February 3rd - Septuagesima Sunday

Septuagesima Sunday is of semi-double rank and its liturgical colour, from Mattins this year, is violet. At Mattins the book of Genesis is begun with the account of the Creation. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew at Mattins and Mass contain the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. The fourth Sunday after the Epiphany was anticipated on Thursday of last week when the third nocturn lessons of the Sunday, a homily from St. Jerome on St. Matthew' Gospel, replaced the readings from Scripture in the single ferial nocturn. In the Tridentine Rite anticipated Sundays have but a single nocturn and are far less privileged, and far more simple affairs, than following the reform of 1911-13.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Purification of the BVM. The antiphons Simeon justus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat was proper, Hodie. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of Septuagesima Sunday and of St. Blaise. At Benedicamus Domino was added Alleluia, alleluia and the same was added to its response, Deo gratias. At Compline, and in all Offices until the end of the Vesperal liturgy on Holy Saturday, the Alleluia at the end of the Lesser Doxology at the beginning of the Hours is replaced by Laus tibi Domine Rex aeterne gloriae. The Alleluia is stripped from all other occurrences in the Liturgy until the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday. From Compline the Marian antiphon changes from Alma, Redemptoris to Ave, Regina caelorum etc.

At Mattins the invitatorium is Praeoccupemus and the Office hymn is Primo dierum. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Genesis. These are the same as those found in modern editions. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from the Enchiridion of St. Augustine. These are substantially longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions and the sixth lesson is not found in the later books, the fifth lesson effectively having been divided into two. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory on the Gospel of the labourers in the vineyard. Again, these are longer than those found in the modern editions. The Te Deum is omitted and in its place a ninth responsory, Ubi est Abel frater tuus, is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to the Sunday, Miserere mei Deus etc, and sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The versicle after the hymn Aeterne rerum conditor, chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to Septuagesima Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Blaise is sung followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Santa Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc.

At the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper to the Sunday. At Prime the order of psalmody is changed from the usual order. Under the antiphon Conventione autem Pss. 53, 92, 118i, 118ii and Quicumque are sung. The Dominical preces are also sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The Gloria is omitted, the second collect is of St. Blaise, the third collect is A cunctis. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino , sung by the Deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) of Sunday are sung, the chapter is proper to the Sunday as in the antiphon at the Magnificat. 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