August 15th - The Assumption of the Mother of God

Gaudeamus omnes in Domino , diem festum celebrantes sub honore beate Mariae Virginis: de cujus Assumptione gaudent Angeli et collaudant Filium Dei. (Introit)

The feast of the Assumption is a double feast with an Octave. The liturgical colour of the feast is white. This year the feast falls on the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass.

At Mattins the invitatory, Venite, adoremus Regem regum, Cujus hodie ad aethereum Virgo Mater assumpta est in caelum, is proper to the feast. The hymn is Quem terra, pontus. In the first nocturn the antiphons Exaltata est etc are sung with psalms 8, 18 & 23. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the Incipiunt of the Canticle of Canticles. These are the same as those found in the modern (pre-1950) editons of Breviary. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung with psalms 44, 45 & 86. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Athanasius. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude, Maria virgo etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 97. The homily on St. Luke's Gospel is from St. Augustine's 27th Sermon on the Words of the Lord. The eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is made of the three lessons for the Sunday. The text of the homily for the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, from St. Gregory, is the same as that found in the modern books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The hymn is O gloriosa Domina. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the proper Doxology and tone. In the short responsory at Prime Qui natus es de Virgine is sung, both today and throughout the Octave, and the lectio brevis is In plateis.

Mass is celebrated after Terce. The Mass formulary, Gaudeamus, is a particularly beautiful set of texts. The Gloria is sung. The second collect is of the Sunday. The Epistle is a sublime cento from the Book of Wisdom that also forms the chapters at the Office. The gradual Propter veritatem is very ancient. The Credo is sung , the preface that of the BVM and the last Gospel of the Sunday.

In the afternoon at second Vespers all is as at first Vespers except the antiphon on the Magnificat which today is Hodie Maria Virgo caelos ascendit: gaudete, quia cum Christo regnat in aeternum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday.

Icon: The Dormition by Theophanus the Greek, 14th century.

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.

August 8th - X Sunday after Pentecost

The tenth Sunday after Pentecost, the second Sunday of August, is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is green. The semi-double feast of SS Cyriacus, Largus and Smaragdus is transferred to Monday.

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 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)the lessons are from the Incipit of the Book of Ecclesiastes. The second lesson is longer than that found in modern editions of the Breviary and continues with what is now the beginning of the third lesson, Ego Ecclesiastes fui rex Israel... until ...ut occuparentur in ea. The third lesson begins Vidi cuncta... and continue until ...addit dolorum ending with the last verse of Ch. 1. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the homily of St. Chrysostom against concubines. These are considerably longer than those found in modern recensions so that the text of the sixth lesson is entirely absent from the modern books. 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 so the text of the ninth lesson is now entirely absent 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 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. 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 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 SS. Cyriacus, Largus and Smaragdus is sung. This is followed by a commemoration of St. Romanus then 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

August 1st - St Peter ad Vincula

The feast of St. Peter ad Vincula, St. Peter in Chains, is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. It is the dedication feast of the Basilica of St. Peter ad vincula in Rome. Today is also the first Sunday of August and the ninth Sunday after Pentecost.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Herodes rex etc were sung with the psalms for first Vespers of Apostles, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Petrus beatus catenarum laqueos. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of St. Paul the Apostle, the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Sapientia) and of the Holy Machabees.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the hymn Quodcumque vinclis. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung with psalms 18, 33 & 44 from the Common of Apostles. The lessons are from the twelfth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. These are the same as those found in the modern editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung with psalms 46, 60 & 63. The lessons in the second nocturn are hagiographical and tell of Eudoxia, daughter of the Emperor Theodosius, receiving part of the chains in Rome from her mother Eudocia and seeing them re-united with links that had been preserved there. Again, these are the same as those found in modern books. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel as on the feast of SS Peter and Paul. The eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form the eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is of the Sunday. The three lessons of the homily of St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. These are longer than those found in the modern books and the third lesson is entirely absent from them. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Herodes rex etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The hymn is Jam bone pastor Petre. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of St. Paul the Apostle, the Sunday and of the Holy Machabees.

At Prime the antiphon Herodes rex is sung with psalms 53, 118i & 118ii. Quicumque is omitted. The lectio brevis is Et Petrus as se reversus dixit.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Paul, the third collect of the Sunday and the fourth of the Holy Machabees. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Apostles and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At second Vespers the antiphons Herodes rex etc are again sung, at this Office with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of St. Paul, the Sunday and of St. Stephen.

July 25th - St. James the Apostle

The feast of St. James the Apostle is of double rite. The liturgical colour of the day is red. Today is also the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. St. James, often referred to as St. James the Great to distinguish him from St. James the Less (May 1st), suffered martyrdom by the sword under Agrippa I. His remains were tranferred to Santiago di Compostella in northern Spain, resulting in the city becoming a major pilgrimage destination in Medieval times.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc, from the Common of Apostles, were sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The texts, apart from the collect, are taken from the same Common. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung (the antiphon on the Magnificat was Exaudisti, Domine. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted because of the double feast.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christi munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons from the Common, In omnem terram etc., are sung with psalms 18, 33 & 44. The lessons come from St. Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians. The first and second lessons are the same as those found in modern editions of the Breviary but the third lesson is substantially longer continuing Rogo ergo vos... until ...et spiritu mansuetudinis, i.e. the inclusion of vv. 16-21. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung with psalms 46, 60 & 63. In the second nocturn the hagiographical lessons are proper to the feast of St. James. The fourth and sixth lessons are the same as those found in modern editions but the fifth lesson begins with the additional two words Verum Jacobus. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The lessons are from a homily of St. Chrysostom on St. Matthew's Gospel. These are virtually the same as in the modern Breviary. The eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form the eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons of the homily for the Sunday. These are longer than those found in modern books and the ninth lesson for the Sunday is entirely absent from the modern Breviary. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum are again sung, this time with the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150). After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Christopher. The Suffrages are omitted due to the double feast.

At Prime the antiphon Hoc est praeceptum meum is sung with the festal Psalms (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii). Quicumque and the Dominical preces are both omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, (in private Masses the third collect is of St. Christopher). The Credo is sung. The preface is of the Apostles and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Second Vespers are of the feast. The antiphons Juravit Dominus etc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Icon: Eighteenth century Russian icon of St. James from Wikipedia.