September 17th - XVII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturigcal colour is green. This year it is the third Sunday of September. 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 Isti sunt sancti etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 115 for the Office of SS Cornelius & Cyprian. From the chapter, O Altitudo, the Office was of the Sunday with the Office hymn O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Ne reminiscarisfor the Saturday before the third Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of SS Cornelius & Cyprian. After this 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 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 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. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel. 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. 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 is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Credo is sung and 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 are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

The week ahead sees the autumn Ember Days on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Art: Jerome Nadal

September 10th - XVI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is, this year, the second Sunday of September and the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM. The Sunday is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke are of the LORD healing the man with dropsy on the Sabbath.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were 'from the chapter' of the Sunday. The antiphons Nativitas gloriosae Virginis Mariae etc were sung with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147 from the feast of the Nativity of the BMV. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn O lux beata Trinitas The Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi Domine etc with the same Doxology sung with all hymns of Iambic metre throughout the Octave. The antiphon on the Magnificat was In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second 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 and the lessons continue to be read from the Book of Job. The first lesson consists of text of both the first and second lessons in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. The second lesson begins Si venerit ad me and is a sentence longer than the third lesson found in the modern editions continuing until the end of verse 18 of the ninth chapter. The third lesson is entirely absent from the modern books and begins Si fortitudo quaeritur (v.19) and continues until the end of verse 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 found 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. 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. The Suffrages are omitted due to the Octave.

At Prime (Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung but the preces are omitted due to the Octave.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of thhe Octave. There is no third collect, being within an Octave. The Credo is sung as is the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of Sunday (Ps. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave and of SS Protus & Hyacinth. The Suffrages are omitted due to the Octave as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal.

September 3rd - XV Sunday after Pentecost

The fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the first Sunday of September.

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 Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September. 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. The lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Job. The first lesson is longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions and 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. 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. 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 as is the common preface.

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 aresung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

August 27th - XIV Sunday after Pentecost

The fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is green. This year it is the fifth Sunday of August.

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 Cum audisset for the Saturday before the fifth 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 continue to be read from the Book of Ecclesiasticus. These are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from a sermon of St. Chrysostom. These are essentially the same as those found in the modern books except for minor word differences. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Matthew's Gospel. The lessons are longer than those found in the modern Breviary. The seventh lesson includes most of the text of the modern eighth lesson, the eighth lesson contains text not found in the later editions and the ninth lesson contains the text of the modern ninth lesson and, in addition, several more sentences. 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) 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 is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Credo is sung, the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are first Vespers of the following feast of St. Augustine of Hippo. The antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Iste confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Hermes. The Suffrages are omitted due to the double feast as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 20th - St. Bernard - XIII Sunday after Pentecost

The feast of St. Bernard is of double rite. Today is also the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption and the fourth Sunday of August.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Iste Confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Sapientia) and of the Octave. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine, Qui natus es etc. The Dominical preces were not sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum * Venite adoremus and the Office hymn again Iste confessor. In the first nocturn the antiphons Beatus vir etc are sung with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are from occurring Scripture, the Incipit of the Book of Ecclesiasticus. The first lesson is longer than the form given in the post-Clementine 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 the antiphons Invocantem etc are sung with Pss. 4, 5 & 8. The lessons are proper to the feast. The fourth and fifht lessons are the same as in the later editions. The sixth lesson ends ...inter sanctos relatus est. In the third nocturn the antiphons Domine etc are sung with Pss. 14, 20 & 23. The lessons are a homily of the Venerable Bede on St. Matthew's Gospel. The eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons appointed for the homily of the Sunday from St. Augustine. These lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The seventh lesson (of the Sunday) continues with about half of the modern eighth Leprosi ergo... until ...et jactantia sermonis ostentant. The eighth lesson begins Nulla porro... and continues with the text of what is the ninth lesson in the modern books. The ninth lesson, Cetera itque... until ...approbaretur color is entirely absent from the modern Breviary. After the three lessons have been read together as the ninth lesson of today's feast the Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc are sung with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jesu corona celsior, sung with the Doxology of the Octave. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns have the proper Doxology as noted above. The antiphons from Lauds are sung at the Hours in the usual order. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (53, 118i & 118ii), the verse in the short response is Qui natus es.

Mass is sung after Terce. The second collect is of the Sunday, the third of the Octave. The Credo is sung, the Preface of the BVM and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all is sung as was sung at first Vespers. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

A decorated initial depicting St. Bernard from Wikipedia