Anticipated Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

Today is the anticipated sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. Since the reform of 1911-13 the Sunday is of semi-double rite, with three nocturns, and its liturgical colour is green. Prior to that major reform anticipated Sundays were much simpler affairs. Indeed, they were of simple rite with a single nocturn consisting of the lessons for the homily of the Sunday, replacing those of occurring Scripture. The anticipated Sunday did not have first Vespers and its Mass was without the Creed. If on the Saturday before Septuagesima a feast of nine lessons occurred the Sunday was anticipated on the day of the week, closest to the Saturday, free of a feast of nine lessons. If no such day was available the Sunday was commemorated in the feast of nine lessons.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon all was sung as in the Psalter for Friday. The Office hymn was Hominis superne Conditor. The collect was proper to the anticipated Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of SS Faustinus and Jovita followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline, of Friday, the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Populus Domini, et oves pascuae ejus: * Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Summae Parens clementiae. The antiphons and psalms are from the Psalter for Saturday. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Epistle to the Hebrews (from the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany). The responsories are those of the anticipated Sunday. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Athanasius against the Arians and in the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons, psalms, chapter and hymn are from the Psalter for Saturday. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of SS Faustinus and Jovita followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Prime the chapter is Regi saeculorum. The Dominical preces are sung.

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 SS Faustinus and Jovita, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers the liturgical mood and colour change. The altar is vested in violet and Vespers are of Septuagesima. After the collect of Septuagesima Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung. The anticipated Sunday is not commemorated. Alleluia is added, twice, to both Benedicamus Domino and to its response. After that Alleluia will not be heard until the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday. At Compline after the Lesser Doxology, and at all Hours until Compline on Holy Saturday, Laus tibi Domine Rex aeterne gloriae is sung in place of Alleluia. The Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' anticipated Sundays have been abolished. Today is a IV class Office of the BVM on Saturdays. At Vespers of Septuagesima the Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.