XVII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the second Sunday of September and the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin - although since the 1911-13 reforms the Octave is much diminished. The Gospel pericopes at Mattins and Mass come from the twenty-second chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel and have the Pharisees asking the LORD what is the greatest commandment.

As Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Nicholas of Tolentino and of SS Protus & Hyacinth. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline due to the concurring double feast.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are taken from the book of Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book of Morals. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Chrysostom on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration of SS Protus and Hyacinth is sung followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Protus & Hyacinth, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung and the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Being the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM one Mass, other than the Conventual, may be sung of the Most Holy Name of Mary, a feast formerly assigned to this Sunday. The Mass is sung in white vestments with Gloria, the second collect is of the Sunday, the Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the Office hymn is Lucis creator, sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi...qui natus etc. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of the Holy Name of Mary. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the melody and Doxlogy of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at Vespers. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn. There are no commemorations at Lauds. At Mass there is but a single collect. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations and there is no change to the melody or Doxology of the hymn.

Art: Jerome Nadal