Changes in the arrangement of the Responsories in the Tridentine Breviary - A guest article by Thomas O'Sullivan - Part 2

Before doing this, however, it may be profitable to explain the general rules for repeating responsories during the week. If a feria does not have proper texts, those of the preceding Sunday are generally used: those from the first nocturn on Monday and Thursday; those of the second on Tuesday and Friday; those of the third on Wednesday and Saturday (which is presumably why the Saturdays after Epiphany reused those of Wednesday after the loss of their proper texts). During Paschaltide, when the Te Deum usually replaces a third responsory, the first two of each nocturn are used. The same order is normally followed for taking responsories from a Common on a simplex feast. When the third nocturn has only one or two responsories that can be repeated (because of the Te Deum and/or a text that is specific to the Sunday), the second and third on Wednesday and Saturday are the second and third of the preceding Monday, if that day had propers, or from the first nocturn of Sunday. These general rules can help in understanding some of the rearrangements described below, although in some weeks, other arrangements are followed. For example, during the weeks of Sexagesima and Quinquagesima, the Wednesdays and Saturdays use the first of the two proper responsories appointed for Monday. It should also be noted that not all the Breviaries explicitly print which responsory to use after each lesson: some, especially the older ones, will often just give directions to use those of the preceding week, or to use the Sunday’s ones on ferias according to the usual order.

The first change in arrangement occurs on the Wednesday in the second week of Advent. All the breviaries examined agree on the first two texts: Rex noster adveniet and Ante multum tempus, both taken from the previous Wednesday. For the third, however, there is some discrepancy. Given that the responsories of Monday and Tuesday of that week, and the first two of Wednesday, are taken, not from the previous Sunday, but from the proper ferial texts of the previous week, one may expect Ecce dies veniunt to be used here, and this is what we find in the rubrics of the Vatican 1568 as well as editions from 1570, 1575, 1580 and 1587. From 1592, however, as well as in the other 1568 breviary, the text given is Ecce Dominus veniet cum splendore, which is the ninth responsory from the Second Sunday of Advent. This is particularly surprising in the 1568 given the agreement of other early breviaries, and also because this and the 1592 edition both have the same rubric on Monday as the editions mentioned above; namely, to use the preceding week’s responsories until Thursday. From Thursday, one is directed to reuse the Second Sunday’s texts in the usual order (this split arrangement is unique to this week). In the 1610 breviary, that rubric for Monday – Wednesday has been removed, and the opening words of the appropriate responsories are printed after each lesson. The reason for the change may have been that the preceding Wednesday only had two proper responsories, the third, Ecce dies veniunt, being the last of the First Sunday of Advent. Thus, it may have been deemed appropriate to replace this with the ninth responsory of the Second Sunday during the second week of Advent. The new arrangement remained through subsequent reforms, including that of 1960.

The next discrepancy concerns the Epiphany. From 1575, nearly all the texts examined specify that the first responsory of the feast, Hodie in Jordane, is repeated on the Sunday within the Octave and the Octave Day, whilst the other days in the Octave have an alternative text, Tria sunt munera. The same arrangement can be inferred from the Rubricæ generales of the 1568 and 1570 editions, but I have not found it stated anywhere in the Vatican 1568, which has much sparser rubrics at the beginning compared to other editions (just six and a half pages compared to thirty-five in the other 1568 edition). More surprisingly, the 1592 edition gives Hodie in Jordane as expected for the Octave Day, but Tria sunt munera for the Sunday. Given that this edition has the same prescription in the Rubricæ generales as 1570, it seems reasonable to suspect this is simply a misprint.

For the next change, we jump to Paschaltide. The first discrepancy I noted here seems to be another typographical error. All the versions I checked give Plateæ tuæ and Decantabant for the Wednesday after the Third Sunday after Pasha, except for the Vatican 1568, which gives Dignus es Domine for the second. The reason I think this may be a misprint is that the rubric in this edition states to use this responsory from the third nocturn of Sunday. Dignus es Domine, however, is from the first nocturn, whereas Decantabant, which all the others give, is from the third nocturn.

Rogation Monday presents the next discrepancy. This day, alone of all the days in Paschaltide, has three responsories, since it lacks the Te Deum. The 1568 Breviaries both give Si oblitus, Viderunt te and Narrabo, which are all from the first nocturn of the preceding Sunday. As the general rubrics direct one to use the responsories of the first nocturn on a Monday, this makes sense. However, the preceding Sunday (the Fifth Sunday after Pascha) repeats the responsories of the Fourth Sunday. In cases like this, it is common to reuse proper ferial texts from that week in the subsequent week as well. And thus from 1570–1592, we find Dicant nunc, Cantate Domino and Si oblitus, the first two being from the preceding Monday, the last being the first of Sunday. From 1610 onwards, the first two remain unchanged, but the third is restored to Narrabo, the third of Sunday’s responsories. This gives the impression of subsequent changes trying to ‘tidy up’ the arrangement a bit to be more in line with the usual rules. A comparison with other Mondays that have only two proper texts reveals that they use the third of Sunday’s rather than the first to supply the third responsory (see Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinquagesima, the second week of Lent and the first week of September). This does not seem to be an unchanging rule though, since Decantabant, discussed in the previous paragraph, is the first, not the second, responsory of the third nocturn of that week.

The next two changes are found in the third week after Pentecost. The first two responsories assigned to the Tuesday of this week are consistently Domine, si conversus and Factum est dum tolleret. These are both proper to Tuesday, and are used on all subsequent ferial Tuesdays until August. (Interestingly, they were not used in the first week after Pentecost, but I would hazard a guess that this is because the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity prevents the use of the Sunday’s responsories, so these are distributed over the first three days of that week. The second week is within the Octave of Corpus Christi, so uses the responsories composed by St Thomas Aquinas for that feast.) From 1568 to 1580, the third responsory was Percussit Saul, the first of the second nocturn of the preceding Sunday. From 1592 onwards, however, this is replaced by Ego te tuli, the third of that nocturn. Unfortunately, the breviary I found from 1587 only goes as far as the octave of Pentecost, so I have not yet been able to determine the date of this change further. Clement VIII ascended the papal throne early in 1592, so it seems possible, given that many other changes described here occurred in his reign, that he authorised this. As mentioned above, it does seem to be a case of making this day conform to the general rule.

The following day sees more consistency across the Breviaries, with all those examined save one giving Peccavi, Exaudisti and Audi Domine. The first is the first of the third nocturn of the preceding Sunday. The eighth of Sunday is specific to Sundays (Duo Seraphim, used on all Sundays after Epiphany and Pentecost), so the second and third are taken from Monday’s propers. So all is as one would expect from the general rubrics. The Vatican reprint of the 1568, however, (but, notably, not the other 1568 edition) gives Montes Gelboe, Ego te tuli and Peccavi, which are the fifth, sixth and seventh of Sunday. At first this seems an odd arrangement, but when it is remembered that the last responsory of the previous day was the fourth of Sunday at that time, one can see a certain logic to it. The only other, vague, support for this arrangement I have found so far is that the 1570 breviary, though referencing the same responsories as the other editions, adds that the first is from the second nocturn of Sunday, the last from the third. This is not correct for Peccavi (which is actually from the third) or Audi Domine, but would be correct for the Vatican 1568 arrangement, but given the names of the responsories are unmistakable, it seems these are typographical mistakes, though perhaps influenced by that alternative arrangement.

Our final example from the temporal comes from the very end of the year: the Wednesdays of November. The 1568 editions give Indicabo, Laudabilis populus and Redemit populum, being respectively proper, the seventh of Sunday, and the first of Monday. The 1570 and all later editions have Indicabo, Angustiæ and Misit Dominus, the latter two being the second and third proper texts of Monday and thus agreeing with the general rubric. It should also be noted, however, that the 1568 editions do often print a rubric at the end of Sundays, giving which responsories are to be used on Wednesdays and Saturdays of that week. In November, this doesn’t specifically mention Wednesday or Saturday, but states Infra hebdomadam ii. & iii. R. secundæ feriæ (during the week, the second and third responsories of Monday [are used]), so does seem to be pointing to the use of Angustiæ and Misit for those days, in which case, perhaps the 1570 was correcting a typographical error rather than altering the texts.

[To be continued]

August 3rd - XI Sunday after Pentecost

The tenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers, is green. This year it is the first Sunday of August. The semi-double feast of the Finding of the Body of St. Stephen is transferred to Thursday of the week ahead.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday, Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147, were sung. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Sapientia for the Saturday before the first Sunday of August. 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 were sung. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

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 Parable of Solomon. Their arrangement is different from that found in the modern editions. The first lesson continues as far as ut addatur gratia capiti tuo et torques collo tuo (i.e. vv 7 & 8 now forming the opening of the second lesson. The second lesson begins Fili mi, si te lactaverint... and continues, through what is now the third lesson and concludes, animas possidentium rapiunt. The third lesson is not found in the modern books and consists of vv 20 - 27: Sapientia foris praedicat...vos tribulatio et angustia. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the writings of St. Ambrose on Psalm 118. These are the same as those found in modern recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory on St. Mark's Gospel. These are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions. The eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is of SS Tibutius and Others. This is the same as that found in the post-Clementine books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds, Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150, the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. 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 are sung.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or rector of the church. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

In the afternoon there is a colour change to white and first Vespers of St. Dominic are sung. The antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Iste Confessor. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Changes in the arrangement of the Responsories in the Tridentine Breviary - A guest article by Thomas O'Sullivan - Part 1

The aim of this article is to describe the development in the arrangement of the Mattins responsories in the Roman Breviary between the reforms of St Pius V and Clement VIII and to occasionally offer some suggestions that may explain those changes. In highlighting these differences and providing explanations for some of them, I am not trying to make an argument for the superiority of one of these breviaries over the other (and certainly not supporting any further reforms).

First it is important to note that, although the focus of this article is on the changes made to the responsories, there is a very high degree of consistency in their arrangement across various editions. Of the 626 responsories for the Office in the 1570 breviary (there is one further responsory, Subvenite included in the Ordo Commendationis Animæ at the back of the breviary), all save two were preserved through the reforms of Clement VIII and Urban VIII, albeit with a few, usually minor, textual variations. (For this count, responsories that differ only in minor ways were counted as one: so, for example, the responsories for the Nativity, Conception and Visitation of Our Lady are counted as the same because the texts are identical except for changing the name of the feast, for example, Nativitas to Visitatio; and three appointed for St Mary Magdalen are counted as the same as three from Paschaltide, because they are identical except for the omission of the alleluias.) One of these responsories is not found in the 1568 breviary, namely Si enim non abiero, the eighth for the Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension (also used on the Friday after the Octave and the Vigil of Pentecost). It is the only addition to the 1568 corpus of responsories that I have found until Clement VIII.

The reason I used the 1570 breviary to calculate the number of responsories in the Tridentine Breviary is because of some surprising variations in the two editions from 1568 that I examined. One of these, a facsimile reprint from the Vatican press, lacks eleven of the responsories found in all other editions: these are ferial responsories used during Septuagesima or Lent and two for the feasts of St Peter’s Chair. Another edition, digilatized by Google Books, includes these missing texts and in fact contains all the responsories found in the 1570 edition, except for Si enim non abiero. Another significant difference is that the Vatican reprint has three responsories that are not in any of the other editions I examined, including the other from 1568. These are Misericordiam, Domine exaudi and Velociter, assigned for Saturdays in the time after Epiphany. The other breviaries examined, up until 1610, give no alternatives. Obviously, usually a Saturday without a feast would use responsories for Our Lady, but if one of the Sundays after Epiphany is anticipated, they would be needed (except for the anticipated Second Sunday, when one would use the responsories of the first nocturn of the Sunday, which would not otherwise be used that year). A breviary from 1646 gives the responsories from Wednesday in this case, as do later editions from 1888 and 1906. Thus Saturday is the only day in that season without proper responsories. The 1909 Dominican Breviary gives three texts very similar to those of the 1568 for these Saturdays, but they didn’t find their way back into the Roman Breviary until the reform under St Pius X (albeit with some textual variations).

The two responsories that were lost from the 1570 corpus under Clement VIII are both from the Common of Saints. In the Common of a Confessor not a Bishop, the fourth responsory was originally:

 Iste est, qui ante Deum magnas virtutes operatus est, et omnis terra doctrina eius repleta est. Ipse intercedat pro peccatis omnium populorum. V. Iste est qui contempsit vitam mundi, et pervenit ad cælestia regna. Ipse intercedat pro peccatis omnium populorum.

This was changed to:

Honestum fecit illum Dominus, et custodivit eum ab inimicis, et a seductoribus tutavit illum: Et dedit illi claritatem æternam. V. Justum deduxit Dominus per vias rectas, et ostendit illi regnum Dei. Et dedit illi claritatem æternam.

The original seventh read:

Iste homo ab adolescentia sua meruit infirmos curare, Dedit illi Dominus claritatem magnam, cæcos illuminare, et dæmones effugare. V. Ecce homo sine querela, verus Dei cultor, abstinens se ab omni opere malo, et permanens in innocentia sua. Dedit illi Dominus claritatem magnam, cæcos illuminare, et dæmones effugare.

This was altered to: Iste est qui ante Deum magnas virtutes operatus est, et de omni corde suo laudavit Dominum: Ipse intercedat pro peccatis omnium populorum. V. Ecce homo sine querela, verus, Dei cultor, abstinens se ab omni opere malo, et permanens in innocentia sua. Ipse intercedat pro peccatis omnium populorum.

The former of these was not completely lost to the breviary though, since it was, and remained, the sixth responsory for Confessor Bishops. Also, the first part of Honestum is not a new composition, but is taken from the Common of One Martyr (the fourth in that Common), and the first part the new Iste est is very similar to the original fourth, while the verse is the same as in the responsory it replaced.

The second lost responsory is from the Common of Non Virgins. The former seventh responsory was:

Pulchra facie, sed pulchrior fide beata es N. respuens mundum lætaberis cum angelis, Intercede pro omnibus nobis. V. Specie tua, et pulchritudine tua, intende prospere, procede, et regna. Intercede pro omnibus nobis.

It was replaced with:

Os suum aperuit sapientiæ, et lex clementiæ in lingua eius: consideravit semitas domus suæ, Et panem otiosa non comedit. V. Gustavit et vidit quia bona est negotiatio eius: non extinguetur in nocte lucerna eius. Et panem otiosa non comedit.

As Honestum is taken from the Book of Wisdom (x, 12, 14, 10) and Os suum from Proverbs (xxxi, 26–27, 18), perhaps this indicates a preference for Scriptural texts, although Iste est is not purely Scriptural (part of it is taken from Ecclesiasticus xlvii, 10).

One further change was made to the Commons: that of Doctors gained a proper responsory. Whereas previously, all the responsories from the Common of a Confessor (Bishop or not depending on the Doctor) were used, the eighth responsory was now to be In medio ecclesiæ, echoing the Introit of the Mass. Since, however, this text was already in use on the feast of St John the Apostle, this change made no alteration to the overall number of responsories in the breviary.

The reign of Clement VIII also saw new responsories appointed for the Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady. Previously, those of the Nativity were used, changing the word Nativitas to Visitatio. The last two remained, but four new ones were introduced and placed alongside two existing Marian Responsories, Quæ est ista and Congratulamini (both used on the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows, the former also being used on the Assumption, the latter on the Annunciation, as well as the Circumcision).

In spite of these changes though, the overwhelming majority of the 1570 responsories can still be found in the 1906 edition. Not only that, but the majority are on the same days and in the same order in which they appear in the breviary of St Pius V. The few variations to be found in this arrangement will be examined below.

[To be continued]

July 27th - X Sunday after Pentecost

The tenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday, Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147, were sung, the chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Pantaleon was sung followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn, Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14, the lessons are taken from the fourth Book of the Kings. These are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn, Pss. 15, 16 & 17, the lessons are from a sermon on Romans by St. Chrysostom. These are longer than 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 considerably longer in the Tridentine Breviary than the form found in post-Clementine editions so the text of the ninth lesson is now entirely absent the modern editions. Today the eighth and ninth lesson are read together to form an extended eighth lesson of Mattins. The ninth lesson is of St. Pantaleon. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds, Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150, the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Pantaleon is sung followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Pantaleon, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

At Vespers, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113, the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of SS Nazarius, Celsus, Victor & Innocent followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

July 20th - IX Sunday after Pentecost

The ninth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke's Gospel contain the account of the LORD casting out the money lenders in the temple.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday, Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147, were sung, the chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Margaret was sung followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn, Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14, the lessons are the Incipit of the Fourth Book of the Kings. The first lesson includes what, in later editions, is the text of the second lesson in post-Clementine editions and ends Idcirco de lectulo ... sed morte morieris. The second lesson begins Qui dixit eis (the modern third lesson) but continues until the end of verse 12 of the first chapter. The third lesson, not present in modern editions begins Iterum misit principes and continues until verse 17. In the second nocturn, Pss. 15, 16 & 17, the lessons are from the writings of St. Augustine. These are substantially longer than than those found in modern recensions. In the third nocturn, Pss. 18, 19 & 20, the homily is from St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. Again. the version in the Tridentine Breviary is considerably longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form an extended eighth lesson of the Sunday and the ninth lesson is of St. Margaret. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds, Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150, the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Margaret is sung followed by 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.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Margaret, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

At Vespers, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113, the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following Office of St. Praxedes followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, of the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and, lastly, for peace Da pacem Domine etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

July 13th - VIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The semi-double feast of St. Anacletus (aka St. Cletus) is transferred to Tuesday.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Vespers for Saturday, Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147, were sung, the chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. 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 were sung. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

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, the lessons are a continuation from the third book of Kings. These are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn, Pss. 15, 16 & 17, the lessons are from the writings of St. Augustine on the City of God. These are substantially longer than than those found in the post-Clementne books. In the third nocturn, Pss. 18, 19 & 20. the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Luke's Gospel. Again the text in the Tridentine Breviary is longer than that found in later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds, Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150, the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. 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 are sung.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

At Vespers, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113, the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Bonaventure followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Sancta Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Petrus Apostolus etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

July 6th - Octave Day of SS Peter & Paul

The Octave Day of SS Peter and Paul is of double rite and its liturgical colour is red. The seventh Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc, from the Common of Apostles, were sung, doubled, with Pss 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Exsultet caelum laudibus. The versicle and its response, the antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper to the Octave Day. After the collect of the Octave Day a commemoration was sung of the Sunday. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christi munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 18, 33 & 44. The lessons are from the Sunday and are the the lessons are a continuation of the Second Book of the Kings. The lessons are the same as in modern editions of the Breviary. The responsories in all three nocturns are from the Common of Apostles. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 46, 60 and 63 and the lessons are from a sermon of St. Chrysostom. These are the same as those found in the later editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 74, 96 & 98. The homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. Again these are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form an extended eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is formed from the three lessons given for the homily of the seventh Sunday after Pentecost. These are from St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. These lessons are the same as in the post-Clementine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Exsultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime, Pss. 53, 188(i) & 118(ii), the lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the Creed is sung, the preface is of the Apostles and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At second Vespers the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc, from the Common are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 and 138. The Office hymn is Aeterna Christ munera. After the collect of the Octave Day a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Icon: Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

June 29th - SS Peter & Paul Apostles

The feast of the Apostles SS Peter and Paul is a double feast with an Octave. The liturgical colour of the feast, and Octave, is red. The sixth Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Petrus et Joannes etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn was Aurea luce. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christe munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 18, 33 and 44. The lessons are taken from the Acts of the Apostles. These are identical to those found in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 46, 60 & 63 and the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo. These lessons are considerably longer than those found in the later editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung, again doubled, with Pss. 74, 96 & 98. The homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. Again the text of these lessons is considerably longer than that found in the later books and the text of the ninth lesson is entirely absent from them. Today the eighth and ninth lessons of the feast are read together to form the eighth lesson of the day and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons appointed for the third nocturn of the Sunday. The lessons for the Sunday are from a homily from St. Ambrose on St. Mark's Gospel. The seventh lesson (of the Sunday) includes the first sentence (Consequens igitur... a jejunio liberaret) from the modern eighth lesson. In the Tridentine Breviary the eighth lesson thus begins Itaque nemo and continues with most of the modern ninth lesson until ...sed nec adhuc quidem potestis. The ninth lesson begins In modum lactis but most of its text is not found in the modern books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Petrus et Joannes etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jam bone pastor Petre. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii), and the Hours the antiphons of the feast are sung in the usual order. At Prime the lectio brevis is proper to the feast, Et Petrus etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the Creed is sung, the preface is of the Apostles and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At second Vespers the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc, from the Common, are sung with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 and 138. The Office hymn is Aurea luce. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

June 22nd - V Sunday after Pentecost

The fifth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday, Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147, were sung. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St Paulinus was sung followed by 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. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

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) the lessons are the Incipit of the Second Book of the Kings. These are identical to the lessons found in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from St. Gregory's Book on Morals. The fifth lesson is slightly longer and the sixth lesson considerably longer than those found in the later editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Gospel fragment has the additional words Amen dico vobis. The lessons, from the ninth chapter of the first book on the LORD's Sermon on the Mount, are all longer than those found in the later books. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read as to to form the eighth lesson of the day and the ninth lesson is formed of the two lessons given in the Sanctorale for St. Paulinus. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Dominical psalms, Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150, are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Paulinus is sung followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Santa Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc.

At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloriais sung, the second collect is of St. Paulinus, the third collect is A cunctis nos. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113, and the Office hymn is Lucis creator optime. 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 are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

June 15th - IV Sunday after Pentecost

The fourth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins onwards this year, is green.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of St. Basil were sung. The antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Iste confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday and of SS Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia. The Suffrages were omitted due to the occurring double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) are sung and the lessons continue to be taken from the First Book of the Kings. The first lesson is the same as found in modern recensions, the second lesson continues David autem...grandaevus inter viros (from the modern third lesson) and the third lesson begins Abierunt autem ... quadraginta diebus. However, it then continues Dixit autem... sicut Isai - from v. 17 through to half of v. 20. The responsories are Praeparate corda vestra etc. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from a Sermon of St. Augustine. These are the same as found in the post Clementine editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel, but the lessons are longer than in modern editions. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read as one to form the eighth lesson of the day and the ninth lesson is formed of the two lessons given in the Sanctorale for the feast of SS Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds, Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150, the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of SS Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia followed by the Suffrages of the BVM Santa Maria succurre etc, the Apostles Gloriosi principes etc, and of the Patron and lastly for peace Da pacem Domine etc .

At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Vitus, Modestus and Cresentia, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed and the common preface are sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday, Pss.109, 110, 111, 113 & 113. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. 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. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

June 8th - III Sunday after Pentecost

The third Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday, Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147, were sung. The chapter was O Altitudo and the Office hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. 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 Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons are taken from the First Book of the Kings. These are the same as in modern recensions, the responsories are Praeparate corda vestra etc. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from the Exposition on the book of Kings of St. Gregory. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily (found near the end of the Breviary) is from St. Augustine but the lessons are longer than in the post-Clementine books. The seventh lesson is consists of text which forms the seventh and eighth lessons in the later books. The eighth lesson is several sentences longer than the modern ninth lesson and the ninth lesson is not found in the later books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Dominical psalms, Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150, are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. 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 Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Creed and the commopn preface are sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113, the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the following feast of SS Primus and Felician is sung followed by the Suffrages of the BVM, SS Peter and Paul, the Patron and for peace. At Compline the Domincal preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

June 1st - Sunday within the Octave of Corpus Christi

Sunday within the Octave of Corpus Christi, the second Sunday after Pentecost, is of semi-double rite. As with all Sundays within Octaves the liturgical colour is of the Octave which, in this case, is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Sacerdos in aeternum etc were sung, not doubled, with Pss.109, 110, 115, 127 & 147 as on the feast of Corpus Christi. The chapter was of the Sunday, the Office hymn Pange lingua and versicle and response as on the feast. The antiphon on the Magnificat was proper to the Sunday along with the collect. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octvave was sung. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxlogy Gloria tibi Domine etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is Christum Regem adoremus dominantem Gentibus: Qui se manducantibus dat spiritus pinguedinem, as on the feast. The Office hymn is Sacris solemnis. The antiphons and psalms are as on the feast of Corpus Christi. In the first nocturn the antiphons Fructum salutiferum etc are sung with Pss. 1, 4 & 15. The lessons in the first nocturn they are taken from the First Book of Kings. The first lesson continues with the beginning of the second lesson found in modern editions Misit ergo populus...Ophni et Phinees. The responsories are as on the feast. The second lesson begins Cumque venisset arca...and includes what is now the third lesson, ending ...Ophni et Phinees. The third lesson, not present in the modern editions, begins at verse 12 of the fourth chapter Currens autem vir... and continues until the middle of the eighteenth verse ...cirvicibus mortuus est. In the second nocturn the antiphons Memor sit Dominus etc with Pss. 19, 22 & 41. The lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Chrysostom to the people of Antioch. The fourth lesson is longer than in modern editions beginning, at the same point, with Quoniam Verbum dicit... but continuing until ...proponitur indigne sumentibus (appoximately half-way through the fifth lesson in modern edtions). The fifth lesson begins Considera quantum adverus (Considera being replaced by Cogita in modern editions) and continues until ..sumus unum Christi corpus, et una caro. The sixth lesson begins Quis loquetur potentias (halfway through L6 in the modern books) and continues for several more sentences of the sermon ending with ..qui vero sanctificat ea et immutat, ipse est. In the third nocturn the homily in is from St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. Again the lessons are longer than in the modern editions so that the ninth lesson Sed superna...quod praesto est, perat is not found in the later books. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons of the feast Sapientia etc are sung, not doubled, with Pss.92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The chapter is of the Sunday, the hymn as on the feast, Verbum supernum. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave is sung.

At the Little Hours the hymns are sung to the same tone as on the feast of the Nativity of the LORD with the with the Doxology Gloria tibi Dominieetc. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii), the versicle in the short responsory is Qui natus es for the feast and Octave, the short lesson is Filioli mei, of the Sunday. Quicumque is not sung as the Office is festal.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. There is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface is that of the Nativity.

At Vespers the antiphons Sacerdos in aeternum etc are sung, not doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 115, 127 & 147. The Office hymn is Pange lingua. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave and of SS Peter & Marcellinus.

Image: Missale Romanum, 1572,  Antwerp

May 25th - The Most Holy Trinity

The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity is a double feast and its liturgical colour is white. Today is also the first Sunday after Pentecost.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Gloria tibi Trinitas etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The chapter, O altitudo, and hymn, O lux beata Trinitas, will be used at Vespers on Saturdays for all the Sundays after Pentecost when the following Office if of the Sunday. The antiphon on the Magnificat, Gratias tibi, Deus etc, and the collect, Omnipotens, were proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the first Sunday after Pentecost. After Vespers the antiphon Salve Regina was sung for the first time this year.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper, Deum verum, unum in Trinitate, et Trinitatm in Unitate, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn is Summae Deus clementiae. In the first nocturn the antiphons Adesto unus Deus etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 8, 18 & 23. The lessons are taken from the sixth chapter of the Prophet Isaiah. These are identical to those found in the 'modern' books. In the second nocturn the antiphons Te invocamus etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 46, 47 & 51. The lessons are taken from the Book of Bishop Fulgentius on faith. The fourth lesson continues with Si enim, sicut et Patris...veraciter Trinitas diceretur. The fifth lesson begins Rursus quidem Trinitas...and continues Per hanc unitatem...totus quoque Spiritus Sanctus in Patre et Filio. The sixth lesson begins Nullus horum and continues past the ending found in the 'modern' editions with three more sentences Sicut ergo...est trium personarum divinitas. In the third nocturn the antiphons Caritas Pater est etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 95, 96 & 97. The lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory Nazianzen. These are again slightly longer than those found in the 'modern' editions. The seventh lesson continues Nec extensionem...atque potentiae credimus. The eighth lesson begins Et ideo unum... and continues Sic est Apostolus...per quem omnia et nos per ipsum. The ninth lesson is of the first Sunday after Pentecost, it ends slightly before the version in 'modern' editions with Ego sum panis vivus, qui de caelo descendi? The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Gloria tibi Trinitas are sung with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Tu, Trinitatis Unitas. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the first Sunday after Pentecost and of St. Urban.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. Before Mass at the sprinkling of lustral water the antiphon Asperges me returns. The Mass is proper, Benedicta sit. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect is of St. Urban. The Creed and the common preface are sung and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At second Vespers the antiphons Gloria tibi Trinitas etc are sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The chapter is O altitudo and the Office hymn O lux beata Trinitas. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the first Sunday after Pentecost and of St. Eleutherius. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

May 18th - Dominica in Pentecostes - Pentecost Sunday

The feast of Pentecost is a double feast with an Octave preceded by a Vigil similar to that of Pascha but although the Vigil is celebrated after None, and has six prophecies, followed by the blessing of the font, Litany and Mass of the Vigil the service of Vespers is not integrated into the morning ceremonies. The liturgical colour of the feast and its Octave is red.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The chapter was Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes etc and the Office hymn was Veni, Creator Spiritus. All hymns of Iambic metre have the Doxology Gloria Patri Domino, Natoque, qui a mortuis, Surrexit ac Paraclito, In saeculorum saecula during the Octave. There are no commemorations. The Suffrages are omitted during the Octave as are the Dominical preces.

Mattins for the feast, and Octave, is like Pascha in only having a single nocturn of three psalms and three lessons. The invitatory is Alleluia, Spiritus Domini replevit orbem terrarum, Venite adoremus Alleluia. The Office hymn is Jam Christus aster ascenderat. The antiphons Factus est etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 47, 67 & 103. The lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory the Great on St. John's Gospel. The lessons are the same as those appearing in the later editions of the Breviary. At Lauds the antiphons, Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes etc, are the same as those at Vespers and are sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Beata nobis gaudia.

At Prime Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii) are sung under the antiphon Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes. In the short responsory the versicle Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, alleluia, alleluia is sung. The short lesson is Judaei quoque. At Terce instead of the usual hymn Nunc Sancte nobis the hymn Veni Creator is sung as it was at the third hour the Holy Ghost descended on the Apostles.

At Mass the Gloria is sung and there is a single collect. After the Alleluia the sequence Veni, Sancte Spiritus is sung. The Creed is sung. The preface, Communicantes and Hanc igitur are proper to the feast and used throughout the Octave.

At second Vespers the antiphons Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms (109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The versicle and response and antiphon on the Magnificat are proper to second Vespers. There are no commemorations. The feast of St. Pudentiana is omitted this year from the Universal Calendar.

Art: Jerome Nadal.

May 11th - Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension

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 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 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 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 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 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 commemoration of the Octave is sung.

At the Little Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology of the Ascension. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii) are sung 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. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Octave.

At Vespers the antiphons Viri Galilaei are sung, not doubled, with the psalms of the feast are sung. The chapter is of the Sunday, the Office hymn Jesu nostra redemptio. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave and of SS Nereus, Achilleus, Domitilla and Pancras. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted due to the Octave.
Art: Jerome Nadal

May 4th - Fifth Sunday after Pascha

The fifth Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins this year, is white. The Gospel pericopes from St. John's Gospel describe how the LORD tells His disciples to ask for anything in His name after He has ascended to the Father.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross were sung. The antiphons Helena Constantini mater etc (which are absent from the modern editions) were sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Vexilla Regis prodeunt, sung with the Paschaltide stroph in the sixth verse. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday and of St. Monica. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted due to the double feast.

At Mattins the invitatory is Surrexit Dominus vere Alleluia and the Office hymn is O Rex aeterne Domine. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung under a single antiphon Alleluia, Lapis revolutus etc., the lessons are the Incipit of the first Epistle of St. Peter. The lessons are the same as in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from the book of St. Ambrose on faith in the Resurrection. These too are the same as in modern recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Augustine. The seventh lesson is longer than in modern recensions including Unde qui hoc... nomine non petit from the 'modern' eighth lesson (sharp eyed readers will notice the non). The eighth lesson runs Qui vero quod est de illo ... proculdubio tunc erit plenum, i.e. continuing into half of what is now the ninth lesson. The ninth lesson begins Quidquid ergo petitur and continues for several more sentences absent from the post-Clementine books. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is formed of the two historical lessons given for St. Monica. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds Pss 92, 99 and 62-66 are sung under a single antiphon, the ancient nine-fold Alleluia. Benedicite is sung with the antiphon Surrexit Christus etc, and Pss. 148, 149 and 150 are sung under a single antiphon, a four-fold Alleluia as on previous Sundays. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Monica followed by the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross.

At the Hours the hyns have the Paschal Doxology and the psalms are sung under an antiphon consisting of a four-fold Alleluia. At Prime, Pss. 53, 117, 118(i), 118(ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Monica, the third collect is Concede nos. The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschaltide.

Vespers are of the Sunday, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113 sung under a single antiphon. The Office hymn is Ad coenam Agni providi. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commmemoration of the Cross is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

April 27th - Fourth Sunday after Pascha

The fourth Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Sancti tui etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The chapter, Carissimi: Omne datum optimum etc etc, was proper to the Sunday, the Office hymn was Ad coenam Agni providi. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of SS Cletus and Marcellinus followed by the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross. At Compline Te lucis was sung to the Paschal tone and Doxology and the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are sung as previous Sundays of Paschaltide. Again, at the nocturns the psalms are sung under one antiphon. In the first nocturn, Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14, the lessons are the Incipit of the Epistle of St. James. The lessons are the same as in post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn, Pss. 15, 16 & 17, the lessons are taken from the Treatise of St. Cyprian on the boon of patience. These too are the same as in modern editions. In the third nocturn, Pss. 18, 19 & 20, the homily is from St. Augustine, again, unusually, the same as in the post-Clememtine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds Pss. 92, 99 & 62-66 are sung under the nine-fold Alleluia. Benedicite is sung under the antiphon Surrexit Christus and psalms 148-49-150 are sung under the antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross is sung.

At the Hours the Office hymns are sung with the Paschal Doxology and the psalms are sung under a four-fold Alleluia. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii), both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is Concede nos, the third collect is Ecclesiae etc. The Creed and the preface of Paschaltide are sung.

At Vespers Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113 are sung under the single antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Ad cenam Agni providi. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Vitalis followed by the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Paschal Doxology and the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

April 20th - Third Sunday after Pascha

The third Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. It is sometimes referred to as Jubilate from the first words of the introit at Mass, Jubilate Deo omnis terra etc.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday, Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147, were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. The Office hymn was Ad cenam Agni providi. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross was sung consisting of the antiphon Crucem sanctam subiit qui infernum confregit, accinctus est potentia, surrexit die teria, Alleluia, the versicle Dicite in nationibus, alleluia and its respond Quia Dominus regnavit a ligno, alleluia followed by the collect Deus, qui pro nobis etc. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Paschal Doxology and the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are sung as previous Sundays of Paschaltide. Again, at the nocturns the psalms are sung under one antiphon. In the first nocturn,Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14, the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of the Apocalypse. The lessons are the same as in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn, Pss. 15, 16 & 17, the lessons are taken from the a sermon by St. Augustine. These too are the same as in the later editions. In the third nocturn, Pss. 18, 19 & 20, the homily is from St. Augustine. This is, again, the same as in the later editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds psalms 92, 99 & 62-66 are sung under the nine-fold Alleluia. Benedicite is sung under the antiphon Surrexit Christus and psalms 148-49-150 are sung under the antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross is sung. The antiphon for the Commemoration of the Cross at Lauds is Crucifixus surrexit a mortuis, et redemit nos, alleluia, alleluia.

At the Hours the hymns have the Paschal Doxology. The psalms are sung under an antiphon consisting of a four-fold Alleluia. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii) both Quicumque) and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is Concede nos, the third collect Ecclesiae etc The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschaltide.

Vespers are of the Sunday, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113 sung under a single antiphon, Alleluia. The Office hymn is Ad cenam Agni providi. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Commmemoration of the Cross is sung with the antiphon Crucem sanctam subiit qui infernum confregit, accinctus est potentia, surrexit die teria, Alleluia. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

April 13th - Second Sunday after Pascha

The Second Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms for Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. The chapter, Carissimi: Christus passus est pro nobis etc, was proper to the Sunday, the Office hymn was Ad coenam Agni providi and the antiphon on the Magnificat was Ego sum pastor ovium.  After the collect of the Sunday the Commemoration of the Cross was sung.  At Vespers this consists of the antiphon Crucem sanctam subiit qui infernum confregit, accinctus est potentia, surrexit die teria, Alleluia. the V & R, Dicite in nationibus, Alleluia and Quia Dominus regnavit a ligno, Alleluia and the collect Deus, qui pro nobis Filium tuum crucis patibulum.  The Commemoration of the Cross is sung at both Vespers and Lauds when the Office if of semi-double rite or below from the Monday after Dominica in Albis. At Compline (Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133) Te lucis was sung to the Paschal tone with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc and the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are sung as last Sunday. Again, at the nocturns the psalms are sung under a single antiphon. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons are from the Acts of the Apostles. The first lesson is the same as in modern recensions. The second lesson begins Et exinde but continues Viri fratres...a Pilato , ut interficerent eum. The third lesson begins Cumque consummasssent omnia and continues for several additional verse ending with Quem vero Deus suscitavit a mortuis, non vidit corruptionem. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are taken from the first sermon on the Ascension of the Lord by St. Leo. These are the same as in the later editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Gregory, again the text is the same as in the post-Clementine editions.

At Lauds psalms 92, 99 & 62-66 are sung under the nine-fold Alleluia. Benedicite is sung under the antiphon Surrexit Christus and psalms 148-49-150 are sung under the antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. The Commemoration of the Cross is sung after the collect of the Sunday. The antiphon for the Commemoration at Lauds is Crucifixus surrexit a mortuis, et redemit nos, alleluia, alleluia. The V & R and collect are the same as those that are sung at Vespers.

At the Hours the hymns have the Paschal Doxology. The psalms are sung under an antiphon consisting of a four-fold Alleluia. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii) both  Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is Concede nos, the third collect is Ecclesiae etc. The Creed is sung and the preface is that of Paschaltide.

Vespers are of the Sunday, with the psalms (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) sung under a single antiphon. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of SS Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus followed by the Commemoration of the Cross. At Compline, Pss. 4, 30 vv 1-6, 90 & 133, the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

April 6th - Dominica in Albis - Low Sunday

Dominica in Albis or Low Sunday is of double rite. The Gospel at Mattins and Mass is the account of the LORD appearing in to His disciples behind the shut doors of the room and the doubting of St. Thomas.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. Chapters and hymns returned to the Office with this service, the Octave having ended with None. The Paschaltide hymn Ad cenam Agni providi was sung. Its Doxology is sung at all hymns of Iambic metre: Gloria tibi Domine, Qui surrexisti a mortuis, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. After the collect of the Sunday the Paschal Suffrage was not sung. From this Office of Vespers, the dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung without the double Alleluia that had been sung since Pascha.

At Mattins the invitatory Surrexit Dominus vere Alleluia continues to be sung. The Office hymn is O Rex aeterne Domine. In the first nocturn psalms 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14 are sung under the single antiphon Alleluia, Lapis revolutus etc. The lessons in the first nocturn are from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians; the first begins Igitur si consurrexistis otherwise it and the other two first nocturn lessons are the same as in the post-Clementine editions. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 & 17 are sung under the single antiphon Alleluia, quem quaeris mulier etc. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Augustine and are the same as in the modern editions. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung under the single antiphon Alleluia, noli flere Maria etc. The homily is from the writings of St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel and the same same as in modern editions except they are missing the words 'Dixit eis' at the beginning of the ninth lesson. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds Pss. 92, 99, & 62-66 are sung under a nine-fold Alleluia - an ancient feature of the Roman rite that would be destroyed in the 1911-13 reform. TheBenedicite has the antiphon Surrexit Christus etc and Pss 148, 149 & 150 the antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora lucis rutilat. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of SS Tiburtius and Valerian.

At Prime the Dominical psalms 53, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque are sung under the antiphon Alleluia. At the other Little Hours Alleluia is also sung as the antiphon, the hymns have the Paschal Doxology.

Mass is sung after Terce. Before Mass the antiphon Vidi aquam is sung during the aspersion. At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Tiburtius and Valerian. There is no third collect today. The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschatide.

At Vespers the Sunday psalms are sung under the single antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Ad cenam Agni providi. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

March 30th - Dominica Resurrectionis - Easter Sunday

The Sunday of the Resurrection is the Queen of Feasts and the most important of all liturgical celebrations. The Sunday is of double rite.

At the final stages of the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday yesterday morning an antiphon consisting of a triple Alleluia was sung, doubled, with psalm 116. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Vespere autem sabbati etc. After the Vesperal Liturgy the traditional blessing of houses takes place and, in some countries, the Paschal food.  In the evening of Holy Saturday Compline was sung, at the normal time. On Holy Saturday the Office of Compline has some interesting variations. Compline begins with the usual Jube, domne, blessing, short lesson and confession. Converte nos, Deus, salutaris noster and its response are sung followed by Deus in adjutorium etc with Alleluia for the first time since Septuagesima. The psalms are sung, without an antiphon, to the usual Tone 8. The hymn, chapter and responsory are omitted and Vespere autem sabbati sung as the antiphon fragment to the Nunc dimittis. After the Canticle the antiphon is sung in full. After the usual collect, Visita quaesumus, the antiphon Regina Caeli is sung for the first time along with its versicle and collect.

The church is decorated for the greatest of feasts. Before Mattins the images that have been veiled from Passiontide (or from the beginning of Lent where Array was used) are removed. Mattins begin with the solemn tone for Deus in adjutorium etc. The invitatory is Surrexit Dominus vere Alleluia and psalm 94 is sung to a lovely tone 6 setting. Mattins consists of a single nocturn of three psalms. There is no Office Hymn throughout the Octave (c.f. Monastic praxis). The first antiphon is Ego sum qui sum etc and sung, doubled, with psalm 1. The second antiphon, Postulavi Patrem meum etc, is sung with psalm 2. The third antiphon, Ego dormivi etc, is sung with psalm 3. A versicle and its response are sung followed by the absolution Exaudi etc. The first lesson has the Gospel fragment Mark 16: 1-7 and is followed by a homily of St. Gregory the Great. The two responsories Angelus Domini descendit and Cum transisset sabbatum are famous and intimately connected with the Quem quaeritis ceremonies. The second lesson, Notandum vero nobis est is sung followed by the second responsory. The lessons are identical to those found in the later editions. During the second responsory the cantors and the celebrant don copes and the principal cantor pre-intones the Te Deum. Six pluvialistae assist the Hebdomadarius where possible. The Te Deum is then sung and, where it is the custom, the bells ring throughout.

Lauds follow immediately and have a series of beautiful antiphons: Angelus autem Domini, Et ecce terraemotus, Erat autem, Prae timore autem ejus and Respondens autem Angelus all taking up the theme of the Angels, earthquake and empty tomb. Psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150 are sung with these antiphons. The chapter, hymn, versicle and response are replaced by the Haec dies. After Haec dies the antiphon Et valde mane is sung and then the Benedictus sung to a solemn tone 8. During the Benedictus the altar, the choir and people are censed in the normal manner. The antiphon is repeated and the collect of Easter, Deus, qui hodierna die sung. Benedicamus Domino, Alleluia, Alleluia and its response are followed by the solemn Regina Caeli, its versicle and collect.

At Prime and the Hours the usual festal psalms are sung but without antiphons. Haec dies replaces the chapter, responsories etc. At Prime the Martyrology is read again, having not been read for the days of the Triduum. Before the announcement of the following day and moon "Hac die quam fecit Dominus, Solemnitas solemnitatum, et Pascha nostrum Resurrectio Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi secundum carnem" is sung to the tone of the Passion.

Mass is sung after Terce. Vidi aquam replaces the Asperges during Paschaltide. At Mass the Gloria is sung, the Creed is sung, the preface, communicantes and Hanc igitur are proper. Ite, missa est is sung with a double Alleluia as the dismissal.

At Vespers the antiphons Angelus autem Domini etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 113. Again Haec dies replaces the chapter and hymn. The antiphon on the Magnificat is Et respicientes etc. At Compline the usual psalms are sung with a three or four-fold Alleluia after them (BR1568 editio princeps gives a triple Alleluia, BR1579 Antwerp and post-Clementine editions give four). Then the Nunc dimittis is sung followed by Haec dies and the collect Visita quaesumus.

Art: Jerome Nadal

March 23rd - Dominica in Palmis - Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a privileged semi-double Sunday and its liturgical colour is violet. It is the sixth, and final, Sunday in Lent and the beginning of Great or Holy Week.

At Vespers yesterday morning the antiphons and psalms of Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung. The chapter, Hoc enim in sentite vobis, was proper to the Sunday. The Office hymn was Vexilla regis. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins, as last week and daily until the Triduum, the invitatory is Hodie, si vocem Domini audieritis, Nolite obdurare corda vestra from Ps. 94 and a special rubric indicates the omission of that verse in the psalm. The Office hymn is Pange, lingua. The antiphons given in the Psalter for Sundays are used. 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 book of Jeremiah. These are the same, as are their responsories, as those found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn psalms 15, 16 and 17 are sung and the lessons are from a sermon on the Passion by St. Leo. The fifth lesson begins with the words Qui ut humanum genus and incorportates what is now the sixth lesson from Fefellit ergo illum.. until famulatae sunt Redemptori. The sixth lesson, Quod ergo...justitiae esse propositum is not found in the 'modern' Breviary. In the third nocturn psalms 18, 19 & 20 are sung and the lessons are a homily of St. Ambrose, their arrangement is slightly different to that found in the modern books. The Te Deum is omitted as on other Lenten Sundays and a ninth responsory, Circumderunt me viri mendaces..., sung in its place.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to Palm Sunday, Dominus Deusetc, and sung with Pss. 50, 117, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The hymn is Lustra sex. The versicle after the hymn Eripe me, chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the Sunday.

At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper. At Prime, Pss. 53, 92, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque, the Dominical preces are sung.

The Asperges, the magnificent Blessing and Procession of Palms and Mass takes place after Terce. The ministers wear violet folded chasubles. After the Asperges the celebrant and ministers proceed to the Epistle corner and begin the solemn blessing of Palms whilst the choir sing the antiphon Hosanna fili David, O Rex Israel etc. The rubrics give a direction that the Palms to be blessed at the Epistle side.  The blessing begins with the celebrant reading the antiphon Hosanna Filio David followed by a collect Deus, quim diligere and then the reading of an Epistle and Gospel. The normal ceremonies of High Mass are followed. The subdeacon removes his folded chasuble to sing the Epistle taken from the Book of Exodus. Following the Epistle two texts are given, Collegerunt pontifices and In monte Oliveti (the latter will appear again as a responsory during the Triduum) to be sung as a 'gradual', both may be sung.  Following the Gospel the deacon resumes his folded chasuble and the collect Auge fidem is sung followed by a preface, Sanctus and four further collects Deus, qui dispersa, Deus, qui miro, Deus, qui per olivae and Benedic quaesumus. The presence of a preface is indicative of the solemn blessing (c.f. the great blessing of waters at Epiphany). The collect Deus, qui miro is a didactic masterpiece. Readers will note the strong correlation between the text of the collect and of the second lesson of Mattins for the Saturday before Palm Sunday from St. Augustine:

O God, who, by the wonderful order of Thy disposition, hast been pleased to manifest the dispensation of our salvation even from things insensible: grant, we beseech Thee, that the devout hearts of Thy faithful may understand to their benefit what is mystically signified by the fact that on this day the multitude, taught by a heavenly illumination, went forth to meet their Redeemer, and strewed branches of palms and olive at His feet. The branches of palms, therefore, represent His triumphs over the prince of death; and the branches of olive proclaim, in a manner, the coming of a spiritual unction. For that pious multitude understood that these things were then prefigured; that our Redeemer, compassionating human miseries, was about to fight with the prince of death for the life of the whole world, and, by dying, to triumph. For which cause they dutifully ministered such things as signified in Him the triumphs of victory and the richness of mercy. And we also, with full faith, retaining this as done and signified, humbly beseech Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, that in Him and through Him, whose members Thou hast been pleased to make us, we may become victorious over the empire of death, and may deserve to be partakers of His glorious Resurrection.

The celebrant then puts on incense and blesses it. The Palms are then aspersed with lustral water, the celebrant saying in a low voice Asperges me etc, and then censed. Another collect, Deus, qui Filium is then sung. The celebrant then receives his Palm from the senior canon present. If no other priest is present the celebrant kneels and takes the Palm from the of the altar, kisses it then passes it to the subdeacon who places it again on the mensa. The celebrant then gives Palms to the deacon and subdeacon and other ministers and then the people. The Palm is kissed first and then the celebrant's hand. During the distribution the antiphons Pueri Hebraeorum and Pueri Hebraeorum vestimenta are sung. After the distribution the celebrant and ministers go back to the altar, bow to the Cross and then go to the Epistle corner where the celebrant's hands are washed. Then, at the missal, he sings the collect Omnipotens sempiterne.

The celebrant's hands are washed after the distribution of Palms whilst the Processional Cross is decorated with the blessed Palms. A Procession is then formed, led by the thurifer, followed by the subdeacon (of the Mass, not this day an additional subdeacon) bearing the Processional Cross. The deacon sings Procedamus in pace and the following antiphons are sung during the Procession Cum appropinquaret, Cum audisset, Ante sex dies, Occurrunt turbae, Cum angelis et pueris and Turba multa.  Ideally, the Procession goes outside and around the church. Often circumstances dictate the Procession must simply go around the aisles of the church. Towards he end of the Procession cantors re-enter the church and the door is closed. The beautiful hymn of Theodolph Gloria, laus, et honor is then sung in alternation between the cantors inside the church and everyone else outside. At the end of the hymn the subdeacon strikes the church door three times with the foot of the Processional Cross and the party re-enters the church to the singing of Ingrediente Domino.

Mass then follows the usual manner. The celebrant removes his cope and dons his chasuble. The preparatory prayers are said but the psalm Judica me is omitted being Passiontide. The introit is Domine, ne longe etc. There is no Gloria. No commemoration is made of an occuring Office on Palm Sunday so there is only one collect. Psalm 21 is sung in its entirety as a Tract. The major difference from any other Sunday is singing of the Passion according to St. Matthew by three additional deacons of the Passion. The text of the Passion is Matthew 26: 1-75; 27: 1-66. After the singing of the Passion the last part, Altera autem die...lapidem cum custodibus, is sung with the ceremonies of a Gospel by the deacon of the Mass (having removed his folded chasuble etc).  The choir and people hold their Palms during the singing of the Passion. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Cross and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar.

Vespers are of the Sunday. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung. The additional Offices of the Little Office of the BVM, the Office of the Dead, the Gradual Psalms and the Penitential Psalms and Litany are omitted in Great Week.