September 20th - XV Sunday after Pentecost

The fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until None inclusive, is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke are of the LORD raising the son of the Widow of Naim. The Vigil of St. Matthew the Apostle was anticipated yesterday in the Mass of Ember Saturday.

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 Adonai, Domine for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of SS Eustace & Others 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) are sung. The lessons are the Incipit of the book of Judith. These lessons are the same as in the modern editions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Ambrose on Elias and fasting. These are significantly longer than those in the modern books. The text of the fifth and sixth lessons is not found in the modern books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel. The entire seventh lesson is absent from modern editions: Miracula Domini nostri ... quam suscitare iterum moriturum. The eighth lesson is significantly longer than that found in modern editions. The ninth lesson is the same as that found in the modern books. 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 SS Eustace & Others 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) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Eustace & Others, the third collect is A cunctis. The Credo is sung as is the Common Preface is sung.

At Vespers there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Matthew are sung. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms for first Vespers from the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The Office hymn is Exsultet.  At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal.