December 20th - Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Fourth Sunday of Advent is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers, is violet. The Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle was anticipated yesterday.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter, Sic nos existimet homo was from the first Epistle to the Corinthians, the Office hymn was Conditor alme siderum. The antiphon on the Magnificat was O clavis David. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages are omitted during Advent. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Prope est jam Dominus and the hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the prophet Isaiah. The first and second lessons are the same as those found in modern editions of the Breviary. The third lesson is slighly longer continuing Viderunt insulae ... eum clavis, ut non moveretur, (i.e. the addition of Cap. 41 vv. 5 -7). In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung with Pss. 15, 16 and 17. The lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Leo on fasting in the tenth month. These are substantially longer than in the modern editions of the Breviary. The sixth lesson text is completely absent from the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung with Pss. 18, 19 and 20. The homily is from St. Gregory's writing on St. Luke's Gospel. These are the same as those found in the modern editions. A ninth responsory, Intuemini, is sung and the Te Deum omitted in the Office of Advent.

At Lauds the antiphons Canite tuba in Sion etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The hymn is Vox clara ecce intonat. As noted above for Vespers the Suffrages are omitted in Advent.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds, Canite tuba in Sion, is sung with the usual Dominical psalms 53, 117, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. In the short responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum replaces Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris. The Dominical preces are sung. At the other Hours the other antiphons of Lauds are sung in the usual order.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear violet folded chasubles. The introit is the delightful Rorate, caeli. The Gloria in not sung, the second collect is of the Blessed Virgin in Advent, Deus, qui de beate, the third collect Ecclesiae etc. The Creed is sung, the preface is the Common Preface. As the Gloria was not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar.

After None there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle are sung. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meumetc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The antiphon on the Magnificat is Quia vidisti me Thoma etc. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung, the antiphon on the Magnificat being O Oriens. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal