SS Simon and Jude Apostles

The feast of SS Simon and Jude is a Double of the Second Class. The feast of these two apostles is kept on the anniversary of the transfer of their relics to Old St. Peter's in Rome in the seventh century. St. Simon is traditionally believed to have been martyred by a curved sword and St. Jude, also known as Thaddaeus, was martryed by a club. The two probably met, preaching the Gospel, in Mesopotamia.

Yesterday a Vigil preceded the feast. At Mattins there were three, proper, lessons. The second scheme of Lauds was used, the penitential form beginning with the psalm Miserere (actually the pre-1911 ferial Lauds). The ferial preces were sung, kneeling at Lauds and all the Hours. At Lauds the Suffrage of the Saints was sung after the collect of the Vigil.

Mass was sung after None. The deacon and sub-deacon wore dalmatic and tunicle, not folded chasubles. The chant for the Mass was ferial, the second collect was Concede nos, and the third for the Church or pope. Being a 'kneeling day' all in choir kneel for the orations and from the Sanctus to the response after Pax Domini. As there was no Gloria , following the usual rule, Benedicamus Domino is the dismissal.

Vespers were first Vespers of the Holy Apostles SS Simon and Jude. The antiphons from the Common of Apostles, Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. At Mattins the antiphons and psalms are taken from the Common of Apostles. The lessons in the first nocturn are the Incipit of St. Jude's Epistle. In the second nocturn the fourth lesson is an historical one and the fifth and sixth from a sermon of St. Gregory. In the third nocturn the homily on St. John's Gospel is from the writings of St. Augustine.

At Lauds the Dominical psalms are sung under the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc. Prime is festal with psalm 53 and the lectio brevis Ibant Apostoli. Festal psalmody is used at the Little Hours.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria and Creed are sung and the preface is that of the Apostles.

Vespers are second Vespers of the feast (Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 139).

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil for the feast has been stripped away completely and in its place a 'Fourth Class' ferial day. First Vespers of the feast has been stripped away too to be replaced by ferial Vespers. However, Mattins at least retains its three nocturns. At the Little Hours the ferial antiphons and psalter are used. At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season, not of the feast.