March 25th - Third Sunday in Lent

The third Sunday in Lent is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers this year, is violet,. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke recount the LORD casting out evil from a demoniac. The feast of the Annunciation is transferred to tomorrow. In many countries, including this writer's, March 25th was, most appropriately, the first day of the New Year.<

At Vespers, yesterday morning, the antiphons and psalms (143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) of Saturday were sung. The chapter, Fratres: Estote imitatores Dei etc, was proper to the Sunday and the Office hymn was Audi, benigne conditor . 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 were sung. 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. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Book of Genesis and the story of Joseph. The first lesson includes the first sentence of the second lesson in modern editions: Invidebant...considerabat. The second lesson is longer than in modern editions and includes the text from the modern third lesson Audiens autem...et reddere patri suo. The third lesson begins Confestim igitur and continues until the end of verse 34 rather than verse 28. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung, the lessons are from St. Ambrose on Joseph. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are a homily from the Venerable Bede.

At Lauds the antiphons, Fac benigne etc., are proper to the Sunday and sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jam Christe sol justitiae. The chapter, antiphon at the Benedictus and collect are proper to the Sunday. 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 all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper. At Prime 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 folded chasubles. 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 celebrant and altar.

After None there is a colour change to white and first Vespers of the feast of the Annunciation are sung. The antiphons, Missus est Gabriel Angelus ad Mariam etc., proper to the feast , are sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of the BVM (Pss.109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The chapter is proper to the feast, and the Office hymn is Ave Maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted. At Compline the hymn, Te lucis, is sung with the Doxology in honour of the Incarnation, Gloria tibi Domineetc. Because of the double feast, again, as for the last two Sundays, the Office of the Dead is not sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal