The Annunciation

The feast of the Annunciation of the BVM is a Double feast of the First Class and its liturgical colour is white.

At first Vespers yesterday morning 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 and the Office hymn, Ave Maris stella, was from the Common. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect, were again, proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Lenten feria, Wednesday in Passion Week. 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 ninth lesson is of the Lenten feria and the Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons are those that were sung yesterday at Vespers sung with the Dominical psalms. Again the chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper, the Office hymn is from the Common. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Lenten feria.

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 second collect is of the Lenten feria, the Creed is sung. During the Creed the ministers kneel whilst Et incarnatus est is sung. The preface is of the BVM, with the clause Et te in Annuntiatione and the last Gospel is of the Lenten feria.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms are those sung as at first Vespers. The antiphon on the Magnificat is proper. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Lenten feria. 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 Mattins there is no ninth lesson of the Lenten feria. At Prime the short lesson is of the season not proper to the feast. At Mass there last Gospel is In principio.