September 16th - XV Sunday after Pentecost

The fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. This year it is the third Sunday of September. The semi-double feast of SS Cornelius & Cyprian is transferred to Monday. The week ahead will see the celebration of the September Ember Days.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the Octave Day of the Nativity of the BVM were sung. The antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of the BVM (Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The Office hymn was Ave, maris stella. After the collect of the feast commemorations of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ne reminiscarisfor the Saturday before the third Sunday of September) and of SS Euphemia, Lucy & Geminianus. 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. The lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Tobias. The first lesson continues with what is now the beginning of the second lesson Deinique, cum irent... to ...ministraret omnem decimationem. The second lesson begins Haec et his similia.. to ... salutis dabat eis, what is the end of the third lesson in the modern editions. The third lesson, absent from modern editions, begins Cum autem venisset... and continues until ...solicitus exhibebat. (vv. 16 - 20). In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo. The sixth lesson is slightly longer than that found in the modern editions, the seventh and eighth lessons are the same. 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. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form an extended eighth lesson of the Sunday and the ninth lesson is of SS Euphemia, Lucy & Geminianus. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Dominical 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 a commemoration is sung of SS Euphemia, Lucy & Geminanus 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 (Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Euphemia, Lucy & Geminianus, the third collect is A cunctis. The Credo is sung as is the common preface.

At Vespers (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the, transferred, feast of SS Cornelius & Cyprian 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 are sung.

September 9th - XIV Sunday after Pentecost - Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM

The fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and is, this year, the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM and the second Sunday of September. Its liturgical colour is white.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God. The antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc were sung with the psalms from the Common of the BVM (Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The Office hymn was Ave, maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second Sunday of September and of St. Gorgonius. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxlogy of the Incarnation with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc.

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 modern books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Matthew's Gospel. The lessons are longer than those found in the modern Breviary. The seventh lesson 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. Today the eighth and ninth lessons of the Sunday’s homily are read together as an extended eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is that appointed for St. Gorgonius. 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 commemoration are sung of the Octave and of St. Gorgonius. The Suffrages are omitted being a Sunday within an Octave.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns have the Doxlogy and tone of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi Domine etc. At Prime (Pss. 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 Octave, the third collect is of St. Gorgonius. The Credo is sung, the Preface of the Blessed Virgin is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Nativitas tua etc). The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

September 2nd - XIII Sunday after Pentecost

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

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) of Saturday 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 is 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 taken 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 complete text of the three third nocturn lessons found in the later editions. The text of the ninth lesson is absent from 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. 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) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.
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 and the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday. 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 are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 26th - XII Sunday after Pentecost

The twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the fifth Sunday of August

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms (143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) of Saturday were sung. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Observa, fili for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Zephyrinus 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.

In the City of Rome vespers yesterday afternoon were of the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle with a commemoration of the Sunday.

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 continue to be read from the Book of Ecclesiasticus. 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 a sermon of St. Chrysostom. These are essentially the same as those found in the modern books except for minor word differences. 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 to form an extended eighth lesson of the Sunday and the ninth lesson is that appointed in the Breviary for St. Zephyrinus. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite148-49-150) are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Zephyrinus 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 the St. Zephyrinus, the third collect is A cunctis. The Credo is sung and the Common preface is sung.

Vespers are of Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following, transferred, feast of St. Martha, of SS Abdon & Sennen followed 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. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 19th - XI Sunday after Pentecost

The eleventh 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 and its liturgical colour is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc. were sung, not doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The hymn was sung with the melody and Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave was sung. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline being within an Octave. Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation.

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. 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 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 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) Quicumqueis sung but the Dominical preces are omitted. The versicle in short responsory is Qui natus es de Virgine. At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. There is no third collect for a Sunday within an Octave. The Credo is sung, the Preface is of the BVM.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of St. Bernard. The antiphons Domine quinque talenta etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The Office hymn is Iste Confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal