Quinquagesima Sunday

Quinquagesima Sunday is a semi-double of the second class and its liturgical colour is violet. The Gospel pericopes at Mattins and Mass are taken from St. Luke and give the account of the giving of sight to the man born blind.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter was proper to Quinqugesima Sunday, Fratres: Si linguis hominum, and the Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper to Quinquagesima Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of SS Faustinus and Jovita followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins, as on the previous two Sundays, the antiphons and psalms are those used on Sundays throughout the year and the Office hymn is Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are again from Genesis and this Sunday concern the story of Abraham. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose on the Book on the Patriarch Abraham and in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel of the man blind from birth whose sight was restored by the LORD. The blind man is a figure of the human race according to St. Gregory. A ninth responsory, Caecus sedebat secus viam etc, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

At Lauds the 'second scheme' of psalms is sung: Pss. 50, 117, 62, Benedictus es and 148. The antiphons at Lauds are proper for Quinquagesima Sunday, Secundum multitudinem etc. The Office hymn is Aeterne. The antiphon at the Benedictus and the collect are proper to Quinquagesima. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of SS Faustinus & Jovita followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

At the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper to Quinquagesima Sunday.  At Prime, Pss. 92, 99 (displaced at Lauds) 118(i) & 118(ii), the Dominical preces are sung.

At Mass the Gloria is omitted, the second collect is of SS Faustinus & Jovita, the third collect is A cunctis. A Tract is sung 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 and the last Gospel.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday are sung and the chapter is proper to the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.  At Compline the Domincal preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962'at Vespers there were no commemorations. The Suffrage of the Saints and the Dominical preces have been abolished. At Mattins there is a single nocturn. At Prime Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii ) are sung, as on feasts. At Mass there is a single collect and Benedicamus Domino is suppressed in favour of Ite, Missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sexagesima Sunday

Sexagesima Sunday is a semi-double Sunday of the second class and its liturgical colour is violet. The Sunday is characterised by a very lengthy Epistle from St. Paul's Latter Epistle to the Corinthians. The Gospel pericopes are from St. Luke and contain the parable of the sower with his seed landing on rock, amongst weeds and on the good ground.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter was proper to the Sunday, Fratres: Libenter suffertis, and the Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Romuald and of St. John of Matha. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Praeoccupemus and the Office hymn is Primo die. The antiphons and psalms are from the Psalter for Sundays. In the first nocturn the lessons continue to be read from Genesis (Ch. 5 & 6) with the beginning of the story of Noah. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose on Noah and the Ark and in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on the Gospel of the seed falling on good and poor ground. A ninth responsory, Cum turba plurima, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

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 for Sexagesima Sunday, Secundum magnam misericordiam etc as are the chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus. The Office hymn is Aeterne.  After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. John of Matha. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At the Hours the antiphons, Semen cecidit etc, and chapters are proper to Sexagesima Sunday. At Prime, Pss. 92, 99 (displaced at Lauds) 118(i) & 118(ii), the Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is omitted, the second collect is of St. John of Matha. Today there is no third collect. A Tract is sung after the Gradual, the Creed is sung, the Preface is of the Trinity and Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar.

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. Cyril of Alexandria, of St. John of Matha and of St. Apollonia. The Suffrage 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 of three lessons..  At Lauds there are no commemorations.  At Prime the arrangement of psalmody is festal, Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii). At Mass there is single collect and Benedicamus Domino is suppressed in favour of Ite, missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Septuagesima Sunday

Septuagesima is a semi-double Sunday of the second class and its liturgical colour, until None this year, is violet. Only a feast that is a Double of the First Class may take precedence, in occurence, over it, or the following two Sundays.

Yesterday the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany was anticipated. Yesterday 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 commemorations were sung of St. Ignatius of Antioch and of St. John Bosco. (No commemoration is made of an anticipated Sunday). The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted. 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 omitted.

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 a commemoration of St. Ignatius is sung. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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 as are the Dominical preces of .

At Mass the Gloria is omitted. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The second collect is of St. Ignatius. 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.

After None there is a colour change to white and first Vespers of the feast of the Purification of the BVM are sung. The antiphons used on the feast of the Circumcision, O admirabile commercium etc, are sung again, doubled, with the psalms of feasts for the Blessed Virgin, Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The chapter is proper to the feast and the Office hymn is Ave, maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat is proper to the feast Senex Puerum portabat. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Ignatius. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the tone and Doxology of the Incarnation Jesu, tibi sit gloria etc. The Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' anticipated Sundays have been abolished. At Vespers yesterday there were no commemorations. Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn of three lesson. At Lauds there are no commemorations At Prime the arrangement of psalms is truly bizarre with the festal arrangment, 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. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

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 St. Timothy, of the Conversion of St. Paul and of St. Peter the Apostle. 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 commemorations are sung of St. Paul and of St. Peter. 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. Paul, the third collect of St. Peter. 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. Polycarp, of St. Paul and of St. Peter. 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 St. Anthony the Abbot, of the Chair of St. Peter at Rome, of St. Paul the Apostle and of St. Prisca. 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 the Chair of St. Peter, of St. Paul and of St. Prisca. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Chair of St. Peter, the third collect is of St. Paul, and the fourth collect of St. Prisca. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Blessed Trinity and the last Gospel is that appointed for the feast of the Chair of St. Peter at Rome.

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 Marius, Martha, Audifax, & Abachum, of the Chair of St. Peter, of St. Paul and of St. Canute. 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 10th January, Omnes de Saba etc), of the Sunday within the Octave and of St. Hyginus. 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. of the Octave of the Epiphany (the antiphon on the Benedictus being proper to the 11th January, Venient ad te etc. and of St. Hyginus.

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 fourth collect of St. Hyginus. The Creed is sung, the preface and communicantes are of the Epiphany. The last Gospel is In principio.

At Vespers the antiphons Post triduum etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112 & 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is O lux beata Caelitum. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following day within the Octave (the antiphon on the Magnificat being proper to the 11th January, Admoniti Magi), and of the Sunday within the Octave.

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. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

The Holy Name - Octave-day of the Holy Innocents

The feast of the Holy Name of Jesus and is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. 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. 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 a commemoration is sung of the Octave-day of the Holy Innocents.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. 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, in said Masses the second collect is of the Octave-day of the Holy Innocents. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Nativity.

At second Vespers the antiphons Omnis qui invocaverit etc are again sung, doubled, with Psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 115. The Office hymn is Jesu, dulcis memoria. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the following Vigil of the Epiphany. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces are omitted. 

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Compline and at the Hours the hymns do not have their Doxologies changed. The Octave of the Holy Innocents, or at least what little had remained of it, has been abolished. At the Hours the antiphons and psalms are from the Sunday Office, not of the feast (at Prime Pss. 117, 118(i) & 118(ii) and the short lesson at Prime is from the season, Ipsi peribunt). At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations, the Vigil of the Epiphany has been abolished.

 
Art: Jastrow, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons