Vigil of the Assumption

The Vigil of the Assumption is of simple rite. Traditionally it has been a day of fasting and abstinence in the West (in many Eastern rites a far stricter fast of preparation takes place from the beginning of August).

At Mattins there is one nocturn with three, proper lessons from St. Chrsostom. At Lauds the Second Scheme of psalms is used (the original ferial psalms before the 1911-13 reform), the ferial preces are sung followed by a commemoration of St. Eusebius M and the Suffrage of the Saints in the form used for feasts of the BVM. At Prime and the Hours ferial preces are sung. These are sung whilst kneeling. At Prime the fourth psalm is added, as is the case when the Second Scheme of Lauds is sung, and the chapter is the ferial Pacem .

Mass is sung after None. Violet vestments are worn, the ministers wearing dalmatic and tunicle not folded chasubles. The Mass is proper, Vultum tuum, the Gloria is not sung. The second collect is of St. Eusebius and the third collect is Deus, qui corda, of the Holy Ghost. As it is a 'kneeling day' all in choir kneel for the orations and from the Sanctus to the response after Pax Domini. As is the rule when the Gloria is not sung Benedicamus Domino is chanted as the dismissla by the deacon facing the altar rather than Ite, missa est.

First Vespers of the feast are sung with the dulcid and stunningly beautiful hymn Ave, Maris stella. A proper Doxlogy is sung at hymns of Iambic metre to the tone used on feasts of the Blessed Virgin for the Octave. In parts of Southern Italy mimetic burial processions take place in honour of the Virgin's repose vrey similar to the more widespread burial processions of the Lord on Good Friday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' as usual much has been lost. At Lauds the ferial preces are omitted as is the Suffrage. At Prime only three psalms are sung, the chapter is the festal Regi saeculorum and the ferial preces are omitted. The ferial preces are omitted at the other Hours.

At Mass the collect for the Holy Ghost is omitted. The dismissal is Ite, missa est and the period of kneeling at Mass has been shortened.