Sunday 5 December 2010

The Second Sunday of Advent

The second Sunday of Advent (and the third and fourth) are semi-doubles of the second class in rank. The Gospel pericopes, from St. Matthew, concern St. John the Baptist in prison sending two of his followers to meet the LORD.

At Vespers on Saturday the proper antiphons from Lauds were sung, Ecce in nubibus caeli etc, with the psalms of Saturday. Commemorations were sung of St. Sabbas and St. Peter Chrysologus. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted because of the occurring double feast.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons are a continuation of Isaiah and today contain the beautiful symbolism of the Rod of Jesse. In the second nocturn this theme is continued as the lessons are taken from St. Jerome's Expositon on Isaias the Prophet. Like so much of the Advent liturgy these readings are exquisite:
Therefore upon this flower, which shall suddenly come forth from the stock and root of Jesse through the Virgin Mary, the Spirit of the LORD shall rest: for truly in him all the fulness of the Godhead was pleased to dwell corporeally: the spirit was not poured out upon him by measure, as it was upon the other Saints: but as we read in the Hebrew Gospel used by the Zazarenes: The whole fountain of the Holy Ghost shall be poured forth upon him. For the LORD is a Spirit; and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty.

(Lesson VI, Stanbrooke Abbey translation.) In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper, Ecce in nubibus caeli etc as were sung at Vespers. A commemoration is sung of St. Sabbas. At Prime the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce, the deacon and subdeacon wear folded chasubles. The Gloria is not sung in the seasonal liturgy of Advent. The second collect is of St. Sabbas, the third collect of the BVM in Advent, Deus, qui de beate. The Creed is sung and the preface that of the Trinity. Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal.

At Vespers the antiphons from Lauds are, again, used. A commemoration is sung of tomorrow's feast of St. Nicholas.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers, Lauds or Mass. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle and the dismissal is Ite, missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

5 comments:

Capreolus said...

Dear Rubricarius,

I just received my copies of the Ordo for 2011 yesterday. They are beautifully produced as always. And thank you for sending along a copy to my priestly friend. Much appreciated!

For anyone considering whether or not to purchase an Ordo, I most warmly encourage you to do so. Everything is set out very carefully and well, making the traditional Office extremely easy to prepare and then recite.

Keep up all your good work, and know that I am praying for you and your efforts.

In Christ,
Fr. Capreolus

Rubricarius said...

Thank you Fr. Capreolus. Your kind words are much appreciated.

Paleo-Con said...

I received my Ordo for 2011 last week and was impressed as always. I know this will be discussed when the time comes, but I couldn't understood why the Most Precious Blood would be transferred to Monday, 4 July instead of Sunday, 3 July as that is only a Semi-Double Sunday? Is this because it is a Sunday within a Privileged Octave (Sacred Heart)of the Third Order? I couldn't quite understand why.
Thank you for your wonderful work.

Rubricarius said...

Paleo-Con,

Thank you.

Doubles of the First and Second Class that have to be transferred, when impeded by a higer Office, move to the first day that is not occupied by another DICl, DIICl, Sunday - even a sd one, or privileged Vigil. (Vide: Additiones et Variationes Tit. IV, 3)

I know this seems strange as if Sunday was the 1st July then the Precious Blood would take precedence over the occurring Sunday

Paleo-Con said...

Thank you for the information.
God Bless.