XVII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers this year, is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes at Mattins and Mass come from the twenty-second chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel and have the Pharisees asking the LORD what is the greatest commandment. The Vigil of St. Matthew the Apostle was anticipated yesterday, not in the Office as Ember Saturday excluded that, but at Mass.

As 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 Adonai, Domine for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of SS Januarius & Companions and of SS Eustace & Companions. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Judith. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Ambrose on Elias and fasting. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Chrysostom on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of SS Eustace & Companions. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Eustace & Companions. Today, there is no third collect. The Creed and the preface of the Blessed Trinity are sung.

Prior to the reform of 1911-13 the third Sunday in September was the feast of the Seven Dolours of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A Mass, other than the Conventual Mass, may be celebrated of the feast in white vestments. The Mass Stabant juxta Crucem is sung with Gloria, second collect of the Sunday, third collect of SS Eustace & Companions, the sequence Stabat Mater, Creed, preface of the BVM and last Gospel of the Sunday.

After None there is colour change to red and first Vespers of St. Matthew the Apostle are sung. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of SS Eustace & Companions. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the third Sunday of September and the Ember Days will fall this coming week. The Vigil of St. Matthew has been abolished. At Vespers there were no commemorations. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is but a single collect. Vespers are of the Sunday with no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XVI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers this year, is green. This year it is also the third Sunday of September (and the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM - although one might be forgiven for failing to notice it). The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke tell of the LORD healing the man with dropsy on the Sabbath. The week ahead will see the observance of the September Ember Days.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation (Jesu, tibi...Qui natus es etc) and the antiphon on the Magnificat was Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of the Holy Name of Mary. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted.  At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Tobias. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo on fasting in the seventh month. In the third nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose, a homily on St. Lukes's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

At Prime, Pss. 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), both 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 of the place. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Prior to the reform of 1911-13 the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM was observed as the feast of the Holy Name of Mary. One Mass, but not the Conventual Mass, may be celebrated of the Holy Name of Mary in white vestments. The Mass Vutum tuum is sung with Gloria, the second collect of the Sunday, Creed, preface of the BVM and last Gospel of the Sunday.

After None there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross are sung. The antiphons O magnum pietatis opus etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Vexilla regis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrages are omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the second Sunday in September and the antiphon on the Magnificat was In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second Sunday of September. At Vespers there were no commemorations and the hymns of Vespers and Compline had the ordinary Doxology. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn, the first and second lesson are from the Book of Job. The Suffrage of the Saints and the Dominical preces have been abolished. At Prime Quicumque is sung but once a year. At Mass there is a single collect. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations. The Ember Days are not observed this week but the week following.

Art: Jerome Nadal.

XV Sunday after Pentecost

The fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the second Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke record the LORD raising the son of the widow of Naim.

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 In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of St. Lawrence Justinian followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons continue to be read from the Book of Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book on Morals.In the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Augustine on St. Lukes's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

At Prime, Pss. 117, 118(i) & 118(ii), both 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 of the place. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

At Vespers, Pss. 109,110, 111, 112 & 113, the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the first Sunday of September. There are no commemorations at Vespers. The Suffrage of the Saints and the Dominical preces have been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. Quicumque is sung but once a year on Trinity Sunday. At Mass there is a single collect.
Image: Missale Romanum, Paris, 1572

XIV Sunday after Pentecost

The fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the first Sunday of September and the beginning of the Pars Autumnalis of the Breviary. The pericopes from St. Matthew's Gospel contain the passage about the 'lilies of the field' and seeking first the Kingdom of God. This year the fifth Sunday of August, and its week, are omitted.

Yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, of St. Rose of Lima and SS Felix & Adauctus. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book of Morals. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Rose of Lima and of SS Felix & Adauctus. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Rose of Lima, the third collect is of SS Felix & Adauctus. The Creed is sung and the preface is 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. Raymond Nonnatus and of St. Rose of Lima. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the first Sunday of September is next week and at Vespers yesterday the antiphon on the Magnificat was Observa, fili for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of August. There were no commemorations. At Mattins, in the single nocturn, the first and second lessons are for the fifth Sunday of August. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XIII Sunday after Pentecost

The thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers, is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of August. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke's Gospel tell of the LORD and the ten lepers, only one of which thanked Him for being healed. The Vigil of St. Bartholomew the Apostle was anticipated yesterday in the Office and at Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi...Qui natus etc. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Octave Day of the Assumpton of the BVM and of St. Philip Benizi. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxlogy and melody of the Incarnation.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Ecclesiasticus. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the Book of Morals by St. Gregory the Great. In the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Augustine on St. Luke's Gospel. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Philip Benizi. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Philip Benizi. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

After None there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle are sung. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms of first Vespers from the Common Apostles, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Philip Benizi. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of St. Bartholomew and the Octave of the Assumption have been abolished. Yesterday Vespers of the Immaculate Heart were sung with a commemoration of the Sunday. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the ordinary Doxology. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is a single collect. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

St. Joachim, Father of the BVM

The feast of St. Joachim, father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. This year the feast occurs on its former day of celebration the Sunday within the Octaves of the Assumption and of St. Lawrence. Today is also the XII Sunday after Pentecost and third Sunday of August which is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. Although the day within the Octave of the Assumption is not commemorated hymns of Iambic metre still take the Marian Doxology and tone and Qui natus es is sung at Prime in the short responsory. Following the reforms of 1911-13 the Octave of St. Lawrence is mostly latent.

In pre-Trent times the feast was often celebrated on the 20th March. The feast was suppressed by Pius V in the Tridentine Missal and Breviary and re-instated by Gregory XIII in 1584. In 1623 the feast gained a proper Office and was transferred to the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption by Clement XII in 1738. Leo XIII raised the feast to a double of the second class in 1879. The 1948 Pian Commission discussed joining the feast with that of St. Anne, which indeed happened in due course (c.f. Memoria sulla riforma liturgica, ## 108, 178).

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Assumption were sung. The antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of the BVM, Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Hodie Maria Virgo caelos ascendit: gaudete, quia cum Christo regnat in aeternum. After the collect of the feast, the sublime Famulorum tuorum, commemorations were sung of St. Joachim and of the XII Sunday after Pentecost (the antiphon on the Magnifcat being Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August). At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung and Te lucis was sung with the Doxology and tone of the Octave, Jesu, tibi...qui natus etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Iste Confessor. In the first nocturn the antiphons Beatus vir etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 1, 2 & 3. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the Common of Confessor non-Pontiffs, Beatus vir, etcwith their responsories. In the second nocturn the antiphons Invocantem etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 4, 5 & 8 and the lessons are proper to the feast. The fourth lesson is from the Discourse on the Praises of the Virgin by St. Epiphanius, the fifth and six lessons from a Discourse on the Birth of the Virgin by St. John Damascene. In the third nocturn the antiphons Domine etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 14, 20 & 23. The lessons, from the Common, are again from St. John Damascene. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

At the Hours the Office hymns have the Doxology of the Octave. The antiphons of Lauds are used in the usual order. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii), Qui natus es is sung as the verse in the responsory because of the Octave and the lectio brevis is Justum deduxit.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect of the Sunday, the Creed is sung, the preface is of the Holy Trinity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Iste, Confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Hyacinth and of the Sunday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the XII Sunday after Pentecost takes precedence over the feast of St. Joachim. The Octaves of the Assumption and of St. Lawrence have been abolished. At Vespers yesterday there was no commemoration of St. Joachim. At Compline, and the Hours, the ordinary Doxology was sung. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds a commemoration of St. Joachim is sung. At Low and Conventual Masses a commemoration is made of St. Joachim. At Vespers there are no commemorations.
Art: Icon of SS Joachim and Anna from the Greek Church

XI Sunday after Pentecost

The eleventh Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers this year, is green. This year it is the first Sunday of August. The Gospel pericopes from St. Mark contain the account of the LORD healing a deaf and dumb man with His spittle. The vigil of St. Lawrence was anticipated yesterday.

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 Sapientia for the Saturday before the first Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of SS Cyriacus, Largus & Smaragdus, of St. John Vianney and of St. Romanus. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipiunt of the Proverbs of Solomon. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from a tract of St. Ambrose on the 118th Psalm. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory the Great on St. Mark's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. John Vianney and of St. Romanus. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. John Vianney, the third collect is of St. Romanus. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

After None there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of St. Lawrence are sung. The antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Deus, tuorum militum. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. John Vianney. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Mass there is but a single collect. Vespers are of the Sunday, not of St. Lawrence.

Art: Jerome Nadal