Sunday 28 December 2014

The Holy Innocents


The feast of the Holy Innocents is a Double of the Second Class with, since the reform of 1911-13, a simple Octave. The feast of the Holy Innocents is unique in the Roman rite in that it changes its liturgical colour depending on whether it falls on a weekday or a Sunday. As this year it is celebrated on Sunday the liturgical colour is red. When it falls on a week-day the feast is celebrated in violet, the origin of this practice being a synthesis of the differences in Gallican and Roman praxis.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms from second Vespers of the Nativity were sung. From the chapter, Qui timet Deum, the Office was of St. John with commemorations of the Holy Innocents and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Martyrum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn Audit tyrannus anxius (sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation). In the first nocturn the antiphons Secus decursus aquarum etc are sung with psalms 1, 2 and 3. The lessons are from the Prophet Jeremiah. In the second nocturn the antiphons Dabo Sanctis meis etc are sung with psalms 14, 15 & 23. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Augustine on the Saints. In the third nocturn the antiphons Justi autem etc are sung with psalms 32, 33 & 45. However, the eighth antiphon, Isti sunt, is proper to the feast. The homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from the writings of St. Jerome. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Herodes iratus etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Salvete, flores Martyrum (again, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation). After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns have their Doxology changed in honour of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the short lesson is of the feast, Hi empti sunt.

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Alleluia and its verse given in the Missal are sung before the Gospel. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Octave of the Nativity. T

Vespers have the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity, but from the chapter are of the Holy Innocents. The Office hymn is Salvete, flores Martyrum. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity. Vespers yesterday had the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity, from the chapter of St. John with a commemoration of the Octave of the Nativity but not of the Holy Innocents (or the Sunday within the Octave). Mattins has but a single nocturn. At Lauds there is a commemoration of the Holy Innocents but not of the Octave of the Nativity. At the Hours the antiphons and psalms are of the Sunday and the hymns lose the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime the short lesson is of the season. At said Masses only there is a commemoration of the Holy Innocents. Vespers are of the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity without any commemorations.

5 comments:

Andy said...

Dear Rubricarius,

At tonight's Vespers (December 30: Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity)from the chapter onwards are 1st Vespers of St. Sylvester, or 2nd Vespers of the Sunday supposed to be sung? Thanks.

Happy New Year!

Rubricarius said...

Andy,

Vespers of the Nativity; from the chapter of the Sunday within the Octave; coms of St. Sylvester and the Octave of the Nativity.

Apologies, I was late returning to London due to the train chaos on Saturday and missed a day and am trying to catch up on posts and despatching orders.

John Meyers said...

I note that the Ordo has "V Nat a cap seq, com praec." (I think it should have also had "et Oct." as well.)
I read that as from the chapter of St. Sylvester with a commemoration of the Sunday (and the Octave).
Am I reading it wrong?
John

Rubricarius said...

John,

That is a typo I am afraid. Ordo MMXIV was not the best of productions: it went from compilation to printing in a very short space of time. MMXV is much more satisfactory.

The Sunday takes precedence in concurrence.

John Meyers said...

Then I must be getting better at this!
Thanks,
John