Showing posts with label Vigil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vigil. Show all posts

Wednesday, 18 January 2017

January 5th - Vigil of the Epiphany

The Vigil of the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is white. In the Tridentine Missal, and its reformed editions until 1956, the Vigil of the Epiphany takes the place of the Office of the Sunday which occurs between the 1st to 5th January and has all the privileges of a Sunday. Pre-Trent praxis sees a differentiation between the second Sunday after the Nativity of the LORD and the Vigil. The liturgical rank of the Comities Christi Octave Days meant the Sunday was perpetually outranked and had to be resumed on the 5th January. When January 5th falls on a Sunday the Creed is sung at Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the Octave Day of the Holy Innocents was sung. The antiphons Herodes iratus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The Office hymn was Salvete flores martyrum, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Vigil of the Epiphany (with the antiphon on the Magnificat and collect from the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity).

At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are those used for the feast of the Lord's Circumcision. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the seventh chapter of the Epistle to the Romans (c.f. the post 1911-13 rite). The lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The first lesson consists of the text of both the post-Clementine first and second lessons. The second lesson begins Quid ergo dicemus? (the beginning of the post-Clementine third lesson)and continues, beyond the limits of the post-Clementine third lesson Ego autem mortuus sum.. until per illud occidit i.e. vv. 10-11. The third lesson, entirely absent from the later books begins Itaque lex quidem... and continues until sed quod nolo malum, hoc ago i.e. vv. 12-19. The responsories are from the feast of the Circumcision. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon by St. Augustine. These are significantly longer than those found in the later editions. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome's commentary on the second chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The lessons differ slightly from those found in the later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds and the Hours again the antiphons are those from the Circumcision, O admirabile commercium etc. The Dominical psalms are sung (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150) The chapter is proper to the Vigil, the hymn A solis ortus cardine as sung for the Nativity and the Circumcision, and the antiphon on the Benedictus is Dum medium silentium and the collect, Omnipotens.

At the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung in sequence in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is Itaque jam non est servus. The hymns of the Little Hours are sung with the Doxology and melody in honour of the Incarnation.

At Mass, sung after Terce, the Gloria is sung, the second collect of the BVM, Deus, qui salutis, the third collect Ecclesiae or pro papa. The preface is of the Nativity.

Vespers are first Vespers of the great feast of the Epiphany. The antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung with the psalms from the First Vespers of the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The chapter, Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem is from Isaiah, the Office hymn Hostis Herodes impie. For the feast and its octave a Doxology in honour of the LORD's manifestation is sung at all hymns of Iambic metre: Gloria tibi Dominic, Qui apparuisti hodie, Cum Patre, et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. The rest of the Office is proper. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology and tone of the feast.

Monday, 18 January 2016

January 5th - Vigil of the Epiphany

The Vigil of the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour (from Mattins) is white. In the Tridentine Missal, and its reformed editions until 1956, the Vigil of the Epiphany takes the place of the Office of the Sunday which occurs between the 1st to 5th January and has all the privileges of a Sunday. Pre-Trent praxis sees a differentiation between the second Sunday after the Nativity of the LORD and the Vigil. The liturgical rank of the Comities Christi Octave Days meant the Sunday was perpetually outranked and had to be resumed on the 5th January. When January 5th falls on a Sunday the Creed is sung at Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the Octave Day of the Holy Innocents was sung. The antiphons Herodes iratus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The Office hymn was Salvete flores martyrum, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Vigil of the Epiphany (with the antiphon on the Magnificat and collect from the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity).

At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are those used for the feast of the Lord's Circumcision. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the seventh chapter of the Epistle to the Romans (c.f. the post 1911-13 rite). The lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The first lesson consists of the text of both the post-Clementine first and second lessons. The second lesson begins Quid ergo dicemus? (the beginning of the post-Clementine third lesson)and continues, beyond the limits of the post-Clementine third lesson Ego autem mortuus sum.. until per illud occidit i.e. vv. 10-11. The third lesson, entirely absent from the later books begins Itaque lex quidem... and continues until sed quod nolo malum, hoc ago i.e. vv. 12-19. The responsories are from the feast of the Circumcision. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon by St. Augustine. These are significantly longer than those found in the later editions. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome's commentary on the second chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The lessons differ slightly from those found in the later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds and the Hours again the antiphons are those from the Circumcision, O admirabile commercium etc. The Dominical psalms are sung (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150) The chapter is proper to the Vigil, the hymn A solis ortus cardine as sung for the Nativity and the Circumcision, and the antiphon on the Benedictus is Dum medium silentium and the collect, Omnipotens.

At the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung in sequence in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is Itaque jam non est servus. The hymns of the Little Hours are sung with the Doxology and melody in honour of the Incarnation.

At Mass, sung after Terce, the Gloria is sung, the second collect of the BVM, Deus, qui salutis, the third collect Ecclesiae or pro papa. The preface is of the Nativity.

Vespers are first Vespers of the great feast of the Epiphany. The antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung with the psalms from the First Vespers of the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The chapter, Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem is from Isaiah, the Office hymn Hostis Herodes impie. For the feast and its octave a Doxology in honour of the LORD's manifestation is sung at all hymns of Iambic metre: Gloria tibi Dominic, Qui apparuisti hodie, Cum Patre, et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. The rest of the Office is proper. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology and tone of the feast.

Sunday, 18 January 2015

January 5th - Vigil of the Epiphany

The Vigil of the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour (from Mattins) is white. In the Tridentine Missal, and its reformed editions until 1956, the Vigil of the Epiphany takes the place of the Office of the Sunday which occurs between the 1st to 5th January and has all the privileges of a Sunday. Pre-Trent praxis sees a differentiation between the second Sunday after the Nativity of the LORD and the Vigil. The liturgical rank of the Comities Christi Octave Days meant the Sunday was perpetually outranked and had to be resumed on the 5th January. When January 5th falls on a Sunday the Creed is sung at Mass.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the Octave Day of the Holy Innocents was sung. The antiphons Herodes iratus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The Office hymn was Salvete flores martyrum, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Vigil of the Epiphany (with the antiphon on the Magnificat and collect from the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity).

At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are those used for the feast of the Lord's Circumcision. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the seventh chapter of the Epistle to the Romans (c.f. the post 1911-13 rite). The lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The first lesson consists of the text of both the post-Clementine first and second lessons. The second lesson begins Quid ergo dicemus? (the beginning of the post-Clementine third lesson)and continues, beyond the limits of the post-Clementine third lesson Ego autem mortuus sum.. until per illud occidit i.e. vv. 10-11. The third lesson, entirely absent from the later books begins Itaque lex quidem... and continues until sed quod nolo malum, hoc ago i.e. vv. 12-19. The responsories are from the feast of the Circumcision. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon by St. Augustine. These are significantly longer than those found in the later editions. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome's commentary on the second chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The lessons differ slightly from those found in the later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds and the Hours again the antiphons are those from the Circumcision, O admirabile commercium etc. The Dominical psalms are sung (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150) The chapter is proper to the Vigil, the hymn A solis ortus cardine as sung for the Nativity and the Circumcision, and the antiphon on the Benedictus is Dum medium silentium and the collect, Omnipotens.

At the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung in sequence in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is Itaque jam non est servus. The hymns of the Little Hours are sung with the Doxology and melody in honour of the Incarnation.

At Mass, sung after Terce, the Gloria is sung, the second collect of the BVM, Deus, qui salutis, the third collect Ecclesiae or pro papa. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Nativity.

Vespers are first Vespers of the great feast of the Epiphany. The antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung with the psalms from the First Vespers of the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The chapter, Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem is from Isaiah, the Office hymn Hostis Herodes impie. For the feast and its octave a Doxology in honour of the LORD's manifestation is sung at all hymns of Iambic metre: Gloria tibi Dominic, Qui apparuisti hodie, Cum Patre, et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. The rest of the Office is proper. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology and tone of the feast.

Saturday, 18 January 2014

January 5th - Vigil of the Epiphany

The Vigil of the Epiphany is a semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. In the Tridentine Missal, and its reformed editions until 1956, the Vigil of the Epiphany takes the place of the Office of the Sunday which occurs between the 1st to 5th January and has all the privileges of a Sunday. Pre-Trent praxis sees a differentiation between the second Sunday after the Nativity of the LORD and the Vigil. The liturgical rank of the Comities Christi Octave Days meant the Sunday was perpetually outranked and had to be resumed on the 5th January. When January 5th is a Sunday the Creed is sung.

At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are those used for the feast of the Lord's Circumcision. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the seventh chapter of the Epistle to the Romans (c.f. the post 1911-13 rite). The lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The first lesson consists of the text of both the post-Clementine first and second lesson. The second lesson begins Quid ergo dicemus? (the beginning of the post-Clementine third lesson)and continues, beyond the limits of the post-Clementine third lesson Ego autem mortuus sum.. until per illud occidit i.e. vv. 10-11. The third lesson, entirely absent from the later books begins Itaque lex quidem... and continues until sed quod nolo malum, hoc ago i.e. vv. 12-19. The responsories are from the feast of the Circumcision. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon by St. Augustine. These are significantly longer than those found in the later editions. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome's commentary on the second chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The lessons differ slightly from those found in the later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds and the Hours again the antiphons are those from the Circumcision, O admirabile commercium etc. The Dominical psalms are sung (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150) The chapter is proper to the Vigil, the hymn A solis ortus cardine as sung for the Nativity and the Circumcision, and the antiphon on the Benedictus is proper, Dum medium silentium as is the collect, Omnipotens. After the collect of the Vigil a commemoration is sung of St. Telesphorus Pope & Martyr.

At the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung in sequence in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is Itaque jam non est servus. The hymns of the Little Hours are sung with the Doxology and melody in honour of the Incarnation.

At Mass, sung after Terce, the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Telesphorus, the third collect of the BVM, Deus, qui salutis. The preface is of the Nativity.

Vespers are first Vespers of the great feast of the Epiphany. The antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung with the psalms from the First Vespers of the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The chapter, Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem is from Isaiah, the Office hymn Hostis Herodes impie. For the feast and its octave a Doxology in honour of the LORD's manifestation is sung at all hymns of Iambic metre: Gloria tibi Dominic, Qui apparuisti hodie, Cum Patre, et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. The rest of the Office is proper. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology and tone of the feast.

Tuesday, 27 August 2013

August 14th - Within the Octave of St. Lawrence - Vigil of the Assumption

The fifth day within the Octave of St. Lawrence is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour of the day is red.

At Mattins the invitatory is as on the feast of St. Lawrence, Beatus Laurentius Christi Martyr triumphat coronatus in caelis: * Venite adoremus Dominum. The Office hymn is Deus tuorum militum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Quo progrederis etc are sung with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are those of occurring scripture for the Saturday of the second week of August. The first lesson begins Melius est a sapiente... and continues until ...stulta est hujusmodi interrogatio. In the modern Breviary the lessons for Saturday begin with the first verse of Ch. 7 of Ecclesiastes but this was read as the third lesson yesterday in the usus antiquior with today's lessons beginning at verse 6 of Ch. 7. The second lesson begins Utilior est sapientia... (v.12) and continues until the end of v. 16, ...vivit tempore in malitia sua. Part of this text can be found half-way through the modern third lesson. The third lesson begins Noli esse justus... and continues until ...maledixisti ejus. vv. 17-23. This text is entirely absent from the modern books. In the second nocturn the antiphons Beatus Laurentius etc are sung with psalms 4, 5 & 8. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Maximus. These are longer than those found in the modern (pre-1911) editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Strinxerunt corporis are sung with psalms 14, 16 & 20. The homily is taken from St. Chrysostom's 65th homily on St. John's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Vigil. The Gospel fragment is from St. Luke (Lk 11:27-28) containing the passage wherein "a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck" to which the LORD responds "Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it." St. Augustine's homily praises the Virgin for doing will of the Father and St. Augustine has the LORD say: "Hoc est dicere: Et mater mea, quam appellatis felicem, inde felix, quia verbum Dei custodit: non quia in illa Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis: sed quia custodit ipsum Verbum Dei, per quod facta est, et quod in illa caro factum est." The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Martyr Dei, qui unicum. After the collect of the Octave a commemoration is sung of the Vigil: the antiphon on the Benedictus is of the Tuesday, Erexit nobis etc., and the V&R Repleti sumus etc and Exsultavimus etc; the collect is proper to the Vigil. After the commemoration of the Vigil a commemoration is sung of St. Eusebius.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds, Laurentius etc., are sung. At Prime the Dominical preces are omitted because of the Octave and the lectio brevis is Potens est autem.

Mass, of the Vigil, is sung after None. Violet dalmatic and tunicle are used. The second collect is of the Octave, the third collect is of St. Eusebius and the Common Preface is sung.

In the afternoon first Vespers are sung of the great feast of the Assumption. The liturgical colour changes to white and the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter is from Ecclesiasticus, In omnibus requiem etc., and the Office hymn Ave, Maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday, the antiphon on the Magnificat is Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August. At Compline Te lucis is sung to the tone for feasts of the BVM and with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula.

Friday, 18 January 2013

January 5th - Vigil of the Epiphany

The Vigil of the Epiphany is a semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. In the Tridentine Missal, and its reformed editions until 1956, the Vigil of the Epiphany takes the place of the Office of the Sunday which occurs between the 1st to 5th January and has all the privileges of a Sunday.

At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are those used for the feast of the Lord's Circumcision. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the seventh chapter of the Epistle to the Romans (c.f. the post 1911-13 rite). The lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The first lesson consists of the text of both the post-Clementine first and second lesson. The second lesson begins Quid ergo dicemus? (the beginning of the post-Clementine third lesson)and continues, beyond the limits of the post-Clementine third lesson Ego autem mortuus sum.. until per illud occidit i.e. vv. 10-11. The third lesson, entirely absent from the later books begins Itaque lex quidem... and continues until sed quod nolo malum, hoc ago i.e. vv. 12-19. The responsories are from the feast of the Circumcision. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon by St. Augustine. These are significantly longer than those found in the later editions. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome's commentary on the second chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The lessons differ slightly from those found in the later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds and the Hours again the antiphons are those from the Circumcision, O admirabile commercium etc. The Dominical psalms are sung (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150) The chapter is proper to the Vigil, the hymn A solis ortus cardine as sung for the Nativity and the Circumcision, and the antiphon on the Benedictus is proper, Dum medium silentium as is the collect, Omnipotens. After the collect of the Vigil a commemoration is sung of St. Telesphorus Pope & Martyr.

At the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung in sequence in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is Itaque jam non est servus. The hymns of the Little Hours are sung with the Doxology and melody in honour of the Incarnation.

At Mass, sung after Terce, the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Telesphorus, the third collect of the BVM, Deus, qui salutis. The preface is of the Nativity.

Vespers are first Vespers of the great feast of the Epiphany. The antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung with the psalms from the First Vespers of the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The chapter, Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem is from Isaiah, the Office hymn Hostis Herodes impie. For the feast and its octave a Doxology in honour of the LORD's manifestation is sung at all hymns of Iambic metre: Gloria tibi Dominic, Qui apparuisti hodie, Cum Patre, et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. The rest of the Office is proper. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology and tone of the feast.

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

October 31st - Vigil of All Saints' Day

The Office of the Vigil runs from Mattins to None inclusive and is of simple rite. The liturgical colour is violet.

At Mattins the invitatory and Office hymn are as given for Tuesday in the Psalter: Jubilemus Deo, Salutari nostro and Consors paterni luminis. In the nocturn psalms 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 & 51 are sung, in pairs, under six antiphons. The Gospel fragment is from St. Luke and the lessons are a homily of St. Ambrose from the Common of Several Martyrs. The first lesson is about twice as long as that found in the modern editions of the Breviary. The second lesson contains the text of both the modern second and third lessons. The text of the third lesson is entirely absent from the modern books. The three responsories are from the Tuesday of the first week of November, A facie furoris etc, Civitatem istam etc and Genti peccatarici etc. The Te Deum is not sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Dele Domine etc are sung with psalms 50, 42, 62-66, Ego dixi & 148-149-150, from the Psalter for Tuesday. The Office hymn Alles dies nuncius and the antiphon on the Benedictus, Erexit nobis etc are also from the Psalter. After the antiphon Erexit nobis etc has been sung in full the choir kneels and the ferial preces are chanted. The Tridentine ferial preces include the psalm De profundis. When the preces have been sung the Hebdomadarius intones the collect of the Vigil. Then follow the Suffrages of the Cross Per signum Crucis etc, the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine.

At Prime (Pss. 24, 118i & 118ii and 118iii) both the Dominical and ferial preces are sung, kneeling. The chapter is Pacem et veritatem. At Terce, Sext and None the short series of the ferial preces are sung, again the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None. Following the normal rules for Vigils four candles are placed on the altar, in contrast with two on ordinary ferial days. The deacon and sub-deacon wear violet dalmatic and tunicle, not folded chasubles. The ferial tone is used for the orations and for the preface and Pater noster. There is no Gloria. The second collect is of the Holy Ghost, Deus,qui corda, the third collect Ecclesiae. As it is a 'kneeling day' the choir kneels for the prayers and from the Sanctus until Pax Domini. As the Gloria is not sung the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

With the end of Mass the liturgy of the Vigil comes to an end. The liturgical colour changes to white and Vespers are first Vespers of the great feast of All Saints. The antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is Christe Redemptor omnium. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted and are omitted throughout the Octave.

Saturday, 27 August 2011

August 14th - Within the Octave of St. Lawrence - Vigil of the Assumption

The fifth day within the Octave of St. Lawrence is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour of the day is red.

At Mattins the invitatory is as on the feast of St. Lawrence, Beatus Laurentius Christi Martyr triumphat coronatus in caelis: * Venite adoremus Dominum. The Office hymn is Deus tuorum militum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Quo progrederis etc are sung with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are those of occurring scripture for the Saturday of the second week of August. The first lesson begins Melius est a sapiente... and continues until ...stulta est hujusmodi interrogatio. In the modern Breviary the lessons for Saturday begin with the first verse of Ch. 7 of Ecclesiastes but this was read as the third lesson yesterday in the usus antiquior with today's lessons beginning at verse 6 of Ch. 7. The second lesson begins Utilior est sapientia... (v.12) and continues until the end of v. 16, ...vivit tempore in malitia sua. Part of this text can be found half-way through the modern third lesson. The third lesson begins Noli esse justus... and continues until ...maledixisti ejus. vv. 17-23. This text is entirely absent from the modern books. In the second nocturn the antiphons Beatus Laurentius etc are sung with psalms 4, 5 & 8. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Maximus. These are longer than those found in the modern (pre-1911) editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Strinxerunt corporis are sung with psalms 14, 16 & 20. The homily is taken from St. Chrysostom's 65th homily on St. John's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Vigil. The Gospel fragment is from St. Luke (Lk 11:27-28) containing the passage wherein "a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck" to which the LORD responds "Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it." St. Augustine's homily praises the Virgin for doing will of the Father and St. Augustine has the LORD say: "Hoc est dicere: Et mater mea, quam appellatis felicem, inde felix, quia verbum Dei custodit: non quia in illa Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis: sed quia custodit ipsum Verbum Dei, per quod facta est, et quod in illa caro factum est." The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Martyr Dei, qui unicum. After the collect of the Octave a commemoration is sung of the Vigil: the antiphon on the Benedictus is of the Saturday, Illuminare Domine etc., and the V&R Repleti sumus etc and Exsultavimus etc., again both from the Saturday; the collect is proper to the Vigil. After the commemoration of the Vigil a commemoration is sung of St. Eusebius.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds, Laurentius etc., are sung. At Prime the Dominical preces are omitted because of the Octave and the lectio brevis is Potens est autem.

Mass, of the Vigil, is sung after None. Violet dalmatic and tunicle are used. The second collect is of the Octave, the third collect is of St. Eusebius and the Common Preface is sung.

In the afternoon first Vespers are sung of the great feast of the Assumption. The liturgical colour changes to white and the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter is from Ecclesiasticus, In omnibus requiem etc., and the Office hymn Ave, Maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday, the antiphon on the Magnificat is Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August. At Compline Te lucis is sung to the tone for feasts of the BVM and with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula.

Wednesday, 6 July 2011

June 23rd - Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

The Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is of simple rite and the liturgical colour of the day is violet.

The Office begins with Mattins. The invitatory, hymn, the six antiphons and psalms of the nocturn are of the feria (Pss. 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 65 & 67). The lessons in the nocturn are a homily on St. Luke's Gospel of St. Ambrose. The lessons are the same as those found in the modern editions except the first lesson ends ...inter superiores semine rather than ...inter superiores familias. The three responsories are taken from the occurring feria. Lauds follow the third responsory. The ferial psalter is sung (Pss. 50, 64, 62-66, Exsultavit cor meum & 148-149-150). The chapter, hymn, V&R and antiphon on the Benedictus are from the feria. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been sung in full at the end of the canticle the ferial preces are sung, kneeling, including the psalm De profundis. The collect is proper to the Vigil. After the collect of the Vigil the Suffrages are sung.

At Prime the antiphons of the feria are sung with psalms 53, 25, 118i & 118ii. Both the Dominical and ferial preces are sung. The ferial preces are sung at the other Horae Minores.

Mass is sung after None. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The Mass formulary is proper Ne timeas etc. There is no Gloria, the second collect is of the BVM, the third for the Church. Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal.

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..