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.