September 12th - XV Sunday after Pentecost

The fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. This year it is the third Sunday of September and the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM and so takes the liturgical colour of the Octave. The week ahead will see the celebration of the autumn 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, not doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. From the chapter, O Altitudo, the Office was of the Sunday. and the Office hymn O lux beata Trinitas. 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. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted because of 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. 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 the Octave is sung. The Suffrages are not sung because of the Octave.

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. At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation.

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 of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline

September 5th - XIV Sunday after Pentecost

The fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the second Sunday of September. The pericopes from St. Matthew's Gospel contain the passages about the 'lilies of the field' and seeking first the Kingdom of God.

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 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 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 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 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. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). 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 etc are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 29th - The Beheading of St John the Baptist

The feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist is of double rite and its liturgical colour is red. Texts for the feast are either proper or from the Common of a Martyr. Today is also the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost and the first Sunday of September. The Sunday is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms as of first Vespers of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The Office hymn was Deus tuorum militum. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Augustine of Hippo, of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat was Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September) and of St. Sabina. The Suffrages were omitted because of the occurring double feasts as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Martyrum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Deus, tuorum militum. In the first nocturn the antiphons In lege Domini etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are proper to the feast taken from the Incipit of the Book of Jeremiah (as on the feast of St. John's Nativity) with responsories proper to the feast Misit Herodes rex etc, Joannes Baptista arguebat Herodem etc and Puellae saltanti imperavit mater etc. The lessons are the same as those found in modern editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn the antiphons Filii hominum etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 4, 5 & 8. The lessons are from St. Ambrose, these are the same as those found in the modern editions and are followed by responsories from the Common. In the third nocturn the antiphons Justus Dominus etc, doubled, are sung with psalms 10, 14 & 20. The homily on St. Mark's Gospel is from St. Augustine. The seventh and eighth lessons are as found in the modern books except the last word of the eighth lesson is saltatricem not saltantem. These are followed by responsories from the Common. Today the eighth and ninth lessons of the feast are read together to form an extended eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons appointed for the homily of the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. These are from St. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel and are longer than those found in modern editions with lessons seven and eight (of the Sunday) 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. Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Martyr Dei, qui unicum. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the feast. Commemorations are then sung of the Sunday and of St. Sabina. The Suffrages are omitted.

At the Hours the antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc are sung with the festal psalms. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) the lectio brevis is Justus cor suum.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect of St. Sabina. The Creed is sung as the feast falls on a Sunday, the common preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The Office hymn is Deus, tuorum militum. The antiphon on the Magnificat is proper. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and the following feast of SS Felix and Adauctus.

August 22nd - Octave Day of the Assumption

The Octave Day of the Assumption is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (and fourth Sunday of August) is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc were sung (doubled as on the feast day) with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter was from Ecclesiasticus, In omnibus requiem etc., and the Office hymn was Ave, Maris stella. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday, the antiphon on the Magnificat being Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August, and of SS Timothy, Hippolytus and Symphorian. The Suffrages were omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula, as it has been throughout the Octave. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory, antiphons, psalmody and responsories are as on the feast. In the first nocturn the lessons are taken from the Canticle of Canticles. These are the same as those found in post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Bernard. The selection of texts is completely different to that found in the modern editions (1891 & 1932). In the third nocturn St. Bernard again provides the homily on the fragment from St. Luke's Gospel. The texts are slightly longer than those found in the modern books. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read together and ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons of the homily for the Sunday. These are from the text of a homily of St. Bede on St. Luke’s Gospel. These lessons are longer than those found in modern editions with lessons seven (of the Sunday) and eight comprising of the text of all of the later third nocturn lessons. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The hymn is O gloriosa Domina. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of SS Timothy, Hippolytus and Symphorian.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the proper Doxology and tone as noted above. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) in the short responsory Qui natus es de Virgine is sung and the lectio brevis is In plateis.

Mass is celebrated after Terce. The Mass formulary is the sublime Gaudeamus etc. The Gloria is sung. The second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect of SS Timothy, Hippolytus and Symphorian. The Creed is sung, the preface is that of the BVM and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

In the afternoon at second Vespers all is as at first Vespers of the feast except the antiphon on the Magnificat which is Hodie Maria Virgo caelos ascendit: gaudete, quia cum Christo regnat in aeternum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday. With the singing of Compline the Office of this great Octave, perhaps the most stunning in the whole Roman Office, comes to a close for this year.