June 14th - St. Basil the Great

Today is the feast of the great Eastern doctor St. Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea, and one of the most distinguished theologians of the Church. St. Basil was born probably in 329. He died 1 January, 379. He was a friend of Gregory of Nazianzus and his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and with them makes up the trio known as 'The Three Cappadocians'. The feast is of double rite and the liturgical colour is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc from the Common of Confessor Pontiffs were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Iste confessor Domini sacratus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was O Doctor optime, Ecclesiae sanctae lumen, beate Basili, divinae legis amator, deprecare pro nobis Filium Dei. A commemoration was sung of the fifth Sunday after Pentecost with the antiphon Montes Gelboe etc. As the feast is a double the Suffrages were omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted for the same reason.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn is Iste confessor as above. In the first nocturn the antiphons, from the Common, Beatus vir etc, are sung with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons in the first nocturn are the Incipit of the Second Book of the Kings, of the fifth Sunday. The third lesson is slightly shorter than in modern editions and ends ..ut occideres Christum Domini. In the second nocturn the antiphons Invocantem exaudivit etc are sung with psalms 4, 5 and 8. The lessons are historical ones of the feast, Basilius, nobilis Cappadox etc. These are followed by the responsories Inveni David etc from the Common. These are the same as in the modern editions. In the third nocturn the antiphons Domine iste Sanctus etc are sung with psalms 14, 20 and 23. The lessons are taken from St. Basil's Longer Book of Rules, Question 8. They are substantially longer than those found in the modern editions. They are followed by responsories from the Common. The eigth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is made up of the three lessons of the Sunday's homily from St. Augustine read as one. Again these are substantially longer than in modern recensions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Ecce sacerdos magnus etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Jesu redemptor omnium. A commemoration of the fifth Sunday after Pentecost is sung after the collect of the day.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (53, 118i & 118ii). Quicumque is omitted. The lectio brevis is Fungi sacerdotio.

Mass is sung after Terce and the Asperges. The introit is In medio. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Credo is sung, the Common Preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the fifth Sunday after Pentecost.

Vespers are of the feast, the antiphons are again Ecce sacerdos magnus etc sung with psalms (109, 110, 111, 112 & 131). After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and the following Office of SS Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Icon: St. Basil the Great - an icon from Holy Dormition Orthodox Church in the USA.

June 7th - IV Sunday after Pentecost

The fourth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. The liturgical colour is green.

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. 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 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 modern 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. 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, SS Peter and Paul, the Patron and for peace are sung.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung as are the Dominical preces.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis nos the third collect is chosen from those available by the Dean or Hebdomadarius . The Credo is sung, the Common Preface is sung.

Vespers are of the Sunday, with psalms (109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Suffrages of the BVM, SS Peter and Paul, the Patron and for peace are sung. At Compline the Domincal preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

May 31st - III Sunday after Pentecost

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

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. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Petronilla 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) are sung the lessons are the First Book of the Kings. The 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 modern editions. The seventh lesson is what is now L7 + L8. The eighth lesson is several sentences longer than the modern L9 and the ninth lesson is not found in the modern books. At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150) are sung. A commemoration of St. Petronilla is sung followed by the Suffrages of the BVM, SS Peter and Paul, the Patron and for peace.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung as are the Dominical preces.

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

Vespers are of the Sunday, with psalms (109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Suffrages of the BVM, SS Peter and Paul, the Patron and for peace are sung. At Compline the Domincal preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

May 24th - 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, white in this case.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Sacerdos in aeternum etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 115, 127 & 147 as on the feast of Corpus Christi but the antiphons were not doubled. The chapter was of the Sunday, the hymn, versicle and response as on the feast. The antiphon on the Magnificat was proper to the Sunday along with the collect. A commemoration was sung of the Octave. 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 L5 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.

At Lauds the antiphons are those sung on the feast of Corpus Christi, Sapientia etc. These are sung with Psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 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. A commemorations is sung of the Octave.

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 the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii), 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. The Creed is sung and the preface is that of the Nativity.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms are as at Second Vespers of the feast. The chapter is of the Sunday, the hymn, versicle & response of the feast and the antiphon on the Magnificat and collect of the Sunday. Commemorations are sung of the Octave and St Urban.

May 17th - Trinity Sunday

The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity is a double feast. It is also the first Sunday after Pentecost.

The feast began yesterday with first Vespers on Saturday afternoon. The Office is proper with the antiphons Gloria tibi Trinitas etc sung with Pss. 101, 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. The antiphon on the Magnificat, Gratias tibi, Deus etc, and the collect, Omnipotens, are proper. A commemoration was sung of the first Sunday after Pentecost. After Vespers the antiphon Salve Regina is sung for the first time this year.

At Mattins there are three nocturns. The invitatory is proper, Deum verum, unum in Trinitate, et Trinitatm in Unitate, Venite adoremus. The hymn is Summae Deus clementiae. In the first nocturn the antiphons Adesto unus Deus etc are sung 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 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 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 the Dominical psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite, 148-149-150. The Office hymn is Tu, Trinitatis Unitas. A commemoration of the first Sunday after Pentecost is sung.

At Prime the festal psalms are sung (53, 118i & 118ii). The Creed of St. Athanasius, Quicumque, is sung after the last stanza of Ps. 118.

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 Credo is sung, the common preface is sung, and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

In second Vespers a commemoration of the first Sunday after Pentecost is sung.

Art: Rublev's Icon from Wikipedia, the Hospitality of Abraham iterpreted as a symbol of the Trinity.

May 10th - Pentecost Sunday

The feast of Pentecost is a double feast with an Octave.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The chapter is Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes etc, the hymn Veni, Creator Spiritus. Hymns of Iambic metre have the Doxology Gloria Patri Domino, Natoque, qui a mortuis, Surrexit ac Paraclito, In saeculorum saecula.

Mattins for the feast, and Octave, is like Pascha in only having one nocturn of three psalms and three lessons. The invitatory is Alleluia, Spiritus Domini replevit orbem terrarum, Venite adoremus Alleluia. The antiphons Factus est etc are sung 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 'modern' Breviary. At Lauds the antiphons, Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes etc, are the same as at Vespers and are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150.

At Prime the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii). 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 only one collect. After the Alleluia the beautiful sequence Veni, Sancte Spiritus is sung. The Credo is sung. The preface, Communicantes and Hanc igitur are proper to the feast and used throughout the Octave.

Second Vespers are the same as for First Vespers except for the versicle and response and antiphon on the Magnificat. There are no commemorations.

May 3rd - The Invention of the Holy Cross - Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension

The Invention of the Holy Cross is a double feast. Today is also Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension. The feast celebrates the discovery of the Holy Cross by the Empress Helena.

The Office of the feast began with first Vespers yesterday, the Office is proper. The antiphons Helena, Constantini mater etc (not found in the modern editions) were sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The chapter was Fratres: Hoc enim senite in vobis etc, the hymn Vexilla regis was sung with the Ascension Doxology Gloria tibi Domine, Qui scandis super sidera, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. Commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Athanasius, of the Sunday and of SS Alexander and Companions. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted due to the occurring double feasts and being within an Octave.


At Mattins the invitatory is Christum Regem crucifixum, Venite adoremus, alleluia. In the first nocturn the antiphon Inventae Crucis etc is sung, with Pss 1, 2 and 3. The first lesson is from St. Paul to the Galatians with the poignant words: 'Christ have redeemed us from the curse law, being made a curse for us: for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.' The second lesson is from the Epistle to the Philippians with the passage so familiar from the Triduum. The third lesson from the Epistle to the Colossians but, unlike in modern editions, is taken from the first chapter Videte ne quis ... in semetipso. In the second nocturn the antiphon Felix ille triumphus etc is sung with Pss. 4, 5 and 8. The lessons relate the work of St. Helena in fourth century Jerusalem finding three crosses buried in a cistern. Not knowing which cross the LORD had died on each was placed on a woman with a sickness by Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem. When touched by the True Cross the sick woman was instantly restored to health. The lessons are the same as in modern editions. In the third nocturn Pss. 95, 96 and 97 are sung under the antiphon Adoramus te Christe etc, the lessons are from a homily of St. Augustine on the Gospel of St. John. The seventh lesson included the first sentence from the eighth lesson found in modern editions. The eighth begins Respondit Jesus and is several sentences longer. The ninth lesson is made of the three lessons of the homily for the Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension.

At Lauds the antiphons Helena, Constantini mater etc are sung with the Dominical psalms (92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-149-150). The antiphon on the Benedictus is Helena sancta dixit ad Judam etc (again not found in the modern editions). Commemorations are sung of the Sunday within the Octave and SS Alexander and Companions.

At the Hours the Ascension Doxology is sung with all the Office hymns, the antiphons of Lauds are sung with the Dominical psalms, at Prime the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii), the short lesson is Humiliavit semetipsum.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday within the Octave, the third collect is of SS Alexander and Companions. The Creed is sung, the preface of the Cross is sung, the last Gospel is of the Sunday within the Octave.

Vespers are second Vespers of the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross with the antiphons Helena, Constantini mater etc and psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. Commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Monica, the Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension and SS Alexander and Companions.