January 14th - Second Sunday after the Epiphany

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. The Gospel fragment at Mattins and the Gospel at Mass are St. John's account of the Marriage Feast at Cana. The feast of St. Hiliary is transferred to Friday (Rubric in the Breviarium Romanum: 'Si hoc festum venerit in Dominica transfertur in VI feria, & commemoratio cum nona lect. S Felicis fit in Dominica.'

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the Octave Day of the Epiphany. The antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 11, 112 & 113. The Office hymn was Hostis Herodes impie. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Tribus miraculis. After the collect of the Octave Day - which is proper, Deus, cujus Unigenitus - a commemoration of the Sunday was sung followed by a commemoration of St. Felix. The Suffrages were omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changes to green and 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 together to form the eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is of St. Felix. This is the same as in the post-Clementine editions. 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 is sung of St. Felix 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 Domineetc.

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. Felix, the third collect is of the BVM, Deus, qui salutis. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Paul the Hermit and of St. Maurus. These are 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.

Art: Jerome Nadal

January 7th - Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany

Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke's Gospel describe the Finding in the Temple with the LORD debating with the learned doctors to the amazement of those who witnessed this manifestation of Him.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Epiphany. The antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn was Hostis Herodes impie. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung. The Suffrages were omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine, Qui apparuisti hodie etc as are the hymns of the Hours throughout the Octave. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Christus apparuit nobis, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn is Hostis Herodes impie. In the first nocturn Pss. 28, 45 & 46 are sung. The lessons are the Incipit of St. Paul's Epistle to the Corinthians. The lessons are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions: The first lesson includes the modern second lesson Gratias ago Deo meo ... Christi, Domini nostri. The second lesson begins Obsecro autem, the same as the modern third lesson. The third lesson is absent from the modern editions, Gratias ago Deo...prudentiam reprobabo, i.e. vv. 14 - 19. The first responsory is Hodie, the other responsories as on the feast. In the second nocturn Pss. 65, 71 & 85 are sung and the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo (again these are longer than in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary). In the third nocturn Pss.86, 95 & 96 are sung and the homily is from St. Augustine, the lessons are the same as in the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons from the feast, Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung, not doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The chapter is proper to the Sunday and the Office hymn is O Sola magnarum urbium. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave, the antiphon on the Benedictus is Ab Oriente etc., proper to the 7th January.

At the Hours the psalms of Lauds are used in the usual sequence. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the versicle Qui apparuisti hodie is sung (as it is for the entire Octave) and the lectio brevis is Sicut enim in uno corpore etc. The Dominical preces are omitted being within the Octave.

The Mass In excelso throno is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. Being a Sunday within an Octave there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the communicantes and Hanc igitur are of the Epiphany.

At Vespers the antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc are again sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Hostis Herodes impie. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave is sung, the antiphon on the Magnificat being proper to the 7th January, Videntes stellam Magi. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Domincal preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

December 31st - St. Sylvester of Rome - Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the LORD

The feast of St. Sylvester I Pope and Confessor is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The texts for the Office are taken largely from the Common of Confessor-bishops. Today is also the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity and within the Octaves of St. Stephen, St. John and the Holy Innocents.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons of the Nativity of the LORD, Tecum principium etc, were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 129 & 131. From the chapter, Ecce sacerdos magnus, the Office was of the feast of St. Sylvester. The Office hymn was Iste Confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday within the Octave, of the Octave of the Nativity, of the Octave of St. Stephen, of the Octave of St. John and of the Octave of the Holy Innocents. The Suffrages were omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi...Qui natus etc. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Iste Confessor. In the first nocturn the antiphons Beatus vir etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are from the second chapter of the Epistle to the Romans. The first lesson consists of the text of both the first and second lessons in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. The second lesson begins Tribulatio et angustia.. (as the modern third lesson) but continues beyond v.13 to the end of v. 16, ...secundum evangelium meum, per Jesum Christum. The third lesson, entirely absent from the post-Clement editions, consists of vv. 17 - 25. In the second nocturn the antiphons Invocantem etc are sung with Pss. 4, 5 & 8. The lessons are hagiographical. These show textual variations to those found in later editions (e.g. Arius is declared damned in the Tridentine Breviary, condemned in later revisions of these lessons). In the third nocturn the antiphons Domine etc are sung with Pss. 14, 20 & 23. The homily is Sint lumbi from the Common of Confessor non-Pontiffs with the responsories of Confessor-Pontiffs. These are the same as those found in the modern editions except before the ninth lesson the additional words Unde et protinus subditur are found in the 1568 edition. However today the eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form an extended eighth lesson of the feast. The ninth lesson is them formed from the three lessons appointed for the Sunday, a homily from St. Augustine's writings on the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. These are marginally longer than those found in the later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium and it is sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity, of the Octave of the Nativity, of the Octave of St. Stephen, of the Octave of St. John and of the Octave of the Holy Innocents. The Suffrages were omitted.

At the Hours the hymns have the Doxology of the Incarnation. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i. 118ii) the lectio brevis is Fungi sacerdotio.

Mass is sung after Terce. The formulary is Sacerdotes tui etc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity, the third collect is of the Octave of the Nativity, the fourth collect is of the Octave of St. Stephen, the fifth collect is of the Octave of St. John and the sixth collect is of the Octave of the Holy Innocents. The Creed is sung and the preface and communicantes in the Canon are of the Nativity.

Vespers are first Vespers of the Circumcision. The antiphons O admirabile commercium etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Christe Redemptor omnium. There are no commemorations nor Sufrages. At Compline the Domincial preces are omitted.

The icon is from the All Merciful Saviour Mission's selection of icons of Western Saints.

December 24th - Vigil of the Nativity - Fourth Sunday of Advent

The fourth Sunday of Advent is, this year, also the Vigil of the Nativity of the LORD. The Office of the day combines texts from the Vigil and of the Sunday. The liturgical colour is violet.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter of the Sunday, Fratres: Sic nos existimet homo was from the first Epistle to the Corinthians, and the Office hymn was Conditor alme siderum. The antiphon on the Magnificat was O Emmanuel etc which was sung entire both before and after the Canticle with the choir standing. After the collect of the Sunday the usual Suffrages were omitted during Advent. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Hodie scietis quia veniet Dominus, Ex mane videbitis gloriam ejus, from the Vigil, and the Office hymn is Verbum supernum prodiens. In the first nocturn (of the Sunday) the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the prophet Isaiah. The first and second lessons are the same as those found in modern editions of the Breviary. The third lesson is slightly longer continuing Viderunt insulae ... eum clavis, ut non moveretur, (i.e. the addition of Cap. 41 vv. 5 -7). In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung with Pss. 15, 16 and 17. The lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Leo on fasting in the tenth month. These are substantially longer than in the modern editions of the Breviary. The sixth lesson text is completely absent from the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung with Pss. 18, 19 and 20. After the last antiphon a versicle proper to the day, Hodie scietis, quia veniet Dominus, and its respond, Et mane videbitis gloriam ejus are sung. The homily (of the Vigil) is taken from St. Jerome's commentary on the first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The seventh lesson consists of the text of both the first and second lessons (of the Vigil) in the post-Clementine books. The eighth lesson is the same as the modern third lesson (of the Vigil). The ninth lesson, Joseph fili David noli timere (...) salvum faciet populum suum, is entirely absent from the post-Clementine books. A ninth responsory, Sanctificamini, is sung in place of the Te Deum. At Lauds the antiphons, Judaea et Jerusalem nolite timere etc (sung under double rite), are proper to the day and are sung with the psalms of Sunday (92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Vox clara ecce intonat. The V & R, chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus, and collect are proper to the Vigil. After the collect of the Vigil a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

Prime is festal with the first antiphon from Lauds, as usual, and psalms 53, 118(i) and 118(ii). The Martyrology is sung with extra solemnity today. The Hebdomadarius dons a violet cope and preceded by acolytes bearing candles and a thurifer with incense enters the choir. After reverencing the choir and altar the Martyrology is censed, as a Gospel book, three times. The the choir rise and the Hebdomadarius chants 'Octavo Kalendas Januarii. Then, after announcing the moon, continues Anno a creatione mundi, quando in principio Deus creavit coelum et terram, quinquies millesimo centesimo nonagesimonono: A diluvio etc., listing the years since the birth of Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, the anointing of David, the time since Daniel the Prophet, since the founding of Rome and the conception of the LORD by the Holy Ghost '...novemque post conceptionem decursis mensibus', then raising the pitch of the chant, whilst the choir kneel, he continues, 'in Bethlehem Judae nascitur ex Maria Virgine factus Homo'. Then in the tone of the Passion: 'Nativitas Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundem carnem.' The choir then rise and sit whilst in the normal tone the Hebdomadarius (or a lector, depending on the custom of the place) continues with the entries for the day: 'Eodem die natalis santae Anastasiae etc. The lectio brevis, Per quem accepimus, is proper to the Vigil. The antiphons from Lauds are used in sequence at the rest of the Hours.

Mass is sung after Terce as the Vigil falls on a Sunday. Today the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle. After the collect of the Vigil a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. An Alleluia verse is sung before the Gospel. The dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung by the deacon to a most beautiful and ornate tone reserved for today, the feast of the Holy Innocents and pro re gravi Masses. The last Gospel is In principio. The reason why the ninth lesson of Mattins and the last Gospel at Mass is not of the Sunday is that the same Gospel was read on Ember Saturday in Advent yesterday.

First Vespers of the Nativity are sung in the afternoon. The antiphons Rex pacificus etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Christe Redemptor omnium. All hymns of Iambic metre have the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine for the Octave and up until the feast of the Epiphany. From this Vespers until the feast of the Purification the Marian antiphon is Alma Redemptoris with the versicle Post partum etc and the collect Deus, qui salutis.