September 26th - XVII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturigcal colour is green. This year it is the fifth 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.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Vespers for Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Domine, Rex omnipotensfor the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of SS Cyprian and Justina 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 were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) are sung. The lessons are the Incipit of the book of Esther and are considerably longer than those found in the modern editions. The first lesson continues with part of the text from what is the second lesson in the modern books, Cumque implerentur... until ...marmoreis fulciebantur. The second lesson begins Lectuli quoque... (the last sentence of the modern second lesson) and continues with all of what is all of the modern third lesson and then Itaque die septimo... until ...venire contempsit (vv 10-12). The third lesson is absent completely from the modern books, Unde iratus rex... until ...quae melior est illa, accipiat. (vv. 13-19). In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Offices of St. Augustine. These are slightly longer than those in the modern books and arranged differently. 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. This year these are read together to form the eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is of SS Cyprian and Justina, formed of the two lessons given in the Sanctorale. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150) are sung. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of SS Cyprian and Justina 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 are sung.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Cyprian and Justina, the third collect is A cunctis. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of SS Cosmas and Damian. This is 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