August 30th - XII Sunday after Pentecost

The twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and is, this year, the first Sunday of September. The liturgical colour is green from the Office of Mattins onwards.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist were sung. The antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of Martyrs (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115). After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat was Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September) and of SS Felix and Adauctus. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changes to green. 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 Book of Job. The first lesson continues until ...et biberunt cum eis in what is now the modern second lesson. The second lesson begins Cumque in orbem... and continues until Circuivi terram et perambulavi eam. The third lesson begins Dixitque Dominus ad eum... and continues until ...Satan a facie Domini(v.12) In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Morals of St. Gregory the Great. These are the same as those in the modern books. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Bede on St. Luke's Gospel. These lessons are longer than those found in modern editions with lessons seven and eight comprising of the text of all of the later third nocturn lessons. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form an extended eighth lesson of the Sunday and the ninth lesson is that appointed in the Breviary for SS Felix and Adauctus. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite148-49-150) are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce . After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of SS Felix and Adauctus is sung followed by the 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, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Felix and Adauctus, the third collect is A cunctis. The Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of Sunday (Ps. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). After the collect of the day a commemorations are sung of St. Giles and of Twelve Holy Brothers followed by the Suffrages of 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 are sung.


Art: Jerome Nadal

August 23rd - XI Sunday after Pentecost

The eleventh Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins to Vespers, is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of August. The Vigil of St. Bartholomew the Apostle was anticipated yesterday on the Octave-Day of the Assumption.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter was In omnibus requie and the Office hymn was Ave maris stella. After the collect of the Octave-Day a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August). The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation.

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. The lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Ecclesiasticus. The first lesson is longer than the form given in the post-Clementine editions. It continues Radix sapientiae ... illius quis intellexit?, what is now the first sentence of the second lesson. The second lesson begins Unus est altissimus.. and continues until defunctionis suae benedicitiur - what is now the middle of the third lesson. The text of the third lesson begins Dilectio Dei... and continues until ...et receptacula a thesauris illius (v.21). In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from the Book of Morals of St. Gregory the Great. These are the same as those found in the modern books. 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 Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150) are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce. 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, 118i & 118ii) 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 place. The Credo and common preface are sung.

At Vespers there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle are sung. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms of first Vespers from the Common Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The Office hymn is Exsultet caelum laudibus. There are no commemorations nor Suffrages. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted. In Rome the feast of St. Bartholomew is observed the following day.

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 16th - X Sunday after Pentecost - Sunday within the Octaves of the Assumption and of St. Lawrence

The tenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the third Sunday of August and its liturgical colour, until Vespers, is white being the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption. It is also the Sunday within the Octave of St. Lawrence.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the great feast of the Assumption of the Mother of God. The antiphons proper to the feast Assumpta est Maria in caelum etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung, the antiphon on the Magnificat being Omnis sapientia etc for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation Gloria tibi Domine etc as are all hymns of Iambic metre during the Octave. The Dominical preces were omitted.

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 Book of Wisdom. The first lesson is longer than the form given in the modern editions. It continues Spiritus enim ... superveniente iniquitate. The second lesson begins Benignus est enim and continues until quod mentitur occidit animam - what is now the end of third lesson. The text of the third lesson is not found in the modern editions Nolite zelare ...qui sunt ex parte illius, vv. 12-16. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Ambrose. Lessons IV and V are substantially longer than those in the modern books with additional text not appearing in the modern editions, lesson VI is longer by a sentence. 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. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite 148-49-150) are sung. The Office hymn is Ecce. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave of the Assumption is sung followed by a commemoration of the Octave of St. Lawrence. The Suffrages are omitted due to the occurring Octaves.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung but the Dominical preces are omitted. In the short responsory Qui natus es in sung (and throughout the Octave).

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave, the third collect is of the Octave of St. Lawrence. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the BVM with Et te in Assumptione.

Vespers are of the following Octave Day of St. Lawrence, with the corresponding colour change to red vestments. The antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 11, 112 & 115. The antiphon on the Magnificat is Beatus Laurentius etc, the collect is proper to the Octave Day, Excita Domine. After the collect of the Octave Day commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave of the Assumption. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted

Art: Jerome Nadal

August 9th - IX Sunday after Pentecost

The ninth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour of the day, until Vespers, is green. This year it is the second Sunday of August. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke contain the account of the LORD casting out the money lenders in the temple. The Vigil of St. Lawrence was anticipated yesterday.

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 O lux beata Trinitas. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Ego in altissimis for the Saturday before the second Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Romanus 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 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 Book of Ecclesiastes. The second lesson continues Ego Ecclesisastes...ut occuparentur in ea, what is the beginning of the third lesson in the modern editions. The third lesson begins Vidi cuncta... and continues until ...et qui addit scientiam, addit dolorem, i.e. until v.18. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from a sermon of St. Chrysostom. These are longer than those in the modern books with lessons IV and V consisting of the entire text of the modern lessons IV, V & VI. The sixth lesson is not found in the modern editions (Igitur quo pacto... immanissima tyrannide commutare.) 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. 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 of St. Romanus is sung followed by the 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, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Romanus, the third collect is A cunctis. The Credo is sung, the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of St. Lawrence with a corresponding change of liturgical colour to red. The antiphons Laurentius ingressus etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms for first Vespers from the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The Office hymn is Deus, tuorum militum. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted because of the double feast.

August 2nd - VIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins this year, is green. It is the first Sunday of August.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of St. Peter ad vincula were sung. The antiphons Herodes rex etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn was Petrus beatus catenarum laqueos. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of St. Paul, the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Sapientia for the Saturday before the first Sunday of August) and of St. Stephen Pope & Martyr. The Suffrages were omitted 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) 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 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. Today the eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form an extended eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is formed of the two lessons given in the sanctorale for St. Stephen. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Sunday 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. Stephen 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, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Stephen, the third collect is A cunctis. The Credo is sung as is the Common Preface.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) and the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of The Finding of the Body of St. Stephen the Protomartyr 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 26th - VII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventh Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of St. James the Apostle were sung. The antiphons Juravit Dominus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. 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 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 Third Book of the Kings. The first lesson includes what is now most of the second lesson in the post-Clementine editions ending ...qui adjuvabant partes Adoniae. The second lesson begins Sadoc vero sacerdotes and continues (including verses 9 & 10 omitted in the modern editions) until ...et complebo sermones tuos, the penultimate sentence in modern third lesson. The third lesson begins Ingressa est itaque and continues until ...Nathan propheta venit. (v.22) In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Jerome's Letter to Nepotianus. These are substantially different from those found in the later recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. These are the same as in modern editions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the Dominical psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150) are sung. 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, 118i & 118ii) 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 Credo is sung and the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the following feast of St. Pantaleon is 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 are sung

Art: Jerome Nada

July 19th - VI Sunday after Pentecost

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

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms (Pss. 143, 144, 145, 146 & 147) of Saturday 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) are sung and the lessons are a continuation of the Second Book of the Kings. The lessons are the same as in modern editions of the Breviary. In the second nocturn (Pss. 15, 16 & 17) the lessons are from St. Ambrose's Defence of David. These, again, are the same as found in the modern editions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Ambrose on St. Mark's Gospel. The seventh lesson 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 Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150) are sung. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrages of the BVM Santa Maria succurre etc, of 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) and Quicumque are sung as are the Dominical preces.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloriais sung, the second collect is A cunctis nosem>, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. 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 optime. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the following Office of St. Margaret is sung 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. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.