Ember Saturday in Lent

Ember Saturday in Lent is a greater, non-privileged, ferial day of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet. It is one of the traditional days for ordinations.

At Mattins the invitatory is Non sit vobis etc and the Office hymn is Ex more docti mystico. In the nocturn the antiphons Memor fuit etc are sung with the nine psalms appointed for Saturday 104, 105 and 106 - each split into three divisi. The three lessons are from a homily of St. Leo on St. Matthew's Gospel. After the third responsory, Absocondite etc., the second scheme of Lauds for Saturday is sung. The antiphons Benigne fac etc., are sung with psalms 50, 91, 63, the Canticle of Moses & 150. The Office hymn is O sol salutis. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Assumpsit Jesus etc. After the antiphon is sung in full after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung. The collect is proper to the Ember Saturday, Populum tuum. After the collect of the Ember Saturday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

At the Hours the antiphons and psalms are of Saturday. At Prime (Pss 93i, 93ii, 107 & 149) the fourth psalm is the one displaced by the Miserere in the second schema of Lauds. The chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. The Dominical and ferial preces are sung with the choir kneeling. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are sung, again with the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None and has the usual, ancient, form, common to Ember Saturdays. The ministers wear folded chasubles. After the Kyrie there are a series of five structural units comprising of the invitation Oremus, followed by Flectamus genua (sung by the deacon), Levate (sung by the sub-deacon), a collect, O.T. reading and gradual. Four of these readings are from Isaiah and the last from Daniel. After the pericope from Daniel instead of a gradual the hymn of the Three Men in fiery furnace is sung, Benedictus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum and its collect Deus, qui tribus pueris. After this collect the second collect is A cunctis followed by the third collect Omnipotens. Mass then continues as usual (with of course kneeling for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as usual on penitential days) and with Benedicamus Domino sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar. The Office of the Ember Saturday ends with its Mass.

In the afternoon Vespers of the second Sunday in Lent are sung. The antiphons and psalms are of Saturday, the Office hymn is Audi benigne Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung (the choir standing).

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Lauds the Canticle of Moses gets sliced down from 65 to 27 verses and the Suffrage has been abolished. At Prime the fourth psalm is not added and the ferial chapter Pacem et veritatem is replaced by the festal Regi saeculorum. The ferial preces are omitted at Prime and the Hours. The Mass of the day is sung after Terce. The Mass has the option of the 'mini-Ember Day' consisting of just one additional unit of collect, pericope and gradual. There are no additional collects. The ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle, the penitential kneeling is reduced and the dismissal is Ite, missa est. At Vespers the Suffrage has been abolished as have the Dominical preces at Compline.

St. Gabriel of the Seven Dolours - Ember Friday in Lent

The feast of St. Gabriel of the Seven Dolours is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. Today is also Ember Friday in Lent.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum etc and the Office hymn is Iste Confessor. In the nocturns the antiphons Suscitavit Dominus etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms appointed for Mattins of Friday. In the first nocturn the lessons are taken from the Common of Confessor Non-Bishops , Justus si morte etc, from the second place followed by their responsories as the Ember Friday is without occurring Scripture. In the second nocturn three hagiographic lessons proper to the feast are read. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Bede on St. Mark's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Ember Friday and a homily from St. Augustine on St. John's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Exaltate etc are sung with psalms 98, 142, 84, Vere tu es Deus & 147. The Office hymn at Lauds is Jesu, corona celsior. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Ember Friday with the antiphon on the Benedictus, Angelus Domini etc., the versicle Angelus suis etc and respond Ut custodiant etc. The collect is proper to the Ember Friday, Esto, Domine etc.

At Prime the lectio brevis is Justum deduxit.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Friday. The preface is of Lent and the last Gospel is of the Ember Friday.

Private Masses may be of the Ember Friday. There is neither Gloria nor Creed. The second collect is of St. Gabriel of the Seven Dolours. The preface is of Lent, an Oratio super populum is said after the last post-Communion and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

In Cathedral and Collegiate churches two Masses are celebrated. The feast of St. Gabriel of the Seven Dolours is celebrated after Terce. The Gloria is said, the preface is of Lent and the last Gospel is In principio. Mass of the Ember Friday is sung after None. The ministers wear violet folded chasubles and four candles are on the altar. The Mass is proper. The second collect is A cunctis, and the third collect is Ominopotens. The choir kneels for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as is usual on penitential days. The preface of Lent is sung and there is the Oratio super populum. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers there is a commemoration of the Lenten feria. As the Office of the Ember Friday ended at None the commemoration consists of the antiphon on the Magnificat, Hoc est testimonium etc, the versicle Rorate caeli etc, its respond, Aperiatur terra etc and the collect of the preceding Sunday, Aurem tuam etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung, the choir standing.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Ember Friday is II class and takes precedence over the III class feast of St. Gabriel. At Mattins the three lessons are the homily for the Ember Friday from St. Augustine. At Lauds the second schema of psalms is used. The ferial preces are sung and there is a commemoration of St. Gabriel. Although the second schema of Lauds is sung the fourth psalm is not added at Prime and the ferial chapter Pacem et veritatem is replaced by the festal (!) Regi saeculorum. The ferial preces are omitted at Prime and the Hours. At said Masses there is a commemoration of St. Gabriel. The penitential kneeling is reduced. The dismissal is Ite, missa est and the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. One strange feature of 1962 Ember Wednesdays and Fridays is that whilst traditionally the Ember Day liturgy ended with the Mass sung after None, in the 1962 books Vespers becomes formally part of the Ember Day. On this Ember Friday in Lent that makes no practical difference. At Vespers the ferial preces are sung but the Suffrages are omitted.

First Sunday in Lent

The First Sunday in Lent is a semi-double Sunday of the first class. No feast can take precedence over it or any such Sunday. The liturgical colour of the Sunday is violet. At Mass, unlike on the Sundays of Septuagesima, the ministers wear folded chasubles rather than dalmatic and tunicle and the organ is silent (as has been the practice too since Ash Wednesday). The Gospel pericope at Mattins and Mass is St. Matthew's account of the LORD's temptation by Satan in the desert. Vespers yesterday morning mark the ancient beginning of Lent before the addition of Ash Wednesday and the intervening days. On these added days although certain penitential practices have entered the Liturgy such as the use folded chasubles and the ferial preces at the Hours the Office hymns etc were still those used in previous weeks. Vespers yesterday morning marked the beginning also of the Spring volume of the Breviary, Pars Verna.

At Vespers yesterday morning the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter was proper, Fratres: Hortamur vos, and the Office hymn was Audi, benigne Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of St. Peter's Chair at Antioch and of St. Paul the Apostle. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Non sit vobis and the hymn is Ex more. These are both used throughout the first four weeks of Lent. The antiphons and psalms given in the Psalter for Sundays are sung, as on previous Sundays. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from a sermon on Lent by St. Leo the Great and in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily of St. Gregory the Great on St. Matthew's account of the temptation of the LORD. As in Septuagesima there is no Te Deum but a ninth responsory, which today is Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to the Sunday, Cor mundum etc., and the second scheme of Psalms is sung (50, 117, 62, Benedictus es, 148). The chapter is proper to the Sunday and hymn is O sol salutis. After the collect of the day commemorations are sung of St. Peter's Chair and of St. Paul. The Suffrage is omitted due to the occurring double feast.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons are proper to the Sunday, Jesus autem etc. At Prime the psalms are 92, 99 (displaced from Lauds) and the first two divisi of 118. The Dominical preces are omitted and the short lesson is Quaerite Dominum.

Mass is sung after Terce. As folded chasubles are word by the ministers the organ is silent. At Mass the Gloria is not sung. The second collect is of St. Peter's Chair, the third collect of St. Paul. A Tract is sung after the Gradual, the Creed is sung, the preface is of Lent and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar.

Vespers are of the Sunday, sung at the normal time (as Sundays are not fast days). The antiphons and psalms are those used on Sundays, the chapter is proper and the hymn is Audi, benigne Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of the St. Peter Damian and then of St. Peter's Chair and of St. Paul. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Vespers on the weekdays of Lent are sung at the same time as during the rest of the Liturgical year. There were no commemorations at Vespers. Mattins is slashed down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Prime the psalms are Ps. 53 and the first two divisi of Ps. 118 as on feasts. At Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle, as in Septuagesima. There is but a single collect. The dismissal is Ite, missa est. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Quinquagesima Sunday

Quinquagesima Sunday is a semi-double of the second class and its liturgical colour is violet. The Gospel pericopes are taken from St. Luke and give the account of the giving of sight to the man born blind.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms were of Saturday, the chapter, antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper to Quinquagesima 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 the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins, as on the previous two Sundays, the antiphons and psalms are those used on Sundays throughout the year. In the first nocturn the lessons are again from Genesis and this Sunday concern the story of Abraham. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose on the Book on the Patriarch Abraham and in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel of the man blind from birth whose sight was restored by the LORD. The blind man is a figure of the human race according to St. Gregory. A ninth responsory, Caecus sedebat secus viam etc, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

At Lauds the 'second scheme' of psalms is sung: Pss. 50, 117, 62, Benedictus es and 148. The antiphons at Lauds are proper for Quinquagesima Sunday, Secundum multitudinem etc, as are the antiphon at the Benedictus and the collect. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of SS Fautinus and Jovita is sung followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper to Quinquagesima Sunday. At Prime the order of psalmody is that used when the second schema of Lauds is sung, i.e. Pss. 92, 99 (displaced at Lauds) and Ps. 118i & 118ii. The Dominical preces are sung.

In Mass the Gloria is omitted, the second collect is of SS Faustinus and Jovita, the third collect is A cunctis. A Tract is sung after the Gradual, the Credo is sung, the Preface is of the Blessed Trinity and Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar. The ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms are those used on Sundays, the chapter is proper to the Sunday as is the antiphon at the Magnificat. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung. At Compline the Domincal preces are sung.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers there are no commemorations and the Suffrage has been abolished. At Compline the preces have been abolished. At Mattins there is but a single nocturn. At Lauds there are neither commemorations nor Suffrage. At Prime Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii are sung, as on major feasts, and the preces have been abolished. At Mass there is a single collect and Benedicamus Domino is supressed in favour of Ite, missa est. At Vespers the Suffrage has been abolished as are the preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sexagesima Sunday

Sexagesima Sunday is a semi-double of the second class and its liturgical colour is violet. The Sunday is characterised by a very lengthy Epistle from St. Paul's Latter Epistle to the Corinthians. The Gospel pericopes are from St. Luke and contain the parable of the sower with his seed landing on rock, amongst weeds and on the good ground.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms were of Saturday. The chapter was proper to the Sunday, Fratres: Libenter suffertis, and the Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Romuald and of St. John of Matha. The Suffrage was omitted due to the double feasts and the Dominical preces were omitted at Compline.

At Mattins the antiphons and psalms are from the Psalter for Sundays. In the first nocturn the lessons continue to be read from Genesis (Ch. 5 & 6), the beginning of the story of Noah. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose on Noah and the Ark and in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on the Gospel of the seed falling on good and poor ground. A ninth responsory, Cum turba plurima, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

At Lauds the 'second scheme' of psalms is sung: Pss 50, 117, 62, Canticle of the Three Children (Benedictus es) and 148. The antiphons at Lauds are proper for Sexagesima Sunday, Secundum magnam misericordiam as are the chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. John of Matha. The Suffrage of All Saints is omitted.

At Prime the order of psalmody is Pss. 92, 99 (displaced at Lauds) 118i & 118ii. At the Hours the antiphons, Semen cecidit etc, and chapters are proper to Sexagesima Sunday. The Dominical preces are omtted at Prime.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is omitted, the second collect is of St. John of Matha. Today there is no third collect. A Tract is sung after the Gradual, the Creed is sung , the Preface is of Trinity and Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday are sung. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria, of St. John of Matha and of St. Apollonia. The Suffrage is omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Prime the arrangement of psalmody is festive, Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii. At Mass there is only one collect and Benedicamus Domino is suppressed in favour of Ite, missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Septuagesima Sunday

Septuagesima Sunday is a semi-double Sunday of the second class. The liturgical mood became more sombre yesterday with Vespers of Septuagesima as penitential violet became the liturgical colour of the season. Although more sombre than the season after the Epiphany the short season of Septuagesima is not as penitential as Lent. Although the colour violet is used at Mass the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle for these three Sundays and for ferial days. The organ is still played until Ash Wednesday. However, from Septuagesima until Holy Saturday the dress of some prelates changes. Cardinals of the Court of Rome no longer wear scarlet choir dress but that of violet. Correspondingly bishops do not wear violet choir dress but their black, or mourning dress. In the case of the latter this is not to be confused with their habitus pianus, or house dress. The black choir cassock has a train, like the violet one, and the mozzeta or mantelletum are faced with violet. However, Protonotaries Apostolic and Domestic Prelates do not change their choir dress (except sede vacante).

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter was proper to Septuagesima Sunday and the Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of St. Ignatius and St. John Bosco (but not of the anticipated fourth Sunday after Epiphany which was observed on Saturday). The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted. At the end of Vespers Alleluia was added, twice, to both Benedicamus Domino and to its response. After that Alleluia will not be heard again 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 were sung at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Praeoccupemus as on preceding Sundays and the hymn Primo die. The antiphons and psalms are as on previous 'green' Sundays. In the first nocturn the Incipit of the Book of Genesis is read. In the second nocturn the lessons are from the Enchiridion of St. Augustine, in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on the Gospel of the labourers in the vineyard. The Te Deum is not sung but in its place is sung a ninth responsory, Ubi est Abel frater tuus?.

At Lauds the 'second scheme' of psalms is sung: Pss 50, 117, 62, Canticle of the Three Children (Benedictus es) and 148. The antiphons at Lauds are proper to the Sunday as are the versicle after the hymn Aeterne, chapter, antiphon at the Benedictus and collect. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Ignatius is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper. At Prime the order of psalmody is changed and four psalms are sung, Pss. 92, 99 (displaced from Lauds) and the usual first two stanzas of Ps. 118. Both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted.

At Mass the Gloria is omitted. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The second collect is of St. Ignatius. Today there is no third collect. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Credo is sung and the Preface is of the Blessed Trinity. Benedicamus Domino is sung, by the deacon facing the altar, as the dismissal.

In the afternoon there is a colour change to white and first Vespers of the Purification are sung. The antiphons O admirabile commercium etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms of feasts for the Blessed Virgin (Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The chapter is proper to the feast and the Office hymn is Ave, maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat is proper to the feast Senex Puerum portabat etc. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of Septuagesima Sunday and of St. Ignatius of Antioch. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi sit gloria etc.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no anticipated Sundays. At Vespers there were no commemorations. Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn. At Prime the arrangement of psalms is truly bizarre with the festal arrangment of Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii (!) At Mass there is only one collect and Benedicamus Domino is suppressed in favour of Ite, missa est. Vespers, and Compline, are of the Sunday without even a commemoration of the Purification.

Art: Jerome Nadal