August 16th - Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption - XIV Sunday after Pentecost

Today is Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption and the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the third Sunday of August. As it is within the Octave of a feast the Sunday is celebrated in white vestments.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the great feast of the Assumption of the Mother of God. The antiphons proper to the feast Assumpta est Maria in caelum etc were sung with the psalms from the Common of the BVM. A commemoration of the Sunday was sung, the antiphon on the Magnificat being Omnis sapientia etc. At Compline the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc was sung as it is at all hymns of Iambic metre for the Octave.

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 Wisdom. The first lesson is longer than the form given in the modern editions. It continues Spiritus enim ... superveniente iniquitate. The second lesson begins Benignus est enim and continues until quod mentitur occidit animam - what is now the end of third lesson. The text of the third lesson is not found in the modern editions Nolite zelare ...qui sunt ex parte illius, vv. 12-16. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Ambrose. Lessons IV and V are substantially longer than those in the modern books with additional text not appearing in the modern editions, lesson VI is longer by a sentence. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Matthew's Gospel. Again, these are longer than those found in the modern editions. 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 of the Octave of the Assumption is sung followed by a commemoration of the Octave of St. Lawrence. The suffrages are omitted due to the occurring Octaves.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung but the Dominical preces are omitted. In the short responsory Qui natus es in sung (and throughout the Octave).

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave, the third collect is of the Octave of St. Lawrence. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the BVM with Et te in Assumptione.

Vespers are of the following Octave Day of St. Lawrence, with the corresponding colour change to red vestments. The antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc are sung with Pss. 109, 110, 11, 112 & 115. The antiphon on the Magnificat is Beatus Laurentius etc, the collect is proper to the Octave Day, Excita Domine. After the collect of the Octave Day commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave of the Assumption. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted because of the double feast.

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 9th - XIII Sunday after Pentecost

The thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, this year the second Sunday of August, is of semi-double rite.

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 Ego in altissimis for the Saturday before the second Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Romanus was sung 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.

Yesterday was also the anticipated Vigil for the feast of St. Lawrence, as Vigils which fall on a Sunday are anticipated on the Saturday.

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 Ecclesiastes. The second lesson continues Ego Ecclesisastes...ut occuparentur in ea, what is the beginning of the third lesson in the modern editions. The third lesson begins Vidi cuncta... and continues until ...et qui addit scientiam, addit dolorem, i.e. until v.18. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from a sermon of St. Chrysostom. These are longer than those in the modern books with lessons IV and V consisting of the entire text of the modern lessons IV, V & VI. The sixth lesson is not found in the modern editions (Igitur quo pacto... immanissima tyrannide commutare.) In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel. These are longer than those found in modern editions with lessons seven and eight comprising of the text of the modern three third nocturn lessons. The ninth lesson is not found in the modern editions. 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 of St. Romanus is sung followed by the 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.

At Prime (Pss. 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 St. Romanus, the third collect A cunctis. The Credo is sung, the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of St. Lawrence with a corresponding change of liturgical colour to red. The antiphons Laurentius ingressus etc are sung with the psalms for first Vespers from the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted because of the double feast.

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 6th - The Transfiguration of the LORD

The feast of the Transfiguration of the LORD is a feast of double rank.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the proper antiphons Assumpsit Jesus Petrum et Jacobum etc were sung with the Psalms for first Vesper from the Commmon of Apostles (109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The Office hymn was Quicumque Christum quaeritis. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Christus Jesus, splendor Patris etc. The collect was proper. A commemoration was sung of the precdding Office of the Dedication of Sancta Maria ad Nives, followed by a commemoration of SS Xystus, Felicissimus and Agapitus. Because of the double feast the Suffrages were omitted at Vespers and, at Compline, the Dominical preces were omitted for the same reason. At Compline, and at all the Hours the hymns have the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine, Qui apparusti hodie, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula.

At Mattins the invitatory is Summum Regem gloriae, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn is as at Vespers. In the first nocturn the antiphons are proper, Paulo minus etc, are sung with psalms 8, 28 & 44. The lessons in the first nocturn are from the Second Epistle of St. Peter. These are identical to those found in modern editions. In the second nocturn the antiphons Illuminans etc are sung with psalms 75, 83, and 86. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo. Again, these are identical to those found in modern edtions of the Breviary. In the third nocturn the antiphons Thabor et Hermon etc are sung with psalms 88, 96 and 103. The homily in the third nocturn is taken from St. Chrysostom's 57th homily on St. Matthew's Gospel. The eighth lesson is shorter in the Tridentine Breviary ending with ... a melioribus confirmari. The ninth lesson is for SS Xystus etc. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Assumpsit Jesus Petrum et Jacobem etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jesu Amor Jesu dulcissime. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Et ecce vox de nube dicens etc. A commemoration is sung SS Xystus etc after the collect of the day.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns have the proper Doxology and the antiphons of Lauds are sung. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (53, 118i & 118ii). The lectio brevis is Sustulit me.

Mass is sung after Terce. The introit is Illuxerant. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Xystus etc. The Credo is sung, the Preface of the Nativity is sung.

At Vespers all is sung as was sung at first Vespers except the antiphon on the Magnificat, Et audientes, which is proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the following Office of St. Donatus. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

August 2nd - XII Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost and the first Sunday of August. The rite of the day is semi-double and the liturgical colour is green.

Vespers yesterday were second Vespers of the feast of St. Peter in Chains. The antiphons Herodes rex etc were sung with the psalms for second Vespers from the Common of Apostles. Commemorations were then sung of St. Paul, the Sunday (the antiphon being Sapientia for the Saturday before the first Sunday in August) and St. Stephen I. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted due to the double feast.

At Mattins the colour changes to green and 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 Parable of Solomon. Their arrangement is different from that found in the modern editions. The first lesson continues as far as ut addatur gratia capiti tuo et torques collo tuo (i.e. vv 7 & 8 now forming the opening of the second lesson. The second lesson begins Fili mi, si te lactaverint... and continues, through what is now the third lesson and concludes, animas possidentium rapiunt. The third lesson is not found in the modern books and consists of vv 20 - 27: Sapientia foris praedicat...vos tribulatio et angustia. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the writings of St. Ambrse on Psalm 118. These are the same as those found in modern recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Bede on St. Luke's Gospel. These are longer than those found in modern editions with lessons seven and eight comprising of the text of the modern third nocturn lessons. The seventh responsory is Domine, pater et Deus vitae meae etc, as from the first Sunday of August. 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 of St. Stephen is sung followed by the 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.

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 St. Stephen, the third collect A cunctis. The Credo is sung, the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the following feast of Invention of the Body of St. Stephen the Protomartyr issung. 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 etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

July 26th - XI Sunday after Pentecost

The eleventh Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Mark contain the account of the LORD healing a deaf and dumb man with His spittle.

Vespers yesterday were second Vespers of St. James the Apostle (celebrated, of course, in red vestments). A commemoration of the eleventh Sunday was sung, the antiphon on the Magnificat being Obsecro Domine etc. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

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 and the lessons continue to be read from the fourth book of Kings. These are the same as those given in modern editions of the Breviary for the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Jerome's Exposition on the Prophet Isias. These are the same as those found in modern recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Gregory on St. MArk's Gospel. These are the same as those found in modern editions. The seventh responsory is Peccavi super numerum etc. 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 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. 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung as are the Dominical preces.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Credo is sung, the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the following feast of St. Pantaleon is sung. 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 etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

July 19th - X Sunday after Pentecost

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. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine were sung. 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 and the lessons continue to be read from the fourth book of Kings. These are the same as those given in modern editions of the Breviary for the tenth Sunday after Pentecost. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the twenty-fifth homily of St. Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Romans. These are the same as those found in modern recensions except that the fourth lesson includes the sentence Itaque, si quando... perditionis poenas demus that now opens the fifth lesson in modern editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel. These are considerably longer in the Tridentine Breviary than the form found in modern editions. The seventh responsory is Peccavi super numerum etc. 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 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. 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung as are the Dominical preces.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Credo is sung, the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the following feast of St. Margaret is sung. 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 etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal