St. Anne

The feast of St. Anne is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. The ninth Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. The feast was originally celebrated by the Franciscans and appears as a feast of nine lessons in the 1550 Breviarium Romanum. The feast was suppressed in the 1568-70 reform but was returned to the Kalendar in 1584 as a double. The feast became a greater double in 1738 and a Double of the Second Class in 1879. Most of the texts for the feast are from the Common of Non-Virgins.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of St. James the Apostle. The antiphons Juravit Dominus etc were sung with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of St. Anne and of the ninth Sunday after Pentecost. The Suffrage was omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Laudemus Deum nostrum, in confessione beatae Annae and the Office hymn is Hujus oratu. In the first nocturn the antiphons O quam pulchra etc are sung with Pss. 8, 18, & 23. The lessons are Mulierem fortem etc from the Proverbs of Solomon. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung with Pss.44, 45 & 47. The lessons are proper to the feast from St. John Damascene. In the third nocturn the antiphons Nigra sum etc are sung with Pss. 95, 96 & 97. The homily is from the writings of St. Gregory on St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. At Lauds the antiphons Dum esset Rex etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Fortem virili pectore. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) the lectio brevis is Multae filiae.

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Trinity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Dum esset Rex etc are sung with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Fortem virili pectore. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast does not take precedence over the Sunday. At Vespers of St. James yesterday there was no commemoration of St. Anne. Mattins of the Sunday is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds there is a commemoration of St. Anne. At said Masses there is a second collect of St. Anne. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

St. James the Apostle

The feast of St. James the Apostle is a Double of the Second Class and the liturgical colour of the feast is red. St. James, often referred to as St. James the Great to distinguish him from St. James the Less (May 1st), suffered martyrdom by the sword under Agrippa I. His remains were transferred to Santiago di Compostella in northern Spain, resulting in the city becoming a major pilgrimage site in Medieval times.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc from the Common of Apostles were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Domincial preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christi munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung with Pss.18, 33 & 41. The lessons are Sic nos existimet homo from the former Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum ete are sung with Pss. 46, 60 & 63. The lessons are proper to the feast. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung with Pss. 74, 96 & 98. The homily is taken from St. Chrysostom's sixty-sixth sermon on St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with the Sunday psalms. The Office hymn is, again, Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of St. Christopher. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii). The lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli.

Mass is sung after Terce. The introit is Mihi autem nimis. The Gloria is sung, (in private Masses the second collect is of St. Christopher). The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Apostles.

At Vespers the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc are sung with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Anne and of the ninth Sunday after Pentecost. The Suffrage is omitted.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast loses first Vespers. The Little Hours have the Saturday psalms and the lectio brevis at Prime is of the season. At Vespers there is no commemoration of St. Anne.

Icon: Eighteenth century Russian icon of St. James from Wikipedia.

VIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke contain the parable about the unjust steward.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Camillus and of St. Vincent de Paul. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the concurring and occurring double feasts.. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted for the same reason.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons continue to be read from the third Book of the Kings. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from a St. Augustine's City of God. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Luke's Gospel is from St. Jerome. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration is sung of St. Vincent de Paul. The Suffrage is omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and 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. Vincent de Paul. Today there is no third collect . The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) and the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Jerome Aemiliani, of St. Vincent de Paul and of St. Margaret. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. Mass has a single collect.

N.B. 'Anonymous' - Thank you for the comment on the post this one has replaced. The perils of rushing to do things in the early hours... I am most grateful to you.

Art: Jerome Nadal

VII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventh Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the words of warning from the LORD concerning false prophets appearing as sheep but who, in reality, are wolves.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of St. John Gualbert and of SS Nabor and Felix. The Suffrage of the Saints was not sung due to the occurring double feast. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted for the same reason.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Officie hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Third Book of the Kings. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from am epistle of St. Jerome to Nepotianus. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Hiliary. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. John Gualbert and of SS Nabor and Felix. The Suffrage is omitted due to the occurring double feast.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and 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. John Gualbert, the third collect is of SS Nabor and Felix. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis Creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast St. Anacletus and of St. John Gualbert. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. Mass has a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations, indeed St. Anacletus had be removed from the Calendar entirely.

VI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Mark's Gospel describe the Feeding of the Four Thousand with seven loaves and fishes. This year it is also the Sunday within the Octave of SS Peter and Paul.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of the sixth day within the Octave of SS Peter and Paul and of St. Antony Mary Zaccaria. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the double feast and Octave. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted for the same reason.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes vigilemus omnes. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the twelfth chapter of the Second Book of the Kings. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Ambrose's Defence of David. Again, St. Ambrose provides the homily in the third nocturn on St. Mark's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, following the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Antony Mary Zaccaria and of the Octave of SS Peter and Paul. The Suffrage is omitted due to the occurring double feast and Octave.

At Prime psalms 117, 118i & 118ii are sung. Both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Antony Mary Zaccaria, the third collect is of the Octave of SS Peter and Paul. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

All Masses, except the Conventual Mass, may be of the Precious Blood. The Mass Redemisti nos is sung in red vestments with Gloria and Creed. The preface is of the Cross. A commemoration of the Sunday is sung and the last Gospel of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave Day of SS Peter and Paul and of St. Antony Mary Zaccaria. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. Mass has a single collect.

The Visitation

The feast of the Visitation of the BVM is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. The feast commemorates the Visitation made by the BVM to her cousin Elizabeth (c.f. Luke 1: 39-80). The feast originated as a concession to the Franciscans at the request of St. Bonaventure in 1263. Urban VI in 1389 confirmed the celebration of the feast with an Octave on July 2nd. Boniface IX in 1390, the Council of Basle in 1441 and Nicholas V in 1451 confirmed the feast but not the Octave, according to the notes of the Pian Commission. In the 1550 Breviary it became a double feast as it also appeared in the Tridentine Breviary, with a partially new Office in 1569. Clement VIII made the feast a greater double in the 1604 BR and Pius IX made it a double of the second class in 1850. The modern reformers couldn't cope with the feast on the day following the Octave Day of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist finding this illogical and moved it to 31st May. The Byzantines keep the feast, which was only introduced in the nineteenth century, on March 30th.

The feast begins with Mattins (Vespers having been of the Feast of the Precious Blood with a commemoration of the Visitation. The invitatory is proper, Visitationem Virginis Mariae celebremus: Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum. The Office hymn, antiphons and psalms are from the Common of the BVM. In the first nocturn the antiphons Benedicta tu etc are sung with Pss. 8, 18 & 23. The lessons are taken from the Canticle of Canticles. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung with Pss. 44, 45 & 86. The lessons are from a homily of St. John Chrysostom. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude, Maria Virgo etc are sung with Pss. 95, 96 & 97. The homily is from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of SS Processus and Martinian. At Lauds the antiphons Exsurgens Maria etc are sung with the Sunday psalms, the Office hymn is from the Common, O gloriosa virginum, and the antiphon on the Benedictus is proper, Cum audisset etc. A commemoration is sung of SS Processus and Martinian (but not of the Octave of SS Peter and Paul).

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung to the melody of the Incarnation and with its Doxology. The antiphons from Lauds are sung with the Sunday psalms. At Prime the festal psalms (53, 118i & 118ii) are sung, in the short responsory the versicle Qui natus es is sung, the lectio brevis is In plateis.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass Salve sancte parens is sung, the Gloria is sung, in private Masses a commemoration is made of SS Processus and Martinian, the Creed is sung and the preface is of the BVM.

At Vespers the antiphons Exsurgens Maria etc are sung with the psalms from the Common of the BVM, Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Ave, maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Leo.

In the 'liturgial books of 1962' at Mattins the ninth lesson of SS Processus and Martinian is suppressed. At the Hours the ferial antiphons and psalms are sung, the hymns do not have the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime the short lesson is of the season. At Vespers there are no commemorations.