November 18th - Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul

The feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The feast takes precedence over the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost (this year the IV Sunday of November and with some texts taken from the sixth Sunday after Epiphany). November 18th is shared by these two patriarchal basilicas as their Dedication feasts. Sadly, in both cases, the structures that were extant when the Tridentine Missal and Breviary were published are more. St. Paul Outside the Walls suffered a disastrous fire in the nineteenth century and Old St. Peter's was destroyed by the whims of vulgar fashion.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Domum tuam Dominus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 147. The Office hymn was Urbs beata Jerusalem. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon being Qui caelorum etc for Saturday before the fourth Sunday of November and the collect of the sixth Sunday after Epiphany). The Suffrages were omitted, as were the Dominical preces at Compline because of the double feast.

At Mattins the invitatory is Domum Dei decet sanctitudo etc and the Office hymn is again Urbs beata Jerusalem. In the first nocturn the antiphons Tollite portas etc are sung with psalms 23, 45 & 57. The lessons are from the Apocalypse of St. John with the responsories taken from the Common of Dedications. The lessons are the same as those found in the modern editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn the antiphons Non est hic aliud etc are sung with psalms 83, 86 & 87. The lessons are proper to the feast. The fourth lesson is the same as those in the later editions, the fifth lesson is shorter terminating at ne deinceps altaria nisi ex lapide fierent. The sixth lesson is entirely different, Basilicam item Pauli ... ac diaconus quinque. In the third nocturn the antiphons Qui habitat etc are sung with psalms 90, 95 & 98. The lessons in the third nocturn are from a homily of St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel (taken the Common). These are the same as those found in the later editions. The eighth and ninth lessons of the feast are read together to form an extended eighth lesson and the ninth lesson consists of the three lessons of the Sunday homily from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. These are the same as in the later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Domum tuam, Domine etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Angularis fundamentum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime the antiphon Domum tuam, Domine is sung with psalms 53, 118i & 118ii. Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted on this double feast. The lectio brevis is is Et absterget Deus etc. At the other Hours the antiphons from Lauds are used in the normal manner.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung as is the Common preface. The last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all the antiphons, psalms, chapter and hymn are as were sung at first Vespers. The V&R and antiphon on the Magnificat are proper to second Vespers of the Common. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Pontianus. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

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