August 21st - XIII Sunday after Pentecost

The thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the fourth Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption. The liturgical colour is white, of the Octave.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of St. Bernard. The antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Iste Confessor. 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 the Octave of the Assumption. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation Gloria tibi Domine etc.

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 Ecclesiasticus. The first lesson is longer than the form given in the post-Clementine editions. It continues Radix sapientiae ... illius quis intellexit?, what is now the first sentence of the second lesson. The second lesson begins Unus est altissimus.. and continues until defunctionis suae benedicitiur - what is now the middle of the third lesson. The text of the third lesson begins Dilectio Dei... and continues until ...et receptacula a thesauris illius (v.21). In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Morals of St. Gregory the Great. 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. Luke's Gospel. These lessons are longer than those found in modern editions with lessons seven and eight comprising of the text of the modern three third nocturn lessons. The text of the ninth lesson is absent from the post-Clementine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Dominical psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150) are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave is sung. The Suffrages are omitted.

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

Vespers are of first Vespers of the Octave Day of the Assumption. The antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The Office hymn is Ave maris stella. After the collect of the Octave a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal