August 14th - XII Sunday after Pentecost

The twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the third Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octave of St. Lawrence and its liturgical colour is red. The Vigil of the Assumption was anticipated yesterday.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Laurentius ingressus est etc were sung, not doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. From the chapter, O Altitudo, the Office was of the Sunday and the Office hymn O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of the Octave of St. Lawrence and of St. Eusebius. The Suffrages were omitted due to the Octave as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

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 Wisdom. The first lesson is longer than the form given in the modern editions. It continues Spiritus enim ... superveniente iniquitate. The second lesson begins Benignus est enim and continues until quod mentitur occidit animam - what is now the end of third lesson. The text of the third lesson is not found in the modern editions Nolite zelare ...qui sunt ex parte illius, vv. 12-16. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Ambrose. Lessons IV and V are substantially longer than those in the modern books with additional text not appearing in the modern editions, lesson VI is longer by a sentence. 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. 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 jam noctis After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave of St. Lawrence and of St. Eusebius. The Suffrages are omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of St. Lawrence, the third collect is of St. Eusebius. The Credo is sung and the Common preface is sung.

At Vespers there is a colour change to white and first Vespers of the feast of the Assumption are sung. The antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Ave maris stella. The Suffrages are omitted. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation Gloria tibi Domine etc and the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal