The Ascension of the LORD

The feast of the Ascension of the LORD is a Double of the First Class with a privileged Octave of the Third Order. The liturgical colour of the feast and of its Octave is white.

After the three days of the Lesser Litanies the celebration of the feast began yesterday afternoon with first Vespers. The antiphons Viri Galilaei etc were sung with Psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn at Vespers, for the feast and Octave, is Salutis humanae Sator. Its final verse is never changed. At Compline Te lucis is sung to the tone of the Ascension Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui victor in caelum redis, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper: Alleluia, Christum Dominum ascendentem in caelum, Venite adoremus, alleluia. The Office hymn is Aeterne Rex altissime. In the first nocturn the antiphons Elevata est etc are sung with Psalms 8, 10 & 18. The lessons are taken from the Incipit of the Acts of the Apostles. In the second nocturn the antiphons Exaltare Domine etc are sung with Psalms 20, 29 & 46. A sermon of St. Leo on the Ascension provides the lessons. In the third nocturn the antiphons Nimis exaltatus est etc are sung with Psalms 9, 98 & 10, the homily is from St. Gregory. At Lauds the antiphons Viri Galilaei etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Salutis humane Sator.

At the Hours the Dominical psalms are sung, Prime is as on feasts (Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii). At Prime the verse Qui scandis super sidera is sung in the short responsory today and until the Vigil of Pentecost. Hymns (with the exception of Salutis humane Sator) have the Ascension Doxology and are sung in tone 4.

At Mass the Gloria is sung. After the Gospel the Paschal Candle is extinguished. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are proper to the feast. After Mass the Paschal Candle is removed from the sanctuary, it makes a brief re-appearance on the Vigil of Pentecost.

At second Vespers all is sung as yesterday at first Vespers except for the antiphon on the Magnificat, O Rex gloriae etc which is proper to second Vespers.

In 'the liturgical books of 1962' the Ascension Doxology is sung at the hymn of Mattins only. The hymns at the Little Hours are sung to the general festal tone without the Ascension Doxology. The feast's Octave has been abolished.

Fifth Sunday after Pascha

The fifth Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite. The Gospel pericopes from St. John describe how the LORD tells His disciples to ask for anything in His name after He has ascended to the Father. That Ascension will, of course, be celebrated on Thursday of this week after the three Rogation days of the Lesser Litanies on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung under the single antiphon Alleluia. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of St. Gregory VII and of St Urban. The Paschal Commemoration of the Cross was omitted due to commemorated double feast. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Paschal Doxology. The Dominical preces were omitted due to the occurring double feast.

At Mattins in the invitatory and hymn are as on the other Sundays of Paschaltide. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the first Epistle of St. Peter. In the second nocturn the lessons are from the writing of St. Ambrose on faith in the Resurrection and in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily of St. Augustine on St. John's Gospel on the LORD's words "Amen, amen, I say to you: if you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it to you." The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, commemorations are sung of St. Gregory and of St. Urban. The Commemoration of the Cross is omitted.

At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Paschal Doxology. At Prime the Dominical preces are omitted due to the occurring double feast.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Gregory, the third collect is of St. Urban. The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschaltide.

At Vespers the Sunday psalms are sung under the single antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn is Ad regias Agni dapes. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of following feast of St. Philip Neri, St. Gregory and St. Eleutherius. The Paschal Commemoration of the Cross is omitted due to the double feasts. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Paschal Doxology and the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. The Commemoration of the Cross has been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds there are no commemorations. Hymns at the Little Hours do not have the Paschal Doxology. At Mass there is a single collect

Art: Jerome Nadal

Fourth Sunday after Pascha

The fourth Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The Gospel pericopes are from the sixteenth chapter of St. John's Gospel where the LORD talks of His ascending to Heaven and the coming of the Paraclete.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung under the single antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn was Ad regias Agni dapes. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St.Pascal Baylon and of St. Venantius. The Commemoration of the Cross was omitted due to the double feasts. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Paschaltide Doxology and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are sung as previous Sundays of Paschaltide. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Epistle of St. James. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the Treatise of St. Cyprian on the boon of patience. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Sunday psalms are sung under a single antiphon, Alleluia. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Venantius. The Commemoration of the Cross is omitted.

At the Hours the hymns have the Paschaltide Doxology, the psalms are sung under a single antiphon consisting of a triple Alleluia. At Prime the Dominical psalms are sung (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii). The Dominical preces are omitted because of the commemoration of the double feast.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Venantius. There is no the third collect today. The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschaltide.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Sunday psalms are sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. The Office hymn is Ad regias Agni dapes. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Peter Coelestine, of St. Venantius and of St. Pudentiana. The Commemoration of the Cross is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline due to the commemorated double feasts.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn. At Lauds there are no commemorations. The hymns at the Little Hours do not have the Paschal Doxology. At Mass there is but a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Third Sunday after Pascha

The Third Sunday after Pascha is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. It is also the Sunday within the Octave of the Solemnity of St. Joseph. The Gospel pericopes from St. John's Gospel have the LORD telling the Disciples that in a little while He will be going to the Father.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung under the single antiphon Alleluia. The Office hymn was Ad regias Agni dapes. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Antoninus and of Octave of St. Joseph. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Paschal Doxology, the Dominical preces were omitted due to the concurring double feast and Octave.

At Mattins the invitatory is the great proclamation of the Resurrection, Surrexit Dominus vere, Alleluia. The Office hymn is Rex sempiterne Caelitum. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the book of the Apocalypse of St. John. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Augustine and in the third nocturn St. Augustine also provides the homily on St. John's Gospel. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration is sung of the Octave of St. Joseph. The Paschal Commemoration of the Cross is omitted due to the Octave.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns have the Paschal Doxology. At Prime the Dominical preces are omitted due to the Octave.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. There is no third collect as it is a Sunday within an Octave. The Creed is sung and the Paschaltide preface is sung.

Masses other than Conventual Masses may all be of the Solemnity of St. Joseph. Before the reform of 1911-13 this feast was celebrated on the Third Sunday after Pascha. The Mass Adjutor is sung, as on the feast. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the Creed is sung. The preface is of St. Joseph and the last Gospel is of the Sunday. The liturgical colour is white.

Vespers are of the Sunday with the Dominical psalms sung under a single antiphon. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of SS Nereus & Others and of the Octave of St Joseph. The Paschal Commemoration of the Cross is omitted due to the Octave. At Compline the Domincal preces are also omitted due to the Octave.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is a commemoration of SS Philip and James - scandalously displaced from their ancient place in the Calendar on the Kalends of May by 'Jerz the Werz'. At the Hours the hymns are sung without the Paschal Doxology. If sung Mass has but a single collect, otherwise a commemoration is made of SS Philip and James. The feast and Octave of the Solemnity of St. Joseph have been abolished - indeed the tiny minority of Traddies even aware of its existence seem to be desperately trying to find reasons to like 'Jerz the Werz' - and failing in that, necessarily, absurd process.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel

The feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel is of greater-double rite and its liturgical colour is white.

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 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 Octave of St. Joseph 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 Octave of St. Joseph. The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschaltide.

At Vespers the antiphons Stetit Angelus etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 137. The Office hymn is Te, splendor, et virtus Patris, the Doxology of which is proper and not changed. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Gregory Nazianzen and of the Octave of St. Joseph. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology of Paschaltide and the Dominical preces are omitted due to the double feasts.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel has been abolished from the calendar. The Octave of St. Joseph has been abolished too. Today is a IV class feria.

The Solemnity of St. Joseph - Patron of the Universal Church

Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph Spouse of the Blessed Virgin and Patron of the Universal Church. It is a Double of the First class with an Octave and is the primary feast of St. Joseph. The feast was introduced into the Universal Kalendar by Pius IX in 1847 as the 'Patronage of St. Joseph' as a double of the second class to be celebrated on the third Sunday after Easter. In 1870 the feast was raised to a double of the first class and given an octave with 'Patron of the Church' added. In 1911 the feast was renamed the Solemnity of St. Joseph and became a primary double of the first class. In 1913 the celebration was moved to the Wednesday after the second Sunday after Easter. Although relatively modern the feast is a fine example of typology with the Patriarch Joseph being used as a 'type' of the foster-father of the LORD.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Jacob autem etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The chapter was proper and the Office hymn was Te Joseph celebrent agmina Caelitum. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung, Te lucis had the Paschal Doxology.

The Office is proper. At Mattins the invitatory is Laudemus Deum nostrum In veneratione beati Joseph, protectoris nostri, alleluia and the Office hymn is, again, Te Joseph. The antiphons of the nocturns are proper and, as at Vespers, rather beautiful:

Angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Joseph, dicens: Surge, et accipe Puerum et Matrem ejus, et fuge in Ægyptum; et esto ibi, usque dum dicam tibi, alleluia.

Angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Joseph, dicens: Surge, et accipe Puerum et Matrem ejus, et vade in terram Israel; defunct sunt enim qui quaerebant animam Pueri, alleluia.

Consurgens Joseph, accepit Puerum et Matrem ejus, et venit in terram Israel; et habitavit in civitate, quae vocatur Nazareth, alleluia.

In the first nocturn the lessons are from the book of Genesis and are extended in comparison to those for St. Joseph's 19th March feast. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon on St. Joseph by St. Bernardine of Siena and in the third nocturn the homily is from St. Augustine on the Gospel fragment from St. Luke. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons from Vespers are sung with the Sunday psalms (92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148). The Office hymn is Caelitum Joseph decus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of St. Stanislaus.

At Prime the festal psalms (53, 118i & 118ii) are sung under the first antiphon of Lauds. At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the Paschaltide Doxology.

Mass follows Terce and is proper, with the introit Adjutor. The Gloria is sung. (In private Masses the second collect is of St. Stanislaus). The Creed is sung and the preface is that of St. Joseph.

At second Vespers the antiphons, psalms and hymn are those that were sung yesterday at first Vespers. The Office hymn is Te Joseph. The versicle and its respond along with the antiphon on the Magnificat are proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the following feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Solemnity of St. Joseph simply does not exist as this beautiful feast was shamefully suppressed in 1956 to be replaced by the appalling 'San Giuseppe Comunista'. Today the feast of St. Stanislaus is celebrated as IV class. The vast majority of 'traditionalists', who vociferously support the 'liturgical books of 1962', are completely and blissfully unaware of the existence of the Solemnity of St. Joseph yet alone its abolition - what a total and absolute disgrace this is and an insult to the Foster-father of Christ. One can only reflect on what happened to the church when it suppressed this feast...  These people will deserve what they have coming to them.

St. John before the Latin Gate

The feast of St. John before the Latin Gate is of greater-double rite and its liturgical colour is red. The feast appears in the Gregorian Sacramentaries on May 6th and is the dedication festival of the fifth century church in Rome named after the feast. The feast commemorates the 'martyrdom' of St. John the Evangelist as described by Tertullian in the year AD 92. On the orders of Domitian St. John was cast into a cauldron of hot oil yet emerged unscathed and was exiled to the island of Patmos.


The church, in Rome, above, of San Giovanni a Porta Latina was dedicated in honour of this feast and used to be a liturgical station on Saturday in Passion Week.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn is again Tristes erant Apostoli and in the first nocturn the antiphon Stabunt justi is sung along with the psalms from the Common. The lessons for the first nocturn are the Incipit of the first Epistle of St. John, Quod fuit, found on Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension, which are sung with the responsories from the Common. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the writings of St. Jerome against Jovinian, in the fifth lesson St. Jerome relates Tertullian's account of St. John's 'martyrdom'. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is again from St. Jerome. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Sancti tui etc are again sung, this time with the Sunday psalms. The chapter and Office hymn, Paschale mundo gaudium, and the antiphon on the Benedictus, Filiae Jerusalem, are from the Common.

At the Hours the Paschaltide Doxology is sung at the conclusion of the Office hymns. The antiphons Sancti tui etc are sung at the Hours. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii), the short lesson is Scimus quoniam. The Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass Protexisti is sung. The Gloria is sung. The Creed is sung, the preface is that of the Apostles.

At Vespers a colour change is made and first Vespers are sung of the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. The antiphons Jacobus autem etc are sung, doubled with psalms of Apostles in Pashaltide, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is Te Joseph celebrent agmina caelitum. No commemoration is sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of St. John before the Latin Gate has been abolished from the Kalendar despite its appearance in seventh century liturgical texts and a fifth century church being dedicated to the event. Today is a IV class ferial day (although a votive Mass may be said of St. John). The Solemnity of St. Joseph has also been abolished, along with its Octave, with the creation of the execrable 'Jerz the Werz' rubbish. Vespers are ferial with no commemoration and no Paschal Suffrage as that has been abolished too.

A note on the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross

Our friend Fr. Hunwicke recently made some comments in a post lamenting the passing of the Paschal Commemoration of the Cross or Paschal Suffrage. Whilst agreeing with Fr. Hunwicke's good sentiments and suggestion he does err by suggesting the Commemoration was only made on ferial days, this is incorrect.

Pre-1911 there was a Commemoration of the Cross that was only made in the ferial Office but outside of Paschaltide. Its use was abolished with the changes of 1911 -13. It was only ever used when the Office was ferial, unlike the other Suffrages which were sung when the Office was of semi-double rite or below outside of Passiontide, Advent and Octaves. It was sung after any commemorations and before the other Suffrages. The ferial Commemoration of the Cross was structured as below, the same form being used at both Vespers and Lauds.

Ant. Per signum Crucis de inimicis nostris libera nos Deus noster.
V. Omnis terra adoret te, et psallat tibi.
R. Psalmum dicat nomini tuo Domine.

Collect: Perpetua nos, quaesumus Dominie, pace custodi: quos per lignum sanctae Crucis redimere dignatus es.

In Paschaltide the Commemoration of the Cross had different texts. This Suffrage was used in place of all the other Suffrages (pre-1911 use) and in place of the Suffrage of the Saints (post-1911 use). It is sung in all offices, except within Octaves, that are of semi-double rite and below. Pre-1911 there was a different antiphon used at Vespers and Lauds. At Vespers the antiphon was Crucem sanctam subiit qui infernum confregit, accints est potentia, surrexit die tertia, alleluia. At Lauds the antiphon was Crucifíxus surrexit a mórtuis, et redémit nos, allelúia, allelúia. The V. & R., and the collect were the same at both Vespers and at Lauds:

V. Dícite in natiónibus, allelúia.
R. Quia Dóminus regnávit a ligno, allelúia.

Collect: Deus qui pro nobis Fílium tuum Crucis patibulum subire voluisti, ut inimici a nobis expelleres potestatem: concede nobis famulis tuis; ut resurrectionis gratiam consequamur.

Following the 1911 reform the antiphon used at Vespers disappeared and the antiphon from Lauds, Crucifixus etc was used at both Vespers and Lauds. The texts of the V. & R. and collect were unchanged. Of course in the 'liturgical books of 1962' all Suffrages have been abolished.

Second Sunday after Pascha

The Second Sunday after Pascha is sometimes referred to as 'Good Shepherd Sunday' from the words of the Epistle from I Peter "For you were as sheep gone astray: but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls" and from the Gospel where the LORD proclaims "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep." The Sunday is also often referred to as Misericordia after the opening words of the introit. The Sunday is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is white.

Vespers yesterday were second Vespers of the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross. The antiphons O magnum pietatis opus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Vexilla regis prodeunt. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday and of St. Monica. At Compline Te lucis was sung to the Paschal tone with the Doxology Deo Patri sit gloria etc and the Dominical preces were omitted due to the double feasts.

At Mattins the invitatory, Surrexit Dominus, and hymn, Rex sempiterne, are sung as last Sunday. Again, at the nocturns the psalms are sung under one antiphon. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Acts of the Apostles. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the first sermon on the Ascension of the Lord by St. Leo. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory. At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148) are sung under a single antiphon. The Office hymn is Aurora caelum purpurat. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Monica. The Paschal Commemoration of the Cross is omitted due to the occurring double feast.

At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Paschal Doxology and the psalms are sung under an antiphon consisting of a triple Alleluia. At Prime the Dominical psalms are sung (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii), but the Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Monica, there is no third collect today. The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschaltide.

Vespers are of the Sunday, with the psalms sung under a single antiphon. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Pius V and of St. Monica. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Vespers yesterday was of the Sunday without commemorations. At Compline and the Hours the hymns do not have the Paschal Doxlogy. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. At Mass there is only a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The Invention of the Holy Cross

The feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is red. The feast celebrates the discovery of the Holy Cross by the Empress Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons O magnum pietatis opus etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn was the magnificent Vexilla regis, last heard towards the end of the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified on Good Friday morning, but the verse O Crux ave differed by one line, Paschale quae fers gaudium. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the preceding feast of St. Athanasius. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung, Te lucis was sung with the Paschal Doxology and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Christum Regem crucifixum, Venite adoremus, alleluia. In the first nocturn the antiphons Inventae Crucis etc are sung with proper psalms, the first lesson is from St. Paul to the Galatians with the poignant words: 'Christ has redeemed us from the curse law, being made a curse for us: for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.' The second lesson is from the Epistle to the Philippians with the passage so familiar from the Triduum and the third lesson from the Epistle to the Colossians. In the second nocturn the antiphon Felix ille triumphus etc is sung, the lessons relate the work of St. Helena in fourth century Jerusalem finding three crosses buried in a cistern. Not knowing which cross the LORD had died on each was placed on a woman with a sickness by Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem. When touched by the True Cross the sick woman was instantly restored to health. In the third nocturn the psalms are sung under the antiphon Adoramus te Christe etc, the lessons are from a homily of St. Augustine on the Gospel of St. John. The ninth lesson is of the commemorated feast of SS Alexander, Eventius, Theodulus & Juvenal.

At Lauds the antiphons O magnam pietatis opus etc are sung with the Dominical psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148). After the collect of the day a commemoration is sung of SS Alexander etc.

At the Hours the Paschaltide Doxology is sung with all the Office hymns and the antiphons of Lauds are sung with the Dominical psalms in the usual order. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (Ps. 53, 118i & 118ii), the Dominical preces are omitted and the short lesson is Humiliavit semetipsum.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria and Creed are sung. In private Masses the second collect is of SS Alexander etc. The Creed is sung and the preface is that of the Holy Cross.

At second Vespers all is sung as at first Vespers except the antiphon on the Magnificat which is proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the second Sunday after Pascha and of St. Monica. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the in 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross has been abolished as its observance in the West only dated to the seventh century (it appears on May 3rd in Martyrologium Hieronymianum. Today becomes a IV class celebration of the BVM on Saturdays with with a commemoration of SS Alexander etc at Lauds and low Mass. The Paschaltide Doxology (and tone) is not sung at the Horae Minores. In sung Masses there is only one collect. Vespers are of the Sunday without a commemoration of St. Monica.

Art: A ninth century MS illustration of the Invention of the Holy Cross by St. Helena from Wikipedia.

SS Philip and James

The feast of the Holy Apostles SS Philip and James is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is red.

In Western rites SS Philip and James have been honoured together as the relics of both Apostles were placed together in the confessio of the Church of the Apostles in Rome at its consecration in the sixth century. The anniversary of this, the church's dedication in 560, is May 1st. St. Philip, tradition tells us, was from Bethsaida. He was crucified at Hierapolis in Phrygia. St. James the Less was from Cana and was the first bishop of Jerusalem. St. Paul says (Galatians 1:19) 'I did not see any apostle except James the brother of the Lord'. St. James was cast from the pediment of the Temple on the orders of the Jewish High Priest and then clubbed to death.

The feast began with first Vespers yesterday afternoon. The antiphons were proper to the feast, Domine, ostende nobis Patrem etc, sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The chapter was Stabant justi and the Office hymn Tristes erant Apostoli. The the antiphon on the Magnificat, Non turbetur etc., and collect are are proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of St. Catherine of Siena. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Paschaltide Doxology and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins there are the usual three nocturns. The invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum Venite adoremus, the antiphons Stabunt justi etc and the Psalms are from the Common of Apostles. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of letter of St. James from the fourth Sunday after Easter. These lessons are followed by the responsories from the Common, Beatus vir, qui metuit Dominum, alleluia etc. In the second nocturn the lessons are proper to the feast. The Gospel in the third nocturn is from St. John and the pericope contains the passage where the LORD tells St. Philip that if he wishes to see the Father to see Him and that in the Father's house there are many mansions. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Domine ostende nobis Patrem etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. The Office hymn is Paschale mundo gaudium and is sung with the Paschal Doxology. At the Hours the same antiphons are sung in the usual sequence. The Office hymns have the Paschal Doxology and the feastal psalms are sung at the Hours. At Prime the lectio brevis is Scimus quoniam.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass is proper, Exclamaverunt etc. The Gloria is sung, the Credo is sung and the preface is of the Apostles.

At second Vespers the antiphons Domine ostende nobis Patrem are sung again this time with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn is Tristes erant Apostoli. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the following Office of St. Athanasius.

The 'liturgical books of 1962' plummet to a nadir today as the ancient feast of SS Philip and James has been cast aside until May 11th, the first 'free' liturgical day, and May 1st becomes the repugnant 'Joe the Worker' day. Pius XII's Commission for General Liturgical Reform had discussed making May 1st a Marian feast but settled on S. Giuseppe Artigiano (c.f. minutes of meeting 45; 19 Oct 1954 and 59; 17 Jan 1956 in Giampietro, N., 'Il Card. Ferdinado Antonelli e gli sviluppi della riforma liturgica dal 1948 al 1970', Studia Anselmiana, Rome, 1998). Clearly feasts of antiquity were not considered particularly sacred - but then neither was anything else - so from 1956 the beautiful, albeit relatively modern, feast of the Solemnity of St. Joseph and its Octave were abolished and today's venerable and ancient feast of the Holy Apostles swept aside to May 11th. The Office of 'Joe the Worker' is truly appalling with lessons about multitudes of working men gathering in St. Peter's Square: '...cum occasionem nactus opificum conventus Kalendis maiis...Romae celebrati, ingentum multitudinem in foro ad sancti Petri Basilicam...'

One really thought that the degree of bad taste could not get any worse but an article at Thinking Faith compares the ghastly Pacellian rubbish with the late Bob Crow, former leader of the Rail, Martime and Transport Union (RMT). Those of us who live and work in London and use the London Underground are not very sympathetic towards either the late leader or to his Union.

St. Bob the Striker  Photo: Rex Features

Let us not fall into despair. The bright light of Christ will triumph over the darkness of the servants of the Enemy.

So God doth bring the world to spring;

And on this holy day

Doth the Church proclaim her apostles’ fame,

To welcome the first of May.

Art: Melkite Church in Australia