April 1st - Fourth Sunday in Lent

The fourth Sunday in Lent is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is violet. At Mass today the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle. The Gospel pericopes from St. John describe the multiplication miracle of the five barley loaves and two fishes to feed the Five Thousand.

At Vespers, yesterday morning, the antiphons and psalms (143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were of Saturday, the chapter proper to the Sunday. The Office hymn was Audi benigne conditor. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages were sung of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Non sit vobis and the Office hymn is Ex more. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung and the lessons are from the third chapter of the Book of Exodus and the story of Moses and the Burning Bush. The second lesson includes part of what is now the third lesson in modern editions: Dixitque Moyses ad Deum...immolabis Deo super montem istum. The third lesson begins Ait Moyses ad Deum and continues with the addition of verses 16 through to 19. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung and the lessons are from St. Basil and are longer than in modern editions. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are a homily of St. Augustine, again slightly longer than in the later books.

At Lauds the antiphons, Tunc acceptabis etc., proper to the Fourth Sunday and sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jam Christe sol justitiae. The versicle after the hymn Angelis suis, chapter, antiphon at the Benedictus and collect are proper to 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 and the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper to the Sunday Acceptit ergo etc. The order of psalmody is Pss. 53, 92, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. The Dominical preces are sung.

At Mass the ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The Gloria is omitted, the second collect is A cunctis nos and the third collect is Omnipotens. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual. The Creed and the preface of Lent are sung. Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar. The Caeremoniale Episcoporum directs that on this day the violet vestments of the best quality are used:

  

The reader is referred to the directive for the third Sunday of Advent (above) in the text for the Sundays of Lent (below).

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) of Sunday are sung. The Office hymn is Ad preces nostras Deitatis aures. 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. After Benedicamus Domino and its response Vespers of the Dead are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung. After Mattins and Lauds of Monday Mattins and Lauds of the Dead are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal