December 12th - The Third Sunday of Advent

The Third Sunday of Advent is of semi-double rite. The liturgical colour is violet but today at Mass the Deacon wears a dalmatic and the subdeacon a tunicle and the organ may be played.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms were sung from the semi-double Office of St. Damasus. The antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc were sung with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 131. From the chapter, Fratres: Gaudete in Domino semper was of the Sunday. The Office hymn was Conditor alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Damasus. The Suffrages were omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Prope est jam Dominus and the hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the prophet Isaiah. The first lesson is longer than that found in modern editions and continues until the penultimate sentence of the modern second lesson: justitiam discent habitatores orbis. The second lesson begins Misereamur impio... and continues all through the text of the modern third lesson and beyond: Indulsisti genti Dominie ... murmuris doctrina tua eis. The third lesson is absent from the modern editions and begins Sicut quae concepit... and continues until ... non operiet ultra interfectos suos. (vv. 17 -21). In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung with Pss. 15, 16 and 17. The lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Leo. These are substantially longer than in the modern editions of the Breviary. The sixth lesson text is completely absent from the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung with Pss. 18, 19 and 20. The homily is from St. Gregory's writing on St. John's Gospel. These are the same as those found in the modern editions. A ninth responsory, Docebit nos Dominus, is sung and the Te Deum omitted in the Office of Advent.

At Lauds the antiphons Ecce veniet etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The hymn is Vox clara ecce intonat. As noted above for Vespers the Suffrages are omitted in Advent.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds, Ecce veniet, is sung with the usual Dominical psalms 53, 117, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. In the short responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum replaces Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris. The Dominical preces are sung. At the other Hours the other antiphons of Lauds are sung in the usual order.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle rather than folded chasubles. The Gloria in not sung, the second collect is of the Blessed Virgin in Advent, Deus, qui de beate, the third collect Ecclesiae. The Creed is sung, the preface is the Common Preface. As the Gloria was not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar.

Vespers are first Vespers of St. Lucy of Syracuse with a colour change to red. The antiphons Orante Sancta Luciaetc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The antiphon on the Magnificat is In tua potentia etc. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

December 8th - The Conception of the Blessed Virgin

The Conception of the BVM is a double feast and the liturgical colour is white. In the 1570 Missale Romanum no texts are given for the feast but a rubric refers to the Nativity of the BVM with a direction to change the word Nativity to Conception. In the 1568 Breviary the user is again referred to the feast of the Nativity but lessons are printed for the first and second nocturns.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Conceptio gloriosae etc were sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter was Ab initio et ante saecula and the Office hymn Ave maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Gloriosae Virginis Mariae Conceptionem etc and the collect Famulis tuis etc. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of St. Ambrose and of the Advent feria. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine.

At Mattins the invitatory is Conceptionem Virginis Mariae celebremus: Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Quem terra pontus aethera. In the first nocturn the antiphons Benedicta tu etc are sung with psalms 8, 18 & 23. The lessons are taken from the twenty-fourth chapter of the Book of Ecclesiasticus beginning at the fifth verse, Ego ex ore Altissimi etc. The first lesson is followed by the responsory Hodie concepta est beata Virgo Maria etc. The lessons are the same as those found in the editions of Clement VIII and Urban VIII. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung with psalms 44, 45 & 86. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Ambrose from his Book on Virgins. These are significantly longer than those found in the Clementine (1602) edition of the Breviary. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude Maria Virgo etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 97. The homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Conceptio gloriosae Virginis Mariae etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is O gloriosa Domina. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Conceptionem hodiernam etc. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Advent feria.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons Conceptio gloriosae Virginis Mariae etc are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns have the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc. At Prime the versicle in the short responsory is changed to Qui natus es de Virgine and the lectio brevis is In plateis.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formula is Salve sancta parens. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Advent feria. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the BVM.

At Vespers the antiphons Conceptio gloriosae Virginis Mariae are sung with the psalms of the BVM. The hymn is Ave maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Advent feria.

December 5th - The Second Sunday of Advent

The Second Sunday of Advent is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is violet.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons Benedictus etc were sung with the psalms of Saturday (Pss.143, 144, 145, 146 & 147). The chapter, Fratres, quaecumque scripta sunt, was from Romans and the Office hymn was Conditor alme siderum. After the collect a commemoration was sung of St. Sabbas. The Suffrages are omitted during Advent. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem venturum and the hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the prophet Isaiah. The first lesson, about the wondrous Jesse Tree, is longer than that found in modern editions and continues with the first lines of the modern second lesson: Et percutiet... until ...cinctorium renum ejus. The second lesson begins Habitabit lupus... and continues until two-thirds through the modern third lesson, ...sicut aquae maris operientes. The third lesson begins In die illa radix Jesse... and continues until ... et hostes Juda peribunt, i.e. the addition of vv. 11 -13 from the eleventh chapter. In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung with Pss. 15, 16 and 17. The lessons are taken from the Exposition on Isaiah by St. Jerome. These are substantially longer than in the modern editions of the Breviary. The fourth lesson comprises the entirety of the modern fourth and fifth lessons. The fifth lesson contains text absent from the modern sixth and the sixth lesson text is completely absent from the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung with Pss. 18, 19 and 20. The homily is from St. Gregory's writing on St. Matthew's Gospel. Again, these are significantly longer than those in the modern editions with the sevent lesson comprising of all of the modern seventh and eighth lessons. The eighth lesson contains all of the modern ninth and an equal amount of text from the St. Gregory's homily that is absent from the modern editions and the ninth lesson is completely absent from the modern Breviary. A ninth responsory, Ecce Dominus veniet, is sung and the Te Deum omitted in the Office of Advent.

At Lauds the antiphons Ecce in nubibus caeli etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The hymn is Vox clara ecce intonat. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Sabbas. As noted above for Vespers the Suffrages are omitted in Advent.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds, Ecce in nubibus caeli, is sung with the usual Dominical psalms 53, 117, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. In the short responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum replaces Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris. The Dominical preces are sung. At the other Hours the other antiphons of Lauds are sung in the usual order.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear folded chasubles. The Gloria in not sung, the second collect is of the Blessed Virgin in Advent, Deus, qui de beate, the third collect Ecclesiae. The Creed is sung, the preface is the Common Preface. As the Gloria is not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

At Vespers the antiphons Ecce in nubibus caeli etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 113. The Office hymn is Conditor alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. The Suffrages are omitted but at Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

November 28th - The First Sunday of Advent

The season of Advent begins at the chapter of Vespers of the Saturday before Advent Sunday. The first Sunday of Advent is of semi-double rite. During Advent bishops exchange their violet choir cassock for a black one with mozzeta or mattelletum with violet linings. Cardinals of the Court of Rome wear their 'winter' violet merino apparel (in contrast to their summer mourning dress of violet watered-silk) in place of their watered-silk scarlet.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung (note the contrast with the post 1911-13 books where the antiphons of Lauds are sung). The chapter, Fratres, hora est jam nos etc., marked the beginning of Advent. The Office hymn was Conditor alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday the usual Suffrages were omitted. From this Vespers the Marian Antiphon sung is Alma Redemptoris Mater. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem venturum and this is sung in the Dominical and ferial Offices of Advent until the third Sunday. The hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14. The lessons in the first nocturn are the Incipit of the prophet Isaiah. The first lesson is longer than that found in modern editions and continues with the first lines of the modern second lesson: Vae genti peccatrici... until ..abalienati sunt retrorsum. The second lesson begins Super quo percutiam... and continues until the end of the modern third lesson, ...Gomorrha similes essemus. The third lesson is absent from the modern books. It begins Audite verbum Domini... and continues until sanguine plenae sunt, i.e. VV. 10 - 15. In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung with Pss. 15, 16 and 17. The lessons are taken from the writing sof St. Leo on the fast of the tenth month. These are substantially longer than in the modern editions of the Breviary. The fourth lesson comprises the entirety of the modern fourth and fifth lessons. The fifth lesson contains text absent from the modern sixth and the sixth lesson text is completely absent from the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung with Pss. 18, 19 and 20. The homily is from St. Gregory's writing on St. Luke's Gospel. Again, these are significantly longer than those in the modern editions with the seventh lesson comprising of all of the modern seventh and eighth lessons. The eighth lesson contains all of the modern ninth and an equal amount of text from the St. Gregory's homily that is absent from the modern editions and the ninth lesson is completely absent from the modern Breviary. A ninth responsory, Ecce dies veniunt, is sung and the Te Deum omitted in the Office of Advent.

At Lauds the antiphons In illa die etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The hymn is Vox clara ecce intonat. As noted above for Vespers the Suffrages are omitted in Advent.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds, In illa die, is sung with the usual Dominical psalms 53, 117, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. In the short responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum replaces Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris for all of Advent except when an occuring feast has a proper versicle. The Dominical preces are sung. At the other Hours the other antiphons of Lauds are sung in the usual order.

Mass is sung after Terce. During Advent the deacon and sub-deacaon do not wear the dalmatic and tunicle but violet folded chasubles, an ancient feature of the Roman liturgy. The Gloria in not sung, the second collect is of the Blessed Virgin in Advent, Deus, qui de beate, the third collect Ecclesiae. The Creed is sung, the preface is the Common Preface. As the Gloria was not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons In illa die etc are sung with the Dominical psalms (Pss.109, 110, 111, 112 &113). The Office hymn is Conditor alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Saturninus. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung. Vespers of the Dead are sung in choir after Vespers of the Sunday. After Mattins and Lauds of Monday, Mattins and Lauds of the Dead are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

November 21st - XXV and Last Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the twenty-fifth and last Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the fifth Sunday of November. The day is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is green. The texts for the Sunday in the missal are those for the twenty-fourth and last Sunday. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the prophetic words of the LORD concerning the last days and the coming of the Antichrist.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Vespers for Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Super muros tuosfor the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of October. 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 Primo dierum omnium. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons are the Incipit of Micheas the Prophet. The first lesson is longer than that found in the modern editions of the Breviary. After ... et super excelsa terra the lesson continues Et consumenter montes, from the second lesson in the modern Breviary, until ... in peccatis domus Israel. The second lesson begins Quod scelus Jacob?... and continues until usque ad Hierusalem, i.e the end of the modern third lesson. The third lesson begins In Geth nolite annciare and continues until ...in deceptionem regibus Israel (vv. 10 - 14). These verses are absent from the modern editions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the writings of St. Basil on the thirty-third psalm. These are identical to those found in the modern Breviaries. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The seventh lesson continues with the first sentence of the modern eighth lesson Potest autem... in praesentem diem stetit. The eighth lesson begins Abominatio quoque secundum... and continues until Apostoli habere prohibentur, the end of the modern ninth lesson. The text of the ninth lesson, absent from the modern books, begins Vae autem praegnantibus... and continues until ne temporum mora fides concutiatur credentium. 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 Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine 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 and the third collect is chosen by the Dean or the Rector. The Credo and the Common Preface are sung.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) are sung. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Cecilia, the antiphon on the Magnificat, Est secretum Valeriane etc is proper to the feast. After the commemoration 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.

Art: Jerome Nadal