July 3rd - VI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is red as it is, this year, the Sunday within the Octave of SS Peter & Paul.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers for the feast of the Visitation of the BVM were sung. The antiphons Visitatio gloriosae etc were sung, doubled, with Pss 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave, maris stella. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday and of the Octave of SS Peter and Paul. The Suffrages were omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxlogy Gloria tibi Domine etc and the Dominical preces were omitted.

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 are a continuation of the Second Book of the Kings. The lessons are the same as in modern editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Ambrose's Defence of David. These, again, are the same as found in the modern editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Ambrose on St. Mark's Gospel. The seventh lesson includes the first sentence (Consequens igitur... a jejunio liberaret) from the modern eighth lesson. In the Tridentine Breviary the eighth lesson thus begins Itaque nemo and continues with most of the modern ninth lesson until ...sed nec adhuc quidem potestis. The ninth lesson begins In modum lactis but most of its text is not 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 jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave of SS Peter & Paul. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung but the Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the Preface of the Apostles is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday, with psalms (109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave of SS Peter & Paul is sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.