The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle

The feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle is of greater-double rite. The feast is of particular significance to 'Rubricarius' as his Baptismal name is Paul. The liturgical colour of the feast is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the proper antiphons, Ego plantavi etc., were sung with the psalms from first Vespers of the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The chapter, hymn, versicle & response, antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were all proper to the feast. Commemorations were sung of St. Peter and then the preceding Office of St. Timothy. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper, Laudemus Deum nostrum, In conversione Doctoris Gentium. The hymn is proper, as sung at Vespers, Egregie Doctor, Paule. The antiphons and psalms at the three nocturns are proper. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Acts of the Apostles, detailing the account of Paul falling from his horse and the LORD asking, Saul, why he persecutes the brethren. In the second nocturn the lessons are provided from the writing of St. Augustine. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Bede. At Lauds the antiphons Ego plantavi etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. A commemoration is sung of St. Peter.

At the Hours the antiphons, Ego plantavi etc., are sung with festal psalmody in the usual order. At Prime the lectio brevis is proper to the feast, Saulus, adhuc spirans.

Mass is sung after Terce. Where the rubrics are observed properly six candlesticks are placed on the altar. The Mass is proper with the introit Scio cui credidi. The Gloria is sung, a commemoration is sung of St. Peter the Apostle. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Apostles.

At second Vespers the antiphons Ego plantavi etc are sung again with the psalms from Second Vespers of Apostles (Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138). Commemorations are sung of St. Peter and St. Polycarp. At Compline the Sunday psalms are sung.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' - God alone knows why anyone should follow such pernicious rubbish - the feast loses first Vespers and the festal Compline. Mattins is sliced down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds the commemoration of St. Peter is truncated to the former oration being added to the oration of the feast under one conclusion. At the Hours the antiphons and psalms are of Tuesday, not of the feast. At Mass a commemoration of St. Peter is added to the collect of the day under one conclusion. The Creed is not sung. At Vespers again for a commemoration of St. Peter his oration is added to the oration of the feast under one conclusion. There is no commemoration of St. Timothy. Compline is ferial.

Icon: From an Orthodox Church in Pennsylvania featured here.