The Conversion of St. Paul

The feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle is of greater-double rite and 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. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of St. Peter the Apostle and then of 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, Egregie Doctor, Paule, as sung at Vespers. In the first nocturn the antiphons Qui operatus est etc are sung with psalms 18, 33 & 44. The first nocturn 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 antiphons Tu es vas electionis etc are sung with psalms 46. 60 & 63 The lessons are from St. Augustine's fourteenth sermon on the Saints. In the third nocturn the antiphons Saulus, qui et Paulus etc are sung with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily is from St. Bede on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Ego plantavi etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is from the Common, Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast 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 (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the lectio brevis is proper to the feast, Saulus, adhuc spirans.

Mass is sung after Terce. 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.

Vespers are of the anticipated third Sunday after the Epiphany with a colour change to green. The antiphons and psalms are from the Psalter for Friday as is the rest of the Office except the collect which is from the Sunday. After this collect commemorations are sung of St. Paul, St. Peter and St. Polycarp. At Compline (of Friday) the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast is cut down to III Class and loses first Vespers and the festal Compline. Mattins is cut 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 Wednesday, 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. Anticipated Sundays have been abolished. Vespers is of the feast but, 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. Polycarp.