November 11th - St. Martin of Tours

The feast of St. Martin of Tours is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost, and this year the third Sunday of November (the second Sunday and its week are omitted this year) is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. St. Martin was born in Hungary and later served in the Roman army and resigning from it as it conflicted with his faith. He is famous for cutting his cloak in two and giving half of it to a beggar. Renown for his works of charity he died, as Bishop of Tours, in 397.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the, proper, antiphons Dixerunt discipuli ad beatum Martinum 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 the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Muro tuo for the Saturday before the third Sunday of November and of St. Menna. The Suffrages were omitted due to the double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper Laudate Deum nostrum, * In confessione beati Martini and the Office hymn is Iste confessor. In the first nocturn the antiphon Martinus etc, doubled, are sung with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are taken from the Common. The first lesson is from the First Letter of St. Paul to Timothy. This is the same as in the later editions. The second and third lessons are from the Epistle to Titus. These, again, are the same as those found in the modern editions. The responsories are proper to the feast. In the second nocturn the antiphons Confido in Domino etc are sung with psalms 4, 5 and 8. The historical lessons of the second nocturn are almost the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions except that the sixth lesson is a sentence or so longer. In the third nocturn the antiphons Dominus Jesus Christus etc are sung with psalms 10, 14 and 20. The homily on St. Luke's Gospel is from St. Ambrose. The lessons are slightly longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form the eighth lesson of the day and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons of the homily for the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost. These are taken from a homily of St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. There lessons are the same as in the modern editions of the Breviary. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Dixerunt discipuli ad beatum Martinum etc are sung with the Dominical psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150. The Office hymn is Jesu Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Menna. The Suffrages are omitted due to the double feast.

At Prime (Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted due to the double feast. The lectio brevis is Fungi sacerdotio.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect is of St. Menna. The Credo is sung, the the Common Preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Dixerunt discipuli ad beatum Martinum are again sung, now with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 131. The Office hymn is Iste confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Martin Pope and Martyr. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Icon: (& interesting biography) Wikipedia.

November 4th - XXI Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. This year it is the first Sunday of November and the Sunday within the Octave of All Saints. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the parable of the unjust and ungrateful servant who, forgiven his debts by the King, demands what is owed to him from others and shews complete ingratitude.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Vidi turba magnum etc, not doubled, were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. From the chapter, O Altitudo, the Office was of the Sunday and the hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Vidi, Dominum for the Saturday before the first Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the Octave of All Saints. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline due to the Octave.

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 Book of 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 is longer than that found in the modern editions and contains the text Quod ut manifestius...to si et ipsi dimittant minora peccantibus, about half of the modern eighth lesson. The eighth lesson begins Si autem ob factam and continues with all the remaining text of the modern eighth lesson but then continues Oblatus est ei unus... to ...et peccatoris appellari stultitiam, text not found in the modern books. The ninth lesson begins Sed quo modos.. and continues to..nec a prudentibus viris recipiendae text which, again, is absent from the modern books and then continues with Sic et Pater meus and the rest of the text of the modern ninth lesson. 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 is sung of the Octave of All Saints. The Suffrages are omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of All Saints. Today there is no third collect. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is 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 is sung of the Octave of All Saints. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

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

The second day within the Octave of All Saints is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. It is also the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed - All Souls' Day in popular parlance.

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 Friday in the fifth week of October taken from the Second Book of the Machabees 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, famous to readers of English from the BCP, '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 its 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. 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 28th - SS Simon and Jude

The feast of SS Simon and Jude is of double rite and its liturgical colour is red. The feast of these two apostles is kept on the anniversary of the transfer of their relics to Old St. Peter's in Rome in the seventh century. St. Simon is traditionally believed to have been martyred by a curved sword and St. Jude, also known as Thaddaeus, was martryed by a club. The twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (and this year the fifth Sunday of October) is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. Yesterday was the Vigil of the feast.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Exultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday, the antiphon on the Magnificat being Tua est potentia etc for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of October. The Suffrages were omitted due to the double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn Aeterna Christi munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung with psalms 18, 33 & 44. The lessons are taken from the Incipit of St. Jude's Epistle. The second lesson is longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions and continues with text from the modern third lesson: Cum Michael Archangelus... until in his corrumpuntur, i.e. vv. 9-10. The third lesson begins Vae illis, v. 11 and continues beyond the text contained in the modern third lesson to include vv. 14-16, Prophetavit autem... to mirantes personas quaestus causa. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung with psalms 46, 60 & 63. The fourth lesson is an historical one and is the same as that found in post-Clementine editions. The fifth and sixth are from a sermon of St. Gregory and are marginally longer than those found in the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily on St. John's Gospel is from the writings of St. Augustine. Again, these are marginally longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The eighth and ninth lesson are read together to form the eighth lesson and the three lessons of the homily for the Sunday are read as the ninth lesson. These texts, from a homily of St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel, are significantly longer than in the modern editions. By the eighth lesson (of the Sunday) all three modern lessons have been read and there is additional material from the homily to complete the Tridentine eighth lesson. The ninth lesson is entirely absent from the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Exultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday. The Suffrages are omitted due to the double feast.

At Prime the the Hours the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli. Both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the Creed is sung, the preface is that of the Apostles and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At second Vespers of the feast the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 139. The Office hymn is Exultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

October 21st - XIX Sunday after Pentecost

The nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost is, this year, the fourth Sunday of October. The Sunday is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes contain the parable of the wedding feast from St. Matthew's Gospel with the sobering concluding words of the LORD Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi.

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 was 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 commemorations were sung of St Hilarion and of SS Ursula and Companions followed by 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 Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn Primo dierum omnium.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. Gregory on St. Matthews's Gospel. The seventh lesson does not appear in the modern editions. The eighth lesson consists of the modern seventh and half of the modern eighth lessons. The text of the ninth lesson consists of the rest of the modern eighth and ninth lessons and the inclusion of further texts from St. Gregory. However today the eighth and ninth lessons are read together and the ninth lesson is of St.Hilarion, consisting of the two lessons, joined together, appointed for his feast. 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 commemorations are sung of St. Hilarion and of SS Ursula and Companions followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine.

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 St. Hilarion, the third collect is of SS Ursula and Companions. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is 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 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