July 16th - VIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its 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 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 from the third book of Kings for the Eighth Sunday. These are the same as those found in more modern 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 recensions. In the third nocturn (Pss. 18, 19 & 20) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Luke's Gospel. Again the texts in the Tridentine Breviary is longer than that found in later 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 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) 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 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 St. Alexis 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 9th - VII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventh Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its 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 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 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 Sunday 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) Quicumque is sung as are the Dominical preces.

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 is sung of the following feast of the Seven Holy Brothers, SS Rufina and Secunda 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.

July 2nd - The Visitation of the BVM

The Visitation of the BVM commemorates the Visitation made by the BVM to her cousin Elizabeth (c.f. Luke 1: 39-80). The feast is of double rank and its liturgical colour is white. In the 1568BR the feast does not have proper antiphons and the user is directed to use the Office of the Nativity of the BVM substituting the word 'Visitation' for 'Nativity'.

So at Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Visitatio gloriosae etc were sung with Psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave Maris stella. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Octave Day of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, of the sixth Sunday after Pentecost, of the Octave of SS Peter and Paul and of SS Processus and Martinian. The Suffrages are omitted (both because of the double feast and concurrent Octaves) and at Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Gloria tibi Domine etc. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Visitationem Virginis Mariae celebremus: Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum. The Office hymn is Quem terra. The antiphons and psalms are from the Common of the BVM. In the first nocturn the lessons are taken from the second chapter of the Canticle of Canticles. These are the same as in the modern editions. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a homily of St. Bede. These are not found in the later editions where they are replaced by a sermon of St. Chrysostom. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Chrysostom whilst the later editions have a homily from St. Ambrose. The eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is formed from the three lessons of the homily for the sixth Sunday after Pentecost. This homily on St. Mark's Gospel is from St. Ambrose. 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 Visitatio gloriosae etc are sung with Psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite and 148-149-150. The Office hymn is O gloriosa Domina. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the sixth Sunday after Pentecost, of the Octave of SS Peter and Paul and of SS Processus and Martinian. The Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung to the melody of the Nativity and with its Doxology. At Prime the festal psalms (53, 118i & 118ii) are sung, in the short responsory the versicle Qui natus es is sung, the lectio brevis is In plateis.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass Salve sancte parens is sung, the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect of the Octave and the fourth collect of SS Processus and Martinian. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Visitatio gloriosae etc are sung with the psalms for feasts of the BVM as at firt Vespers. The Office hymn is Ave, maris stella. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave of SS Peter and Paul.

June 25th - Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

This year the fifth Sunday after Pentecost falls within the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The Sunday takes the liturgical colour of the Octave and so the liturgical colour is white. It is of semi-double rite.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist were sung. The, proper, antiphons Elisabeth Zachariae etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Ut quaeant laxis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted (and are omitted throughout the Octave).

At Mattins (of the Sunday) 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. 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 the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Being within an Octave the Suffrages are omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 53, 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung but the Dominical preces are omitted because of the Octave.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. There is no third collect. The Credo is sung, 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 commemorations are sung of the following semi-doulbe feast of SS John and Paul and then of the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

June 18th - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

The fourth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. The liturgical colour of the day 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 SS Mark and Marcellianus. This was 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 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. The eighth and ninth lessons are read together to form the eighth lesson and the ninth lesson is the proper lesson from the Sanctorale for SS Mark & Marcellianus. 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 SS Mark & Marcellianus. This is followed by 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, 118i & 118ii and Quicumque are sung as are the Dominical preces.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Mark & Marcellianus, the third collect is 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 Office hymn is Lucis creator optime. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of SS Gervase and Protase followed by the Suffrages of the BVM, SS Peter and Paul, the Patron and, lastly, for peace. At Compline the Domincal preces are sung.

Art: Jerome Nadal

June 11th - St. Barnabas the Apostle

The feast of St. Barnabas the Apostle is of double rite and the liturgical colour of the feast is red.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Exultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the third Sunday after Pentecost was sung. At Compline the Dominical 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. Unlike the post-Clementine editions the lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the Common of Apostles rather than being proper, from the Acts. The first and second lessons from the Common, taken from fourth chapter of the Former Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, are the same as those found in the post-Clementine editions but the third lesson is considerably longer continuing Rogo ergo vos... to ...et spiritu mansuetudinis? (vv. 16-21). In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung with psalms 46, 60 & 63 and the lessons are proper to the feast. These are the same as those found in the later editions. In the third nocturn the lessons the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The lessons, from the Common, are from a homily of St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel. This Gospel and homily were replaced in the Clementine revision of the Breviary although in that edition the pericope fragment from St. John and the associated homily remained in the Common until the 1632 revision of the Breviary. The eighth and ninth lessons are read as one and the ninth lesson is formed of the three lessons from the third nocturn of the third Sunday after Pentecost. The homily, on St. Luke's Gospel, is again from St. Gregory. The composite three lessons are longer than those found in the modern editions. The seventh lesson (of the Sunday) contains the text of both the modern seventh and eighth lessons, the eighth lesson is several sentences longer than the modern ninth lesson and the ninth lesson is entirely absent from the later editions. After these three lessons have been read as one to form the ninth lesson of the feast the Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62-66, Benedicite & 148-49-150. The Office hymn is Exultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday.

The antiphons sung at Lauds are sung in the usual order at the Horae Minores. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is not sung, nor are the Dominical preces. The lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Gospel is from St. John not St. Matthew as in the later editions. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Apostles.

At second Vespers the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn is Exultet caelum laudibus. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the following simple rite feast of SS Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor and Nazarinus. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

June 4th - 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 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. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons are those sung on the feast of Corpus Christi, Sapientia etc but they are not doubled. 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. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration 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 Sacerdos in aeternum etc are again sung with psalms 109, 110, 115, 127 & 147. The Office hymn is Pange lingua. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave.