June 3rd - Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension

The Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The theme of Thursday's great feast of the Ascension continues with the majority of the texts used today coming from the feast itself.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons for the feast, Viri Galilaei etc were sung, not doubled, with the psalms as sung on the feast (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The chapter was of the Sunday, the Office hymn as for the Ascension, Jesu nostra redemptio, and the antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were both proper to the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the Octave. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Ascension Doxology, Gloria tibi Domine, Qui scandis super sidera, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. The Dominical preces were omitted because of the occurring Octave.

At Mattins the invitatory is Alleluia, Christum Dominum ascendentem in coelum, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn at Mattins is Aeterne Rex altissime. In the first nocturn the antiphons Elevata est etc are sung, not doubled, with Pss. 8, 10 & 18. The lessons are the Incipit of the First Epistle of St. John and the responsories are of the feast. The lessons are the same as those found in post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn the antiphons Exaltare Domine etc are sung, not doubled, with Pss. 20, 29 & 46. The lessons are taken from a sermon on the Ascension by St. Augustine. These are the same as those in the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Nimis exaltatus etc are sung, not doubled, with Pss. 96, 98 & 102. The homily on the Gospel from John is also from St. Augustine, these are the same as those in the modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Viri Galilaei etc are sung with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The chapter is of the Sunday, the Office hymn is of the Ascension Jesu nostra redemptio. The antiphon on the Benedictus, versicle & respond and collect are proper to the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemorations is sung of the Octave.

At the Little Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology of the Ascension. At Prime the festal psalms 53, 118(i), 118(ii) are sung rather than the Dominical ones and the short lesson is Si quis loquitur. The Dominical preces are omitted due to the Octave.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. Being a Sunday within an Octave there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Octave.

At Vespers again the antiphons Viri Galilaei etc are again sung with the psalms of the feast109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Jesu nostra redemptio. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted due to the Octave.

Art: Jerome Nadal.