December 24th - Vigil of the Nativity

The Vigil of the Nativity is unique in the Liturgical Year in that it is of simple rite at Mattins and then becomes of double rite from Lauds onwards. The liturgical colour throughout is violet.

Mattins has a single nocturn of three lessons, preceded, where it is of observed, by Mattins and Lauds of the BVM. The invitatory is Hodie scietis quia veniet Dominus, Ex mane videbitis gloriam ejus and the hymn is Verbum supernum prodiens. The antiphons Ut non delinquam etc are sung with psalms 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 93, 95 & 96 from the Psalter for Friday. After the last antiphon a versicle proper to the day, Hodie scietis, quia veniet Dominus, and its respond, Et mane videbitis gloriam ejus are sung. The homily is taken from St. Jerome's commentary on the first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The first lesson consists of the text of both the first and second lessons in the post-Clementine books. The second lesson is the same as the modern third lesson. The third lesson, Joseph fili David noli timere (...) salvum faciet populum suum, is entirely absent from the post-Clementine books. A third responsory is sung in place of the Te Deum. At Lauds the antiphons, Judaea et Jerusalem nolite timere etc (sung under double rite), are proper to the day and are sung with the psalms of Sunday (92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Vox clara ecce intonat. The V & R, chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus, and collect are proper to the Vigil. The ferial preces are not sung. As the Office is now of double rite the Officium Parvum is not celebrated.

At Prime the first antiphon sung at Lauds is sung with Pss. 53, 118(i) and 118(ii). The Martyrology is sung with extra solemnity today. The Hebdomadarius dons a violet cope and preceded by acolytes bearing candles and a thurifer with incense enters the choir. After reverencing the choir and altar the Martyrology is censed, as a Gospel book, three times. The the choir rise and the Hebdomadarius chants 'Octavo Kalendas Januarii. Then, after announcing the moon, continues Anno a creatione mundi, quando in principio Deus creavit coelum et terram, quinquies millesimo centesimo nonagesimonono: A diluvio etc., listing the years since the birth of Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, the anointing of David, the time since Daniel the Prophet, since the founding of Rome and the conception of the LORD by the Holy Ghost '...novemque post conceptionem decursis mensibus', then raising the pitch of the chant, whilst the choir kneel, he continues, 'in Bethlehem Judae nascitur ex Maria Virgine factus Homo'. Then in the tone of the Passion: 'Nativitas Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundem carnem.' The choir then rise and sit whilst in the normal tone the Hebdomadarius (or a lector, depending on the custom of the place) continues with the entries for the day: 'Eodem die natalis santae Anastasiae etc. The lectio brevis, Per quem accepimus, is proper to the Vigil. The antiphons from Lauds are used in sequence at the rest of the Hours.

Mass is sung after None. Today the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle. There is just one collect. The dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung by the deacon to a most beautiful and ornate tone reserved for today, the feast of the Holy Innocents and pro re gravi Masses.

First Vespers of the Nativity are sung in the afternoon. The antiphons Rex pacificus etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. All hymns of Iambic metre have the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine for the Octave and up until the feast of the Epiphany.

December 23rd - Thursday in the fourth week of Advent

Today is Thursday in the fourth week of Advent and is of simple rite.

At Mattins in the nocturn psalms 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78 & 79 are sung under the six antiphons appointed for Thursdays. The lessons are from the Prophet Isaiah. The third lesson is extended by the inclusion of v. 12, the last verse of chapter 64, which is omitted in the later editions. At Lauds the ferial psalms are sung: 50, 89, 62-66, Cantemus Domino & 148-149-150. These are sung under the antiphons De Sion etc for the Thursday before the Vigil of the Nativity. The antiphon on the Benedictus is proper to the day Ecce completa sunt omnia, quae dicta sunt per Angelum de Virgine Maria. The ferial preces are sung, kneeling, with the psalm De profundis.

At Prime the first antiphon of Lauds is sung, the psalmody is 53, 21, 118(i) & 118(ii). The ferial preces are sung, again kneeling, at all the Hours. The antiphons from Lauds are sung with the other Hours in due order.

Mass is sung after None. The ministers wear folded chasubles. The Mass of the Fourth Sunday of Advent is sung but without the Alleluia and its verse. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect is Deus, qui de beatae and third for the Church, Ecclesiae. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the Deacon facing the altar.

At ferial Vespers psalms 131, 132, 134, 135 & 136 are sung. The Office hymn is Conditor alme siderum , sung for the last time this year. The antiphon on the Magnificat is the last of the Great 'O's O Emmanuel and is sung, standing, in its entirety both before and after the canticle. The ferial preces are then sung kneeling including the psalm Miserere mei Deus. At Compline the preces are sung kneeling.

In addition to the Office of the day the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin is also sung in the usual manner: Mattins and Lauds before Mattins and Lauds of the day; Prime interpolated into Prime of the day after the chapter, the Hours of the BVM after the Hours of day and Vespers of the BVM before Vespers of the day.

December 21st - St. Thomas the Apostle

The feast of St. Thomas the Apostle is of double rite and its liturgical colour is red. According to tradition St. Thomas preached the Gospel in Asia and the Indian sub-continent. He is believed to have founded, inter alia, the St. Thomas Christians on the West coast of India, one of several groups using the East-Syrian family of liturgies.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Exsultet caelum laudibus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was proper to the feast, Quia vidisti me etc. After the collect of the Advent feria was commemorated with the Great 'O' Antiphon appointed for the 20th December, O clavis David. At Compline the preces were omitted.

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 with psalms 18, 33 & 44. The lessons are Sic nos existimet homo from St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. The third lesson is considerably longer than that found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary continuing Rogo ergo vos imatores mei (...) et spiritu, i.e, vv. 16-21. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung with psalms 46, 60 & 63. The fourth lesson, proper to the feast, is the same as in modern editions of the Breviary. The fifth and sixth lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory (from the Common) and are longer than those found in the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily on St. John's Gospel is from St. Gregory. These lessons are the same as in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with Pss.92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150. The antiphon on the Benedictus, Quia vidisti me, Thoma, credidisti: beati, qui non viderunt, et crediderunt, alleluia, is proper to the feast and refers to the incident recorded in the Gospel of St. John about St. Thomas' doubt in the Risen LORD. A commemoration is then made of the Advent feria, the antiphon on the Benedictus being Nolite timere etc proper to the 21st day of December.

The antiphons sung at Lauds are sung in due order at the Horae Minores. At Prime the festal psalms (53, 118i & 118ii) are sung and the lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Advent feria. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Apostles.

At Vespers the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc are sung with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn is Exsultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast the Advent feria is commemorated with the Great 'O' antiphon O Rex Oriens and the collect of the preceding Sunday. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

December 19th - Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Fourth Sunday of Advent is of semi-double rite. The liturgical colour is violet.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and Psalms of Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) were sung. The Office hymn was Conditor alme siderum. The Great 'O' Antiphon O Adonai, proper to the 18th of December, was sung entire both before and after the Magnificat. The Suffrages, being Advent, were omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Prope est jam Dominus and 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 taken from the prophet Isaiah. The first and second lessons are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions of the Breviary. The third lesson is slightly longer continuing Viderunt insulae ... eum clavis, ut non moveretur, (i.e. the addition of Cap. 41 vv. 5 -7). 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 on fasting in the tenth month. These lesson 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. Luke's Gospel. These are the same as those found in the modern editions. A ninth responsory, Intuemini, is sung as the Te Deum omitted in the Office of Advent.

At Lauds the antiphons Canite tuba in Sion etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The hymn is Vox clara ecce intonat. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds, Canite tuba in Sion, is sung with the usual Dominical psalms (53, 117, 118i, 118ii) and Quicumque. In the short responsory the versicle is Qui venturus es in mundum. 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 folded chasubles. The introit is the delightful Rorate, caeli. 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 and the common preface is sung. As the Gloria was not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons Canite tuba in Sion etc are again sung now with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Conditor alme siderum. The Great 'O' antiphon on the Magnificat is O radix Jesse. 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 18th - Ember Saturday in Advent

Ember Saturday in Advent is a greater ferial day of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet. It is is one of the traditional days for ordinations.

At Mattins the invitatory Prope est jam Dominus etc is sung and the Office hymn is Verbum supernum prodiens. In the nocturn the antiphons and Psalms of Saturday, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 & 108, are sung. The lessons in the nocturn are taken from a homily of St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. Again, as noted before in relation to the other Ember Days, these are significantly longer than the text found in the later editions of the Breviary with most of the text of the third lesson absent from the later books.

At Lauds the antiphons Rorate caeli etc (appointed for the Tuesday before the Vigil of the Nativity but used today as they are displaced by the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle) are sung with the Psalms of Saturday, 50, 91, 62-66, Audite coeli & 148-149-150. The fourth antiphon from this set, Da mercedem etc, is replaced by the antiphon Exspectetur etc which is sung with the Canticle of Moses. The Office hymn is Vox clara. After the antiphon on the Benedictus, Quomodo fiet istud etc, has been sung in full after the NT canticle the choir kneels for the ferial preces which include the Psalm De profundis. The collect is proper to the Ember Saturday, Deus qui conspicis.

At the Hours the antiphons Rorate caeli etc are used in the usual order. At Prime (Pss 53, 118i & 118ii) the chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. The Dominical and ferial preces are sung with the choir kneeling. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are sung, again with the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None and has the usual, ancient, form, common to Ember Saturdays. The ministers wear folded chasubles. After the Kyrie there are a series of five structural units comprising of the invitation Oremus, followed by Flectamus genua (sung by the deacon), Levate (sung by the sub-deacon), a collect, O.T. reading and gradual. Four of these readings are from Isaiah and the last from Daniel. After the pericope from Daniel instead of a gradual the hymn of the Three Men in fiery furnace is sung, Benedictus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum and its collect Deus, qui tribus pueris. After this collect the second collect is of the BVM, Deus, qui de Beate and the third collect for the Church, Ecclesiae. Mass then continues as usual (with of course kneeling for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as usual on penitential days) with Benedicamus Domino, sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar. Ember Saturday ends with the Mass after None.

In the afternoon at Vespers the antiphons and Psalms of Saturday (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) are sung. The Office hymn is Conditor alme siderum. The Great 'O' Antiphon O Adonai is sung entire both before and after the Magnificat, even on days of simple rank, with the choir standing. After the antiphon has been repeated the collect for the fourth Sunday of Advent is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung (the choir standing).

December 12th - Third Sunday of Advent

The Third Sunday of Advent is of semi-double rite. The liturgical colour is violet but today at Mass the Deacon wears a dalmatic and the subdeacon a tunicle and the organ may be played.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms were sung from the semi-double Office of St. Damasus. The antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc were sung with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 131. From the chapter, Fratres: Gaudete in Domino semper was of the Sunday. The Office hymn was Conditor alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Damasus. The Suffrages were omitted. 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 first Vespers of St. Lucy of Syracuse with a colour change to red. The antiphons Orante Sancta Luciaetc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The antiphon on the Magnificat is In tua potentia etc. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

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 Virginis Mariae etc were sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter was Ab initio et ante saecula and the Office hymn was 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 a commemoration was sung of the Advent feria. The Suffrages were omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc. The Dominical preces were omitted.

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 again sung with the psalms of the BVM. The Office hymn is Ave maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Advent feria. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc and the Dominical preces are omitted.