September 11th - XVI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white as, this year, it is the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM. It is also the second Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke are of the LORD healing the man with dropsy on the Sabbath.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Nativitas gloriosae Virginis Mariae etc were sung, not doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn O lux beata Trinitas (sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi Domine) etc. The antiphon on the Magnificat was In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM and of SS Protus and Hyacinth. The Suffrages were omitted and at Compline the Dominical preces were omitted due to the Octave.

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 read from the Book of Job. The first lesson consists of text of both the first and second lessons in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. The second lesson begins Si venerit ad me and is a sentence longer than the third lesson found in the modern editions continuing until the end of verse 18 of the ninth chapter. The third lesson is entirely absent from the modern books and begins Si fortitudo quaeritur (v.19) and continues until the end of verse 28. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Morals of St. Gregory. These are the same as those found in the later books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. The eighth and nine lessons are slightly longer than those found in modern 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 commemorations are sung of the Octave and of SS Protus & Hyacinth. The Suffrages are omitted.

At the Hours the Office hymns are sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation. 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, the third collect of SS Protus & Hyacinth. The Credo is sung as is the preface of the BVM.

At Vespers (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) 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 Octave is sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal.

September 4th - XV Sunday after Pentecost

The fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the first Sunday of September.

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 Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September. 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 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 Job. The first lesson is longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions and continues until ...et biberunt cum eis in what is now the modern second lesson. The second lesson begins Cumque in orbem... and continues until Circuivi terram et perambulavi eam. The third lesson begins Dixitque Dominus ad eum... and continues until ...Satan a facie Domini(v.12). In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Morals of St. Gregory the Great. These are the same as those in the later editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel. The entire seventh lesson is absent from modern editions: Miracula Domini nostri ... quam suscitare iterum moriturum. The eighth lesson is significantly longer than that found in modern editions. The ninth lesson is the same as that found 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. After the collect of the Sunday the 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 of the place. The Credo is sung as is the common preface.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect 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.

August 28th - St. Augustine of Hippo

The feast of St. Augustine of Hippo is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The XIV Sunday after Pentecost, and fifth Sunday of August, is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc were sung, doubled, 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 Observa, fili for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of August) and of St. Hermes. The Suffrages were omitted due to the double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum etc and the Office hymn is Iste Confessor. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2 & 3) the lessons (of the Sunday) continue to be read from the Book of Ecclesiasticus with the responsories of the feast. The lessons are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn (Ps. 4, 5 & 8) the lessons are those appointed in Sanctoral for the feast. These are the same as those found in the later editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 14, 20 & 23) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Matthew's Gospel. These are significantly longer than those found in the later books. The text of the seventh lesson comprises both of the later seventh and eighth lessons. The text of the ninth lesson is entirely absent in the later books. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are joined to form an extended eighth lesson of the feast and the ninth lesson is formed from the three lessons given for the homily of the Sunday. The homily is, again, from St. Augustine. The lessons are longer than those found in the modern Breviary. The seventh lesson (of the Sunday) includes most of the text of the modern eighth lesson, the eighth lesson contains text not found in the later editions and the ninth lesson contains the text of the modern ninth lesson and, in addition, several more sentences. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jesu Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Hermes.

At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted.

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect is of St. Hermes. The Creed is sung, the common preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of Beheading of St. John the Baptist are sung. The antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms as in first Vespers of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The Office hymn is Deus tuorum militum. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the preceding Office of St. Augustine of Hippo, of the Sunday and of St. Sabina. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Icon: Orthodox Monastery Icons

August 21st - XIII Sunday after Pentecost

The thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the fourth Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption. The liturgical colour is white.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of St. Bernard. The antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc were sung, doubled, 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 Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August) and of the Octave of the Assumption. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation Gloria tibi Domine etc.

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 Ecclesiasticus. The first lesson is longer than the form given in the post-Clementine editions. It continues Radix sapientiae ... illius quis intellexit?, what is now the first sentence of the second lesson. The second lesson begins Unus est altissimus.. and continues until defunctionis suae benedicitiur - what is now the middle of the third lesson. The text of the third lesson begins Dilectio Dei... and continues until ...et receptacula a thesauris illius (v.21). In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Morals of St. Gregory the Great. These are the same as those found in the modern books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine 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 the modern three third nocturn lessons. The text of the ninth lesson is absent from the post-Clementine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Dominical psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150) are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave is sung. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation. 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. Today there is no third collect. The Credo and the preface of the BVM is sung.

Vespers are of first Vespers of the Octave Day of the Assumption. The antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The Office hymn is Ave maris stella. After the collect of the Octave a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.
Art: Jerome Nadal