Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the LORD

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. It is also the Sunday within the Octaves of St. Stephen, St. John and of the Holy Innocents but since the reform of 1911-13 those Octave are all but invisible.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity were sung, the antiphons not being doubled. The Office hymn was Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the Octave of the Nativity and of St. Sylvester. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted. Throughout the Octave hymns of Iambic metre are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn, antiphons (not doubled) and psalms are those that were sung on the feast of the Nativity. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Epistle to the Romans. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Leo on the Nativity. In the third nocturn the homily is taken from St. Ambrose on the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons from the Nativity, Quem vidistis etc., are sung (not doubled) with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper to the Sunday as is the collect. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Sylvester and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns of the Hours are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, & 118ii) the lectio brevis is proper to the Sunday, Itaque jam non est servus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formulary is Dum medium etc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Sylvester, the third collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of the Circumcision. The antiphons O admirabile commercium etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. There are no commemorations. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at Vespers on Saturday. Mattins has the psalmody of the Nativity (with the curtailed Ps. 88 ) and the usual cut-down single nocturn of three lessons. At the Hours the antiphons and psalmody are of from the Sunday Office, not of the Nativity. There is no proper Doxology at the hymns of the Hours. Mass has but a single collect.

Vigil of the Nativity - Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Vigil of the Nativity takes precedence over the fourth Sunday of Advent which is commemorated in the Office and at Mass. The Office is of semi-double rite until the end of Mattins and then becomes of double rite. The liturgical colour is violet. At Mass the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Canite tuba etc (of the fourth Sunday) were sung with the psalms of Saturday. The Office hymn was Creator alme siderum. The antiphon on the Magnificat was that appointed for the twenty-third day of December, the last in the 'Great O' series, O Emmanuel etc. This was sung doubled before and after the Canticle. The collect was of the fourth Sunday of Advent. Being Advent the Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Hodie scietis (from the texts appointed for the Vigil) and the Office hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons and psalms are of Sunday, Veniet ecce Rex etc with Pss 1, 2 & 3. The lessons continue to be read from Isaias. In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung with Pss. 8, 9i & 9ii and the lessons are from St. Leo on fasting. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung with Pss. 9iii, 9iv & 10. The versicle and response after the psalms is from the Vigil Hodie scietis etc. The lessons and their responsories are those appointed for the Vigil with a homily from St. Jerome on St. Matthew’s Gospel. The ninth lesson is not of the Sunday (c.f. specific rubric in the Breviary). At Lauds the antiphons, Judaea et Jerusalem nolite timere etc, are sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The Office hymn is En clara vox. The chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus, and collect are proper to the Vigil. After the collect of the Vigil a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

Prime is festal with the first antiphon from Lauds, as usual, and psalms 53, 118(i) and 118(ii). The Martyrology is sung with extra solemnity today. The Hebdomadarius dons a violet cope and preceded by acolytes bearing candles and a thurifer with incense enters the choir. After reverencing the choir and altar the Martyrology is censed, as a Gospel book, three times. The the choir rise and the Hebdomadarius chants Octavo Kalendas Januarii. Luna septima. Anno a creatione mundi, quando in principio Deus creavit coelum et terram, quinquies millesimo centesimo nonagesimonono: A diluvio etc., listing the years since the birth of Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, the anointing of David, the time since Daniel the Prophet, since the founding of Rome and the conception of the LORD by the Holy Ghost. He continues until ...novemque post conceptionem decursis mensibus, then raising the pitch of the chant, whilst the choir kneel, he continues, in Bethlehem Judae nascitur ex Maria Virgine factus Homo. Then, in the tone of the Passion: Nativitas Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundem carnem. The choir then rise and sit whilst in the normal tone the Hebdomadarius (or a lector, depending on the custom of the place) continues with the entries for the day: Eodem die natalis santae Anastasiae etc. The lectio brevis, Per quem accepimus, is proper to the Vigil. The antiphons from Lauds are used in sequence at the rest of the Hours in the normal order.

Mass is sung after Terce. Today the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but violet dalmatic and tunicle. As always the absence of folded chasubles means the organ may be played. After the collect of the Vigil a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The last Gospel is In principio. The dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung by the deacon to a most beautiful and ornate tone reserved for today, the feast of the Holy Innocents and pro re gravi Masses.

In the afternoon first Vespers of the Nativity are sung. The antiphons Rex pacificus etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. All hymns of Iambic metre have the Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria, qui natus es de Virgine for the Octave and up until the feast of the Epiphany. From this Vespers the until Candlemas the Marian antiphon is Alma Redemptoris with the versicle Post partum etc and the collect Deus, qui salutis. At Compline the Domincial psalms are sung, Te lucis has the Doxology of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the liturgical books of 1962 the Dominical preces are omitted at Compline. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn with the three lessons of the Vigil. At Lauds there is no commemoration of the Sunday. At Mass there is no commemoration of the Sunday and the dismissal is Ite, missa est. At Compline Te lucis is sung without the Doxology of the Incarnation.

Main Image: Entry from an 1865 Ordo.

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Third Sunday of Advent

The third Sunday of Advent, often referred to as Gaudete Sunday from the words of its introit, Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico gaudete, sees a lightening of the Advent mood. 'Rejoice in the LORD always; again I say rejoice.' The same words begin the Epistle from Philippians (4:4). The Sunday's rank is that of a semi-double of the second class. The Gospel pericopes from St. John contain the Baptist's famous words "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the LORD." On this Sunday, mirroring Laetare Sunday in Lent, the penitential mood lifts a little with the deacon and sub-deacon wearing violet dalmatic and tunicle rather than their folded chasubles or, following the more modern praxis, with the use of rose-coloured vestments. The use of rose vestments is not obligatory. The absence of folded chasubles means that the organ may be played. On this Sunday Cardinals of the Court of Rome, in better days, removed their violet merino dress and wore rose watered-silk cassocks, with rose watered-silk mozzeta and mantelleta.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons from tomorrow's Lauds, Veniet Dominus etc, were sung with the psalms of Saturday. The Office hymn was Creator alme siderum. Being Advent the Suffrage was omitted but at Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Prope est jam Dominus: Venite adoremus. This invitatory is now used until the 23rd of December inclusive. The Office hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with the usual psalms for Sunday. The lessons are a continuation of Isaiah. In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung and the lessons are taken from St. Leo's sermon on the fast of the tenth month. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung and the homily is from St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel and the record of the Baptist. The Te Deum is omitted and in its place a ninth responsory, Docebit nos Dominus vias suas, is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Veniet Dominus etc are sung with the Sunday psalms. The Office hymn is En clara vox. The Suffrage is omitted. At Prime the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. The Gloria not sung. The second collect is Deus, qui de beatae, the third collect is Ecclesiae. The Creed is sung and the preface that of the Trinity. As the Gloria is not sung the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons, Veniet Dominus etc, are sung with the Sunday psalms. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum. The antiphon on the Magnificat is O Sapientia which is sung doubled with the choir standing. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Dominical preces have been abolished. Mattins is stripped down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Mass there is but a single collect and the dismissal is Ite, missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal depicts today's Gospel where the Jews sent priests and Levites to interrogate St. John the Baptist.

Second Sunday of Advent

The second Sunday of Advent (and the third and fourth) are semi-double Sundays of the second class in rank. This year it is also the Sunday within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception. The Gospel pericopes, from St. Matthew, tell of St. John the Baptist in prison sending two of his followers to meet the LORD. The liturgical colour is violet.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Ecce in nubibus caeli etc were sung with the psalms of Saturday. The Office hymn was Creator alme siderum (sung with the ordinary Doxology, c.f. pre-1911 praxis). After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the Octave and of St. Melchiades. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted being within an Octave.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem venturum and the Office hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with the usual psalms for Sunday. The lessons are a continuation of Isaiah and today contain the beautiful symbolism of the Rod of Jesse. In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung and the them of the Rod of Jesse is continued as the lessons are taken from St. Jerome's Expositon on Isaias the Prophet. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung and the homily is from St. Gregory. The Te Deum is omitted and in its place a ninth responsory, Ecce Dominus veniet, is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons, Ecce in nubibus caeli etc are sung with the Sunday psalms. The Office hymn is En clara vox. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave and of St. Melchiades. At Prime the versicle in the responsory is Qui venturus es in mundum (again, c.f. pre-1911 praxis). The Dominical preces are omitted due to the Octave.

Mass is sung after Terce, the deacon and subdeacon wear violet folded chasubles. The Gloria is not sung. The second collect is of the Octave, the third collect is of St. Melchiades. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Trinity. Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons Ecce in nubibus caeli are again sung this time with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast St. Damasus and of the Octave. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers there are no commemorations. The Octave has been abolished. The Dominical preces are always omitted at Prime and Compline. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle, there is only one collect and the dismissal is Ite, missa est. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

First Sunday of Advent

The first Sunday of Advent is a semi-double Sunday of the first class and its liturgical colour is violet. The liturgy of Advent is perhaps the most exquisite of the entire liturgical year with 'layers' of meaning for both the First and Second Comings of the LORD. There is a weave of expectant joy and penance to be found throughout the liturgical texts. The eschatalogical theme of last Sunday's Gospel continues with St. Luke's Gospel today and the Coming of the Divine Judge. From first Vespers of Advent Sunday the Pars Hiemalis of the Breviary begins.

During Advent bishops of the Roman rite exchange their violet choir cassocks for black ones (with train) which are worn with either a black mozzeta or black mattelletum with violet linings. Cardinals of the Court of Rome wear their 'winter' violet merino apparel (in contrast to their summer mourning dress of violet watered-silk) in place of their watered-silk scarlet dress.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons In illa die etc were sung with the psalms of Saturday. The Office hymn was Creator alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Francis Xavier. The Suffrage was omitted being Advent. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem venturum and this is sung in both the Dominical and ferial Offices of Advent until the third Sunday. The Office hymn is Verbum supernum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Veniet ecce Rex etc are sung with the usual psalms for Sunday. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the prophet Isaiah. In the second nocturn the antiphons Gaude et laetare etc are sung and the lessons are taken from the writing of St. Leo on the fast of the tenth month, the theme of which is preparing for the Coming. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gabriel Angelus etc are sung and the homily is from St. Gregory continuing the theme of Coming with his commentary on St. Luke's Gospel about the end times. A ninth responsory is sung and the Te Deum is omitted in the Office of Advent. At Lauds the antiphons proper to the first Sunday In illa die etc, are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is En clara vox. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Francis Xavier is sung. The Suffage is omitted.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds, In illa die, is sung with the usual Dominical psalms (117, 118i, 118ii). In the short responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum replaces Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris for all of Advent except when an occurring feast has a proper versicle. The Dominical preces are omitted. At the other Hours the remaining antiphons of Lauds are sung in the usual order.

Mass is sung after Terce. During Advent for ferial and Dominical Masses in the Roman rite the deacon and sub-deacon do not wear the dalmatic and tunicle but violet folded chasubles, an ancient feature of the Roman liturgy. The Gloria in not sung, the second collect is of St. Francis Xavier. The Creed is sung, the preface that of the Blessed Trinity and, as the Gloria was not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the deacon facing the altar, not turned towards the people.

At Vespers the antiphons In illa die etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday commemoration are sung of the following Office of St. Peter Chyrsologus, of St. Francis Xavier and of St. Barbara. 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. At Prime there are no Dominical preces. At Mass the there is the novelty for the the Roman rite of the deacon wearing the dalmatic and the sub-deacon the tunicle in a penitential Mass of the season. Folded chasubles, so ancient and so quintessentially Roman, have been tossed aside. There is only one collect and the dismissal is Ite, missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XXV and last Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the twenty-fifth, and last, Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the fifth Sunday of November. The liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew's Gospel contain the prophetic words of the LORD concerning the last days and the coming of the Antichrist. The texts of the twenty-fourth Sunday given in the Breviary and Missal are used.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Super muros tuos for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of S. Catherine and then of St. Sylvester and of St.Peter of Alexandria. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the double feasts as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum etc and the Office hymn is Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Prophet Micheas. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Basil on the thirty-third psalm. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of SS Sylvester and of St Peter. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted because of the occurring double feast.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Sylvester, the third collect is of St. Peter. The Creed is sung and the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Sylvester. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline due to the occurring and concurring double feasts.

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 are no commemorations. At Mass there is but a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal Nadal's image of the Antichrist enthroned whilst the clergy and people give him false worship.

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XXIV Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of November. Texts for the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany are used along with those from the twenty-third Sunday as there are more than twenty-four Sundays after Pentecost. The texts in the Missal for the twenty-fourth Sunday will be used next week.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of SS Peter and Paul. The antiphons Domum tuam, Domine etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 147. The Office hymn was Caelestis urbs Jerusalem. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Qui caelorum for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of November) followed by commemorations of St. Elizabeth and St. Pontianus. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the double feasts as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum etc and the Office hymn is Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of the Prophet Osee. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Augustine's City of God. In the third nocturn (from the propers for the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Elizabeth and St. Pontianus. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The introit, gradual, Alleluia verse, offertory and communion texts are those of the twenty-third Sunday. The rest of the texts are those of the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Elizabeth, the third collect is of St. Pontianus. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Felix of Valois and of St. Elizabeth. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' on Saturday Vespers are of the Sunday without even a commemoration of the Dedication of the Basilica of SS Peter & Paul. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is only one collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

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XXIII Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and, this year, is the third Sunday of November. Its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the passages where the LORD heals a woman with an issue of blood and raises Jairus' daughter from the dead.

As Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Muro tuo for the Saturday before the third Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Martin of Tours and of St. Martin I of Rome. The Suffrage was omitted due to the double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Incipit of the book of the Prophet Daniel. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Athanasius' book to Virgins. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome on the ninth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Martin I 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 St. Martin I, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung as is the preface 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 of St. Dicacus and of St. Martin followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn and three lessons. There are no commemorations nor Suffrage at Lauds. At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. There is a single collect at Mass. At Vespers there are no commemorations nor Suffrage and at Compline there are no preces.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XXII Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the second Sunday of November and the Sunday within the Octave of All Saints. The liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the account of the Pharisees trying to trap the LORD over tribute to Caesar and the LORD's rebuttal of "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God those things that are God's." The second Sunday of November, and its week, are only observed when the Sunday falls on the 5th of November.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Aspice, Domine for the Saturday before the second Sunday in November. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Charles and of the Octave of All Saints. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons continue to be read from the Prophet Ezechiel. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Jerome's Exposition on Ezechiel. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration of the Octave is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave. Being a Sunday within an Octave there is no third collect. 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 a commemoration of the Octave is sung. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers the antiphon on the Magnificat is Vidi, Dominum for the first Sunday of November and at the cut-down Mattins the Incipit of the Book of Ezechiel is read as a first and second lesson. The second Sunday of November, and its week, are always omitted. The Octave of All Saints has been abolished. There are no commemorations at Mass or in the Office.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Christ the King - XXI Sunday after Pentecost

The feast of Christ the King is a Double of the First Class and its liturgical colour is white. This year it is also the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost and the first Sunday of November.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Pacificus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Te saeculorum Principem. After the collect of the feast commemoration were sung of the preceding feast of SS Simon & Jude and of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Vidi, Dominum for the Saturday before the first Sunday of November. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui sceptra mundi temperas, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula.

At Mattins the invitatory is Jesum Christum, Regem regum Venite adoremus. In the first nocturn (Pss.2, 8 & 23) the lessons are taken from St. Paul's Epistle to the Colossians. In the second nocturn (Pss. 28, 44 & 46) the lessons are taken from Pius XI's encyclical Quas primas. In the third nocturn (Pss. 71, 88i, 88ii) the homily on St. John's Gospel is taken from the writings of St. Augustine. The ninth lesson is the homily appointed for the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost, from St. Jerome on St. Matthew (appointed for the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany). The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Suscitabit etc are sung with the Sunday psalms. The Office hymn is Vexilla Christus inclyta. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons Suscitabit etc are sung with the festal psalms (at Prime Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii). The Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria etc is sung with the hymns of the Hours. At Prime the versicle in the short responsory is Qui primatum in omnibus tenes and the lectio brevis In ipso.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the Creed is sung. The preface is proper to the feast and the last Gospel is that of the Sunday.

At Vespers all is sung as yesterday at first Vespers except the versicle & response and the antiphon on the Magnificat which are proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers there was no commemoration of the Sunday (if there were it would be of the fifth Sunday of October, not the first Sunday of November). There is no proper Doxology for Te lucis. At Mattins in the third nocturn, the third psalm (Ps. 88ii) gets stripped of over half its verses. Verses Tu vero repulisti... to Benedictus Dominus in aeternam, fiat, fiat, 39 - 53, are omitted. The former eighth lesson is split into two to provide an eighth and ninth lesson as the homily of the Sunday is omitted. At Lauds there is no commemoration sung of the Sunday. At Prime and the Hours the Doxology for the feast is omitted. At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season. At Mass there is no commemoration of the Sunday and the last Gospel is In principio. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Image: Christ as Pantocrator from the apse of the magnificent Cathedral of Monreale.

XX Sunday after Pentecost - Mission Sunday

The twentieth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of October and also Mission Sunday. An oratio imperata pro re gravi is ordered to be added to all Masses following a rescript of the SCR of April 14th, 1926. The Gospel pericopes from St. John give the account of the healing of the ruler's son at Capharnaum.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Exaudiat Dominus for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday in October. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints was sung. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum etc and the Office hymn is Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Second Book of the Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Augustine's City of God. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

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 A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector, the fourth collect is Deus, qui nos homines (from the Votive Mass for the Propagation of the Faith). The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Suffrage has been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is no Suffrage. At Prime there is neither Quicumque nor are the Dominical preces. At Mass the collect for Missions is added to the collect of the day under one conclusion. At Vespers there is no Suffrage. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XIX Sunday after Pentecost

The nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the third Sunday of October. The Gospel pericopes contain the parable of the wedding feast from St. Matthew's Gospel with the sobering concluding words of the LORD Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnifcat was Lugebat autem Judam for the Saturday before the third Sunday of October. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Callistus and of St. Teresa. The Suffrage was omitted due to the double feasts as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn isPrimo die. In the first nocturn the lessons continue to be read from the first book of Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the book of St. Ambrose's Book of Offices. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory on St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Teresa is sung. The Suffrage of the Saints 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. Teresa. Today there is no third collect. 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 of St. Hedwig and of St. Teresa. The Suffrage of the Saints 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. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is but a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XVIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. This year it is the second Sunday of October. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew relate the healing of a paralytic, both by being forgiven his sins and physically healed by the LORD.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Most Holy Rosary of the BVM. The antiphons Quae est ista etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Te gestientem gaudiis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung, the antiphon on the Magnificat being Refulsit sol for the Saturday before the second Sunday of October, followed by a commemoration of St. Bridget of Sweden. The Suffrage was omitted due to the concurring double feast. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changes from white to green. The invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons continue to be read from the First Book of the Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Augustine writings on the City of God. In the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Peter Chrysologus on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Bridget is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Bridget. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung as is the preface 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 Office of SS Denis and Others and of St. Bridget. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers the Sunday is commemorated but not St. Bridget. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the ordinary Doxology. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

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 first Sunday of October. 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.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Adaperiat Dominus for the Saturday before the first Sunday of October. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Jerome and of St. Remegius. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum etc and the Office hymn is Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the First Book of the Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Ambrose. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Chrysostom on St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the St. Remegius 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 the St. Remegius, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

As, prior to the reform of 1911-13, the first Sunday in October was the feast of the Holy Rosary, all Masses, except the Conventual may be of the feast. The Mass Gaudeamus is sung in white vestments. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Blessed Virgin and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn. There are no commemorations at Lauds, nor Suffrage. At Mass there is but a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XVI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke tell of the LORD healing the man with dropsy on the Sabbath.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus, sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi sit gloria etc. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Adonai, Domine for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Linus and of Our Lady of Ransom. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Judith. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the book of St. Ambrose on Elias and fasting. In the third nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose, a homily on St. Lukes's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce, jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the BVM is sung. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. The verse in the short responsory is Qui natus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the BVM. Today there is no the third collect. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Holy Trinity and the last Gospel is of the BVM.

At Vespers the Office hymn is Lucis creator sung with the melody and Doxlogy of the Incarnation. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the BVM. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. The Office hymns are sung with the ordinary Doxology. At Mass there is but a single collect and the last Gospel is In principio.

Art: Jerome Nadal.

XV Sunday after Pentecost

The fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the third Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes sung at Mattins and Mass are from the seventh chapter of St. Luke's Gospel recount the raising by the LORD from the dead of the son of the widow of Nain. The week ahead will contain the September Ember Days.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus and the antiphon on the Magnificat was Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of SS Cornelius & Cyprian and of the Impression of the Stigmata of St. Francis. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Tobias. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo on fasting in the seventh month. In the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Augustine on St. Lukes's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Francis is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Francis. Today there is no the third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Prior to the reform of 1911-13 the third Sunday in September was the feast of the Seven Sorrows of the BVM. One Mass, but not the Conventual Mass, may be celebrated of the feast. The Mass Stabant juxta Crucem is sung in white vestments. A commemoration of the Sunday is sung, the Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemoration are sung of the following Office of St. Joseph of Cupertino and of St. Francis. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are 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 Mass there is only one collect.

XIV Sunday after Pentecost

The fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the second Sunday of September. The pericopes from St. Matthew's Gospel contain the passages about the 'lilies of the field' and seeking first the Kingdom of God.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Nicholas of Tolentino. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

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 Book of Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book of Morals. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Nicholas of Tolentino. 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. Nicholas of Tolentino, today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of SS. Protus & Hyacinth and of St. Nicholas. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemoration at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds there are no commemoration. At Mass there is a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XIII Sunday after Pentecost

The thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the first Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke's Gospel tell of the LORD and the ten lepers, only one of which thanked Him for being healed. The Office of this Sunday marks the beginning of the Pars Autumnalis of the Breviary.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Stephen followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book of Morals. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Luke's Gospel is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

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 A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector of the place. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday are sung. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations nor Suffrage at Vespers. Mattins has a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is no Suffrage. Prime loses both Quicumque and the preces. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers the Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XII Sunday after Pentecost

The twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the fifth Sunday of August.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Observa, fili for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of August). After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Joseph Calasanctius. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

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 book of Ecclesiasticus. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Chrysostom on Corninthians. In the third nocturn the homily on the Gospel is from the writings of the Venerable Bede. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemorations is sung of St. Joseph Calasanctius. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Joseph Calasanctius. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Augustine, of St. Joseph Calasanctius and of St. Hermes. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the fourth Sunday of August. At Vespers there were no commemorations. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XI Sunday after Pentecost

The eleventh Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is also the fourth Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption of the BVM. The Gospel pericopes from St. Mark contain the account of the LORD healing a deaf and dumb man with His spittle.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. John Eudes and of the Octave. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation. All hymns of Iambic metre are sung with this Doxology throughout the Octave.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Ecclesiasticus. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book of Morals. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory the Great. 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. Bernard and of the Octave. The Suffrage is omitted due to the occurring double feast and Octave.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted because of the occurring double feast and Octave. As noted above the hymns have the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Bernard, the third collect is of the Octave. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Prior to the reform of 1911-13 the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption was the feast of St. Joachim, father of the BVM. Today one Mass, other than the Conventual, may be sung of St. Joachim in white vestments. The Mass is Dispersit, the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, and third collect of St. Bernard. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Blessed Trinity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday are sung. The Office hymn is Lucis creator sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Jane Frances, of St. Bernard and of the Octave. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the third Sunday of August. The Octave of the Assumption has been torn from the Calendar. The hymns are sung with the ordinary Doxology. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

X Sunday after Pentecost

The tenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the third Sunday of August.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of St. Clare and of SS Hippolytus & Cassian. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Wisdom. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the Book of Morals by St. Gregory the Great. In the third nocturn the lessons are from section from St. Augustine's 36th sermon on the words of the LORD. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of SS Hippolytus & Cassian 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 Hippolytus & Cassian, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy 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 a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Eusebius followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.


In the 'liturgical books of the 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are neither commemoration nor Suffrage. At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. At Mass there is a single collect. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The Transfiguration of the LORD

The feast of the Transfiguration of the LORD is a Double feast of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. The IX Sunday after Pentecost (and the second Sunday of August) is commemorated at in the Office and at Mass.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Assumpsit Jesus etc., proper to the feast, were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Quicumque Christum quaeritis. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Christus Jesus, splendor Patris etc and the collect was proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of the Dedication of Sancta Maria ad Nives and of the Sunday, the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ego in altissimis for the Saturday before the second Sunday of August. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline, and at all the Hours, the hymns have the Doxology Jesu tibi Domine, Qui apparusti hodie etc along with its melody.

At Mattins the invitatory is Summum Regem gloriae, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn is, again, Quicumque Christum quaeritis. In the first nocturn the proper antiphons, Paulo minus etc, are sung with psalms 8, 28 & 44. The lessons in the first nocturn are from the Second Epistle of St. Peter. In the second nocturn the antiphons Illuminans etc are sung with psalms 75, 83, and 86. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo. In the third nocturn the antiphons Thabor et Hermon etc are sung with psalms 88, 96 and 103. The homily in the third nocturn is taken from St. Chrysostom's 57th homily on St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. The Te Deum is sung. The Incipit of the Book of Ecclesiastes, from the second Sunday is transferred to tomorrow's first nocturn.

At Lauds the antiphons Assumpsit Jesus Petrum et Jacobem etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Lux alma, Jesu, mentium. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Et ecce vox etc. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of SS Xystus & Companions. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns have the proper Doxology and melody as noted above. The antiphons from Lauds are sung at the Hours in the usual order. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (53, 118i & 118ii), the verse in the short response is Qui apparuisti and the lectio brevis is Sustulit me.

Mass is sung after Terce. Where it is the custom a blessing of grapes takes place immediately before Mass. The introit is Illuxerant. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, (in private Masses the third collect is of SS Xystus etc). The Credo is sung, the Preface is of the Nativity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all is sung as was sung at first Vespers except for the antiphon on the Magnificat, Et audientes, which is proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Cajetan and of the Sunday. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today would be the first Sunday of August but it is entirely omitted and not commemorated in the Office or Mass of the feast. At Vespers there are no commemorations. At Mattins Psalm 88 ends with the verse Quia Domini est assumptio nosta etc and the verses from Tunc locutus es etc to the end, 34 verses in all, are omitted. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At the Hours the hymns have the ordinary Doxology and the antiphons are of the Sunday, not the feast, Prime has Pss. 117, 1181 & 118ii. The lectio brevis is of the season. At Mass there is only one collect, the Preface is of the Trinity and the last Gospel is In principio. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

VIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the first Sunday of August. 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. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Sapientia for the Saturday before the first Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Martha and of SS Abdon & Sennen followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipiunt of the Proverbs of Solomon. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from a tract of St. Ambrose on the 118th Psalm. 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 SS Abdon & Sennen 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 the SS Abdon & Sennen, the third collect is A cunctis. 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 a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Ignatius. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the first Sunday of August will be next week. There are no commemorations at either Vespers. The Suffrage has been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. Mass has a single collect.

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 the preceding Office St. Mary Magdalene, of St. Apollinaris and of St. Liborius. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the double feasts. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

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. 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. Apollinaris and of St. Liborius. The Suffrage of the Saints 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. Apollinaris, the third collect is of St. Liborius. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) the Office hymn is Lucis Creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Apollinaris and of St. Christina. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

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

Art: Jerome Nadal

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, sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi sit gloria etc. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office St. Henry the Emperor and of the BVM of Mount Carmel. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the double feast. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces were omitted.

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 a commemoration is of the BVM of Mount Carmel. The Suffrage is omitted.

At Prime and at the other Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxlogy and melody of the Incarnation. At prime psalms 117, 118i & 118ii are sung. Both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. The versicle in the Short Responsory is Qui natus es.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the BVM of Mount Carmel. There is no third collect. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Blessed Trinity and the last Gospel is of the BVM.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113 are sung. The Office hymn is Lucis creator, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Alexius and of the BVM. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. The ordinary Doxology is sung with the hymns of the Hours. Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. Mass has a single collect and the last Gospel is In principio.

V Sunday after Pentecost

The fifth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes at Mattins and Mass are from St. Matthew.

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 a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of St. Elizabeth followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Second Book of the Kings. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Gregory the Great's Book on Morals. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

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 A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday are sung. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of SS Holy Brothers & Others followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at Vespers. The Suffrage of the Saints and the Dominical preces have been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. Mass has a but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Visitation of the BVM

The feast of the Visitation of the BVM is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour, this year from Mattins, 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 so moved it to 31st May. The Byzantines keep the feast, which was only introduced in the nineteenth century, on March 30th. The fourth Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of The Most Precious Blood were sung. The antiphons Quis est iste etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 147. The Office hymn was Festivis resonent compita vocibus. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the feast of the Visitation of the BVM and of the Sunday. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi sit gloria etc., and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the liturgial colour changes to white. The invitatory is proper, Visitationem Virginis Mariae celebremus: Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum. The Office hymn, antiphons and psalms are all from the Common of the BVM. In the first nocturn the antiphons Benedicta tu etc are sung, doubled, 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 the Sunday. At Lauds the antiphons Exsurgens Maria etc are sung with the Dominical psalms, the Office hymn is from the Common, O gloriosa virginum, and the antiphon on the Benedictus is proper to the feast, Cum audisset etc. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of SS Processus and Martinian. The Suffrage is omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung to the melody and Doxlogy of the Incarnation. The antiphons from Lauds are sung at the Hours in in the usual order. 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, the second collect is of the Sunday, (in private Masses the third collect is of SS Processus and Martinian), the Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

All Masses, apart from the Conventual Mass, may be of the feast of the Precious Blood that, prior to the 1911-13 reform, was assigned to the first Sunday of July. The Mass Redemisti nos is sung in red vestments with Gloria, second collect of the Visitation, and third collect of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Cross and the last Gospel 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 II and of the Sunday. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgial books of 1962' the celebration of the 'green' Sunday takes precedence over the feast of the Visitation. At Vespers yesterday afternoon there were no commemorations. At Compline and at the Hours on Sunday there is no Doloxology of the Incarnation. The feast of the Visitation is commemorated at Lauds and in Low Masses only. At Mass the last Gospel is In principio. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart - Third Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart, the third Sunday after Pentecost, is of semi-double rite. The structure of the Office is as last Sunday and again the liturgical colour is white. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke have the parable of the shepherd going after one sheep missing from his hundred strong flock. This year it is also the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of St. John the Baptist. The antiphons Elisabeth Zachariae etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Ut queant laxis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday, of the Octave of the Sacred Heart and of St. William the Abbot. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and Te lucis had the Doxology and tone of the Octave. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are as on the feast of the Sacred Heart but the antiphons are not doubled. In the first nocturn the lessons are a continuation of the First Book of the Kings. The responses are of the Octave. In the second nocturn the lessons are from the Encyclical of Pius XI in 1928 that, inter alia, gave the feast an Octave. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory on St. Lukes Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Unus militum etc are sung, as on the feast, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Cor, arca legem continens. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. William, of the Octave of the Sacred Heart and of the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the hymns have the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui Corde fundis gratiam etc. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in the normal sequence at the Hours. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii). In the short responsory the versicle Qui Corde fundis gratiam is sung. The lectio brevis is of the Sunday, Deus autem.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. William, the third collect of the Octave of the Sacred Heart, the fourth collect of the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Sacred Heart.

As noted last Sunday in one of the many liturgical changes initiated by Pius X in 1911-13 the feast of St. John the Baptist was moved from its traditional date of 24th June to the fourth Sunday in June. Consequently, although the fest was restored to its correct date all Masses today, except the Conventual Mass, may be of the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist with a commemoration of the Sunday and Octave of the Sacred Heart and last Gospel of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Unus militum etc, not doubled, are sung with psalms 109, 110, 115, 127 & 147. The Office hymn is En ut superba criminum. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of SS John and Paul, of St. William, of the Octave of the Sacred Heart and of the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline Te lucis has the Doxology and tone of the Octave, the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octaves of the Sacred Heart and of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist have been abolished. The liturgical colour of the day is green. At Vespers on Saturday the Sunday, only, was commemorated. Mattins is is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. Prime has the Dominical psalms and Qui sedes etc in the short responsory. None of the hymns have the Doxology of the abolished Octave. Mass has a single collect and the preface of the Trinity. At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday are sung, there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal