Wednesday 25 February 2015

February 12th - Ash Wednesday


Ash Wednesday is a privileged greater ferial day. No feast can be celebrated on this day whatever its rank. The liturgical colour of the day is violet.

The Office of Ash Wednesday began with the chanting in Quire of the Gradual Psalms before Mattins of the day and after Mattins and Lauds of the Officium Parvum. The fifteen Gradual Psalms are divided into three sections. The choir chants Pss. 119, 120, 121 & 122 without any antiphon and without the Doxology at the end of any of them. Psalm 123 follows and after its last verse Requiem aeternam etc and the respond Et lux perpetua etc are sung. Then the choir kneels and the Hebdomadarius intones Pater noster and all then say the prayer secreto. A short series of versicles and their responses follow and the collect Absolve, quaesumus Domine etc. The choir stands and Pss. 124, 125, 126, 127 & 128 are chanted without antiphon but with the Doxology at the end of each psalm. After the last Doxology the choir again kneels for a short series of versicles and their responses and the collect Deus, cui proprium etc. The choir rises and chant Pss. 129, 130, 131, 132 & 133, again without any antiphon but with the Doxology at the end of each. For a third time the choir then kneels for a series of versicles and their responses and the collect Praetende Domine etc. The Office of Mattins then follows.

The invitatory is In manu tua Domine, Omnes fines terrae and the Office hymn is Rerum Creator optime both from the ferial Office per annum for Wednesday. In the nocturn the twelve psalms 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 65 & 67 are sung in pairs under the six antiphons Avertit Dominus etc. The lessons in the nocturn are from a homily of St. Augustine reflecting on the Sermon on the Mount from St. Matthew's Gospel. The second and third lessons are slightly longer than those found in the modern editions of the Breviary. The responsories are taken from the third nocturn of Quinquagesima Sunday. The Te Deum is not sung.

At Lauds the psalmody is ferial, Pss. 50, 64, 62-66, Canticle of Anna, 148, 149 & 150. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the day. Before the collect the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung. After the collect of the day a commemoration of SS Perpetua and Felicity is sung followed by the Suffrages of the Cross Per signum Crucis etc (the Office being ferial), 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 the Hours the ferial antiphons are sung. At Prime the psalmody is Pss. 53, 25, 118i and 118ii. Both the Dominical and ferial preces are chanted kneeling, the chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are chanted with the choir kneeling.

The blessing of Ashes and Mass follows after the singing of None. (Where the Expulsion of Penitents takes place the Ashes are blessed and imposed on the Pentitents followed by the Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany and the Expulsion of the Penitents.) The celebrant vests in a violet cope with the deacon and subdeacon wearing violet folded chasubles. The organ is silent following the general rule when folded chasubles are worn. The Ashes, made from the preceding year's Palms, are blessed with four collects of blessing. The short conclusion of these prayers probably indicates the blessing was separated by the Expulsion of Penitents from the Mass which follows. The Ashes are imposed whilst two antiphons are chanted Immutemur habitu and Inter vestibulum. These are followed by the poignant responsory Emendemus in melius. The Mass that now immediately follows is proper. The Gloria is not sung. The second collect is of SS Perpetua and Felicity, the third collect is A cunctis. The preface of Lent is sung. The ferial tones are used for the orations, preface and Pater noster. The choir kneels for the Orations and from the Sanctus until Pax Domini. After the last collect the deacon sings Humiliate capita vestra Deo and the celebrant sings the Oratio super populum. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar.

Vespers are of the feria. The antiphons Non confundetur etc are sung with psalms 126, 127, 128, 129 & 130. The Office hymn is Caeli Deus sanctissimae. The antiphon on the Magnificat and the collect are proper to Ash Wednesday. Before the collect those in Quire kneel and the ferial preces, with the Miserere, are sung. After the collect of the day the Suffrages of the Cross Per signum Crucis etc, of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc. If the choir sing the Officium Parvum the Suffrage of the BVM is omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sunday 22 February 2015

February 9th - Quinquagesima Sunday


Quinquagesima Sunday is of semi-double rite and it liturgical colour is violet. The Epistle consists of perhaps one of the most famous pericopes in the NT, St. Paul's discourse to the Corinthians on faith, hope and charity. The Gospel from St. Luke has the story of the granting of sight to the man born blind. The Sunday corresponds, in the Byzantine rite, to the Sunday of Forgiveness or Cheesefare Sunday, the Sunday being the last day dairy products are eaten until Pascha. The Byzantines begin the Great Fast tomorrow (as Holy Week is not counted as part of Lent) with a day of strict abstinence from all food and fluids, including water. In practice this is mitigated by those working in the secular world.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The chapter, antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper to Quinquagesima Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Apollonia was sung 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 were sung.

At Mattins, as for the previous Sundays, the invitatory is Praeoccupemus and the hymn Primo dierum. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung. The lessons, from Genesis, are the beginning of the story of Abraham. These are the same as those in found in the post-Clement editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from St. Ambrose on the Patriarch Abraham. The fifth lesson is, unusually, slightly shorter than in later editions: Sed ideo addidit...Sequere Deum. The sixth lesson begins at the preceding verse to modern editions, Facto praevenit... In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on the Gospel. These are the same as in the modern editions. The ninth responsory, Caecus sedebat, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to Quinquagesima Sunday, Secundum multitudinem etc., and are sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The versicle after the hymn Aeterne, chapter, antiphon at the Benedictus and collect are proper to the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Apollonia is sung 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 etc.

At Prime the order of psalmody is Pss. 53, 92, 118i, 118ii and Quicumque. The Dominical preces are sung. At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper to the Sunday

In Mass there is no Gloria, the second collect is of St. Apollonia, the third collect isA cunctis nos. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung. Following the general rule as the Gloria is not sung Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle and the organ may be played.

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 etc are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sunday 15 February 2015

February 2nd - Sexagesima Sunday


Sexagesima Sunday is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is violet. The Gospel pericopes are from St. Luke and the parable of the sower with his seed landing on rock, amongst weeds and the good ground. In the Kalendar of the Byzantine rite Sexagesima corresponds to the Sunday of the Last Judgement or Meatfare Sunday, the last day on which meat is eaten until Pascha. The feast of the Purification is transferred to Monday although the blessing of Candles and Procession take place today.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Qui me confessus fuerit etc were sung, not doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 1111, 112 & 115. The chapter was proper to Sexagesima, Fratres: Libenter suffertis and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the preceding semi-double Office of St. Ignatius of Antioch was sung 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, as for Septuagesima Sunday, the invitatory is Praeoccupemus and the Office hymn is Primo dierum. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung. The lessons continue to be taken from Genesis are read concerning the story of Noah. The lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. The first continues Videns autem Deus ...me fecisse eos, i.e with most of the text of the modern second lesson. The second lesson begins Noe vero invenit ... and continues with all of the modern third lesson and the addition of verse 16: Fenestram in arca facies ... tristega facies in ea. The third lesson, the text of which is entirely absent from the modern books, begins Ecce ego ... and continues until Fecit igitur omnia quae praeceperat illi Deus, Gen. 6:17 - 22. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from St. Ambrose on Noah and the Ark. These are identical to those found in the modern edtions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20 the lessons are taken from a homily of St. Gregory. The eighth and ninth lessons are slightly longer than in the modern editions. A ninth responsory, Cum turba plurima, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to the Sunday, Secundum magnam misericordiam etc., and are sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The versicle after the hymn Aeterne, chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are all proper to the Sunday. 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 the order of psalmody is Pss. 53, 92, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. The Dominical preces are sung. At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper.

After Terce the celebrant vests in a violet cope and the ministers put on violet folded chasubles. The organ is silent (as is always the case when folded chasubles are used). After the Asperges ceremony the blessing of Candles takes place. At the Epistle corner the celebrant sings five prayers of blessing in the ferial tone. Incense is then blessed, lustral water sprinkled over the candles whilst the celebrant says Asperges me and then the candles are incensed. At the centre of the altar the celebrant receives a candle from the senior canon present, kissing the candle before taking it. If no canon or senior cleric is present the celebrant kneels before the altar and takes his own candle. Candles are then distributed while the antiphon Lumen ad revelationem is sung interpolated into the canticle Nunc dimittis. Those receiving the candles kiss them, first, then the celebrant's hand. At the conclusion of the distribution the antiphon Exsurge, Domine is sung with a Doxology and the candles lighted. After the distribution the celebrant returns with the ministers to the Epistle corner and chants Oremus. As the feast falls after Septuagesima the deacon sings Flectamus genua and the sub-deacon Levate. The celebrant sings the collect Exaudi. Then the procession then takes place. The subdeacon of the Mass takes the processional cross. The procession goes around the church with lighted candles during the singing of three antiphons Adorna thalamum, Responsum accepit Simeon and Obtulerunt. These text are clearly ancient and found, almost verbatim, in the Menaion of the Byzantine rite.

Caeremoniale Episcoporum, 1651, Google Books - note the assistant-deacons in planetis plicatis

After the Procession the celebrant removes the cope and vests in chasuble and the ministers exchange there folded chasubles for dalmatic and tunicle. As the Mass is not of the feast candles are not held at the Gospel or during the Canon. In the Mass there is no Gloria, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung. Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar.

In the afternoon there is a colour change to white and first Vespers of the Purification are sung. The antiphons used on the feast of the Circumcision, O admirabile commercium etc., are sung, doubled, with the psalms of feasts for the Blessed Virgin (Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The chapter is proper to the feast and the Office hymn is Ave, maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat is proper to the feast Senex Puerum portabat etc. After the collect of the feast a commemorations of the Sunday and of St. Blaise are sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline the melody of Te lucis is that of the Incarnation with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domineetc.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sunday 8 February 2015

January 26th - Septuagesima Sunday


Septuagesima Sunday is of semi-double rank. The liturgical colour, from Mattins, is violet. At Mattins the book of Genesis is begun with the account of the Creation. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew at Mattins and Mass contain the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. The third Sunday after the Epiphany was anticipated on Friday as simple rite with the psalmody of the feria and the lessons in the nocturn taken from the homily of the Sunday. The Mass of the Sunday was celebrated without Gloria and Creed.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul were sung. The antiphons, Juravit Dominus etc., were sung with the psalms from second Vespers of the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138). The chapter was Saulus adhuc, the Office hymn was Doctor egregie Paule mores instrue and the antiphon on the Magnificat Sancte Paule Apostoli. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of St. Peter the Apostle, of Septuagesima Sunday and of St. Polycarp. At the conclusion of Vespers to Benedicamus Domino and its response a double Alleluia is added and then the Alleluia is not heard until Holy Saturday. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatorium is Praeoccupemus as on preceding Sundays and the hymn Primo dierum. 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 Genesis. These are the same as those found in modern editions. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from the Enchiridion of St. Augustine. These are substantially longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions and the sixth lesson is not found in the later books, the fifth lesson effectively having been divided into two. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory on the Gospel of the labourers in the vineyard. Again, these are longer than those found in the modern editions. The Te Deum is omitted and in its place a ninth responsory, Ubi est Abel frater tuus, is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to the Sunday, Miserere mei Deus etc, and sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The versicle after the hymn Aeterne rerum conditor, chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to Septuagesima Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Polycarp is sung followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Santa Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc.

At the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper to the Sunday. At Prime the order of psalmody is changed from the usual order. Under the antiphon Conventione autem Pss. 53, 92, 118i, 118ii and Quicumque are sung. The Dominical preces are also sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The Gloria is omitted, the second collect is of St. Polycarp, the third collect is A cunctis. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino , sung by the Deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers there is a colour change to white and first Vespers of the feast of St. John Chrysostom are sung. The antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc are sung, doubled, with psalms (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). After the collect of the feast a commemoration of Septuagesima Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sunday 1 February 2015

January 19th - Second Sunday after the Epiphany

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins to None, is green. The Gospel fragment at Mattins and the Gospel at Mass are St. John's account of the Marriage Feast at Cana.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Chair of St. Peter at Rome. The antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Quodcumque vinclis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of St. Paul the Apostle, the Sunday and SS Maris and Others. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Domincal 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 Epistle to the Galatians. The first and second lessons are the same as those in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. The third lesson is longer and continues Cum autem placuit (...) eum diebus quindecim, i.e. the addition of vv. 15 - 18. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Augustine's Expositon on the Epistle to the Galatians. These are the same as those found in later editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. Again, the lessons are the same as those found in later editions. The eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is of SS Maris and Others. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150 are sung. The Office hymn is Aeterne rerum conditor. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of SS Maris and Others is sung 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 SS Maris and Others, the third collect is of the BVM Deus, qui salutis. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

In the afternoon there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the double feast of SS Fabian and Sebastian. The antiphons Omnes sancti etc are sung, doubled with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Sanctorum meritis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal