Sunday 23 April 2017

Dominica in Albis - Low Sunday


Dominica in Albis, Low Sunday is a Greater-double of the first class. The Sunday is also often referred to as Quasimodo from the first words of its introit. Anciently on this day those who had been baptised on Holy Saturday took off their white robes which had been worn since the Oil of Catechumens and Chrism had been lavished upon them on Holy Saturday. The Gospel at Mattins and Mass is the account of the LORD appearing in to His disciples behind the shut doors of the room and the doubting of St. Thomas. The Office of the Octave of Pascha ended with the Office of None yesterday.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. Chapters and hymns return to the Office from this Vespers. The Paschaltide hymn Ad regias Agni dapes was sung. Its Doxology is sung at all hymns of Iambic metre: Deo Patri sit gloria, Et Filio qui a mortuis, Surrexit ac Paraclito, In sempiterna saecula. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of St. George and of SS Soter and Caius. From this Office the dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung without the double Alleluia that marked the Paschal Octave. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory Surrexit Dominus vere Alleluia continues to be sung. The Office hymn is Rex Sempiterne Caelitum. The psalms of each nocturn are sung under a single antiphon. In the first nocturn the antiphon is Alleluia, * lapis revolutus est, alleluia: ab ostio monumenti, alleluia, alleluia and the lessons are from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians. In the second nocturn the antiphon is Alleluia, * quem quaeris mulier? alleluia, alleluia, viventem cum mortuis, alleluia, alleluia and the lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Augustine on the Octave of Easter. In the third nocturn the antiphon is Alleluia, * noli flere Maria, alleluia: resurrexit Dominus, alleluia, alleluia and the homily is from the writings of St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel. At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148) are sung under a single antiphon, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora caelum purpurat. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. George is sung. The Paschal Suffrage is omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) and the Hours the psalms are again sung under a single antiphon at each Hour, Alleluia, * alleluia, alleluia - which is not doubled.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. George is sung. The Creed is sung, the preface is of Paschaltide (In hoc potissimum).

At Vespers the psalms are sung under the single antiphon Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. The Office hymn is Ad regias Agni dapes. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringa and of St. George. The Paschal Suffrage is omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers or at Lauds. Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn of three lessons with the single antiphon Alleluia, lapis revolutus etc. At the Little Hours the Paschaltide Doxology is not sung with the hymns. At Mass there is a single collect. At Compline the ordinary Doxology and tone are sung with Te lucis.

Image: Jerome Nadal.

9 comments:

Patrick Robinson said...

Could you please explain the commemoration of St George for England today ? Is it not moved beyond the Easter octave in all the calendars ? Sorry to be difficult.

Richard Duncan said...

I would be grateful if you could explain why St George is simply commemorated today, as opposed to being transferred to 24 April.

Many Thanks

The Flying Dutchman said...

Happy St. George's Day, O Rubricari!

Anonymous said...

Quick question.
My main chapel isn't having Holy Sacrifice of the Mass right now for a few reasons.
Went to SSPX today and noticed differences.
First being no Vidi Aquam and
the altar server didn't light a 3rd candle after the Sanctus.
Is lighting a 3rd candle after the Sanctus from the 1948 Missale Romanum or is it just a personal preference depending upon the Priest?
Was it stopped in 56 or 62 or neither?
Thank you in advance.

Nic said...

'The liturgical books of 1962' - Anathema! There. I've said it.

Happy S. George's Day.

Since my Holy Week (and in fact Easter week too) Book ends after None on Saturday, it implies that the praxis on Low Sunday was not always fixed. (All editions include commemorations for the semi-double days, so that was not the issue), I had wondered if another day COULD have occupied the Sunday in any past practice.

I realise your posts refer to the Universal Kalendar. Here in England - where I think you may reside too - I thought I had understood that under the 1935 rules - tidying up the manifold ideas of S. Pius X - Vespers were I Vespers pf the transferred feast.

Could S George have occupied Sunday the 23rd itself under Pre-Trent rules?




Rubricarius said...

Responding to the first two comments above: The Ordo clearly states on its title page that it is for the Univeral Kalendar. As such a semi-double feast occurring on Low Sunday is commemorated. Presuming your questions pertain to English dioceses, or other places where St. George is D2Cl or higher then the feast is transferred. As the vast majority of Ordines go to the USA and Europe having an entry for England and to ignore local calendars everywhere else would seem very strange.

Anonymous, Vidi aquam is of obligation before the principle Mass in parishes. The use of the Sanctus candle was not universal but the rubric goes in the re-written Ritus of MR1962.

The Flying Dutchman, Thank you!

Nic, I do not think so - I have yet to see evidence to the contrary. Under post-1911 rules first Vespers would be of St. George. However, following the older rubrics St. George goes to later in the week - see the excellent series of posts on a mid-nineteenth century Ordo on The Muniment Room blog.

Anonymous said...

So,I was correct in thinking its incorrect omitting the Vidi Aquam and Asperges Me.
I miss the Vidi Aquam and Asperges Me after Paschal time is finished.I miss the Sanctus candle being lit.
Funny how its the little things we always remember and miss the most.

The Flying Dutchman said...

Thanks for the reference to The Muniment Room blog, which I found most interesting!

Richard Duncan said...

Thank you for the explanation