The third week of September - Corrigendum

Unfortunately, mea culpa, there is an error in the entry for Ember Friday this week. The correct text can be read below.

Seven Dolours of the BVM

The feast of the Seven Dolours, or sometimes termed the Seven Sorrows, of the BVM is a Double of the Second Class. The seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, and, this year the third Sunday of September, is commemorated in the Office and at Mass. The liturgical colour of the feast is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons, Quo abiit etc, proper to the feast, were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147.  The Office hymn was Jam toto subitus. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were both proper to the feast.  After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September). At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui passus es pro servulis etc and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper, Stemus juxta Crucem etc. The hymn is O quot undis lacrimarum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Multiplicati sunt etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 3, 10 & 30. The lessons are from the prophet Jeremiah. In the second nocturn the antiphons Factum est cor meum etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 21, 55 & 41. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Bernared. In the third nocturn the antiphons Intenderunt etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 63, 6 & 45. The homily on St. John's Gospel is from the writings of St. Ambrose. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday from a homily of St. Chrysostom on St. Matthew’s Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Quo abiit etc, are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn at Lauds is Summae Deus clementiae. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Nicomedes.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung to the proper tone of the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui passus es pro servulis etc. At Prime and the Hours the antiphons Quo abiit etc are sung with the festal psalms (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii). In the short responsory the verse Qui passus es propter nostram salutem is sung and the lectio brevis is proper to the feast Deduc quasi etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. In said Masses the third collect is of St. Nicomedes. After the Gradual and Alleluia Stabat Mater is sung as a sequence. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM with the clause Et te in Transfixione and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all is sung as at first Vespers except the antiphon on the Magnificat, Opressit me dolor etc, which is proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following Office of SS Cornelius and Cyprian and of the Sunday. At Compline Te lucis is sung to the tone of the proper Doxology and the Dominical preces are, again, omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Vespers yesterday afternoon were of the Exaltation of the Cross without any commemorations. The Office of the Seven Dolours does not outrank the Sunday so the colour of the Office, from Mattins, is green. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds a commemoration is sung of the Seven Sorrows but St. Nicomedes is forgotten. At Prime the Domincal psalms are sung. At the Hours the hymns have the ordinary tone and Doxology. In said Masses a commemoration is made of the Seven Dolours. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

The Nativity of the BVM

The Nativity of the Mother of God is a Double of the Second Class feast with a Simple Octave. Prior to the changes to Octaves in 1913 it had a 'normal' Octave. This year the feast falls on the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (and second Sunday of September) which is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Nativitas gloriosae 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 and collect were proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung, the antiphon on the Magnificat being In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second Sunday of September. At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung andTe lucis was sung to the melody of the Incarnation with the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria etc. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Nativitatem Virginis Mariae celebremus: * Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum, the hymn, from the Common, is Quem terra. In the first nocturn the antiphons Benedicta tua etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 8, 18 & 23. The lessons in the first nocturn are the Incipit of the Song of Songs, with much exquisite imagery, with repsonsories proper to the feast. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung, doulbed, with psalms 44, 45 & 88. The lessons are taken from a sermon attributed to St. Augustine. Last year a learned reader commented that the sermon is actually from a sermon of (St) Fulbert of Chartres. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude, Maria virgo etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 95, 96 & 97. St. Jerome provides the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday from St. Anbroses on St. Luke's Gospel. Only the first of the three lessons of the homily is required to be read but all three may be read together to form an extended ninth lesson. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc are again sung, doubled, this time with Ps. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Hadrian.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime (Ps. 53, 118i & 118ii) in the short responsory the versicle Qui natus es is sung and the short lesson is In plateis. The Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. In some countries a blessing of seeds, figs, grapes or other fruits takes place (the fruits in question depending on the climate of the place. The introit is Salve, sancta Parens, the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. In said Masses the third collect is of St. Hadrian. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM, Et te in Nativitate and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are of the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung and Te lucis has the Doxology and Melody of the Incarnation.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God is merely commemorated at Lauds and said Masses. Vespers yesterday afternoon were of the Sunday with no commemorations. The hymns of the Hours have the ordinary Doxology. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds a commemoration is sung of the Nativity of the BVM. At sung Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Icon: Russian, 18th century

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 first Sunday of September and the beginning of the Pars Autumnalis of the Breviary. 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 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 St. Raymond Nonnatus, of St. Giles and of the SS Twelve Brothers. 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 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 commemorations o are sung of St. Giles and the SS Twelve Brothers, followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

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 of St. Giles, the third collect is of SS Twelve Brothers. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss 109,110, 111, 112 & 113). The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following Office of St. Stephen of Hungary followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

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. The Suffrage and the Dominical preces have been abolished. Quicumque is only said 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, from Mattins this year, is green. It is also the fourth Sunday of August. The pericopes from St. Matthew's Gospel contain the passage about the 'lilies of the field' and seeking first the Kingdom of God.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle were sung. The antiphons Juravit Dominus etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August) and of St. Louis of France. 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 Ecclesiasticus. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the Book of Morals by St. Gregory the Great. 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 a commemoration of St. Louis is sung followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

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 of St. Louis, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of following Office of St. Zephyrinus and of St. Louis followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers on Saturday there was no commemoration of St. Louis. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. The Suffrage of the Saints and the Dominical preces have been abolished. Quicumque is said but once a year. At Mass there is but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations nor Suffrage.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XIII Sunday after Pentecost - Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption

The thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the third Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption. 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. Throughout the Octave hymns of Iambic meter are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi..Qui natus etc.

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 etc. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Hyacinth, of the Octave of the Assumption and of St. Agapitus. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted. 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 Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Wisdom. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Ambrose's Book of Offices. 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 commemorations are sung of the Octave and of St. Agapitus. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation. At Prime Pss. 117, 118(i) & 118(ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. The versicle in the short responsory is Qui natus es.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave, the third collect is of St. Agapitus. 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 Assumption was the feast of St. Joachim, Father of the BVM. One Mass, other than the Conventual, may be sung of the feast. The Mass Dispersit is sung in white vestments with Gloria, with second collect of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the Preface is of the Holy Trinity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. John Eudes and of the Octave. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octave of the Assumption has been abolished. There are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. All hymns are sung with the ordinary Doxology. At Mass there is a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XII Sunday after Pentecost

The twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. This year it is the second Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octave of St. Lawrence.

Yesterday afternoon, at second Vespers of the feast of St. Lawrence, the antiphons Laurentius ingressus est martyr etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The Office hymn was Deus, tuorum militum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ego in altissimis for the Saturday before the second Sunday of August). 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 Incipit of the book of Ecclesiastes. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon by St. Chrysostom. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Luke's Gospel is from the writings of the Venerable Bede. 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 Tiburtius and Susanna followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Tiburtius & Susanna, the third collect is A cunctis. 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 a commemoration is sung of the following Office of St. Clare. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the Octave of St. Lawrence has been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations and the Suffrage has been abolished. Quicumque is said once a year and the Dominical preces have been abolished. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal