Sunday 24 October 2010

XXII Sunday after Pentecost


The twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the fourth Sunday of October. The liturgical colour is green. It is also Missionary Sunday. A rescript of the SRC in 1926 set aside the last Sunday but one of October to be a day of special prayer for missionary work. To the collects of the day at Mass is added the prayer Pro Propagatione Fidei from the Votive Mass for that purpose. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the account of the Pharisees trying to trap the LORD over tribute to Caesar and the LORD's rebuttal of "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God those things that are God's."

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Exaudiat Dominus for the Saturday before the Fourth Sunday in October. After the collect of the Sunday commemoration was sung of St. Raphael the Archangel. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted because of the occurring double feasts and at Compline the Dominical preces were omitted for the same reason.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Second Book of the Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a tract of St. Chrysostom on the forty-third psalm. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration is sung of St. Raphael the Archangel. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted because of the occurring double feast.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Raphael. The third collect is Deus, qui omnes homines from the Votive Mass for the Propagation of the Faith. The Creed is sung, the preface of the Blessed Trinity and the last Gospel is of St. Raphael.

Vespers are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of SS Chrysanthus and Dari and of St. Raphael the Archangel.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations or Suffrage at Vespers. Liturgical celebration of St. Raphael is omitted this year. Even though no feast is commemorated the Domincial preces are omitted at Prime and Compline. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is neither commemoration nor Suffrage. At Mass the collect for the Propagation of the Faith is added to the collect of the Sunday under one conclusion, the last Gospel is obviously In principio. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

9 comments:

BJA said...

Rubricarius,

I was under the distinct (but perhaps mistaken) impression that a "proper" Last Gospel is only said of a Sunday or greater feria (having a proper Gospel) that has been superseded by a feast.

How is it, then, that the Gospel of St Raphael would be said at the end of today's Mass?

Rubricarius said...

BJA,

No. There are rather more occasions when a last Gospel is read:

a) the examples you give, but with the addition of Vigils and days within privileged Octaves of the first order;

b) when a commemoration at a Mass has a 'strictly proper' last Gospel, e.g. feast of the Holy Innocents, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Martha etc.;

c) the last Gospel is read of commemorated feasts that have a particular dignity. This includes feasts of the LORD, the BVM, the Angels (so St. Raphael), St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, the twelve Apostles;

d) the last Gospel of certain impeded Votive Masses (the first group in the MR).

Thomas said...

Rubricarius,

Out of interest, why is St Raphael's feast celebrated on 24th October? - a priest asked me after Mass this morning, and while the reason for the placing of St Gabriel on 24th March is obvious, we couldn't work out why yesterday was chosen for St Raphael.
Also, on a vigil & during an Octave, should one still bow one's head at the name of the Saint?

Thank you for your interesting posts.
In Domino,
Thomas

BJA said...

Good to know! Many thanks!

Anonymous said...

From my research, observing universally the Feast of St. Raphael on 24 October is based on that date being his feastday "in many particular churches".

As for the bowing of one's head: "during the Octave of a Saint whose feast has an octave, but of which neither the Office is said nor per accidens a Commemoration made, an inclination of the head should be made when his name occurs in the Mass [SRC 4116, I]."
+DM

Rubricarius said...

+DM,

Thank you for that.

Thomas,

The feast of St. Raphael has been celebrated on many different dates but as +DM points out the most commonly occurring date is the 24th October.

Thomas said...

Dear +DM and Rubricarius,

Thank you for your help.

Rubricarius said...

Thomas,

You are most welcome. Having just spent three and a half hours at a planning committee meeting, speaking as an objector, and then seeing the application granted on a majority I am quite shattered.

It is good to know one's endeavours in the liturgical sphere are appreciated.

Thomas said...

Is there any reason for local calendars having this date for St Raphael? - was a basilica dedicated in his honour on this day perhaps?