May 4th - Fourth Sunday after Pascha

The fourth Sunday after Pascha is of semidouble rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins this year, is white.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross. The antiphons Helena Constantini mater etc (which are absent from the modern editions) were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Vexilla Regis prodeunt, sung with the Paschaltide stroph in the sixth verse. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday and of St. Monica. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133) the Dominical preces were omitted due to the double feast.

At Mattins the invitatory is Surrexit Dominus vere Alleluia and the Office hymn is O Rex aeterne Domine as on previous Sundays of Paschaltide. Again, at the nocturns the psalms are sung under a single antiphon. Again, at the nocturns the psalms are sung under a single antiphon. 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 of St. James. The lessons are the same as in post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from the Treatise of St. Cyprian on the boon of patience. These too are the same as in modern editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine, again, unusually, the same as in post-Clementine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds psalms 92, 99 & 62-66 are sung under the nine-fold Alleluia. Benedicite is sung under the antiphon Surrexit Christus and psalms 148-49-150 are sung under the antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Monica is sung followed by the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross.

At the Hours the Office hymns are sung with the Paschal Doxology and the psalms are sung under a four-fold Alleluia. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Monica, the third collect is Concede nos. The Credo is sung, the preface is of Paschaltide.

Vespers are of the Sunday, with the psalms (109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) sung under a single antiphon. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commmemoration of the Cross is sung. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133) the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal