December 16th - Third Sunday of Advent

The Third Sunday of Advent is of semi-double rite. The liturgical colour is violet but today at Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle rather than planetis plicatis and the organ may be played.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung. The chapter, Fratres: Gaudete in Domino semper was of the Sunday. The Office hymn was Conditor alme siderum. The Suffrages were omitted being in Advent. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Prope est jam Dominus and the hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the prophet Isaiah. The first lesson is longer than that found in modern editions and continues until the penultimate sentence of the modern second lesson: justitiam discent habitatores orbis. The second lesson begins Misereamur impio... and continues all through the text of the modern third lesson and beyond: Indulsisti genti Dominie ... murmuris doctrina tua eis. The third lesson is absent from the modern editions and begins Sicut quae concepit... and continues until ... non operiet ultra interfectos suos. (vv. 17 -21). In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung with Pss. 15, 16 and 17. The lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Leo. These are substantially longer than in the modern editions of the Breviary. The sixth lesson text is completely absent from the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung with Pss. 18, 19 and 20. The homily is from St. Gregory's writing on St. John's Gospel. These are the same as those found in the modern editions. A ninth responsory, Docebit nos Dominus, is sung and the Te Deum omitted in the Office of Advent.

At Lauds the antiphons Ecce veniet etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The hymn is Vox clara ecce intonat. As noted above for Vespers the Suffrages are omitted in Advent.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds, Ecce veniet, is sung with the usual Dominical psalms 53, 117, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. In the short responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum replaces Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris. The Dominical preces are sung. At the other Hours the other antiphons of Lauds are sung in the usual order.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle rather than folded chasubles. The Gloria in not sung, the second collect is of the Blessed Virgin in Advent, Deus, qui de beate, the third collect Ecclesiae. The Creed is sung, the preface is the Common Preface. As the Gloria was not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The antiphons Ecce veniet etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Conditor alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages are omitted. After Benedicamus Domino and its response, Vespers of the Dead are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

December 9th - Second Sunday of Advent

The Second Sunday of Advent is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is violet.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin. The antiphons Conceptio gloriosae Virginis Mariae were sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Second Sunday of Advent. The Suffrages are omitted during Advent. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem venturum and the hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the prophet Isaiah. The first lesson, about the wondrous Jesse Tree, is longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions and continues with the first lines of the modern second lesson: Et percutiet... until ...cinctorium renum ejus. The second lesson begins Habitabit lupus... and continues until two-thirds through the modern third lesson, ...sicut aquae maris operientes. The third lesson begins In die illa radix Jesse... and continues until ... et hostes Juda peribunt, i.e. the addition of vv. 11 -13 from the eleventh chapter. In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung with Pss. 15, 16 and 17. The lessons are taken from the Exposition on Isaiah by St. Jerome. These are substantially longer than in the modern editions of the Breviary. The fourth lesson comprises the entirety of the modern fourth and fifth lessons. The fifth lesson contains text absent from the modern sixth and the sixth lesson text is completely absent from the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung with Pss. 18, 19 and 20. The homily is from St. Gregory's writing on St. Matthew's Gospel. Again, these are significantly longer than those in the modern editions with the sevent lesson comprising of all of the modern seventh and eighth lessons. The eighth lesson contains all of the modern ninth and an equal amount of text from the St. Gregory's homily that is absent from the modern editions and the ninth lesson is completely absent from the modern Breviary. A ninth responsory, Ecce Dominus veniet, is sung and the Te Deum omitted in the Office of Advent.

At Lauds the antiphons Ecce in nubibus caeli etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Vox clara ecce intonat.The Suffrages are omitted in Advent.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds, Ecce in nubibus caeli, is sung with the usual Dominical psalms 53, 117, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. In the short responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum replaces Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris. The Dominical preces are sung. At the other Hours the other antiphons of Lauds are sung in the usual order.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear folded chasubles. The Gloria in not sung, the second collect is of of the Blessed Virgin in Advent, Deus, qui de beate and the third collect is Ecclesiae. The Creed is sung, the preface is the Common Preface. As the Gloria is not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons Ecce in nubibus caeli etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 113. The Office hymn is Conditor alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Melchiades. The Suffrages are omitted. After Vespers of the Sunday Vespers of the Dead are sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

December 8th - Conception of the BVM

The Conception of the BVM is a double feast and its liturgical colour is white. In the 1570 Missale Romanum no texts are given for the feast but a rubric refers to the Nativity of the BVM with a direction to change the word Nativity to Conception. In the 1568 Breviary the user is again referred to the feast of the Nativity but lessons are printed for the first and second nocturns.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Conceptio gloriosae etc were sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter was Ab initio et ante saecula and the Office hymn Ave maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Gloriosae Virginis Mariae Conceptionem etc and the collect Famulis tuis etc. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of St. Ambrose and of the Advent feria. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine.

At Mattins the invitatory is Conceptionem Virginis Mariae celebremus: Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Quem terra pontus aethera. In the first nocturn the antiphons Benedicta tu etc are sung with psalms 8, 18 & 23. The lessons are taken from the twenty-fourth chapter of the Book of Ecclesiasticus beginning at the fifth verse, Ego ex ore Altissimi etc. The first lesson is followed by the responsory Hodie concepta est beata Virgo Maria etc. The lessons are the same as those found in the editions of Clement VIII and Urban VIII. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung with psalms 44, 45 & 86. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Ambrose from his Book on Virgins. These are significantly longer than those found in the Clementine (1602) edition of the Breviary. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude Maria Virgo etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 97. The homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Conceptio gloriosae Virginis Mariae etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is O gloriosa Domina. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Conceptionem hodiernam etc. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Advent feria.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons Conceptio gloriosae Virginis Mariae etc are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns have the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc. At Prime the versicle in the short responsory is changed to Qui natus es de Virgine and the lectio brevis is In plateis.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formula is Salve sancta parens. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Advent feria. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the BVM.

At Vespers the antiphons Conceptio gloriosae Virginis Mariae are sung with the psalms of the BVM. The hymn is Ave maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Second Sunday of Advent. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc and the Dominical preces are omitted.

December 2nd - First Sunday of Advent

The proper texts for the season of Advent begin at the chapter of Vespers of the Saturday before Advent Sunday. The first Sunday of Advent is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is violet. During Advent bishops exchange their violet choir cassocks for black ones with a mozzeta or mattelletum with violet linings. Cardinals of the Court of Rome wear their 'winter' violet merino apparel (in contrast to their summer mourning dress of violet watered-silk) in place of their watered-silk scarlet.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung (note the contrast with the post 1911-13 books where the antiphons of Lauds are sung at Vespers on Saturday). The chapter was Fratres, hora est jam nos etc and the Office hymn was Conditor alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Bibiana. The usual Suffrages were omitted and are omitted in the Office of Advent. From this Vespers the Marian Antiphon sung is Alma Redemptoris Mater. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem venturum and this is sung in both the Dominical and ferial Offices of Advent until the third Sunday. The Office hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14. The lessons in the first nocturn are the Incipit of the prophet Isaiah. The first lesson is longer than that found in modern editions and continues with the first lines of the modern second lesson: Vae genti peccatrici... until ..abalienati sunt retrorsum. The second lesson begins Super quo percutiam... and continues until the end of the modern third lesson, ...Gomorrha similes essemus. The third lesson is absent from the modern books. It begins Audite verbum Domini... and continues until sanguine plenae sunt, i.e. VV. 10 - 15. In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung with Pss. 15, 16 and 17. The lessons are taken from the writing sof St. Leo on the fast of the tenth month. These are substantially longer than in the modern editions of the Breviary. The fourth lesson comprises the entirety of the modern fourth and fifth lessons. The fifth lesson contains text absent from the modern sixth and the sixth lesson text is completely absent from the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung with Pss. 18, 19 and 20. The homily is from St. Gregory's writing on St. Luke's Gospel. Again, these are significantly longer than those in the modern editions with the seventh lesson comprising of all of the modern seventh and eighth lessons. The eighth lesson contains all of the modern ninth and an equal amount of text from the St. Gregory's homily that is absent from the modern editions and the ninth lesson is completely absent from the modern Breviary. A ninth responsory, Ecce dies veniunt, is sung and the Te Deum omitted in the Office of Advent.

At Lauds the antiphons In illa die etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Vox clara ecce intonat. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Bibiana. As noted above the Suffrages are omitted in Advent.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds, In illa die, is sung with the usual Dominical psalms 53, 117, 118(i), 118(ii) and Quicumque. In the short responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum replaces Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris for all of Advent except when an occuring feast has a proper versicle. The Dominical preces are sung. At the other Hours the other antiphons of Lauds are sung in the usual order.

Mass is sung after Terce. During Advent the deacon and sub-deacon do not wear the dalmatic and tunicle but violet folded chasubles, an ancient feature of the Roman liturgy. The Gloria in not sung, the second collect is of St. Bibiana and the third collect of the Blessed Virgin in Advent, Deus, qui de beate. The Creed is sung, the preface is the Common Preface. As the Gloria was not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons In illa die etc are sung with the Dominical psalms (Pss.109, 110, 111, 112 &113). The Office hymn is Conditor alme siderum. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung. Vespers of the Dead are sung in choir after Vespers of the Sunday. After Mattins and Lauds of Monday, Mattins and Lauds of the Dead are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

November 18th - Dedication of the Basilicas of SS Peter and Paul

The feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The feast takes precedence over the twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost (and IV Sunday of November). November 18th is shared by these two patriarchal basilicas as their Dedication feasts. Sadly, in both cases, the structures that were extant when the Tridentine Missal and Breviary were published are more. St. Paul Outside the Walls suffered a disastrous fire in the nineteenth century and Old St. Peter's was destroyed by the whims of vulgar fashion.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Domum tuam Dominus etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 147. The Office hymn was Urbs beata Jerusalem. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon being Qui caelorum etc. The Suffrages were omitted, as were the Dominical preces at Compline because of the double feast.

At Mattins the invitatory is Domum Dei decet sanctitudo etc and the Office hymn is again Urbs beata Jerusalem. In the first nocturn the antiphons Tollite portas etc are sung with psalms 23, 45 & 57. The lessons are from the Apocalypse of St. John with the responsories taken from the Common of Dedications. The lessons are the same as those found in the modern editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn the antiphons Non est hic aliud etc are sung with psalms 83, 86 & 87. The lessons are proper to the feast. The fourth lesson is the same as those in the later editions, the fifth lesson is shorter terminating at ne deinceps altaria nisi ex lapide fierent. The sixth lesson is entirely different, Basilicam item Pauli ... ac diaconus quinque. In the third nocturn the antiphons Qui habitat etc are sung with psalms 90, 95 & 98. The lessons in the third nocturn are from a homily of St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel (taken the Common). These are the same as those found in the later editions. The eighth and ninth lessons of the feast are read together to form the eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is the homily of the Sunday from St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. The seventh lesson (of the Sunday) contains the text of both the modern seventh and eighth lessons. The eighth lesson consists of all of the text found in the modern ninth lesson and additional text absent from the modern books. The text of the ninth lesson is entirely absent from the post-Clementine editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Domum tuam, Domine etc are sung with Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Angularis fundamentum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime the antiphon Domum tuam, Domine is sung with psalms 53, 118i & 118ii. Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted on this double feast. The lectio brevis is is Et absterget Deus etc. At the other Hours the antiphons from Lauds are used in the normal manner.

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

At Vespers all the antiphons, psalms, chapter and hymn are as were sung at first Vespers. The V&R and antiphon on the Magnificat are proper to second Vespers of the Common. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Pontianus. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Image: Wikipedia

November 11th - St. Martin of Tours

The feast of St. Martin of Tours is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost, and this year the third Sunday of November (the second Sunday and its week are omitted this year) is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. St. Martin was born in Hungary and later served in the Roman army and resigning from it as it conflicted with his faith. He is famous for cutting his cloak in two and giving half of it to a beggar. Renown for his works of charity he died, as Bishop of Tours, in 397.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the, proper, antiphons Dixerunt discipuli ad beatum Martinum etc were sung 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 Muro tuo for the Saturday before the third Sunday of November and of St. Menna. The Suffrages were omitted due to the double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper Laudate Deum nostrum, * In confessione beati Martini and the Office hymn is Iste confessor. In the first nocturn the antiphon Martinus etc, doubled, are sung with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are taken from the Common. The first lesson is from the First Letter of St. Paul to Timothy. This is the same as in the later editions. The second and third lessons are from the Epistle to Titus. These, again, are the same as those found in the modern editions. The responsories are proper to the feast. In the second nocturn the antiphons Confido in Domino etc are sung with psalms 4, 5 and 8. The historical lessons of the second nocturn are almost the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions except that the sixth lesson is a sentence or so longer. In the third nocturn the antiphons Dominus Jesus Christus etc are sung with psalms 10, 14 and 20. The homily on St. Luke's Gospel is from St. Ambrose. The lessons are slightly longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form the eighth lesson of the day and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons of the homily for the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost. These are taken from a homily of St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. There lessons are the same as in the modern editions of the Breviary. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Dixerunt discipuli ad beatum Martinum etc are sung with the Dominical psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150. The Office hymn is Jesu Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Menna. The Suffrages are omitted due to the double feast.

At Prime (Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted due to the double feast. The lectio brevis is Fungi sacerdotio.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect is of St. Menna. The Credo is sung, the the Common Preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Dixerunt discipuli ad beatum Martinum are again sung, now with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 131. The Office hymn is Iste confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Martin Pope and Martyr. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Icon: (& interesting biography) Wikipedia.

November 4th - XXI Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. This year it is the first Sunday of November and the Sunday within the Octave of All Saints. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the parable of the unjust and ungrateful servant who, forgiven his debts by the King, demands what is owed to him from others and shews complete ingratitude.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Vidi turba magnum etc, not doubled, were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. From the chapter, O Altitudo, the Office was of the Sunday and the hymn was O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Vidi, Dominum for the Saturday before the first Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the Octave of All Saints. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline due to the Octave.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn Primo dierum omnium. In the first nocturn (Pss. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14) the lessons are the Incipit of Book of Ezechiel. These are longer than those found in the post-Clementine editions. The first lesson continues with half of the text of the modern second lesson Et in medio ejus... until ..quasi aspectus aeris candentis. The second lesson begins Et manus hominis.. and continues until ..nec revertebantur cum ambularent - the end of the modern third lesson. The third lesson begins Et similitudo animalium... until ..spiritus enim vitae erat in rotis, vv. 13-19. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Exposition of St. Gregory on Ezechiel the Prophet. These are the same as those found in the modern editions except the sixth lesson is a sentence longer. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The seventh lesson is longer than that found in the modern editions and contains the text Quod ut manifestius...to si et ipsi dimittant minora peccantibus, about half of the modern eighth lesson. The eighth lesson begins Si autem ob factam and continues with all the remaining text of the modern eighth lesson but then continues Oblatus est ei unus... to ...et peccatoris appellari stultitiam, text not found in the modern books. The ninth lesson begins Sed quo modos.. and continues to..nec a prudentibus viris recipiendae text which, again, is absent from the modern books and then continues with Sic et Pater meus and the rest of the text of the modern ninth lesson. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150) are sung. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave of All Saints. The Suffrages are omitted.

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 of All Saints. Today there is no third collect. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave of All Saints. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal