Saturday 30 January 2010

January 18th - Septuagesima Sunday


Today is Septuagesima Sunday, its rank is a semi-double. Easter falls at the earliest date possible in the Julian scheme and the temporal cycle of both the Julian and Gregorian calendars now coincide. Yesterday, in Tridentine praxis, the Second Sunday after the Epiphany was anticipated (c.f. the Fourth Sunday under the new calendar).

In the Office some elements are the same as for the 'green' Sundays. A notable exception is that after Deus in adjutorium etc Alleluia is replaced by Laus tibi Domine Rex aeterne gloriae. At Mattins the invitatorium is Praeoccupemus as on preceding Sundays and the hymn Primo dierum. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung. The lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Genesis. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from the Enchiridion of St. Augustine,. 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. The Te Deum is not sung but in its place a ninth responsory.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to the Sunday and sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The versicle after the hymn Aeterne, chapter, antiphon at the Benedictus and collectare proper to Septuagesima Sunday. 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 are sung.

At Prime the order of psalmody is again changed. Under the antiphon Conventione autem Pss. 53, 92, 118i, 118ii and Quicumque. The Dominical preces are sung. At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper.

In Mass there is no Gloria, the second collect is Deus, qui salutis, the third Ecclesiae or for the pope. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Credo is sung and the Common Preface is 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.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms are those used on Sundays, the chapter is proper as in the antiphon at the Magnificat. The Suffrages of the BVM, the Apostles, the Patron and for Peace are sung. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90, 133)the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sunday 24 January 2010

January 11th - Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany


Today is Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany, or as recorded in some liturigical books, the first Sunday after the Epiphany. The rite of the day is semi-double. The liturgical colour is white. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke describe the Finding in the Temple with the LORD debating with the learned doctors to the amazement of those who witnessed this manifestation of Him.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms from Vespers of the feast were sung. The chapter and antiphon on the Magnificat were proper. The hymn Hostis Herodes impie was sung and commemorations were sung of the Octave of the Epiphany (the antiphon being proper for the 10th January) and St. Hyginus. At Compline Te lucis was sung with a Doxology of the Epiphany Gloria tibi Domine, Qui apparuisti hodie, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula.

At Mattins the invitatory is Christus apparuit nobis, Venite adoremus. The hymn is Hostis Herodes impie. The antiphons and psalms are as on the second day within the Octave. In the first nocturn the Incipit of St. Paul's Epistle to the Corinthians is read. The lessons are longer than in later editions: LI Paulus vocatus Apostolus...Christi Domini nostri (i.e. includes LII in the later books); LII Obsecro autem...Pauli baptizati estis? (i.e. LIII in the later books); LIII Gratias ago Deo...prudentiam reprobabo. The first responsory is Hodie. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo (again they are longer than in later editions of the Breviary). In the thrird nocturn the homily is from St. Augustine (the same as later editions).

At Lauds the antiphons from the feast, Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung with the festal psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150). The chapter is proper to the Sunday, the hymn O Sola magnarum urbium. Commemorations are sung of the Octave (the antiphon on the Benedictus proper for the 11th January) and St. Hyginus.

At the Hours the psalms of Lauds are used with the feastal psalms (at Prime Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii)). The hymns have the Doxology and melody of the Epiphany.

The Mass In excelso throno is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave, the third of St. Hyginus. The Creed is sung and the communicantes and Hanc igitur are of the Epiphany.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms are as on the feast. The chapter is proper to the Sunday. A commemoration is sung of the Octave.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sunday 17 January 2010

January 4th - Octave Day of the Holy Innocents


Today, the second, 'vacant' Sunday after the Nativity, is the Octave Day of the Holy Innocents. The Octave Day is of double rite. The liturgical colour of the Octave Day is always red.

At Mattins the invitatory Regem Martyrum Dominum, Venite adoremus and hymn Audit tyrannus anxius are sung as on the feast. The antiphons and psalms at the nocturns are taken from the Common of Several Martyrs. In the first nocturn the lessons are taken from the Epistle to the Romans. In the second nocturn a sermon of St. Augustine is read and in the third nocturn a homily of St. Chrysostom. At Lauds the anitphons from the feast, Herodes iratus are sung with the feastal psalms (92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150).

The antiphons of Lauds are used in sequence at the Little Hours. At Prime the festal psalms (53, 118i, 118ii) are sung. At the Hours the Doxology in honour of the Incarnation is sung at the hymns Gloria tibi Domine etc.

Mass is sung after Terce, preceded by the blessing of water and Asperges. The Mass is as on the feast the Gloria is sung. The Alleluia and its verse are always sung on the Octave Day in place of the Tract. The Creed is sung as it is a Sunday. The preface is that of the Nativity.

At Vespers a commemoration is made of the following Vigil of Epiphany.

Thursday 14 January 2010

January 1st (2009) - The Circumcision


Today is the feast of the Circumcision of the LORD. It is of double rite.

At Mattins the hymn is Christe Redemptor omnium, the antiphons and psalms as on the the feast of the Nativity. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Epistle to the Romans, Chapters 3 and 4 , 'What advantage then hath the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? and all of St. Paul's discourse on circumcison and the Gentiles. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Leo's seventh sermon on the Nativity of the LORD. In the third nocturn the homily is from the writings of St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. At Lauds the same antiphons as at Vespers are sung with the festal psalms (92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150), the hymn is of the Nativity, A solus ortu.

At the Hours, as usual, the antiphons from Lauds are used. The Doxology in honour of the Incarnation is sung at all hymns of Iambic metre. The chapters at the Hours of Sext and None are the same as those sung on the Nativity as is the short lesson of Prime.

At Mass the introit Puer natus, epistle, gradual, offertory and communion chant are of the Nativity; the orations of the BVM and the Gospel of the Circumcision. The Gloria and Credo are sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

Second Vespers have the same antiphons and psalms of the BVM. A commemoration of the following Octave Day of St. Stephen is sung (but not of the other Octaves).

The celebration of 'New Year' now ubiquitous for January 1st was not always so in Christian countries. The feast of the Annunciation was kept as the first day of the New Year in this Realm (hence, allowing for the Julian-Gregorian difference, HMRC's Tax Year still begins on April 5th - what was March 25th in the 1752 revision). This blog, and its author, follow the Christian practice and consider January to be the eleventh month of the year.

The Byzantine icon depicts the Circumcision of Christ with St. Basil. St. Basil's feast day is also January 1st and on this day his liturgy is served rather than the usual liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the Byzantine Rite.

Wednesday 13 January 2010

December 31st - St. Sylvester of Rome


Today is the feast of St. Sylvester I Pope and Confessor. The feast is of double rite.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms were of the Nativity and from the chapter of St. Sylvester. Commemorations are sung of the Octaves of the Nativity, St. Stephen, St. John the Evangelist, the Holy Innocents and, in England, St. Thomas of Canterbury. Compline has the usual four psalms.

At Mattins in the first nocturn are the Second Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, began yesterday. The responsories are from the Office of a Confessor Pontiff. The second nocturn lessons are historical (the lessons are slightly different to those found in 'modern' editions (L.VI. Multa item decreta...). In the third nocturn the homily is Sint lumbi from the Common of Confessor non-Pontiffs with the responsories of Confessor-Pontiffs. At Lauds the antiphons and psalms are taken from the Common of a Confessor-Pontiff and the festal psalms are sung. At Lauds commemorations of the Octaves of the Nativity, St. Stephen, St John the Evangelist, the Holy Innocents and, in England, St. Thomas are sung.

At Prime the festal psalms are sung. At the Little Hours the hymns have the Doxology and melody in honour of the Incarnation.

At Mass, Sacerdotes tui, the Gloria is sung, commemoration of the Octaves of the Nativity, St. Stephen, St. John the Evangelist, the Holy Innocents and, in England, St. Thomas are made, the Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes in the Canon are of the Nativity.

Vespers are first Vespers of the Circumcision without any commemorations.

The icon is from the All Merciful Saviour Mission's selection of icons of Western Saints.

Monday 11 January 2010

Within the Octave of the Nativity



Rubricarius' Christmas Tree set up and dressed on the Tridentine Vigil of the Nativity 2009 (6th January 2010 in the modern style).



The video below from 'The Crazy Cello' on YouTube is quite Rubricarius' favourite setting of Nahum Tate's famous 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night', sung to the melody known as 'Old Foster' after its composer John Foster. Wonderful!

Sunday 10 January 2010

December 28th - The Holy Innocents


Today, the Sunday after the Nativity, is the feast of the Holy Innocents, it is a double feast with octave. It is also a 'vacant' Sunday as both the Office and Mass of the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity are transferred this year to the 30th December with no commemoration of the Sunday in today's liturgy.

The feast of the Holy Innocents is unique in the Roman rite in that it changes its liturgical colour when it falls on a Sunday, as this year, to when it falls on a feria. This year as the feast falls on a Sunday it is celebrated in red. When it falls on a feria the feast is celebrated in violet. The origin of this practice is a compromise between the differences in Gallican and Roman practice.

Vespers yesterday were of the Nativity with the antiphons and psalms from Second Vespers of Christmas. From the chapter the Vespers were of St. John the Evangelist with the hymn Exultet caelum laudibus. A commemoration of the Holy Innocents was made. All hymns of Iambic metre have the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine in honour of the Incarnation.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Martyrum Domininum, Venite adoremus and the hymn Audit tyrranus anxius, the antiphons and psalms are from the Common of Several Martyrs. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Prophet Jeremiah (L.I. Audite verbum Domini...) The lessons are slightly longer than in 'modern' ediions (1890) of the Breviary. In the second nocturn the lessons are a sermon of St. Augustine. In the third nocturn the homily on the Gospel is from St. Jerome. The Te Deum is sung in place of the ninth responsory. At Lauds the antiphons Herodes iratus etc are sung with the festal psalms (92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150), comemmorations are sung of the Octave of the Nativity, the Octave of St. Stephen and the Octave of St. John.

At the Little Hours the antiphons from Lauds are used. Prime is festal. All hymns have their Doxology changed in honour of the Incarnation.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of the Nativity, the third collect is of the Octave of St. Stephen, the fourth collect is of the Octave of St. John. The Alleluia sung as on other feasts, the Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Octave of the Nativity.

Vespers are of the Nativity, but from the chapter of the Holy Innocents with a commemoration of the following day's feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury and with commemorations of the Octave of the Nativity, the Octave of St. Stephen and the Octave of St. John.

Wednesday 6 January 2010

December 24th - The Vigil of the Nativity

Uniquely in the Liturgical Year the Vigil of the Nativity changes rank after Mattins and from being a simple then becomes a double for Lauds onwards.

Mattins has one nocturn of three lessons. The invitatory is Hodie scietis and the hymn Verbum supernum, the antiphons and psalms are from the ferial psalter (Pss.52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 65 & 67) but the vericles, lessons and responsories are proper. The homily is taken from St. Jerome's commentary on the first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds proper antiphons, Judaea et Jerusalem nolite timere etc, are sung with the festal psalms. The chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper too.

Prime is festal with the first antiphon from Lauds, as usual, and psalms 53, 118(i) and 118(ii). The Martyrology is sung with extra solemnity today as described on The Saint Lawrence Press blog. The lectio brevis is proper to the Vigil. The antiphons from Lauds are used in sequence at the rest of the Hours.

After None Mass is sung. Today the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle. There is just one collect. The dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung by the deacon to a most beautiful and ornate tone.

First Vespers of the Nativity are sung in the afternoon. The Office hymn is Christe Redemptor omnium. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 (vv. 1 - 6)90 & 133) and the hymns of Little Hours from this evening until None on the Vigil of the Epiphany have the Doxology Gloria, tibi Domine, qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula..

Tuesday 5 January 2010

December 23rd - Ecce completa sunt

Today is Tuesday in the fourth week of Advent, it is of simple rite.

At Mattins in the nocturn psalms 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 51 are sung under the ferial antiphons. The lessons are from the Prophet Isaiah. At Lauds the ferial psalms are sung: 50, 42, 62-66, the Canticle of Ezechiel & 148-149-150. These psalms are sung under the antiphons Rorate caeli etc. The antiphon on the Benedictus is proper to the day Ecce completa sunt omnia, quae dicta sunt per Angelum de Virgine Maria. The ferial preces are sung, kneeling, with the psalm De profundis.

At Prime the first antiphon of Lauds is sung, the psalmody is 53, 24, 118(i) & 118(ii). The ferial preces are sung, again kneeling, at all the Hours. Psalm 118, the 'Psalm of the Law' is sung at Hours.

Mass is sung after None. The ministers wear folded chasubles. The Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent is sung but without the Alleluia and its verse. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect is Deus, qui de beatae and third for the Church, Ecclesiae. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

At ferial Vespers psalms 121, 122, 123, 124 & 125 are sung. The hymn Conditor alme siderum is sung for the last time this year. The antiphon on the Magnificat is O Emmanuel that is sung, standing, in its entirety both before and after the canticle. The ferial preces are then sung whilst kneeling including the psalm Miserere mei Deus. At Compline the preces are sung kneeling.

In addition to the Office of the day the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin is also sung.

Time to harvest some holly and a tree before the forecast heavy snow arrives in the United Kingdom - cue Bing Crosby and Holiday Inn, perhaps a White Christmas!

Sunday 3 January 2010

December 21st - The Fourth Sunday of Advent


Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, it is of semi-double rite. The feast of St. Thomas the Apostle is transferred to tomorrow.

At Mattins in the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung. The lessons are from Isaiah (as in modern forms of the Breviary). In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from St. Leo. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory. At Lauds the proper antiphons Canite tuba in Sion etc are sung. The psalms are 92, 99, 62-66, the Benedicite & 148-149-150. The antiphon on the Benedictus is proper to the 21st December, Nolite timere etc., and is sung in place of the antiphon Ave Maria etc.

At the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung. At Prime psalms 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii) are sung as is Quicumque vult. The Dominical preces are sung, standing.

Mass is sung after Terce. There is no Gloria. The second collect is Deus, qui de beatae the third for the Church or pope. The Creed is sung and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

Vespers are first Vespers of the transferred feast of St. Thomas. The antiphons and psalms are taken from the Common of Apostles. The Sunday is commemorated with the Great 'o' antiphon O Oriens.

Friday 1 January 2010

December 19th - O radix Jesse

Today is Ember Friday in Advent, it is of simple rite.

At Mattins in the nocturn psalms 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 93, 95 and 96 are sung under the ferial antiphons. The lessons are a homily of St. Ambrose, Morale est omnibus etc. At Lauds again the ferial psalms are sung: 50, 142, 62-66, the Canticle of Habacuc & 148-149-150. These psalms are sung under the antiphons Constantes estote etc. The ferial preces are sung, kneeling, with the psalm De profundis.

At Prime the first antiphon of Lauds is sung, the psalmody is 53, 21, 118(i) & 118(ii). The ferial preces are sung, again kneeling, at all the Hours. Psalm 118, the 'Psalm of the Law' is sung at Hours.

Mass is sung after None. The ministers wear folded chasubles. The Mass is proper, Prope es tu. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect is Deus, qui de beatae and third for the Church, Ecclesiae. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

At ferial Vespers psalms 137, 138, 139, 140 & 141 are sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat is O radix Jesse that is sung, standing, in its entirety both before and after the canticle. The ferial preces are then sung whilst kneeling including the psalm Miserere mei Deus. At Compline the preces are sung kneeling.

In addition to the Office of the day the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin is also sung. This will be the subject of several later posts.