March 25th 2013 - Third Sunday in Lent - Old New Year's Day MMXIII

The third Sunday in Lent is of semi-double rite. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke recount the LORD casting out evil from a demoniac. The feast of the Annunciation is transferred to tomorrow.

At Vespers, yesterday morning, the antiphons and psalms (143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were of Saturday, the chapter proper. The Lenten hymn Audi benigne conditor was sung. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages were sung 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 were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Non sit vobis and the hymn is Ex more. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Book of Genesis and the story of Joseph. The first lesson includes the first sentence of the second lesson in modern editions: Invidebant...considerabat. The second lesson is longer than in modern editions and includes the text from the modern third lesson Audiens autem...et reddere patri suo. The third lesson begins Confestim igitur and continues until the end of verse 34 rather than verse 28. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from St. Ambrose on Joseph. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are a homily from the Venerable Bede.

At Lauds the antiphons, Fac benigne etc., are proper to the Sunday and sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The hymn is Jam Christe sol justitiae. The 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 'Athanasian' Creed. The Dominical preces are sung. At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper.

At Mass 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 Credo is sung and the preface of Lent is sung. Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal and the ministers wear violet folded chasubles in place of dalmatic and tunicle.

Vespers are first Vespers of the great feast of the Annunciation with a corresponding colour change to white. The antiphons, Missus est Gabriel Angelus ad Mariam etc., are proper to the feast and sung with the psalms from the Common of the BVM (Pss.109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The chapter is proper to the feast, the Office hymn, Ave Maris stella, from the Common. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted. At Compline the hymn, Te lucis, is sung with the Doxology in honour of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi Domineetc. Because of the double feast, again as for the last two Sundays, the Office of the Dead is not sung.

A blessed, happy and prosperous New Year to all readers!

Art: Jerome Nadal