August 17th - Octave Day of St. Lawrence

The Octave Day of St. Lawrence is of double rite and its liturgical colour is red. The XII Sunday after Pentecost and the third Sunday of August is commemorated in the Office and Mass. Today is also the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc were sung, doubled, with psalms from the Common of Apostles, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Deus, tuorum militum sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi Domine etc. The chapter, antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper, the rest of the Office from the Common of Martyrs. After the collect of the feast (which is proper to the Octave Day) commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon being Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August) and of the Octave of the Assumption. The Suffrages were omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Beatus Laurentius, Christi Martyr, triumphat coronatus in caelis: Venite, adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is, again, Deus, tuorum militum, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. In the first nocturn the antiphons Quo progredis etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons, for the Sunday, are the Incipit of the Book of Wisdom. The first lesson is longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions. It continues Spiritus enim ... superveniente iniquitate. The second lesson begins Benignus est enim and continues until quod mentitur occidit animam - what is now the end of third lesson. The text of the third lesson is not found in the post-Clementine Nolite zelare ...qui sunt ex parte illius, vv. 12-16. The responsories are from the feast. In the second nocturn the antiphons Beatus Laurentius etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 4, 5 & 8. The lessons are from the writings of St. Augustine on St. John. These are the same as those found in the later edtions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Strinxerunt etc are sung, doubled, with 14, 16 & 20. The lessons in the third nocturn are from a sermon of St. Chrysostom on St. John's Gospel. These are marginally longer than those found in the later books. Today the eighth and ninth lessons of the Octave Day are read together to form an extended eighth lesson of the day and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons of the Sunday's homily from St. Bede on St. Luke's Gospel. These lessons are longer than those found in modern editions with lessons seven and eight (of the Sunday) comprising of the text of all of the later third nocturn lessons. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Martyr dei. After the collect of the Octave Day commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave of the Assumption. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds, Laurentius etc., are sung with the festal psalms. At Prime the Dominical preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is Potens est autem. The hymns are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect is of the Octave of the Assumption. The Credo is sung, the preface is of the Blessed Virgin and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At second Vespers the antiphons Laurentius etc are again sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. . After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday, of the Octave of the Assumption and of St. Agapitus. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Image: Fifteenth century painted panel featuring St. Lawrence from the Rood screen of St. Helen's Church, Ranworth, Norfolk.

August 15th - The Assumption of the BVM

Gaudeamus omnes in Domino , diem festum celebrantes sub honore beate Mariae Virginis: de cujus Assumptione gaudent Angeli et collaudant Filium Dei. (Introit)

The feast of the Assumption is of double rite with an Octave. The liturgical colour of the feast, and Octave, is white.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave maris stella. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation Gloria tibi Domine etc.

At Mattins the invitatory, Venite, adoremus Regem regum, Cujus hodie ad aethereum Virgo Mater assumpta est in caelum, is proper to the feast. The Office hymn is Quem terra, pontus. In the first nocturn the antiphons Exaltata est etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 8, 18 & 23. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the Incipiunt of the Canticle of Canticles. These are the same as those found in later editions of the Breviary until the 1950s when this most venerable of Offices was destroyed by wicked men. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 44, 45 & 86. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Athanasius. The more familiar texts from St. John Damascene appear in the Clementine edition of the Breviary. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude, Maria virgo etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 95, 96 & 97. The homily on St. Luke's Gospel is from St. Augustine's 27th Sermon on the Words of the Lord. These are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is O gloriosa Domina.

Screenshot from a video of the Mystery of Elche, a dramatic and musical representation of the Death of the Virgin and Her subsequent Assumption.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the proper Doxology and tone, Gloria tibi Domine etc. In the short responsory at Prime Qui natus es de Virgine is sung, both today and throughout the Octave, and the lectio brevis is In plateis.

Mass is celebrated after Terce. The Mass, Gaudeamus, is a particularly beautiful set of texts. The Gloria is sung. The second collect is of the Sunday. The Epistle is a sublime cento from the Book of Wisdom that also forms the chapters at the Office. The gradual Propter veritatem is very ancient. The Credo is sung and the preface is of the BVM.

In the afternoon at second Vespers all is sung as at first Vespers except the antiphon on the Magnificat which today is Hodie Maria Virgo caelos ascendit: gaudete, quia cum Christo regnat in aeternum.

Icon: The Dormition by Theophanus the Greek, 14th century.

August 10th - St. Lawrence

The feast of St. Lawrence is of double rite with an Octave and its liturgical colour is red. St. Lawrence's body is interred in the basilica of St. Lawrence-without-the-Walls in Rome. St. Lawrence was the first of the seven Roman deacons and known for his generosity to the poor. He was martyred in 258, according to tradition, on a grid iron and asked his tormentors to turn him over as his flesh was fully roasted on the one side. St. Lawrence is listed in the Communicantes of the Canon. The feast is ancient and appears in the Leonine and other early sacramentaries. The feast was preceded yesterday by a Vigil. St. Lawrence is, amongst many other things, Patron of the Saint Lawrence Press. The XI Sunday after Pentecost, this year the second Sunday of August, is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc were sung, doubled, with psalms from the Common of Apostles, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Deus, tuorum militum. The chapter, antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper, the rest of the Office from the Common of Martyrs. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung (the antiphon being Ego in altissimis for the Saturday before the second Sunday of August). The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Beatus Laurentius, Christi Martyr, triumphat coronatus in caelis: Venite, adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is, again, Deus, tuorum militum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Quo progredis etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons in the first nocturn are from the Book of Eccesiasticus. These are the same as in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn the antiphons Beatus Laurentius etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 4, 5 & 8. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo on St. Lawrence and are, again, identical to those found in the post-Clementine books. In the third nocturn the antiphons Strinxerunt etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 14, 16 & 20. The lessons in the third nocturn are from a sermon of St. Augustine on St. John's Gospel, the same, yet again, as in the later books. Today the eighth and ninth lessons of the feast are read together to form the eighth lesson of the day and the ninth lesson is formed from the three appointed lessons on the homily of the XI Sunday after Pentecost. These are from St. Bede on St. Luke's Gospel. They are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Martyr dei. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds, Laurentius etc., are sung with the festal psalms. At Prime the Dominical preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is Potens est autem.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Credo is sung, the common preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At second Vespers the antiphons Laurentius etc are again sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The V&R are proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of SS Tiburtius & Others. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

August 3rd - X Sunday after Pentecost

The tenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers, is green. This year it is the first Sunday of August. The semi-double feast of the Finding of the Body of St. Stephen is transferred to Thursday of the week ahead.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Vespers for Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Sapientia for the Saturday before the first Sunday of August. 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 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 Parable of Solomon. Their arrangement is different from that found in the modern editions. The first lesson continues as far as ut addatur gratia capiti tuo et torques collo tuo (i.e. vv 7 & 8 now forming the opening of the second lesson. The second lesson begins Fili mi, si te lactaverint... and continues, through what is now the third lesson and concludes, animas possidentium rapiunt. The third lesson is not found in the modern books and consists of vv 20 - 27: Sapientia foris praedicat...vos tribulatio et angustia. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the writings of St. Ambrose on Psalm 118. These are the same as those found in modern recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel. These lessons are considerably longer in the Tridentine Breviary than the form found in post-Clementine editions so the text of the ninth lesson is now entirely absent the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150) are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce. 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 are sung.

At Prime (Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii) 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 church. The Credo is sung as is the Common Preface.

In the afternoon there is a colour change to white and first Vespers of St. Dominic are sung. The antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Iste Confessor. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

July 27th - IX Sunday after Pentecost

The ninth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Vespers for Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Pantaleon was sung 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.

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 are the Incipit of the Fourth Book of the Kings. The first lesson includes what is now the text of the second lesson in post-Clementine editions and ends Idcirco de lectulo ... sed morte morieris. The second lesson begins Qui dixit eis (the modern third lesson) but continues until the end of verse 12 of the first chapter. The third lesson, not present in modern editions begins Iterum misit principes and continues until verse 17. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the writings of St. Augustine. These are substantially longer than than those found in modern recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. Again the version in the Tridentine Breviary is considerably longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form an extended eighth lesson for the Sunday and the ninth lesson is of St. Pantaleon. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150) are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Pantaleon is sung 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 and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Pantaleon, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung as is the Common Preface.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) and the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of SS Nazarius, Celsus, Victor and Innocent 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.

Art: Jerome Nadal

July 20th - VIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Vespers for Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Margaret was sung 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.

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 are a continuation from the third book of Kings. 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 the writings of St. Augustine on the City of God. These are substantially longer than than those found in the post-Clementine books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Luke's Gospel. Again the text in the Tridentine Breviary is longer than that found in later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday 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 of St. Margaret is sung 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 and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Margaret, the third collect is A cunctis. The Credo is sung as is the Common Preface.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) and the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Praxedes 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.

Art: Jerome Nadal