XVII Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost and the fourth Sunday of September. The penitential last few, Ember, days have past - although in the 'EF' they will occur later this week. The Sunday is, as usual, of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes at Mattins and Mass come from the twenty-second chapter of St. Matthew and have the Pharisees asking the LORD what is the greatest commandment.

As noted in yesterday's post at Vespers on Saturday the antiphon on the Magnificat is Adonai, Domine of the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of September. A commemoration of the preceding Office of St. Joseph of Cupertino was sung after the collect of the Sunday followed by a commemoration of SS Januarius and Companions. The Suffrage was not sung because of the double feasts and likewise the Dominical preces were omitted at Compline.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Judith. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose's book on Elias and fasting. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Chrysostom on St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds, after the collect of the day, a commemoration is sung of SS Januarius and Companions.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Januarius and Companions. There is no third collect. The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Before the reform of 1911-13 the third Sunday in the month of September was the feast of the Seven Dolours of the BVM. Following that reform one Mass, other than the Conventual Mass, may be celebrated of the Seven Dolours. The Mass is celebrated in white vestments. Commemoration is made of the Sunday (and in said Masses of SS Januarius and Companions) and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are of the Sunday, commemorations are sung of the following Office of SS Eustace and his Companions and of SS Januarius and Companions. The Suffrage is not sung neither are the Dominical preces sung at Compline due to the occurrence of double feasts.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' this is the third Sunday of September. At Vespers yesterday the antiphon on the Magnificat was Ne reminiscaris. Mattins is cut down to only one nocturn the scriptural lessons are from the book of Job. There are no commemorations at either Vespers, Lauds or Mass.

Art: Jerome Nadal