Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel - Litaniae Minores

The feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel is of greater-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. Today is also Rogation Wednesday and the Vigil of the Ascension.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon. The antiphons Stetit Angelus etc were sung with psalms 109. 110, 111, 112 and 137 (as second Vespers cannot be sung this year). The Office hymn was Te splendor et virtus Patris. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of St. Stanislaus.

Mattins has three nocturns. The invitatory is Regem Archangelum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn as at Vespers. In the first nocturn the antiphons Concussum est mare etc are sung with psalms 8, 10 & 14. The lessons are from the Prophet Daniel. In the second nocturn the antiphons Michael Archangeli etc are sung with psalms 18, 23 & 33. The lessons recount the apparition of St. Michael at Gargano at the time of Gelasius I. In the third nocturn the antiphons Angelus etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 102. The homily is from St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Vigil. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Stetit Angelus etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Christe sanctorum decus Angelorum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Vigil is sung.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns have the Doxology of Paschaltide. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order, at Prime the lectio brevis is Factum est praelium etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Vigil, the third collect of the Rogations. The Creed is sung, the preface is of Paschaltide and the last Gospel is of the Vigil. Private Masses may be of the Vigil with Gloria, second collect of St. Michael and third collect of the Rogations.

When the Procession is held it takes place after None. The altar is vested in a violet antependium. The celebrant, vested in violet cope, assisted by deacon and subdeacon in violet dalmatic and tunicle reverence the altar then kneel and pray for a short while. They rise and the cantors begin the antiphon Exsurge Domine. The choir continue....adjuva nos, et libera nos, propter nomen tuam. Ps. Deus auribus nostris audivimus patres nostri annuntiaverunt nobis. Gloria Patri etc, Sicut erat etc and then Exsurge Domine is repeated. All all kneel (except the crucifer and acolytes who go and stand at the entrance of the choir) and the cantors then begin the Litany of the Saints. Each invocation is doubled, i.e. the cantors sing e.g. Pater de caelis, Deus, miserere nobis and this is repeated in its entirety by everyone else. When Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis has been repeated all rise and the Procession sets off.

The Procession goes outside of the Church and may visit other Churches on its route. In this case the celebrant is offered lustral water at the entrance to the church and processes to the High Altar. After a moment for silent prayer the choir signs the antiphon of the patron of the church, its versicle and response (with Alleluia added as it is Paschaltide) and the celebrant sings the collect of the Patron. The Litany is then resumed and the Procession continues. If the Procession has a long route the Litany, from Sancta Maria etc may be repeated or the Seven Penitential Psalms sung to the tonus in directum. When the Procession enters the church where Mass will be celebrated, lustral water is received on entering and the Procession goes to the sanctuary. All kneel as the Litany ends. The celebrant intones Pater noster etc and then the cantors sing psalm 69. After the versicles that follow the celebrant stands to sing the ten collects. He then kneels again as Exadiat nos etc is sung. The ministers then rise and the celebrant changes from a cope to chasuble and all put on their maniples. The Mass Exaudivit is then sung. The chants are those used for ferial Masses. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect is Concede nos, the third collect Ecclesiae. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino. The Paschal Candle is not lit.

When there is only one Mass and the Procession takes place then the Mass is of the Rogations, Exaudivit, with the second collect of St. Michael, the third collect of the Vigil and last Gospel of the Vigil. In Cathedral and Collegiate Churches there are three Masses today. Those obliged to the Office who do not take part in Rogation Processions must recite the Litany, in Latin.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of the Ascension.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel has been struck from the calendar. Today is the Vigil of the Ascension, II class. The Mass has a single collect. If the Rogation Procession takes place the Litany may be sung in the vernacular if the faithful are present. The petitions are not duplicated. In the votive Mass that follows all the 'preparatory prayers' i.e. In nomine Patris..., Introibo ad altare Dei..., Judica me Deus..., Confiteor Deo..., the versicles, Aufer a nobis... and Oramus te, Domine are all cut out. There is a single collect. The dismissal is Ite, missa est. However, the Ordinary may substitute other excercises/services in place of the Rogation Procession. Those not present at the Procession or other designated services are not bound to recite the Litany.