July 4th - IV Sunday after Pentecost

The fourth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is also the Sunday within the Octave of SS Peter and Paul and its liturgical colour is of the Octave, i.e. red.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Petrus et Joannes etc were sung, not doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The chapter was of the Sunday, O Altitudo, and the Office hymn O Lux beata Trinitas . After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the Octave. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

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) are sung and the lessons continue to be taken from the First Book of the Kings. The first lesson is the same as found in modern recensions, the second lesson continues David autem...grandaevus inter viros (from the modern third lesson) and the third lesson begins Abierunt autem ... quadraginta diebus. However, it then continues Dixit autem... sicut Isai - from v. 17 through to half of v. 20. The responsories are Praeparate corda vestra etc. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from a Sermon of St. Augustine. These are the same as found in the post Clementine editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel, but the lessons are longer than 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 is sung of the Octave. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii are sungs as is Quicumque but the Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. Today there is no third collect. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 113 & 113. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave is sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal