc. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 44, 45 & 88. The lessons are taken from a sermon attributed to St. Augustine. These are longer than those found in the modern books. The fourth lesson continues with Eva enim luxit..., the beginning of the modern fifth lesson, to ...ista edidit innocentem. The fifth lesson begins Mater generis nostri and contains all the remaining text of the modern fifth lesson and additional text too. The sixth lesson is the same as in the modern editions. The responsories are again proper to the feast, Nativitas gloriosae etc. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude, Maria virgo etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 95, 96 & 97. St. Jerome provides the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel. The seventh lesson is the same as that found in the modern Breviary, the eighth a sentence longer with the addition of Naason autem genuit Salmon princeps Iudae, sicut in Numeris legimus. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday formed of the three lessons from St. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel. The entire seventh lesson (of the Sunday) is absent from modern editions: Miracula Domini nostri ... quam suscitare iterum moriturum. The eighth lesson is significantly longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions. The ninth lesson is the same as that found in the modern books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc are again sung, this time with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is O gloriosa Domina. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Hadrian.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology and tone of the Incarnation. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii), in the short responsory the versicle Qui natus es is sung. The lectio brevis is In plateis.

Mass is sung after Terce. In some countries a blessing of seeds, figs, grapes or other fruits takes place (the fruits in question depending on the climate of the place. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, (in private Masses the third collect is of St. Hadrian). The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM, Et te in Nativitate and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all is sung as yesterday except the antiphon on the Magnificat which is proper, Nativitas tua etc., and after the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Gorgonius.

Icon: Russian, 18th century