September 13th - XVIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost is, this year, the third Sunday of September. It is of semi-double rite and, being in the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, the liturgical colour is white. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew relate the healing of a paralytic, both by being forgiven his sins and physically healed by the LORD.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were 'from the chapter' of the Sunday. The antiphons and psalms were those from the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Nativitas gloriosae Virginis Mariae etc with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn O lux beata Trinitas. Hymns of Iambic metre were sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi Domine etc throughout the Octave. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted because of 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 Tobias. The first lesson continues with what is now the beginning of the second lesson Deinique, cum irent... to ...ministraret omnem decimationem. The second lesson begins Haec et his similia.. to ... salutis dabat eis, what is the end of the third lesson in the modern editions. The third lesson, absent from modern editions, begins Cum autem venisset... and continues until ...solicitus exhibebat. (vv. 16 - 20). In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo. The sixth lesson is slightly longer than that found in the modern editions, the seventh and eighth lessons are the same. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Peter Chrysologus on St. Matthew's Gospel. These are longer than those found in modern editions with the seventh lesson consisting of both the modern seventh and eighth lessons. The eighth lesson consists of all of the modern ninth lesson and additional texts. The text of the ninth lesson is not found in the modern books. 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 is sung.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. There is no third collect. The Credo is sung and the preface is of the BVM.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with a corresponding colour change to red. The antiphons O magnam pietatis opus etc are sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is the magnificent Vexilla regis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

September 6th - XVII Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost and the second Sunday of September. The Sunday is, as usual, of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is green. 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 In omnibus hisfor the Saturday before the second Sunday of August. 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 . 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 continue to be read from the Book of Job, taken from the ninth chapter. The first lesson consists of all the first and second lessons from the modern editions, Et respondens Job ait...quorum non est numerus. The second lesson begins Si venerit ad me... and includes all the text of the modern third lesson but, in addition, has Non concedit requiescere... me amaritudinibus (v. 18). The third lesson is not found at all in the modern books Si fortitudo quaeritur...non parceres delinquenti (vv. 19 - 28). In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Morals of St. Gregory. These are the same as those in the modern books. 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. 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 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 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. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 30th - XVI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and is, this year, the first Sunday of September. The liturgical colour is green from the Office of Mattins onwards.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. The liturgical colour of the feast was red. The antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc were sung with the psalms of Second Vespers from the Common of Martyrs (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115). After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung, the antiphon on the Magnificat was Cum audisset Jobfor the Saturday before the first Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of SS Felix and Adauctus was sung. The Suffrages were omitted because of the concurring double feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, likewise a Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changes to green. 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 Job. The first lesson continues until ...et biberunt cum eis in what is now the modern second lesson. The second lesson begins Cumque in orbem... and continues until Circuivi terram et perambulavi eam. The third lesson begins Dixitque Dominus ad eum... and continues until ...Satan a facie Domini(v.12) In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Morals of St. Gregory the Great. These are the same as those in the modern books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. The eighth and nine lessons are slightly longer than those found in modern editions. There are read as one. with lessons seven and eight comprising of the text of the modern three third nocturn lessons. The ninth lesson is of SS Felix and Adauctus. 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 SS Felix and Adauctus 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 SS Felix and Adauctus, the third collect A cunctis. The Credo is sung, the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of Sunday (Ps. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). After the collect of the day a commemoration is sung of St. Giles and Twelve Holy Brothers. These commemorations are followed by the Suffrages of 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

August 23rd - XV Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, it is also the fourth Sunday of August. The liturgical colour of the Sunday is green, although this year the Sunday Office is only from Mattins to None.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the Octave Day 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 Sapientia of the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August. At Compline the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc was sung for the final time with the Octave then ending. The Dominical preces were omitted at Compline.


At Mattins the liturgical colour is green. 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 Ecclesiasticus. The first lesson is longer than the form given in the modern editions. It continues Radix sapientiae ... illius quis intellexit?, what is now the first sentence of the second lesson. The second lesson begins Unus est altissimus.. and continues until defunctionis suae benedicitiur - what is now the middle of the third lesson. The text of the third lesson begins Dilectio Dei... and continues until ...et receptacula a thesauris illius (v.21). In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Morals of St. Gregory the Great. These are the same as those found in the modern books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel. The entire seventh lesson is absent from modern editions: Miracula Domini nostri ... quam suscitare iterum moriturum. The eighth lesson is significantly longer than that found in modern editions. The ninth lesson is the same as that found in the modern books. 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) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect chosen by the Dean or Superior. The Creed is sung and the Common preface is sung.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle with a corresponding colour change to red vestments. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc from the Common are sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Sunday is not commemorated. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted because of the double feast.

Art: Jerome Nadal