St. Andrew the Apostle

The feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the 'First Called', is a Double feast of the Second Class. It was preceded yesterday by a Vigil, which because of Advent, as was explained in yesterday's post, not part of the Office but the celebration of Mass. According to St. John's Gospel St. Andrew was a disciple of St. John the Baptist, whose testimony first led him and St. John the Evangelist to follow Jesus. St. Andrew at once recognised Christ as the Messiah. St. Andrew preached the Gospel in Asia Minor and, according to Eusebius, as far as Kiev. St. Andrew is the patron saint of such diverse countries as Scotland and Russia. According to tradition he was crucified at Patras in Achaea. Devotion to St. Andrew was strong in the medieval period and many Western Kalendars such as the venerable Sarum Rite had an octave for the feast. In the Roman liturgy clearly St. Andrew was once regarded as more important than in modern times hence his inclusion in the Libera nos.

The liturgy of the day is festal and began with first Vespers of the feast yesterday afternoon. The antiphons Salve, crux pretiosa etc were sung with the psalms for the Common of Apostles. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Advent feria with the antiphon on the Magnificat being proper to the Tuesday, Quaerite Domininum etc, and the collect from the first Sunday. At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung and the preces were omitted.

At Mattins the antiphons are proper to the feast, Vidit Dominus etc., which are sung with the psalms from the Common of Apostles. In the first nocturn the lessons are from St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. In the second nocturn the lessons are hagiographical and in the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from the writings of St. Gregory. At Lauds the antiphons sung at Vespers, Salve, crux pretiosa etc., are sung with the Dominical psalms. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Advent feria. The antiphon on the Benedictus is proper to the Wednesday of the first week, De Sion etc, with the collect of the first Sunday.

At the Horae Minores the antiphons Salve, crux pretiosa etc are sung with festal psalmody. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) the lectio brevis is Isaias enim dicit.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Advent feria (the collect Excitafrom Advent Sunday). The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Apostles.

At second Vespers the antiphons Salve, crux pretiosa etc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Advent feria with the antiphon on the Magnificat being proper to the Wednesday, Veniet etc., with the collect of the Sunday.

According to the 'liturgical books of 1962' yesterday's Vigil is abolished as are first Vespers for St. Andrew's feast. Compline on Tuesday had the ferial psalms. At Prime and the other Horae Minores ferial antiphons and psalms are sung and the lectio brevis at Prime is of the season.

The Vigil of St. Andrew

When the Vigil of St. Andrew falls within Advent nothing of the Vigil is made in the Office of the Advent ferial day. However, Mass is of the Vigil with a commemoration of Advent. The day is of simple rite and the liturgical colour is violet.

At Mattins the invitatory is Hodie scietis etc and the Office hymn Verbum supernum. The antiphons and psalms of the nocturn are taken from the Psalter for Tuesday. The lessons are from the second chapter of Isaiah. At Lauds the second scheme of psalms is sung, the remnant of old ferial Lauds, beginning with the Miserere. The hymn is En clara vox. The antiphon on the Benedictus is proper to the day, Antequam convenirent etc. After the antiphon has been sung in its entirety after the canticle the ferial preces are sung with the choir kneeling. After the collect (of the previous Sunday) a commemoration is sung of St. Saturninus.

At Prime psalm 95, displaced by the second scheme of Lauds, is added to the psalm of the day (Pss. 24i, 24ii, 24iii & 95). The antiphon In illa die is sung with psalms. The chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. The Advent verse, Qui venturus es in mundum, is sung in the short responsory. Both the Dominical and ferial sets of preces are sung with the choir kneeling.

At the other Hours the antiphons Jucundare etc are sung with the psalms of Tuesday. The short set of ferial preces are sung, with the choir kneeling, before the collect.

The Mass of the Vigil of St. Andrew is sung after None. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle and so the organ may be played. The Mass Dominus secus mare Galilaeae is sung. There is no Gloria. The second collect is of the Advent feria, the third collect of St. Saturninus. Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of St. Andrew has been abolished. In the ferial Office of the day the ferial preces are not sung at Lauds or the other Hours. At Prime psalm 95 is not sung and the chapter is the festal Regi saeculorum. Mass is of the ferial day but the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. In sung Masses there is only one collect. The dismissal is Ite, missa est.

The First Sunday of Advent

The season of Advent begins with Vespers on the Saturday before Advent Sunday. The first Sunday of Advent is a semi-double Sunday of the first class. The liturgy of Advent is perhaps the most exquisite of the entire liturgical year with 'layers' of meaning for both the First and Second Comings of the LORD. There is a weave of expectant joy and penance to be found in the liturgical texts. The eschatalogical theme of last Sunday's Gospel continues with St. Luke's Gospel today and the Coming of the Divine Judge.

During Advent bishops of the Roman rite exchange their violet choir cassocks for black ones (with train) which are worn with either a black mozzeta or black mattelletum with violet linings. Cardinals of the Court of Rome wear their 'winter' violet merino apparel (in contrast to their summer mourning dress of violet watered-silk) in place of their watered-silk scarlet dress.

Vespers yesterday marked the beginning of the Pars Hiemalis, or Winter Volume, of the Breviary. The antiphons In illa die etc were sung with the psalms of Saturday. The Office hymn was Creator alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of St. Silvester. The Suffrage is omitted during Advent. From this Vespers the Marian Antiphon sung is Alma Redemptoris Mater and it is sung with the versicle Angelus Domini etc and the collect Gratiam tuam etc. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted because of the occurring double feast.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem venturum and this is sung in the Dominical and ferial Offices of Advent until the third Sunday. The Office hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with the usual psalms for Sunday. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the prophet Isaiah. In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung and the lessons are taken from the writing of St. Leo on the fast of the tenth month, the theme of which is preparing for the Coming. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung and the homily is from St. Gregory continuing the theme of Coming with his commentary on St. Luke's Gospel about the end times. A ninth responsory is sung and the Te Deum is omitted in the Office of Advent. At Lauds the antiphons In illa die etc, sung at Vespers, are again sung, with the Dominical psalms. The hymn is En clara vox. As noted above the Suffrage is omitted.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds is used with the usual Dominical psalms (117, 118i, 118ii). In the short responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum replaces Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris for all of Advent except when an occuring feast has a proper versicle. The Dominical preces are sung. At the other Hours the remaining antiphons of Lauds are sung in the usual order.

Mass is sung after Terce. During Advent for ferial and Dominical Masses the deacon and sub-deacon do not wear the dalmatic and tunicle but violet folded chasubles, an ancient feature of the Roman liturgy. The Gloria in not sung, the second collect is of the Blessed Virgin in Advent, Deus, qui de beate, the third collect Ecclesiae. The Creed is sung, the preface that of the Blessed Trinity and, as the Gloria was not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the deacon facing the altar not turned towards the people.

At Vespers the antiphons In illa die etc are sung again this time with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' so much has been excised from the Breviary that there are only two volumes not four. Advent Sunday marks the beginning of the Pars Prior, which runs until first Vespers of Trinity Sunday. At Vespers there are no commemorations. There are no preces at Compline. Mattins is cut down to just one nocturn of three lessons. At Prime there are no preces. At Mass the deacon wears the dalmatic, and the sub-deacon the tunicle as at other times of the year. Folded chasubles, so ancient and so quintessentially Roman, have been tossed aside. There is only one collect and the dismissal is Ite, missa est. Grim!

Art: Jerome Nadal

XXIV and Last Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the twenty-fourth and last Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the fifth Sunday of November. The Sunday is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the prophetic words of the LORD concerning the last days and the coming of the Antichrist.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Super muros tuos for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of St. Felix of Valois and of St. Elizabeth. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted because of the occurring double feasts as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Michah the Prophet. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Basil the Great on the thirty-third psalm. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration of St. Felix of Valois is sung.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St Felix of Valois. There is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. Lucis Creator is sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of the Presentation of the BVM and of St. Felix. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted because of the occurring double feasts.

The week ahead, with its completion of the series of Minor Prophets, often sees many of the Incipits move to ensure their reading. This year Monday's Incipit of the Book of Nahum becomes the first lesson read on Wednesday and Tuesday's Incipit of the Book of Habacuc is read as the second lesson on Wednesday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the twenty-third Sunday was not anticipated yesterday but entirely omitted this year. There are no commemorations or Suffrage at Vespers. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is neither commemoration nor Suffrage. At Mass there is one collect. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations and Lucis creator is sung with the ordinary Doxology.

Art: Jerome Nadal Nadal's image of the Antichrist enthroned whilst the clergy and people give him false worship.

Anticipated XXIII Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the anticipated twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost. The Sunday is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is green.

Vespers yesterday were second Vespers of the Dedication of the Basilica of SS Peter and Paul. Although only of greater double rite being a feast of the LORD the feast took precedence in concurrence with the anticipated Sunday. The Sunday was commemorated with the antiphon on the Magnificat, Deposuit Dominus etc, from the ferial Psalter for Friday, the versicle and respond Diragatur Domine etc & Sicut incensum etc and the collect proper to the Sunday, Absolve quaesumus. After the commemoration of the Sunday commemorations were sung of St. Elizabeth and St. Pontianus. The Suffrage was omitted due to the concurrent double feasts as were the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung.

Before Mattins there is a colour change from white to green. The antiphons and psalms are from the Psalter for Saturday. In the first nocturn the first lesson is the Incipit of the Prophet Abdias (transferred from yesterday). The second and third lessons are the Incipit of the Prophet Jonas proper to the Saturday. The responsories are those of the Sundays in November so the first responsory is Vidi Dominum sedentem, the second Aspice Domine de sede and the third Aspice Domine, quia facta est. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a tract of St. Augustine on the psalms (for the XXIII Sunday which were introduced into the Roman rite in the new 1914 Breviary. Prior to this time only the lessons of the homily for this Sunday were read in the ferial nocturn of Saturday, or another ferial day if Saturday was occupied by a feast of nine lessons). The responsories are Super muros tuos, Muro tuo, and Sustinuimus pacem. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Jerome. The seventh responsory is that used on Saturdays, i.e. the seventh of the preceding Sunday, Laudabilis populus and the eighth Duo Seraphim. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons and psalms from the Psalter are sung. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Elizabeth and St. Pontianus. At Prime the chapter is Regi saeculorum. The Dominical preces are omitted due to the occurring double feast.

At the other Hours the antiphons and psalms are of the Saturday, the collect is of the Sunday. Mass is sung after Terce as normal for Sundays. At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Elizabeth, and the third collect of St. Pontianus. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Saturday are sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat is Super muros tuos for the fifth Saturday of November. After the collect of the twenty-fourth Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Felix of Valois and St. Elizabeth. The Suffrage is omitted due to the occurring double feasts as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Prior to the reform of 1911-13 an anticipated Sunday was far simpler and less privileged. Only one nocturn, the ferial nocturn of the Saturday (or other free day), was sung with three lessons, the homily of the twenty-third Sunday. In this case the responsories were Laudabilis populus, Angustiae mihi and Misit Dominus Angelum. The Te Deum was not sung. At Mass there was neither Gloria nor Creed and the dismissal was Benedicamus Domino - so very similar to a resumed Sunday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Dedication of the Basilica of SS Peter and Paul is reduced to a III class feast with the ferial psalter. The Sunday is not anticipated but omitted entirely. Saturday is again a III class feast of St. Elizabeth with a single nocturn at Mattins. Mass is of the feast with a commemoration of St. Pontianus at said Masses. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Image: Detail of a stole belonging to a green set of vestments designed by Dr. Adrian Fortescue

XXII Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the fourth Sunday of November. The liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the account of the Pharisees trying to trap the LORD over tribute to Caesar and the LORD's rebuttal of "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God those things that are God's."

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Qui caelorum for the Saturday before the Fourth Sunday in November. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Martin and of St. Didacus, followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of the Prophet Osee. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Augustine's Book on the City of God. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration is sung of St. Didacus followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Didacus, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast and of St. Didacus.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations or Suffrage at Vespers. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is neither commemoration nor Suffrage. There are never Dominical preces at Prime or Compline. At Mass there is only one collect. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

The feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica is a Double of the Second Class and the liturgical colour for the feast is white. On November 9th, 324, St. Sylvester of Rome consecrated the basilica under the title St. Saviour. This is believed to be the first public consecration of a church. The feast's title in the Breviary and Missal retains this ancient dedication: In Dedicatione Archbasilicae Ssmi Salvatoris. The texts for the Office come from the Common of the Dedication of a Church except some of the Mattins lessons.

At Mattins the invitatory is Domum Dei decet sanctitudo, Sponsum ejus Christum adoremus in ea and the Office hymn Caelestis urbs Jerusalem. In the first nocturn the antiphons Tollite portas etc are sung with psalms 23, 45 & 47. The lessons are proper to the feast and are taken from the book of the Apocalypse of St. John with the responsories from the Common. In the second nocturn the antiphons Non est hic aliud etc are sung with psalms 83, 86 & 87, the lessons are again proper to the feast. In the third nocturn the antiphons Qui habitat etc are sung with psalms 90, 95 & 98. The homily is from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. The ninth lesson is an historical lesson to commemorate St. Theodore. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Domum tuam, Domine etc are sung with the Sunday psalms (92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. The chapter is Vidi civitatem sanctam etc and the Office hymn Alto ex Olympi vertice - the once beautiful Angularis fundamentum so well known from John Mason Neale's translation, Christ is made the sure Foundation - mutilated in the seventeenth century with the 'makeover' of the Office hymns. The great and good Dr. Adrian Fortescue wrote some words of wisdom about those changes to the hymns:

"Whatever good the Renaissance may have done in other ways, there can be no question that it was finally disastrous to Christian hymns. There came the time when no one could conceive anything but the classical metres and classical language. So they wrote frigid imitation of classical lyrics. It is the time when people thought it effective to call heaven Olympus, to apply pagan language to God and his saints. There is nothing to be done with this stuff but to glance at it, shudder, and pass on."

After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of St. Theodore.

At Prime the antiphon Domum tuam Domine is sung with the festal psalms (53, 118i, 118ii), the Dominical preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is Et absterget Deus. The antiphons from Lauds are sung at the other Hours with the Dominical psalms in the usual manner.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formulary from the Common Terribilis est locus iste. The Gloria is sung, in said Masses the second collect is of St. Theodore, and the Creed is sung.

At Vespers the antiphons Domum tuam, Domine etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 147. The Office hymn is Caelestis urbs Jerusalem. The versicle and response, and the antiphon on the Magnificat are proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the following Office of St. Andrew Avellino. At Compline the Sunday psalms are sung.

In the ancient 'liturgical books of 1962', as was noted yesterday, the feast loses first Vespers. At Mattins there is no ninth lesson of St. Theodore. At the Hours the ferial antiphons and psalms are sung, at Prime the lectio brevis is of the Season. At Vespers there is no commemoration of the following Office.

Photo: Wikipedia

Octave Day of All Saints

The Octave Day of All Saints is of greater-double rite. The liturgical colour is white.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons Inclinavit Dominius etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 114, 115, 119, 120 & 121 from the Psalter for Monday at Vespers. The chapter was of the feast, Ecce ego Joannes and the Office hymn Placare, Christe, servulis. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Angeli, Archangeli etc from first Vespers of the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Four Crowned Martyrs. At Compline the ferial psalms were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory of the feast Regem regum Dominum venite adoremus, Quia ipse est corona Sanctorum omnium, and the hymn, Placare, Christe, servulis. The antiphons, psalms and versicles are taken from the Psalter for Tuesday. In the first nocturn the lessons are taken from occurring scripture, the third chapter of Daniel, with its responsories. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the book of St. Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr, on Mortality with the responsories of the Octave. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Augustine. At Lauds the antiphons and psalms for Tuesday are sung. From the chapter the Office is of the Octave. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Four Crowned Martyrs.

At the Hours the ferial antiphons and psalms are sung. At Prime the lectio brevis is Benedictio et claritas.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Four Crowned Martyrs. The Creed is sung.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. The antiphons Domum tuam Domine etc, from the Common of the Dedication of a Church, are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 147. The Office hymn is Caelestis urbs Jerusalem. After the collect a commemoration is sung of the Octave Day of All Saints. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octave has, of course, been abolished. Today is a IV class ferial day. The Four Crowned Martyrs get commemorated at ferial Lauds (which, following the 1911-13 changes, has exactly the same antiphons and psalmody used in the festal Office of the Octave Day) and in said Masses. Mass has no Gloria yet Ite, missa est. Vespers are ferial without any commemoration of the Dedication of the Lateran, the Octave Day or the Four Crowned Martyrs.

XXI Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the third Sunday of November and Sunday within the Octave of All Saints. The liturgical colour is green, before the extensive changes of 1911-13 the colour of the Octave, white, was used for the Sunday. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the parable of the unjust and ungrateful servant who, forgiven his debts by the King, demands what is owed to him from others and shews complete ingratitude. In years when Novmber 5th falls on Sunday then that Sunday is the second Sunday of November and its lessons and those of the following week are read in due course. In other years, when November will only have four weeks, the second Sunday and its week are omitted.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Muro tuo for the Saturday before the third Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave of All Saints was sung. The Suffrages of the Saints was omitted because of the Octave as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of the Prophet Daniel. In the second nocturn the lessons are from book of St. Athanasius to Virgins. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome on the eighteenth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration is sung of the Octave. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted because of the occurring Octave.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. There is no third collect today. The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

In some places the External Solemnity of All Saints is kept. The Mass Gaudeamus etc is sung in white vestments. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the Creed is sung, the preface is of the Blessed Trinity and the last Gospel of the Sunday.

Vespers are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a ocmmemoration of the following seventh day within the Octave is sung. The antiphon used for this commemoration is Angeli, Archangeli, Throni etc from first Vespers of the feast.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations or Suffrage at Vespers and the Octave has been abolished. Both the first and second Sundays of November, and their weeks, are omitted (the second Sunday and its week never make an appearance in this 'ancient use'). Mattins is cut down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is neither a commemoration nor Suffrage. At Mass there is one collect. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemoration.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Ordo Recitandi MMXII

Ordo Recitandi MMXII is available for despatch now. Paper reminder forms for those without email have been posted. The edition for 2012 continues to have the improvements introduced last year of psalmody indicator letters as this was well received and indeed follows closely the old Burns Oates versions on which the Saint Lawrence Press Ordo is based.

The Ordo may be ordered by following this link.

Remember you can email your order form to us: ordorecitandi@gmail.com or mail@ordorecitandi.org.uk

Within the Octave of All Saints

The days within the Octave of All Saints are of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is white as on the feast itself.

The Office is as on the feast except that the antiphons and psalmody are taken from the relevant day of the week. The antiphons are not, of course, doubled. At Mattins today the first nocturn lessons are the Incipit of the book of the prophet Ezechiel, transferred from Sunday to today with their responsories. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Bede and in the third nocturn St. Augustine's writings provide the homily.

The prescribed Mass today is of the 'resumed Sunday' celebrated in green vestments without Gloria and Creed. The second collect is of the Octave and the third Deus, qui corda. As the Gloria is not sung the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino. 'Private' Masses are permitted of the Octave with the introit Gaudeamus etc, Gloria, second collect of the resumed Sunday, third collect Deus, qui corda and the Creed.

Vespers are for the feast of St. Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, with a commemoration of the Octave and SS Vitalis and Agricola. On the feast of St. Charles a commemoration of the Octave, and of SS Vitalis and Agricola, is sung at Lauds and Mass. Vespers are of the feast with a commemoration of the Octave.

On Saturday the fifth day within the Octave is celebrated. The first nocturn lessons are from Ezechiel, the second nocturn lessons are from St. Bede and the homily from St. Augstine. Mass is of the Octave with the introit Gaudeamus etc, Gloria, second collect Deus, qui corda, third collect Ecclesiae and the Creed.

Prior to the 1568 revision of the Breviary the lessons during the Octave were different. Gregory DiPippo, the author of the excellent series on Holy Week and the History of the Breviary, has begun another series of posts, here and here, illustrating these older lessons from the 1529 Breviary of the Roman Curia for the second day within the Octave of All Saints. A recommended read during the Octave.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octave has been abolished and fourth class ferial 'green' days replace the days once graced by the celebration of the Octave. Scripture is from the fifth week of October with the history of the Machabees. St. Charles is reduced to a third class feast of three lessons. On Saturday the Saturday celebration of the BVM takes place.

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed - All Souls' Day

All Souls' Day is of Double rank. Since 1917 it has a standing almost like that of a primary Double of the First Class of the Universal Church. Only if it falls on a Sunday is it transferred to the following Monday. The day gained an independent Office in the 1911-13 reform. Prior to that time Vespers, Mattins and Lauds of the Dead was sung in addition to the Office of the second day within the Octave of All Saints. Before that Reform the Office of the Dead, in addition to the Office of the day was sung on the Mondays of Lent and Advent and the first 'free' day of each month. The reforms of 1911-13 gave the day its own Office with the creation of Little Hours of the Dead and some adjustments to the lessons of Mattins. The day excludes the occurrence of any other Office.

(A superb setting of the invitatory from Mattins of the Dead by Christobal de Morales)

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem cui omnia vivunt, Venite adoremus, from the Office of the Dead as are the psalms of Mattins. In the first nocturn the antiphons Dirige etc (hence the English term Dirge) are sung with psalms 5, 6 & 7. As at Vespers yesterday Requiem aeternam is sung in place of Gloria Patri at the end of each psalm. The lessons are taken from the Book of Job. The first lesson, Parce mihi, is the first lesson from the Office of the Dead but the second and third lessons are now proper to the day in their current arrangement. Homo natus de muliere etc, the second lesson (the fifth lesson before 1911), is highly poignant being familiar as a Funeral Sentence in the Book of Common Prayer, its source being the Sarum Office. In the second nocturn the antiphons In loco pascuae etc are sung with psalms 22, 24 & 26. The lessons in the second nocturn are new and taken form the book of St. Augustine on the care for the Dead. In the third nocturn the antiphons Complaceat etc are sung with psalms 39, 40 and 41. The lessons are from the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians (pre-1911 these too were taken from the Book of Job). At Lauds the antiphons Exsultabunt etc are sung with psalms 50, 64, 62, Ego dixi and 150. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been sung at the end of the canticle the choir kneels, as at Vespers yesterday, and a Pater noster is said followed by a series of versicles and their responses and the collect Fidelium.

The Hours have a special form modelled in part on the Horae Minores of the Triduum. At Prime the Office begins after the silent recitation of the Pater, Ave and Credo with psalms 87, 27 & 31 without antiphons. Although the Miserere is sung at Lauds the displaced psalm is not transferred to Prime as on other days. At the reading of the Martyrology a special preamble is read, Hac die Commemoratio Omnium Fidelium Defunctorum..., before the announcement of the next day. The psalms are sung either to the tone in directum or to a tone introduced with the Office of All Souls Day. Terce follows a similar, simplified, form and has psalms 37i, 37ii & 55. Sext has psalms 69, 84 & 85 and None psalm 101 divided into three sections. The Office of the day ends with None.

In the Universal Church three Masses may be celebrated by every priest on this day. This practice was first observed in Spain with an indult from Benedict XIV and extended to the Universal Church by Benedict XV in 1915 after the carnage of the First World War. The accepted practice of Collegiate churches is for the first Mass to be celebrated after Lauds, the second after Prime and the third after None. In all three Masses the sequence Dies irae is sung and the preface of the Dead is sung. Common practice is to have the Absolution of the Dead at a catafalque after the principal Mass.

Vespers are for the third day within the Octave of All Saints.

In 'the liturgical books of 1962' the sequence Dies irae may be omitted in the second and third Masses when they are not sung. The last Gospel is omitted when the Absolution takes place. Vespers of the Dead are sung today, rather than yesterday and Compline of the Dead too is transferred from yesterday to today.

The Feast of All Saints

The feast of All Saints is a Double of the First Class with an Octave. The universal celebration of this feast developed from the dedication of the Pantheon to St. Mary and the Martyrs. This dedication took place on May 13th 610. In some places, and the in Byzantine East to this day, a celebration of All Saints took place after Trinity Sunday. The celebration of the feast spread and Gregory IV transferred the feast and dedication to November 1st in 835. Louis the Pious spread the celebration throughout his empire and the feast entered the Universal Calendar. Sixtus IV gave the feast an Octave in the fifteenth century. The liturgical colour for the feast, and octave, is white.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper to the feast and octave, Regem regum Dominum venite adoremus, Quia ipse est corona Sanctorum omnium, and the hymn, Placare, Christe, servulis. In the first nocturn the antiphons Novit Dominus etc are sung with psalms 1, 4 & 8. The lessons are taken from the book of the Apocalypse. In the second nocturn the antiphons Domine, qui operati etc are sung with psalms 14, 23 & 31 and the lessons are taken from a sermon of the Venerable Bede. In the third nocturn the antiphons Timete Dominum etc are sung with psalms 33, 60 & 96. The homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Augustine. At Lauds the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are sung with the Sunday psalms (Pss. 99, 92, 62, Benedicite & 148) and the Office hymn is Salutis aeterne dator.

At Prime the antiphon Vidi turbam magnum is sung with the festal psalms (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii), the lectio brevis is proper to the feast, Benedictio et claritas,. At the other Hours the same antiphons from Lauds are sung with the Dominical psalms.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria and Creed are sung.

At second Vespers the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. After Benedicamus Domino the verse Fidelium is omitted and the choir sits as the festive white is removed and is exchanged for the black of mourning. Vespers of the Dead are then sung. These begin with the antiphon Placebo Domino in regione vivorum. Psalms 114, 119, 120, 129 and 127 are sung. Requiem aeternam etc is sung at the end of each psalm in place of Gloria Patri etc. After the psalms there is a versicle and response but no hymn. After the antiphon on the Magnificat the choir kneels for a Pater noster, some versicles and the collect. Following the 1911-13 reform Compline takes a special form 'Compline of the Dead' with psalms 122, 141 and 142.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' most of the rite, for once, remains as it was. However, at Prime the lectio brevis is of the season and at the Little Hours the antiphons are doubled. Mass of course has the usual changes such as the omission of bows to the Cross etc. Vespers of All Saints are sung but not Vespers of the Dead as they, rather strangely, get treated as Vespers of All Soul's Day. Sunday Compline is sung.