Septuagesima Sunday

Septuagesima is a semi-double Sunday of the second class and its liturgical colour is violet. Only a feast that is a Double of the First Class may take precedence.

Yesterday the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany was anticipated. In the afternoon the liturgical mood became more sombre as the liturgical colour of the season changed to penitential violet. Although more sombre than the season after the Epiphany the short season of Septuagesima is not as penitential as Lent. At Mass the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle for these three Sundays and for their ferial days. The organ is still played until Ash Wednesday and the appearance of folded chasubles. However, from Septuagesima until Holy Saturday. the dress of some prelates changed. Cardinals of the Court of Rome exchanged their scarlet choir dress for that of violet. Correspondingly bishops did not wear violet choir dress but their black, or mourning dress. Protonotaries Apostolic and Domestic Prelates do not change their choir dress (except sede vacante).

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter was proper to Septuagesima Sunday and the Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints was sung. At the end of Vespers a double Alleluia was added to both Benedicamus Domino and to its response. After that Alleluia will not be heard again until the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday. At Compline after the Lesser Doxology, and at all Hours until Compline on Holy Saturday, Laus tibi Domine Rex aeterne gloriae is sung in place of Alleluia. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Praeoccupemus and the Office hymn is Primo die. The antiphons and psalms are as on previous 'green' Sundays. In the first nocturn the Incipit of the Book of Genesis is read. In the second nocturn the lessons are from the Enchiridion of St. Augustine, in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on the Gospel of the labourers in the vineyard. The Te Deum is omitted but in its place is sung a ninth responsory, Ubi est Abel frater tuus?

At Lauds the 'second scheme' of psalms is sung: Pss 50, 117, 62, Canticle of the Three Children (Benedictus es) and 148. The antiphons at Lauds are proper to the Sunday as are the versicle after the Office hymn Aeterne, chapter, antiphon at the Benedictus and collect. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrace of the Saints is sung.

At the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper. At Prime the order of psalmody is changed and four psalms are sung, Pss. 92, 99 (displaced from Lauds) and Ps. 118(i) & Ps. 118(ii). Quicumque is omitted but the Dominical preces are sung.

At Mass the Gloria is omitted. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The second collect is A cunctis and the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector of the place. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Creed is sung and the Preface is of the Blessed Trinity. Benedicamus Domino is sung,  as the dismissal, by the deacon facing the altar,.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday (109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) are sung. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' anticipated Sundays have been abolished and yesterday was a 'IV class' celebration of the BVM on Saturday. The Suffrage of the Saints at Vespers and Lauds has been abolished as have the Dominical preces at Compline and Prime.  Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn of three lesson. At Prime the arrangement of psalms is truly bizarre with the festal arrangment of Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii). At Mass there is but a single collect and Benedicamus Domino is suppressed in favour of Ite, missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

The fifth Sunday after the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew speak of the parable where the enemy sows cockle seed into the field sown with good seed.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms appointed for Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Suscepit Deus. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. John of Matha, of St. Cyril of Alexandria and of St. Apollonia. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted at Vespers as were the Dominical preces at Compline because of the concurrent and occurrent double feasts.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Primo die . In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of St. Paul's Epistle to Timothy. In the second nocturn the lessons are from the writing of St. Augustine on the Apostle. In the third nocturn the homily is, again, from St. Augustine. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Cyril and of St. Apollonia. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted.

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Cyril, the third collect is of St. Apollonia. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Scholastica and of St. Cyril. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Domincal preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. At Mass there is but a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The Purification of the BVM - Candlemass

The Feast of the Purification of the BVM is a Double of the Second Class. The feast is generally known in English-speaking countries as Candlemass as before the principle Mass candles for use throughout the year ahead are solemnly blessed. The liturgical colour of the day is white but violet is used for the Asperges,  blessing of candles and procession. The fourth Sunday after the Epiphany is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

In the Byzantine East the feast is known as the Hypapante, the Meeting of the Lord, and was often so name in early Western liturgical books (e.g. several examples can be found in the comparison of Calendars given in 'Saints in English Calendars before 1100', Henry Bradshaw Society, Vol.CXVII). In the diverse Medieval uses an even more elaborate blessing than the form found in the Roman Missal outlined below can be seen with a preface of blessing, e.g. Sarum, which compares with the blessing of Palms and the Waters at Epiphany.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons used on the feast of the Circumcision,  O admirabile commercium etc,were sung again, doubled, with the psalms of feasts for the Blessed Virgin (Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The chapter was proper to the feast and the Office hymn Ave, maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat was proper to the feast Senex Puerum portabat etc. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch and of the fourth Sunday after Epiphany. At Compline the tone and Doxology of Te lucis was that in honour of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi sit gloria etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper, Ecce venit as templum sanctum suum Dominator Dominus: Gaude et laetare, Sion occurrens Deo tuo and the Office hymn is Quem terra. The antiphons and psalms for each nocturn come from the Common of the Blessed Virgin as does the Office hymn Quem terra, pontus, sidera. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Book of Exodus and from Leviticus. The responsories are proper to feast and particularly beautiful. In the second nocturn the lessons come from a sermon of St. Augustine and in the third nocturn the homily if from St. Ambrose. The ninth lesson is the homily for the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons are proper to the feast, Simeon justus etc., and are sung with the Dominical psalms. The antiphon on the Benedictus is again proper to the feast, Cum inducerent etc. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

At the Hours the hymns have the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation. The antiphons from Lauds, Simeon justus etc., are sung, doubled, with the festal psalms. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii), in the short responsory the versicle Qui natus es de Virgine is sung and the lectio brevis is proper to the feast, Et placebit.

After Terce the Asperges and blessing of candles takes place. The celebrant vests in a violet cope and the ministers wear violet folded chasubles. The altar is vested in white but a violet antependium placed over the festal one etc. The organ is silent (as is always the case when folded chasubles are used).

After the Asperges ceremony the celebrant and ministers go to the Epistle corner, there the celebrant sings five prayers of blessing in the ferial tone. Incense is then blessed, lustral water sprinkled over the candles whilst the celebrant says Asperges me, in a low voice, and then the candles are then incensed. At the centre of the altar the celebrant receives a candle from the senior canon present, kissing the candle before taking it. In no canon or senior cleric is present the celebrant kneels before the altar and takes his own candle. Candles are then distributed while the antiphon Lumen ad revelationem is sung interpolated into the canticle Nunc dimittis. Those receiving the candles kiss them, first, then the celebrant's hand. At the conclusion of the distribution the antiphon Exsurge, Domine is sung with a Doxology and the candles lighted. After the distribution the celebrant returns with the ministers to the Epistle corner and chants Oremus. As the feast falls on a Sunday, and not being in Septuagesima, the deacon does not sing Flectamus genua. The celebrant sings the collect Exaudi. The procession then takes place. The subdeacon of the Mass takes the processional cross. The procession goes around the church with lighted candles during the singing of three antiphons Adorna thalamum, Responsum accepit Simeon and Obtulerunt. These text are clearly ancient and found, almost verbatim, in the Menaion of the Byzantine rite.

After the Procession the ministers change from violet vestments to white and Mass is celebrated in the usual matter. The Gloria is sung and the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung and the preface is that of the Nativity, the feast being a 'satellite' of Christmas. Lighted candles are held by all during the chanting of the Gospel, including the celebrant, and from the beginning of the Canon until after the distribution of Communion. The last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At second Vespers the antiphons Simeon justus etc are again sung, doubled, with the psalms of the Blessed Virgin.  After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday. From Compline today the Marian antiphon changes from Alma, Redemptoris to Ave, Regina caelorum etc.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast although of second class gains a first Vespers when it falls on a Sunday. However, being classed as a feast of the LORD, no commemoration of the Sunday was made at Vespers. Mattins and Lauds are the same as the former Rite except there is no ninth lesson of the Sunday at Mattins and there is no commemoration of the Sunday at Lauds. At the Little Hours the Dominical antiphons and psalter are used rather than those of the feast. At Prime Pss. 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), although the versicle Qui natus is sung in the short responsory the lectio brevis is of the season not of the feast. The Doxology in honour of the Incarnation is not used but the hymns sung to the tone used for Sundays.

At the Asperges and  blessing of candles white vestments are used rather than violet. The five collects of blessing have the usual 'long conclusion' omitted and in its place the 'short conclusion' - e.g. Per eundem Dominum nostrum. Amen. The verse Exsurge, Domine is omitted and the command of Flectamus genua is always omitted - even in years when the feast falls within Septuagesima.  At Mass  Judica me, Deus  and its antiphon, the following versicles and the prayers Aufer a nobis and Oramus te, Domine are entirely omitted and the celebrant simply kisses the altar before censing it. There is no commemoration of the Sunday at Mass and the last Gospel is In principio. At Vespers there is no commemoration of the Sunday.

Icon of the Hypapante from St. John's Parish of the Melkite Eparchy in Australia.

Third Sunday after the Epiphany

The third Sunday after the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew record the LORD healing the leper and the centurion's servant.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms appointed for Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Suscepit Deus. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of the Conversion of St. Paul, of St. Peter the Apostle and of St. Polycarp. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. In the second nocturn the lessons are from an exposition of this Epistle to the Galatians by St. Augustine and in the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aterne rerum conditor. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Polycarp. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime, Ps. 117, 118(i) & 118(ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted.

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Polycarp. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface is that of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113, the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. John Chrysostom and of St. Polycarp. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is but a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Second Sunday after the Epiphany

The second Sunday after the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes at Mattins and Mass are from St. John's account of the Marriage Feast at Cana.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Suscepit Deus which will be used on all Saturdays when Vespers are of the Sunday until Septuagesima. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of the Chair of St. Peter at Rome, of St. Paul the Apostle, SS Marius, Martha, Audifax, & Abachum and, lastly, of St. Canute. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and this will be sung until Septuagesima. The Office hymn is Primo die and this will be sung at Sunday Mattins until the first Sunday in Lent. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians. In the second nocturn a sermon of St. Chrysostom provides the lessons and, in the third nocturn, the homily is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne and that too is sung at Sunday Lauds until the first Sunday of Lent. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of SS Marius etc and of St. Canute followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

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

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Marius etc, the third collect is of St. Canute. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday are sung. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of SS Fabian & Sebastian. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of the Chair of St. Peter at Rome has been abolished. There are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. At Mass there is a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany - The Holy Family

The feast of the Holy Family is of greater-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The feast was granted by Leo XIII in 1893 in response to numerous petitions from Ordinaries and originally placed on the third Sunday after the Epiphany. Following the reforms of 1911-13 - which aimed to remove the celebration of feasts assigned to Sundays - Benedict XV assigned the feast to the Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany and extended it to the Universal Kalendar. Although of only greater-double rite it is classed as a feast of the LORD and so takes precedence over the semi-double Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Jacob autem etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112 & 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was O lux beata caelitum. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Octave of the Epiphany (the antiphon on the Magnificat being proper to the 11th January, Admoniti Magi etc) and of the Sunday within the Octave. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology of the feast Jesu, tuis obediens etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper to the feast, Christum Dei Filium etc and the Office hymn is Sacra jam splendent. In the first nocturn the antiphons Cum inducerent etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 8, 18 & 23 and the lessons are from St. Paul's Epistle to the Colossians. In the second nocturn the antiphons Consurgens Joseph etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 44, 45 & 86 and the lessons are taken from a brief of Leo XIII. In the third nocturn the antiphons Ibant parentes Jesu etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 97. The homily is from St. Bernard on St. Luke's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Post triduum etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is O gente felix hospita. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany and of the Octave of the Epiphany (the antiphon on the Benedictus being proper to the 12th January, Manifeste magnus est etc.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. The hymns of the Hours have the Doxology proper to the feast. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii), the versicle Qui Mariae et Joseph subditus fuisti is sung in the short responsory and the lectio brevis is Semetipsum exinanivit.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany and the third collect is of the Octave of the Epiphany. The Creed is sung, the preface and communicantes are of the Epiphany.

After None first Vespers of the Octave Day of the Epiphany are sung.  The antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116 as on the feast. The Office hymn is Crudelis Herodes Deum. After the, proper, collect of the Octave Day commemorations are sung of the Holy Family and  of the Sunday within the Octave. At Compline Te lucis has the Doxology of the Epiphany.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of the Holy Family has been raised to II Class (in order for it to precedence over the Sunday) and gains a first Vespers at which there were no commemorations. The Octave of the Epiphany has been abolished.  At Compline on Saturday, and at the Hours the hymns have the ordinary Doxology. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Prime and the Hours the antiphons and psalmody are of the Sunday (at Prime Pss. 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), and  the lectio brevis is of 'Epiphanytide'. At Mass there is a single collect. Vespers are of the Holy Family without any commemorations.

The Holy Name of Jesus & The Vigil of the Epiphany

The feast of the Holy Name of Jesus and is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. The Vigil of the Epiphany is commemorated in the Office and at Mass. This feast takes the place of the second 'vacant' Sunday after the Nativity or, when no Sunday falls between the Circumcision and the Epiphany, it is kept on January 2nd. The feast was granted to the Franciscan Order in 1530 to be kept on 14th January. In 1721 the feast was extended to the Universal Calendar to be kept on the second Sunday after the Epiphany. Following the 1911-13 reform the feast was moved to the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany or kept on January 2nd if no such Sunday occurrs. In the Sarum Rite the feast was kept on August 7th - that date still appears in the Calendar of the Book of Common Prayer.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the, proper, antiphons Omnis qui invocaverit etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 115. The Office hymn was Jesu, dulcis memoria. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Vigil of the Epiphany. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Admirabile nomen Jesu etc and the Office hymn is Jesu, Rex admirabilis etc. In the first nocturn the antiphons Domine, Dominus noster etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 8, 18 & 23 and the lessons are from the Acts of the Apostles. In the second nocturn the antiphons Memores erunt etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 44, 45 & 86 and lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Bernard. In the third nocturn the antiphons Cantate Domino etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 95, 96 & 97. The homily is also from St. Bernard. The ninth lesson is of the Vigil of the Epiphany. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons are again proper, Oleum effusum etc sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The Office hymn is Jesu, decus angelicum. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Vigil of the Epiphany and of St. Telesphorus.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order with the festal psalms. The Doxologies of the hymns at the Little Hours are changed in honour of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi sit gloria etc. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii), the short lesson is proper, Omne quodcumque.

The Mass is proper, In nomine Jesu. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Vigil of the Epiphany, (in private Masses the third collect is of St. Telesphorus). The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Nativity and the last Gospel is of the Vigil of the Epiphany.

After None first Vespers of the great feast of the Epiphany are sung. The antiphons Ante luciferum genitus etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Crudelis Herodes. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Holy Name. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui apparuisti Gentibus etc.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of the Epiphany has been abolished. The hymns at the Little Hours do not have their Doxologies changed. At the Hours the antiphons are from the Sunday Office, not the feast (at Prime Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii and the short lesson is from the season, Ipsi peribunt). At Vespers there is no commemoration of the feast of the Holy Name. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the ordinary Doxology.

Art: Jastrow, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons