Annunciation of the BVM

The feast of the Annunciation of the BVM is a double of the first class and the liturgical colour is white. This year the feast is transferred from Holy Week to today.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons, Missus est Gabriel Angelus ad Mariam etc., proper to the feast, were sung with the psalms from the Common of the BVM (Pss.109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The chapter was proper to the feast, the Office hymn, Ave Maris stella, from the Common. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect, again, proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung. The hymn, Te lucis, was sung with the Doxology in honour of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi sit gloria etc, with the hymn sung to the melody used with that Doxology.

At Mattins the invitatory is Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum. The hymn, antiphons and psalms (with the exception of the ninth antiphon, Angelus Domini etc) are from the Common. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Prophet Isaiah. The responsories are proper to the feast and are paricularly beautiful. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the second sermon on the Nativity by St. Leo. In the third nocturn the ninth antiphon is Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae etc and the lessons are from a homily by St. Ambrose's second book on St. Luke' Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons are those that were sung yesterday at Vespers sung with th Dominical psalms. Again the chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper, the Office hymn is from the Common.

At Prime Jam lucis is sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. In the short responsory the verse Qui natus es is sung and the short lesson is proper to the feast, Egredietur virga de radice Jesse etc. The antiphons of Lauds are used throughout the Little Hours. At all the Little Hours the hymns are sung to the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation.

Mass is sung after Terce. At Mass the Gloria is sung, the Gospel pericope is from St. Luke and the account of the Angel Gabriel's visit to the Virgin. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM, with the clause Et te in Annuntiatione.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms are those sung as at first Vespers. The antiphon on the Magnificat is proper. At Compline again the Dominical psalms are sung and Te lucis is sung to the tone and Doxology of the Incarnation.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the hymns of the Little Hours do not have the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime the short lesson is of the season not proper to the feast.