August 18th - XII Sunday after Pentecost

The twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the third Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption. The liturgical colour, from Mattins, is white.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the Octave Day of St. Lawrence. The liturgical colour was red. The antiphons Laurentius etc were sung Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The Office hymn was Deus, tuorum militum sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi Domine etc. The collect was proper to the Octave Day. After the collect of the Octave Day commemorations were sung of the Octave of the Assumption, of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August) and of St. Agapitus. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation.

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 Wisdom. The first lesson is longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions. It continues Spiritus enim ... superveniente iniquitate. The second lesson begins Benignus est enim and continues until quod mentitur occidit animam - what is now the end of third lesson. The text of the third lesson is not found in the later editions Nolite zelare ...qui sunt ex parte illius, vv. 12-16. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Ambrose. Lessons IV and V are substantially longer than those in the modern books with additional text not appearing in the modern editions, lesson VI is longer by a sentence. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Bede on St. Luke's Gospel. These lessons are longer than those found in modern editions with lessons seven and eight comprising of the text of all of the later third nocturn lessons. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read together and the ninth lesson is of St. Agapitus. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150) are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave of the Assumption and of St. Agapitus. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the melody and Doxlogy of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung, the versicle in the short responsory is Qui natus es. The Dominical preces are omitted being within an Octave.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of the Assumption, the third collect is of St. Agapitus. The Credo is sung and the preface of the BVM is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave of the Assumption. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 15th - The Assumption

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 of double rite with an Octave. The liturgical colour of the feast, and Octave, is white.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc were sung with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave maris stella. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation Gloria tibi Domine etc.

At Mattins the invitatory, Venite, adoremus Regem regum, Cujus hodie ad aethereum Virgo Mater assumpta est in caelum, is proper to the feast. The Office 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 later editions of the Breviary until the 1950s. 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. The more familiar texts from St. John Damascene appear in the Clementine edition of the Breviary. 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. These are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions. 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 Office hymn is O gloriosa Domina.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the proper Doxology and tone, Gloria tibi Domine etc. 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 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 and the preface that of the BVM.

In the afternoon at second Vespers all is sung 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.

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

August 11th - XI Sunday after Pentecost

The eleventh Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the second Sunday of August. As it is also this year also the Sunday within the Octave of St. Lawrence the liturgical colour is red.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of St. Lawrence. The antiphons Laurentius etc were again with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The V & R were proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ego in altissimis for the Saturday before the second Sunday of August) and of SS Tiburtius and Others. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

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 the post-Clementine 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 later books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory on St. Mark's Gospel. These are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions. The eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is of SS Tibutius and Others. This is the same as that found in the post-Clementine books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150) are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave of St. Lawrence and of SS Tiburtius and Others. The Suffrages are omitted being within an Octave.

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 of the Octave of St. Lawrence, the third collect is of SS Tiburtius and Others. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave of St. Lawrence and of St. Clare. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 10th - St. Lawrence

The feast of St. Lawrence is of double rite with an Octave and its liturgical colour is red. St. Lawrence is, amongst many other things, Patron of the Saint Lawrence Press. St. Lawrence's body is interred in the basilica of St. Lawrence-without-the-Walls in Rome. St. Lawrence was the first of the seven Roman deacons and known for his generosity to the poor. He was martyred in 258, according to tradition, on a grid iron and asked his tormentors to turn him over as his flesh was fully roasted on the one side. St. Lawrence is listed in the Communicantes of the Canon. The feast is ancient and appears in the Leonine and other early sacramentaries. The feast was preceded yesterday by a Vigil.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc were sung with psalms from the Common of Apostles, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Deus, tuorum militum. The chapter, antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper, the rest of the Office from the Common of Martyrs. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Beatus Laurentius, Christi Martyr, triumphat coronatus in caelis: Venite, adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn, again, Deus, tuorum militum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Quo progredis etc are sung with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons in the first nocturn are from the Book of Eccesiasticus. These are the same as in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn the antiphons Beatus Laurentius etc are sung with psalms 4, 5 & 8. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo on St. Lawrence and are, again, identical to those found in the post-Clementine books. In the third nocturn the antiphons Strinxerunt etc are sung 14, 16 & 20. The lessons in the third nocturn are from a sermon of St. Augustine on St. John's Gospel, the same, yet again, as in the later books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Martyr dei. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds, Laurentius etc., are sung with the festal psalms. At Prime the Dominical preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is Potens est autem.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung.

At second Vespers the antiphons Laurentius etc are again sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The V&R are proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ego in altissimis for the Saturday before the second Sunday of August) and of SS Tiburtius & Others. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

August 6th - The Transfiguration of the LORD

The feast of the Transfiguration of the LORD is a feast of double rank and its liturigcal colour is white.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the, proper, antiphons Assumpsit Jesus Petrum et Jacobum etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Quicumque Christum quaeritis. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Christus Jesus, splendor Patris etc and the collect was proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of the Dedication of Sancta Maria ad Nives and a of SS Xystus, Felicissimus and Agapitus. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline, and at all the Hours, the hymns have the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine, Qui apparusti hodie, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula and its melody.

At Mattins the invitatory is Summum Regem gloriae, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn is as at Vespers. In the first nocturn the antiphons are proper, Paulo minus etc, are sung with psalms 8, 28 & 44. The lessons in the first nocturn are from the Second Epistle of St. Peter. These are identical to those found in modern editions. In the second nocturn the antiphons Illuminans etc are sung with psalms 75, 83, and 86. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo. Again, these are identical to those found in modern edtions of the Breviary. In the third nocturn the antiphons Thabor et Hermon etc are sung with psalms 88, 96 and 103. The homily in the third nocturn is taken from St. Chrysostom's 57th homily on St. Matthew's Gospel. The eighth lesson is shorter in the Tridentine Breviary ending with ... a melioribus confirmari. The ninth lesson is of SS Xystus etc, this is the same as that found in the post-Clementine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Assumpsit Jesus Petrum et Jacobem etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Amor Jesu dulcissime. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Et ecce vox de nube dicens etc. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of SS Xystus etc.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns have the proper Doxology and melody 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 apparuisti and the lectio brevis is Sustulit me.

Mass is sung after Terce. Where it is the custom a blessing of grapes takes place immediately before Mass. The introit is Illuxerant. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Xystus etc. The Credo is sung and the Preface of the Nativity is sung.

At Vespers all is sung as was sung at first Vespers except for the antiphon on the Magnificat, Et audientes, which is proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the following Office of St. Donatus. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

August 4th - St. Dominic

The feast of St. Dominic is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The tenth Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. This year today is the first Sunday of August.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc were sung, doubled, with Pss.109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Iste Confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of the Finding of the Body of St. Stephen and of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Sapientia for the Saturday before the first Sunday of August.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum etc and the Office hymn is, again, Iste Confessor. In the first nocturn the antiphons Beatus vir etc are sung with(Pss. 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are the Incipit of the Parable of Solomon with the responsories of the feast. The arrangement of the lessons is different from that found in the post-Clementine editions. The first lesson continues as far as ut addatur gratia capiti tuo et torques collo tuo (i.e. vv 7 & 8 now forming the opening of the second lesson. The second lesson begins Fili mi, si te lactaverint... and continues, through what is now the third lesson and concludes, animas possidentium rapiunt. The third lesson is not found in the modern books and consists of vv 20 - 27: Sapientia foris praedicat...vos tribulatio et angustia. In the second nocturn the antiphons Invocantem etc are sung with Pss. 4, 5 & 8. The lessons, for the feast, are the same as those found in the later edtions of the Breviary. In the third nocturn the antiphons Domine iste etc are sung with Pss. 14, 20 & 23. The homily is from St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. The lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form the eighth lesson of the feast and the ninth lesson is formed from the three lessons of the Sunday's homily. This is from St. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel. These lessons are considerably longer in the Tridentine Breviary than the form found in post-Clementine editions so the text of the ninth lesson is now entirely absent the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc are sung with Pss. 99, 92, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jeus, corona virginum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted, the lectio brevis is Justum deduxit.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the Creed is sung, the Common Preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are of the feast of the Dedication of the BVM of the Snows. The antiphons Dum esset rex etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Ave, maris stella. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of St. Dominic and of the Sunday. The Suffrages are omitted. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc and the Dominical preces are omitted.

Fresco of St. Dominic: Wikipedia

July 28th - IX Sunday after Pentecost

The ninth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke's Gospel contain the account of the LORD casting out the money lenders in the temple. The semi-double feast of SS. Nazarius& Others is transferred to Tuesday.

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. 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 is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons are the Incipit of the Fourth Book of the Kings. The first lesson includes what, in later editions, is the text of the second lesson in post-Clementine editions and ends Idcirco de lectulo ... sed morte morieris. The second lesson begins Qui dixit eis (the modern third lesson) but continues until the end of verse 12 of the first chapter. The third lesson, not present in modern editions begins Iterum misit principes and continues until verse 17. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the writings of St. Augustine. These are substantially longer than than those found in modern recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. Again the version in the Tridentine Breviary is considerably longer than that found in 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. The Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. 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 commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Martha and of SS Felix & Others 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 etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

July 21st - VIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green.

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. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Praxedes 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 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 and the lessons are a continuation from the third book of Kings for the Eighth Sunday. 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 the writings of St. Augustine on the City of God. These are substantially longer than than those found in the post-Clementne recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Luke's Gospel. Again the texts in the Tridentine Breviary are significantly longer than that found in later editions. This Sunday the eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form the eighth lesson of the day and the ninth lesson is of St. Praxedes. This is almost identical to that found in the later 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 a commemoration is sung of St. Praxedes 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 and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Praxedes, the third collect is A cunctis. The Credo is sung as is the Common Preface.

At Vespers the liturgical colour changes to white and first Vespers of St. Mary Magdalene are sung. The antiphons Dum esset Rex etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Lauda mater Ecclesia. This hymn was replaced with Pater superni luminis in the 1602BR. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline due to the double feast.


Art: Jerome Nadal