February 24th - First Sunday in Lent

The first Sunday in Lent is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers this year, is violet. No feast can take precedence over it or any such Sunday in occurence. The Gospel pericopes at Mattins and Mass are St. Matthew's account of the LORD's temptation by Satan in the desert. The feast of St. Matthias the Apostle is transferred to Monday. The Vigil of the feast was commemorated at Mass yesterday.

At Vespers, yesterday morning, the antiphons and psalms (143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) of Saturday were sung. The chapter was proper to the Sunday and the Office hymn was Audi benigne conditor. 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 Non sit vobis and the Office hymn is Ex more. These are both used throughout the first four weeks of Lent. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung and the lessons are from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. The second lesson is longer than that found in modern versions of the Breviary with the addition of Propter quod...Dominus omnipotens, vv. 17 & 18. The third lesson also is longer, beginning at the first verse of Ch. 7 with Has ergo habentes...pro vobis preceding the text found in modern editions which begin at the fourth verse. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from St. Leo and again give more of his sermon than found in modern editions. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on the Gospel. Yet again the text found in the Tridentine Breviary is truncated in later editions. A ninth responsory, Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to Quadragesima Sunday, Cor mundum crea in me Deus etc., and are sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jam Christe sol justitiae. The versicle after the hymn Angelis suis, chapter, antiphon at the Benedictus and collect are proper to the Sunday (the versicle and its response being used throughout Lent). 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 the order of psalmody is Pss. 53, 92, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. The Dominical preces are sung. At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper.

Mass is sung after Terce. Unlike in Septuagesima the deacon and subdeacon wear folded chasubles rather than dalmatic and tunicle and the organ is silent. There is no Gloria, the second collect is A cunctis nos, the third collect is Omnipotens. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Creed and the preface of Lent are sung. Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar.

After None there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Matthias are sung. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Exsultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted due to the double feast as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

February 17th - Quinquagesima Sunday

Quinquagesima Sunday is of semi-double rite and it liturgical colour is violet. The Epistle consists of perhaps one of the most famous pericopes in the NT, St. Paul's discourse to the Corinthians on faith, hope and charity. The Gospel from St. Luke has the story of the granting of sight to the man born blind. This Sunday corresponds in the Byzantine rite to the Sunday of Forgiveness, or Cheesefare Sunday, the Sunday being the last day dairy products are eaten until Pascha.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung. The Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The chapter, antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper to Quinquagesima Sunday. 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, as for the previous Sundays, the invitatory is Praeoccupemus and the Office hymn is Primo dierum. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung. The lessons, from Genesis, are the beginning of the story of Abraham. These are the same as those in found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from St. Ambrose on the Patriarch Abraham. The fifth lesson is, unusually, slightly shorter than in later editions: Sed ideo addidit...Sequere Deum. The sixth lesson begins at the preceding verse to modern editions, Facto praevenit... In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are from a homily from St. Gregory on the Gospel. These are the same as those found in the later editions. The ninth responsory, Caecus sedebat, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to Quinquagesima Sunday, Secundum multitudinem etc., and are sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The versicle after the hymn Aeterne, chapter, antiphon at the Benedictus and collect are proper to the Sunday. 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 the order of psalmody is Pss. 53, 92, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. The Dominical preces are sung. At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper to the Sunday

In Mass the Gloria is omitted, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector of the place. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Creed and the common preface are sung. Following the general rule as the Gloria is not sung Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle and the organ may be played.

Vespers are of the Sunday with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Lucis Creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the following feast of St. Simeon is sung 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

February 10th - Sexagesima Sunday

Sexagesima Sunday is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is violet. The Gospel pericopes are from St. Luke and the parable of the sower with his seed landing on rock, amongst weeds and the good ground. In the Kalendar of the Byzantine rite Sexagesima corresponds to the Sunday of the Last Judgement, or Meatfare Sunday, the last day on which meat is eaten until Pascha.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms for Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung. The chapter was proper to Sexagesima, Fratres: Libenter suffertis and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. 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, as for Septuagesima Sunday, the invitatorium is Praeoccupemus and the Office hymn is Primo dierum. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung. The lessons continue to be taken from Genesis are read concerning the story of Noah. The lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. The first continues Videns autem Deus ...me fecisse eos, i.e with most of the text of the modern second lesson. The second lesson begins Noe vero invenit ... and continues with all of the modern third lesson and the addition of verse 16: Fenestram in arca facies ... tristega facies in ea. The third lesson, the text of which is entirely absent from the modern books, begins Ecce ego ... and continues until Fecit igitur omnia quae praeceperat illi Deus, Gen. 6:17 - 22. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from St. Ambrose on Noah and the Ark. These are identical to those found in the modern edtions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20 the lessons are taken from a homily of St. Gregory. The eighth and ninth lessons are slightly longer than in the modern editions. A ninth responsory, Cum turba plurima, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to the Sunday, Secundum magnam misericordiam etc., and are sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The versicle after the hymn Aeterne, chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are all proper to the Sunday. 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 the order of psalmody is Pss. 53, 92, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. The Dominical preces are sung. At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper.

At Mass the ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. There is no Gloria, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Creed and the common preface are sung. Following the general rule as the Gloria is not sung Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) of Sunday are sung, the chapter is proper to Sexagesima Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. 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 are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

February 3rd - Septuagesima Sunday

Septuagesima Sunday is of semi-double rank and its liturgical colour, from Mattins this year, is violet. At Mattins the book of Genesis is begun with the account of the Creation. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew at Mattins and Mass contain the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. The fourth Sunday after the Epiphany was anticipated on Thursday of last week when the third nocturn lessons of the Sunday, a homily from St. Jerome on St. Matthew' Gospel, replaced the readings from Scripture in the single ferial nocturn. In the Tridentine Rite anticipated Sundays have but a single nocturn and are far less privileged, and far simpler affairs, than following the reform of 1911-13.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Purification of the BVM were sung. The antiphons Simeon justus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat was proper, Hodie. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of Septuagesima Sunday and of St. Blaise. At the end of Vespers a double Alleluia was added to both Benedicamus Domino and to its response. After that Alleluia will not be heard again until the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday. At Compline, and in all Offices until the end of the Vesperal liturgy on Holy Saturday, the Alleluia at the end of the Lesser Doxology at the beginning of the Hours is replaced by Laus tibi Domine Rex aeterne gloriae. The Alleluia is stripped from all other occurrences in the Liturgy until the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday. From Compline the Marian antiphon changes from Alma, Redemptoris to Ave, Regina caelorum etc.

At Mattins the invitatorium is Praeoccupemus and the Office hymn is Primo dierum. 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 Genesis. These are the same as those found in modern editions. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from the Enchiridion of St. Augustine. These are substantially longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions and the sixth lesson is not found in the later books, the fifth lesson effectively having been divided into two. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory on the Gospel of the labourers in the vineyard. Again, these are longer than those found in the modern editions. The Te Deum is omitted and in its place a ninth responsory, Ubi est Abel frater tuus, is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to the Sunday, Miserere mei Deus etc, and sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The versicle after the hymn Aeterne rerum conditor, chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to Septuagesima Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Blaise is sung followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Santa Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc.

At the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper to the Sunday. At Prime the order of psalmody is changed from the usual order. Under the antiphon Conventione autem Pss. 53, 92, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque are sung. The Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The Gloria is omitted, the second collect is of St. Blaise, the third collect is A cunctis. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Creed and the common preface are sung. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino , sung by the Deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) of Sunday are sung, the chapter is proper to the Sunday as in the antiphon at the Magnificat. 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 are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

January 27th - St. John Chrysostom

The feast of St. Chrysostom is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The third Sunday after the Epiphany is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Iste Confessor. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Suscepit Deus. The Suffrages were omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum * Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is, again, Iste confessor. In the first nocturn the antiphons Beatus vir etc are sung with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are from occurring Scripture: the Incipit of the Epistle to the Galatians. The first and second lessons are the same as those found in the modern editions, the third lesson is longer and continues Cum autem placuit ... diebus quindecim (vv. 15 - 18). The responsories are from the Common of Confessor-Bishops. In the second nocturn the antiphons Invocantem etc are sung with Pss. 4, 5 & 8. The lessons are proper to the feast. These are the same as those found in the later editons up until the addition of a sentence to the sixth lesson. In the third nocturn the antiphons Domine etc are sung with Pss. 14, 20 & 23. The lessons are a homily of St. Chrysostom on St. Matthew's Gospel (from the Common of Doctors). These are longer than those found in the post-Clementine edtions. The eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons appointed for the homily of the third Sunday after the Epiphany from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. These lessons are the same as in the later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jesu redemptor omnium. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (53, 118i & 118ii) and the lectio brevis is Fungi sacerdotio.

Mass is sung after Terce. The second collect is of the Sunday. Today there is no third collect. The Creed and the common preface are sung and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all is sung as at first Vespers except the last psalm which is Ps. 131. The Office hymn is, again, Iste confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Agnes. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

January 20th - SS Fabian & Sebastian

The feast of SS Fabian and Sebastian is of double rite and its liturgical colour is red. St. Fabian was Bishop of Rome in the mid-part of the third century and was martyred in the year 250. St. Sebastian, a Milanese, was an officer in the Roman army under Diocletian. On the discovery that he was a Christian he was tied to a tree and shot by archers and then scourged to death in 288. The Office is largely taken from the Common of Several Martyrs save the collect and lessons. The second Sunday after the Epiphany is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Omnes sancti etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Sanctorum meritis inclyta gaudia. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Martyrum Dominum, * Venite adoreumus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christi munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons Secus decursus aquarum etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are of occurring Scripture, i.e. those appointed for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, the Incipit of the Epistle to the Galatians. The first and second lessons are the same as those in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. The third lesson is longer and continues Cum autem placuit (...) eum diebus quindecim, i.e. the addition of vv. 15 - 18. The responsories are from the Common of Martyrs. In the second nocturn the antiphons Dabo sanctis meis etc are sung with psalms 14, 15 & 23. The proper lessons appointed for the feast are identical to those found in the later editions of the Breviary. In the third nocturn the antiphons Justi autem etc are sung with psalms 32, 33 & 45. The lessons are a homily from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel, Descendens Jesus de monte. These are significantly longer than those found in the later editions and the eighth lesson incorporates the text of both the modern eighth and ninth lessons. The text of the ninth lesson is not in the later books. Today, the eighth and ninth lessons are read as one to form an extended eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is formed of the homily for the Sunday. This is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The lessons are the same as those found in later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Omnes sancti etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150. The Office hymn is Rex gloriosae martyrumr. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. 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 Fulgebunt justi.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formula is Intret in conspectu tuo Domine etc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. Totday there is no third collect. The Creed and the common preface are sung and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are 'from the chapter' of St. Agnes. The antiphons Isti sunt sancti etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The chapter is Confitebor tibi Domine Rex etc and the Office hymn is Jesu, corona Virginum. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the preceding Office of SS Fabian and Sebastian and of the Sunday. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: "Saints Fabian and Sebastian", The Hours of Catherine of Cleves (15th century)

January 13th - Octave Day of the Epiphany

The Octave Day of the Epiphany is of double rite and its liturgical colour, like that of the feast and the days within the Octave, is white. When the Epiphany and its Octave day fall on a Sunday the Sunday within the Octave is anticipated on the Saturday. Yesterday, in the Office of the anticipated Sunday the lessons in the first nocturn were from the sixteenth chapter of Romans, Commendo autem etc.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116 as were sung as first Vespers of the Epiphany. The Office hymn was Hostis Herodes impie. The collect was proper to the Octave Day. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the anticipated Sunday within the Octave.

At Mattins the invitatory is Christus apparuit nobis, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Hostis Herodes impie. The special arrangement being for the feast only. The antiphons Afferte Domino etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms of the feast. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Epistle to the Corinthians, Paulus vocatus Apostolus. These are significantly longer than those found in the later editions. The first responsory is Hodie. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Gregory the Theologian. Again, these are significantly longer than those found in the post-Clementine books. In the third nocturn the homily if from St. Augustine on St. John's Gospel. Yet again, these are longer than those found in the later books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is O sola magnarum urbium. The collect is proper to the Octave Day Deus, cujus Unigenitus.

At the Hours the hymns have the Doxology and melody of the Epiphany. The antiphons and psalms are sung as on the feast but with the proper collect of the Octave Day.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formulary is the same as on the feast except the orations and Gospel are proper. The Gloria is sung, the Creed is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Epiphany.

At Vespers the antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is, again, Hostis Herodes impie. After the collect of the Octave Day commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Hilary of Poitiers and of St. Felix.


Icon: Russian, 15th century, Wikipedia