September 13th - XIV Sunday after Pentecost

The fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and is, this year, the third Sunday of September and the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BMV. Its liturgical colour, until Vespers, is white of the Octave. The pericopes from St. Matthew's Gospel contain the passages about the 'lilies of the field' and seeking first the Kingdom of God. The week ahead will see the celebration of the Ember Days.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms were those from the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Nativitas gloriosae Virginis Mariae etc were sung, not doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn O lux beata Trinitas. On the feast of the Nativity of the BVM and during its Octave hymns of Iambic metre are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi Domine etc throughout the Octave. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline due to the Octave.

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 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. 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. 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 the Octave is sung.

At Prime (Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung but the Dominical preces are omitted due to the Octave. In the short responsory the verse Qui natus es is sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. There is no third collect. The Credo is sung and the preface is of the BVM.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with a corresponding colour change to red. The antiphons O magnam pietatis opus etc are sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is the magnificent Vexilla regis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM. The Suffrages are omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

September 6th - XIII Sunday after Pentecost

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

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of 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 In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second 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 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 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. 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 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 30th - XII Sunday after Pentecost

The twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and is, this year, the first Sunday of September. The liturgical colour is green from the Office of Mattins onwards.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist were sung. The antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of Martyrs (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115). After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat was Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September) and of SS Felix and Adauctus. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changes to green. 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 Book of Job. The first lesson 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 modern books. 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 SS Felix and Adauctus. 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 . After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of SS Felix and Adauctus is sung followed by the 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 Felix and Adauctus, the third collect is A cunctis. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of Sunday (Ps. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). After the collect of the day a commemorations are sung of St. Giles and of Twelve Holy Brothers followed by the Suffrages of of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and, lastly, for peace Da pacem Domine etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.


Art: Jerome Nadal

August 23rd - XI Sunday after Pentecost

The eleventh Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins to Vespers, is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of August. The Vigil of St. Bartholomew the Apostle was anticipated yesterday on the Octave-Day of the Assumption.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter was In omnibus requie and the Office hymn was Ave maris stella. After the collect of the Octave-Day a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August). The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. 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. 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 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 and common preface are sung.

At Vespers there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle are sung. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms of first Vespers from the Common Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The Office hymn is Exsultet caelum laudibus. There are no commemorations nor Suffrages. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted. In Rome the feast of St. Bartholomew is observed the following day.

Art: Jerome Nadal