May 12th - Fifth Sunday after Pascha

The fifth Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The Gospel pericopes from St. John's Gospel describe how the LORD tells His disciples to ask for anything in His name after He has ascended to the Father. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week are the Rogation Days of the Lesser Litanies before the feast of the LORD's Ascension on Thursday.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Vespers for Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. The chapter, Carissimi: Estote factores etc etc, was proper to the Sunday, the Office hymn was Ad coenam Agni providi. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Usque modo etc. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of SS Nereus, Archilleus & Pancras followed by the Pachal Commemoration of the Cross. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90, 133) Te lucis was sung to the Paschal tone with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc and the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Surrexit Dominus vere Alleluia and the Office hymn O Rex aeterne Domine. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung under a single antiphon Alleluia, Lapis revolutus etc., the lessons are the Incipit of the first Epistle of St. Peter. The lessons are the same as in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from the book of St. Ambrose on faith in the Resurrection. These too are the same as in modern recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine. The seventh lesson is longer than in modern recensions including Unde qui hoc... nomine non petit from the 'modern' eighth lesson (sharp eyed readers will notice the non). The eighth lesson runs Qui vero quod est de illo ... proculdubio tunc erit plenum, i.e. continuing into half of what is now the ninth lesson. The ninth lesson begins Quidquid ergo petitur and continues for several more sentences absent from the post-Clementine books. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is formed of the two historical lessons given for SS Nereus, Archilleus & Pancras. These are shorter, and the text slightly different, to the three lessons found in the later books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds psalms 92, 99 and 62-66 are sung under a single antiphon, the ancient nine-fold Alleluia. Benedicite is sung with the antiphon Surrexit Christus etc, and Pss. 148, 149 and 150 are sung under a single antiphon, a four-fold Alleluia as on previous Sundays. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of SS Nereus, Archilleus and Pancras followed by the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross.

At the Hours the psalms are sung under an antiphon consisting of a four-fold Alleluia. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung. The Paschal Doxology is sung at the hymn of the Hours.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Nereus, Archilleus and Pancras, the third collect is Concede nos. The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschaltide.

Vespers are of the Sunday, with Pss 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113 sung under a single antiphon. The Office hymn is Ad coenam Agni providi. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commmemoration of the Cross is sung. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133) the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

May 5th - Fourth Sunday after Pascha

The fourth Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday, Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147, were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. The chapter, Carissimi: Omne datum optimum etc etc, was proper to the Sunday, the Office hymn was Ad coenam Agni providi. The antiphon on the Magnificat : was Vado ad eum etc. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross was sung. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90, 133) Te lucis was sung to the Paschal tone with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc and the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are sung as previous Sundays of Paschaltide. Again, at the nocturns the psalms are sung under one antiphon. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons are the Incipit of the Epistle of St. James. The lessons are the same as in post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from the Treatise of St. Cyprian on the boon of patience. These too are the same as in modern editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine, again, unusually, the same as in post-Clememtine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds psalms 92, 99 & 62-66 are sung under the nine-fold Alleluia. Benedicite is sung under the antiphon Surrexit Christus and psalms 148-49-150 are sung under the antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross is sung.

At the Hours the Office hymns are sung with the Paschal Doxology and the psalms are sung under a four-fold Alleluia. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque) the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is Concede nos, the third collect is Ecclesiae etc. The Creed and the preface of Paschaltide are sung.

After None there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. John before the Latin Gate are sung. The antiphons Sancti tui etc, doubled, are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Tristes erant Apostoli. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133) Te lucis is sung with the Paschal Doxology and the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

April 28th - Third Sunday after Pascha

The third Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. It is sometimes referred to as Jubilate from the first words of the introit at Mass, Jubilate Deo omnis terra etc.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. The Office hymn was Ad cenam Agni providi. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Vitalis was sung followed by the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Paschal Doxology and the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are sung as previous Sundays of Paschaltide. Again, at the nocturns the psalms are sung under one antiphon. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons are Incipit of the Book of the Apocalypse. The lessons are the same as in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from the a sermon by St. Augustine. These too are the same as in the later editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine, again the same as in the revised books.

At Lauds psalms 92, 99 & 62-66 are sung under the nine-fold Alleluia. Benedicite is sung under the antiphon Surrexit Christus and psalms 148-49-150 are sung under the antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Vitalis followed by the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross.

At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Paschal Doxology and the psalms are sung under an antiphon consisting of a four-fold Alleluia. At Prime the Dominical psalms are sung, Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque, as are the Dominical preces.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Vitalis, the third collect is Concede nos. The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschaltide.

Vespers are of the Sunday with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113 sung under a single antiphon. The Office hymn is Ad cenam Agni providi. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

April 21st - Second Sunday after Pascha

The Second Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms for Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. The chapter, Carissimi: Christus passus est pro nobis etc, was proper to the Sunday. The Office hymn was Ad coenam Agni providi and the antiphon on the Magnificat was Ego sum pastor ovium.  After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross was sung.  At Vespers this consists of the antiphon Crucem sanctam subiit qui infernum confregit, accinctus est potentia, surrexit die teria, Alleluia. the V & R, Dicite in nationibus, Alleluia and Quia Dominus regnavit a ligno, Alleluia and the collect Deus, qui pro nobis Filium tuum crucis patibulum.  The Paschal Commemoration of the Cross is sung at both Vespers and Lauds when the Office if of semi-double rite or below from the Monday after Dominica in Albis. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133) Te lucis was sung to the Paschal tone with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc and the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are sung as last Sunday. Again, at the nocturns the psalms are sung under a single antiphon. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons are from the Acts of the Apostles. The first lesson is the same as in modern recensions. The second lesson begins Et exinde but continues Viri fratres...a Pilato , ut interficerent eum. The third lesson begins Cumque consummasssent omnia and continues for several additional verse ending with Quem vero Deus suscitavit a mortuis, non vidit corruptionem. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from the first sermon on the Ascension of the Lord by St. Leo. These are the same as in the later editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Gregory, again the text is the same as in the post-Clementine editions.

At Lauds psalms 92, 99 & 62-66 are sung under the nine-fold Alleluia. Benedicite is sung under the antiphon Surrexit Christus and psalms 148-49-150 are sung under the antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. The Paschal Commemoration of the Cross is sung after the collect of the Sunday. The antiphon for the Commemoration at Lauds is Crucifixus surrexit a mortuis, et redemit nos, alleluia, alleluia. The V & R and collect are the same as those that are sung at Vespers.

At the Hours the hymns have the Paschal Doxology. The psalms are sung under an antiphon consisting of a four-fold Alleluia. At Prime Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii) both  Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is Concede nos, the third collect is Ecclesiae etc. The Creed is sung and the preface is that of Paschaltide.

Vespers are of the Sunday, with the psalms (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) sung under a single antiphon. The Office hymn is Ad coenam Agni providi.  After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of SS Soter and Caius followed by the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133) the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal