November 12th - XXV Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins onwards, is green. This year it is the third Sunday of November and some texts are taken from the fifth Sunday after Epiphany.The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew speak of the parable where the enemy sows cockle seed into the field of good seed. The semi-double feast of St. Martin the Martyr is transferred to Monday.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of St. Martin and were of double rite, the liturgical colour having been white. The, proper, antiphons Dixerunt discipuli ad beatum Martinum etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 131. The Office hymn was Iste confessor. After the collect of the feast a commemoraton of the Sunday was sung (the antiphon on the Magnificat was Muro tuo for the Saturday before the third Sunday of November). The Suffrages were omitted due to the double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

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 the Book of the Prophet Daniel. The first and second lessons are the same as those found in later editions of the Breviary but the third lesson is a sentence shorter, ending with the words ..facies cum servis tuis. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the book to Virgins by St. Athanasius. These are the same as those found in modern editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Matthew's Gospel (from the V Sunday after Epiphany). These are identical to those found in the later editions of the Breviary. 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 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 and the common preface are sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the, transferred, feast of St. Martin is sung 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 are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

November 5th - XXIV Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the second Sunday of November and Sunday within the Octave of All Saints. The liturgical colour is white. As there are twenty-seven Sundays after Pentecost this year, following the praxis introduced into the 1570 Missal, the pericopes at Mass, and the third nocturn lessons of Mattins, antiphons for the NT canticles and collect come from the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. The introit, intra-pericope chants, offertory and communion are those given in the Missal for the twenty-third Sunday. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew's Gospel contain the text of the LORD calming the storm at sea.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Vespers for All Saints were sung (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). From the chapter the Office was of the Sunday. The Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Aspice Dominum for the Saturday before the second Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave was sung. The Suffrages were omitted due to the Octave as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

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 a continuation of the twenty-first chapter of the Prophet Ezechiel. The first and second lessons are identical to those found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. However the third lesson is longer containing in gall of the fifteeth verse and subsequent texts to the end of the seventeenth verse: In omnibus portis... to ... ego Dominus locutus sum. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the writings of St. Jerome on Ezechiel. These lessons are the same as those found in later editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is again from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. These lessons are the same as 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. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Simile est etc. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave is sung. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung but the Dominical preces are omitted being within an Octave.

Mass is sung after Terce. The introit is Dicit Dominus etc Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. There is no the third collect being within an Octave. 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 a commemoration of the Octave (from second Vespers of the feast) is sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

November 2nd - Second Day within the Octave of All Saints - Commemoration of the Faithful Departed

The second day within the Octave of All Saints is also the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed - All Souls' Day in popular parlance.

The Office of the second day within the Octave of All Saints is of semi-double rite and the liturgical white of the feast is kept during the Octave. At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are as on the feast. The antiphons and psalms are as were sung yesterday except that the antiphons are not doubled. In the first nocturn the lessons are for Thursday in the first week of November taken from the Book of Ezechiel the Prophet with the responsories of the Octave. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of the Venerable Bede and in the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's gospel is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds and the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc, are sung, not doubled, with psalms 99, 92, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are as on the feast.

At the end of Lauds Fidelium animae is omitted and Mattins and Lauds of the Dead are sung. Mattins begins with the invitatory Regem cui omnia vivunt, Venite adoremus. There are no Office hymns. In the first nocturn the antiphons Dirige Domine etc are sung with psalms 5, 6 & 7. Instead of Gloria Patri etc Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine and Et lux perpetua luceat eis is sung after the last verse of each psalm. After the versicle, its respond and a silent Pater noster the first lesson is begun without any absolution or blessing. The lessons for the Office all come from the Book of Job, in the first nocturn they are taken from the seventh and tenth chapters. They are the same as those found in modern editions of the Breviary up until the 1911-13 reform. The lessons are followed by the responsories Credo quod Redemptor meus vivit etc, Qui Lazarum resuscitasti etc & Domine, quando veneris judicare terram etc. In the second nocturn the antiphons In loco pascuae etc are sung with psalms 22, 24 & 26. After the versicle, its respond and a Pater noster the lessons are taken from the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of Job. These are the same as those found in pre-1911 editions of the Breviary but new lessons were introduced for November 2nd following that reform: one casualty being the lesson 'Man that is born of woman hath but a short time to live...'. The responsories are Memento mei Deus etc, Hei mihi Domine etc and Ne recorderis peccata mea Domine etc. In the third nocturn the antiphons Complaceat etc are sung with psalms 39, 40 & 41. Again, after the versicle, its respond and Pater noster three lessons are sung from Job, in the third nocturn from the seventeenth, nineteenth and tenth chapters. The eighth lesson ends slightly differently to the text given in the modern books. The three responsories are Domine secundum actum etc, Libera me Domine de viis inferni etc and Libera me Domine de morte aeterna etc. Lauds immediately follow the repition of the last verse of the responsory. The antiphons Exsultaunt etc are sung with psalms 50, 64, 62-66, Ego dixi and 148-149-150. The antiphon on the Benedictus is formed of the LORD's moving words Ego sum resurrectio et vita etc. After the antiphon is repeated there follows a silent Pater noster, a series of versicles and their responds and the collect Fidelium (with the long conclusion).

At the Hours (of the Second Day with the Octave) the antiphons Vidi turbam magnum etc are sung. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the lectio brevis is Benedictio et claritas. The Dominical preces are omitted during the Octave.

In Cathedral and Collegiate Churches two High Masses are sung: one of the day within the Octave, after Terce, and a Requiem after None. In other churches only the Requiem need be celebrated. Private Masses may be of Requiem. The collect is Fidelium, the epistle from Corinthians Fratres: Ecce mysterium vobis dico, the sequence Dies irae is sung and the common preface is sung. The dismissal is Requescant in pace which is sung by the deacon facing the altar.

Vespers are of the Octave. The antiphons Vidi turbam magnum etc are sung, undoubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The Office hymn is Christe Redemptor omnium and the antiphon on the Magnificat O quam gloriosum etc. The Suffrages at Vespers and the Dominical preces at Compline are omitted during the Octave.

November 1st - All Saints' Day

The great feast of All Saints is a double feast with Octave. The universal celebration of this feast developed from the dedication of the Pantheon to St. Mary and the Martyrs. This dedication took place on May 13th 610. In some places, and the in Byzantine East to this day, a celebration of All Saints took place after Trinity Sunday. The celebration of the feast spread and Gregory IV transferred the feast and dedication to November 1st in 835. Louis the Pious spread the celebration throughout his empire and the feast entered the Universal Calendar. Sixtus IV gave the feast an Octave in the fifteenth century. The liturgical colour for the feast, and Octave, is white.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem regum Dominum, Venite adoremus: Quia ipse est corona sanctorum omnium. The Office hymn is Christe Redemptor omnium, as sung at Vespers. In the first nocturn the antiphons Novit Dominus etc are sung with psalms 1, 4 and 8. The lessons are taken from the book of the Apocalypse. These are the same as in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn the antiphons Domine, qui operati etc are sung with psalms 14, 23 and 31. The lessons are the same as in the modern editions but these are attributed to St. Augustine rather than St. Bede. In the third nocturn the antiphons Timete Dominum etc are sung with psalms 33, 60 and 96. The homily in the third nocturn is from St. Augustine. The lessons are the same as in the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are sung with psalms 99, 92, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jesu salvator saeculi. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of St. Caesarius.

The antiphons sung at Lauds, Vidi turbam magnum etc, are used at the Hours in the usual way. Prime has the festal psalms (53, 118i, 118ii) and the lectio brevis, Benedictio et claritas, is proper to the feast and sung throughout the Octave.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the Creed is sung, as is the the common preface.

At second Vespers the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are again sung with psalms from the Common of Apostles but the fifth psalm is Ps. 115, Credidi. The Office hymn is, as yesterday, Christe Redemptor omnium.

After Benedicamus Domino the verse Fidelium is omitted and the choir sits as the festive white is removed and is exchanged for the black of mourning. Vespers of the Dead are then sung. These begin with the antiphon Placebo Domino in regione vivorum. Psalms 114, 119, 120, 129 and 127 are sung. Requiem aeternam etc is sung at the end of each psalm in place of Gloria Patri etc. After the psalms there is a versicle and response but no hymn. After the antiphon on the Magnificat the choir kneels for a Pater noster, some versicles and the collect Fidelium.

The Caeremoniale Episcoporum, Lib. II, Cap. X, #2, directs that at Pontifical Celebrations of Second Vespers of All Saints after Benedicamus Domino the bishop exchanges his festal white vestments assisted by his Canons and higher clergy whilst the sacristans etc. change the vesting of the choir altar. During this time the Mansionarii (the lower rank of beneficiaries) or any chaplains and seminarians go and sing Compline in the Secretarium. The bishop then proceeds to preside over Mattins and Lauds of the Dead. Anyone familiar with the parish celebration of a Byzantine 'All Night Vigil' may note the structural similarity with this aggregation of Offices.

October 31st - Vigil of All Saints' Day

The Office of the Vigil runs from Mattins to None inclusive and is of simple rite. The liturgical colour is violet.

At Mattins the invitatory and Office hymn are as given for Tuesday in the Psalter: Jubilemus Deo, Salutari nostro and Consors paterni luminis. In the nocturn psalms 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 & 51 are sung, in pairs, under six antiphons. The Gospel fragment is from St. Luke and the lessons are a homily of St. Ambrose from the Common of Several Martyrs. The first lesson is about twice as long as that found in the modern editions of the Breviary. The second lesson contains the text of both the modern second and third lessons. The text of the third lesson is entirely absent from the modern books. The three responsories are from the Tuesday of the first week of November, A facie furoris etc, Civitatem istam etc and Genti peccatarici etc. The Te Deum is not sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Dele Domine etc are sung with psalms 50, 42, 62-66, Ego dixi & 148-149-150, from the Psalter for Tuesday. The Office hymn Alles dies nuncius and the antiphon on the Benedictus, Erexit nobis etc are also from the Psalter. After the antiphon Erexit nobis etc has been sung in full the choir kneels and the ferial preces are chanted. The Tridentine ferial preces include the psalm De profundis. When the preces have been sung the Hebdomadarius intones the collect of the Vigil. Then follow the Suffrages of the Cross Per signum Crucis etc, the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine.

At Prime (Pss. 24, 118i & 118ii and 118iii) both the Dominical and ferial preces are sung, kneeling. The chapter is Pacem et veritatem. At Terce, Sext and None the short series of the ferial preces are sung, again the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None. Following the normal rules for Vigils four candles are placed on the altar, in contrast with two on ordinary ferial days. The deacon and sub-deacon wear violet dalmatic and tunicle, not folded chasubles. The ferial tone is used for the orations and for the preface and Pater noster. There is no Gloria. The second collect is of the Holy Ghost, Deus,qui corda, the third collect Ecclesiae. As it is a 'kneeling day' the choir kneels for the prayers and from the Sanctus until Pax Domini. As the Gloria is not sung the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

With the end of Mass the liturgy of the Vigil comes to an end. The liturgical colour changes to white and Vespers are first Vespers of the great feast of All Saints. The antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is Christe Redemptor omnium. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted and are omitted throughout the Octave.

October 29th - XXIII Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour (from Mattins) is green. This year it is the first Sunday of November.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the double feast of the Apostles SS Simon and Jude. The antiphons Juravit Dominus etc were sung with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn was Exultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung with the antiphon Vidi, Dominum (for the Saturday before the first Sunday of November). The Suffrages were omitted due to the double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn Primo dierum omnium. The lessons are the Incipit of the book of the Prophet Ezechiel. These are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The first lesson continues with half of the text of the modern second lesson Et in medio ejus... until ..quasi aspectus aeris candentis. The second lesson begins Et manus hominis.. and continues until ..nec revertebantur cum ambularent - the end of the modern third lesson. The third lesson begins Et similitudo animalium... until ..spiritus enim vitae erat in rotis, vv. 13-19. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Exposition of St. Gregory on Ezechiel the Prophet. These are the same as those found in the modern editions except the sixth lesson is a sentence longer. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The seventh lesson contains the text of both the modern seventh and eighth lessons. The eighth lesson consists of all of the text found in the modern ninth lesson and additional text absent from the modern books. The text of the ninth lesson is entirely absent from the post-Clementine 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 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 chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

At Vespers (psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) the Office hymn is Lucis creator. 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.

Art: Jerome Nadal

October 22nd - XXII Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the fourth Sunday of October. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the account of the Pharisees trying to trap the LORD over tribute to Caesar and the LORD's rebuttal of "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God those things that are God's."

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 Exaudiat Dominus for the Saturday before the fourth 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) are sung. Incipit of the Second book of Machabees. The first lesson is longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. After ...sumus orantes pro vobis the lesson continues Regnante Demetrio anno ... until ... mensis Casleu (vv. 7 - 9). The second lesson is absent from the modern editions. It begins Anno centesimo octogesimo ... and continues until Per omnia benedictus Deus, qui tradidit impios (1:vv. 10 - 17). The third lesson contains the text of both the modern second and third lessons. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the writing of St. Chrysostom on the Psalms. These are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. These lessons are the same as in the modern editions of the Breviary. 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 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 chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

At Vespers (psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) the Office hymn is Lucis creator. 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.

Art: Jerome Nadal