Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity

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 were not doubled. The Office hymn was Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity. 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, Jesu, tibi...Qui natus etc.

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 a commemoration of the Octave of the Nativity is are sung.

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 Octave of the Nativity. Today there is no third collect. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity are sung. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Sylvester and of the Octave of the Nativity. 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 has the psalmody of the Nativity (with the curtailed Ps. 88 ) and the usual cut-down single nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. At the Hours the antiphons and psalmody are 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.

The Nativity of the LORD

The feast of the Nativity of the LORD is a Double feast of the First Class with a privileged Octave of the third order. The liturgical colour of the feast is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Rex pacificus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was 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 were sung, Te lucis had the Doxology of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces were omitted.

Mattins is ordinarily sung later in the evening than usual, so that the Mass which immediately follows can begin at midnight. The Caeremoniale Episcoporum gives special instructions, Lib.II, Cap. XIV, for Pontifical Mattins, but may be reasonably applied to other celebrations, for the arrangement of adequate candles to supply light for the service and talks of candelabris ferreis magnis to help provide this. The invitatory is proper, Christus natus est nobis: * Venite adoremus. When intoning the Office hymn, Jesu, Redemptor omnium, the Hebdomadarius turns and bows to the altar. Mattins has three nocturns and the usual nine lessons. In the first nocturn the antiphons Dominus Dixit etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 2, 18 & 44. The lessons are from Isaiah but, interestingly, are sung without a title. In the second nocturn the antiphons Suscepimus etc are sung with psalms 47, 71 & 84. The lessons in the second nocturn are taken from a homily on the Nativity by St. Leo. In the third nocturn the antiphons Ipse invocabit etc are sung with psalms 88, 95 & 97. The lessons are three Gospel pericopes, two from St. Luke and the third from St. John. After the Te Deum the collect is sung followed by Benedicamus Domino.

Then the first of the three Masses for the Nativity is sung. The Gloria is sung (one theory of its origin in the Mass rite is from the song of the Angels on Christmas night to the shepherds) as is the Creed. The preface and communicantes are of the Nativity. Lauds immediately follow Mass. The antiphons Quem vidistis pastores etc are sung the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine.

After Communion at the first Mass, when the celebrant is to celebrate one or two of the other Masses the ablutions are not taken but the unpurified chalice is placed on the corporal and covered with the purificator, pall and veil. Ablutions are taken after the last Mass so as not to break the fast.

Later in the morning Prime is sung. All hymns of Iambic metre are sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation. The first antiphon from Lauds, Quem vidistis pastores, is sung with the festal psalms (53, 118i & 118ii). In the short responsory the versicle Qui natus es de Maria Virgine is sung. The lectio brevis is Ipsi peribunt. Prime is followed by the second Mass, the Missa in aurora. In the second Mass the Gloria is sung, there is a second collect to commemorate St. Anastasia. The Creed is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

After Terce the third Mass is sung. This Mass too has the Gloria and Creed along with the preface and communicantes of the Nativity. As the Gospel pericope for this Mass is In principio the Gospel of the Epiphany, Cum natus esset Jesus, is read as a proper last Gospel.

Second Vespers has yet a third set of proper antiphons for the feast, Tecum principium etc., that are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 129 and 131. These antiphons and psalms will be used through the Octave. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Stephen. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung. Te lucis has the Doxology of the Incarnation.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Mattins in the third nocturn, and for the Octave, psalm 88, Misericordias Domini is cut from 51 to 36 verses. The verses from Tu vero repulisti et despexisti to the end are omitted. The tone and Doxology in honour of the Nativity are not sung at the hymns of the Little Hours. In the third Mass the last Gospel is omitted and at Vespers no commemoration of St. Stephen is made.

A very happy Christmass to all readers!

Fourth Sunday of Advent

The fourth Sunday of Advent is a semi-double Sunday of the second class and its liturgical colour is violet. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke concern the preaching of St. John the Baptist preaching the baptism of repentance by the Jordan and the reference to Isaias "Prepare ye the way of the LORD: make straight His paths: every valley shall be filled: and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain: and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Canite tuba etc 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-second day of December, the sixth in the 'Great O' series, O Rex gentium etc. This was sung doubled before and after the Canticle with the choir standing. Being Advent the Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Prope est jam Dominus * Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Verbum supernum prodiens. In the first nocturn the lessons are taken, as usual in Advent, from Isaias. In the second nocturn the lessons are again taken from St. Leo's sermon on the fast of the tenth month. The homily in the third nocturn is from the twentieth homily of St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. A ninth responsory, Intuemini, quantus sit iste, is sung in place of the Te Deum. At Lauds the antiphons proper to the Sunday, Canite tuba etc., are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is En clara vox. The Suffrage is omitted in Advent.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are used in the usual sequence. At Prime the versicle in the short responsory is Qui venturus es in mundum and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear violet folded chasubles. The Gloria is omitted. The second collect is of the BVM in Advent, Deus qui de beate, the third collect 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 Canite tuba etc are again sung this time with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 113. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderun. The antiphon on the Magnificat is the last in the 'Great O' series, O Emmanuel, proper to the twenty-third day of December. This is sung entire both before and after the Canticle with the choir standing. The Suffrage is omitted in Advent. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the significance of the doubling of the 'Great O' antiphons is lost as all antiphons are doubled regardless of the rank of the liturgical day or seasaon. At Compline the Dominical preces are always omitted. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons as usual. At Prime the Dominical preces are omitted. At Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle, there is only one collect and the dismissal is Ite, missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

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. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the Octave Day of the Immaculate Conception and of St. Eusebius. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

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 Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. The Office hymn is En clara vox. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Eusebius. The Suffrage is omitted being Advent. At Prime the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The Gloria not sung. The second collect is of St. Eusebius, the third collect is Deus, qui de beatae. 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 Pss 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Eusebius is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octave has been abolishes. 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. 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, from Mattins, is violet.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The antiphons Tota pulchra etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria and melody of the Incarnation. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted due to the double feast.

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 hymn is En clara vox. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave is sung. At Prime the versicle in the responsory is Qui venturus es in mundum. The Dominical preces are omitted being within an 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. Today there is no third collect. 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 day within the Octave and of St. Melchiades. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Compline the ordinary Doxology is sung. 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. The Octave of the Immaculate Conception has been abolished.

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 scarlet watered-silk.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons In illa die etc were sung, not doubled, with the psalms of Saturday. The Office hymn was Creator alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Bibiana. The Suffrage was omitted being Advent. From this Vespers, until the end of None on the Vigil of the Nativity of the LORD, Alma Redemptoris is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

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. Bibiana is sung. The Suffrage is omitted during Advent.

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 sung. 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. Bibiana, the third collect is Deus, qui de beatae. 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. Francis Xavier and of St. Bibiana. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted due to the concurring double feast.

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 cast aside. There is only one collect and the dismissal is Ite, missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Ordines update

As of today all received orders have been despatched. There will be no order processing for the next three working days and the next posting will take place on Tuesday, December 4th.

XXVII and Last Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the twenty-seventh, and last, Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the fifth Sunday of November and its 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 today.

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 St. John of the Cross and of St. Catherine. 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 a commemoration of St. Catherine is sung. 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. Catherine. Today there is no third collect. 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 commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Sylvester, of St. Catherine and of St.Peter of Alexandria. 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.

Ordo 2019 - Now available!

Ordo MMXIX is now available to order. Royal Mail has changed its 'International Standard' (AirMail) prices so that for three or more copies the postage cost is actually slightly less than last year!

Please visit the Online Shop to place your order - please do make sure you select the correct postage option, i.e. to the UK, Europe (+ Turkey, Russia), Zone 1 (USA, Canada, South America) or Zone 2 (Australia, New Zealand etc). If you are unsure of which Zone you are in please visit here. There are then different options depending on the number of copies you require. E.g. if you want two copies (to the same address) then order one of '2 copies of Ordo 2019' etc rather than two single copies.

The Dedication of the Basilicas of SS Peter and Paul

The feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul is of greater-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. As it is a feast of the LORD it takes precedence over the twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost (the sixth after the Epiphany and the fourth Sunday of November). November 18th is shared by these two patriarchal basilicas as their Dedication feasts. Sadly, in both cases, the original structures no longer survive. St. Paul outside the Walls suffered a disastrous fire in the nineteeth century and Old St. Peter's was destroyed by the whims of vulgar fashion.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Domum tuam Dominus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 147. The Office hymn was Caelestis urbs Jerusalem beata. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus and of the Sunday (the antiphon being Qui caelorum etc for the fourth Sunday of November). The Suffrage was omitted, as were the Dominical preces at Compline because of the double feast.

At Mattins the invitatory is Domum Dei decet sanctitudo etc and the Office hymn is again Caelestis urbs Jerusalem beata. In the first nocturn the antiphons Tollite portas etc are sung with psalms 23, 45 & 57. The lessons and their responsories are from the Apocalypse of St. John. In the seccond nocturn the antiphons Non est hic aliud etc are sung with psalms 83, 86 & 87. The lessons are proper to the feast. In the third nocturn the antiphons Qui habitat etc are sung with psalms 90, 95 & 98. The lessons in the third nocturn are from a homily of St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel (taken from the Octave Day of the Common). The ninth lesson is the homily of the Sunday by St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel (from the sixth Sunday after Epiphany). The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Domum tuam, Domine etc are sung with Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. The Office hymn is Alto ex Olympi vertice. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

At Prime the antiphon Domum tuam, Domine is sung with psalms 53, 118i & 118ii. Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted on this double feast. The lectio brevis is is Et absterget Deus etc. At the other Hours the antiphons from Lauds are used in the normal manner.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday (the orations are from the VI Sunday after Epiphany). The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Blessed Trinity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all the antiphons, psalms, chapter and hymn are as were sung at first Vespers. The V&R and antiphon on the Magnificat are proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Elisabeth, of the Sunday and of St. Pontianus. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the ' 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul has been reduced to a III class feast and as such is simple ignored this year. The liturgy of the green Sunday has no commemorations at Vespers. Mattins is stripped down to a single nocturn of three lessons (the Incipit of the Prophet Osee which in the old rite are transferred to Monday). At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Images: Compilation from Wikipedia

Historic (partial) recording of Sunday Vespers at St. Edmund's College

A friend of long standing, Mr. Alan Robinson, alerted me to an historically interesting 1937 recording of Sunday Vespers on YouTube from St. Edmund's College, Ware. The recording is reproduced from 78rpm vinyl and consists of part of Vespers, a sermon and Benediction.

Although, unfortunately, the psalmody is absent from the recording - it begins with the chapter Benedictus Deus - the recording is interesting as it has two commemorations sung after the collect of the ninth Sunday after Pentecost. This may be of practical use as an example for those migrating to the old rite from the 'EF' etc.

Following the Office hymn, versicle and its response the intonation of the antiphon on the Magnificat is missing and the recording jumps to the Doxology at the end of the canticle and then the chanting, in full, of the Magnificat antiphon:

Scriptum est enim: Quia domus mea domus oratiónis est cunctis géntibus; vos autem fecístis illam spelúncam latrónum. Et erat cotídie docens in templo.

The celebrant then chants the collect of the Sunday with its conclusion:

Páteant aures misericórdiæ tuæ, Dómine, précibus supplicántium: et, ut peténtibus desideráta concédas; fac eos, quæ tibi sunt plácita, postuláre. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

Then the antiphon for the first commemoration, of St. Vincent – being the feast observed the following day, is sung followed by its versicle and response (in the simple tone):

Similabo eum viro sapienti, qui ædificávit domum suam supra petram.

V. Amávit eum Dóminus, et ornávit eum.
R.Stolam glóriæ índuit eum.


The celebrant then chants Oremus followed by the collect for St. Vincent but without a conclusion:

Deus, qui, ad evangelizándum paupéribus et ecclesiástici órdinis decórem promovéndum, beátum Vincéntium apostólica virtúte roborásti: præsta, quǽsumus; ut, cujus pia mérita venerámur, virtútum quoque instruámur exémplis.

Then the commemoration of St. Camillus is made:

Hic vir despíciens mundum et terréna, triúmphans, divítias cælo cóndidit ore, manu.

V. Justum dedúxit Dóminus per vias rectas.
R. Et osténdit illi regnum Dei.

Then, again, Orémus but as this is the last commemoration (the Suffrage is omitted as there are concurring and occurring double feasts) the collect is sung with a conclusion:

Deus, qui sanctum Camíllum, ad animárum in extrémo agóne luctántium subsídium, singulári caritátis prærogatíva decorásti: ejus, quǽsumus, méritis, spíritum nobis tuæ dilectiónis infúnde; ut in hora éxitus nostri hostem víncere, et ad cæléstem mereámur corónam perveníre. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. R. Amen.

Today is the Patronal festival of St. Edmund's College so a blessed feast to all its present members and its Old Edmundians.

XXV Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the third Sunday of November. Texts for the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany are used along with those from the twenty-third Sunday. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew are of the parable of the mustard seed and the leaven. This year the Second Sunday of November, and its week, are omitted. Today is also the centenary of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday in the United Kingdom.

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 Muro tuo for the Saturday before the third Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday (from the text for the fifth Sunday after Epiphany) commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Andrew Avellino, of St. Martin of Tours and St. Mennas. 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 Daniel. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Athanasius' Book to Virgins. In the third nocturn (from the texts appointed for the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany) the homily is from St. Augustine 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. Martin and of St. Mennas. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

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

A Mass of Requiem may be celebrated for the War Dead. The anniversary Mass for the Dead is sung with one collect and the Dies Irae.

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 feast of St. Martin of Rome and of St. Martin of Tours. 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 Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is only one collect.

XXIV Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the first Sunday of November and the Sunday within the Octave of All Saints. As this year the number of Sundays after Pentecost is greater than twenty-four, twenty-seven in fact, the texts for the twenty-fourth Sunday found in the Breviary and Missal are used on the last Sunday after Pentecost. For the three Sundays before that some of the texts of the Sundays that were not celebrated after the Epiphany are used. So today some of the propers from the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany are used with other texts coming from the twenty-third Sunday.

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 Vidi Dominum for the Saturday before the first Sunday in November. After the collect of the Sunday (taken from the texts for the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany) commemorations were sung of the Octave of All Saints, of St. Charles Borromeo and of SS Vitalis & Agricola. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the Octave and concurring 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 Book of the Prophet Ezechiel. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Exposition on the Prophet Ezechiel. In the third nocturn (from the text for the fourth 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. Charles, the Octave of All Saints and of SS Vitalis & Agricola.

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

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 appointed for the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Charles, the third collect is of the Octave of All Saints and the fourth collect of SS Vitalis & Agricola. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

In places where the External Solemnity of All Saints is observed today 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 Trinity 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 commemorations are sung of the following day within the Octave of All Saints and of St. Charles Borromeo. 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 Octave of All Saints has been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is only one collect.

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Christ the King - XXIII 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-third Sunday after Pentecost and the fifth Sunday of October.

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 a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Tua est potentia for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of October. 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-third Sunday after Pentecost from St. Jerome on the gospel of St. Matthew. 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.

The Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria etc is sung with the hymns of the Hours. At Prime and the Hours the antiphons Suscitabit etc are sung with the festal psalms (at Prime Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii). 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 for the versicle & response and the antiphon on the Magnificat which are proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of SS Simon & Jude and of the Sunday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers there was no commemoration of the Sunday. There is no proper Doxology for Te lucis or at the Little Hours of the Sunday. 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 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 Pantorcrator from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by Andrew Shiva / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

XXII Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. 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 the prescribed collects at all Masses following a rescript of the SCR of April 14th, 1926. 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."

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the 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 commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. John Cantius, of St. Hilarion and of St. Ursula & Others. The Suffrage was omitted 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 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. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, commemorations are sung of St. Hilarion and of St. Ursula and Others 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. Hilarion, the third collect of St. Ursula & others and 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. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at Vespers. The third Sunday of October, and its week, is omitted this year. 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

XXI Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-first 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 from St. Matthew contain the parable of the unjust and ungrateful servant who, forgiven his debts by the King, demands what is owed to him from others and shews complete ingratitude.

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 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. Edward the Confessor and of St. Callistus. The Suffrage was omitted due to the conccurring 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 continue to be read from the First Book of the Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Ambrose's Book of Offices. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome on the eighteenth 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 is sung of St. Callistus. 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. Callistus. Today there is no the 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. Teresa of Avilla and of St. Callistus. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. At Vespers on Saturday the antiphon for the Saturday before the second Sunday of October is sung. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations nor Suffrage. At Mass there is but a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Most Holy Rosary of the BVM

The feast of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Double of the Second Class. The twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (the second Sunday of October this year) is commemorated in the Office and at Mass. The feast had been instituted following the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.  In 1573 Gregory XIII extended the feast to those churches where an altar had been dedicated to the Rosary to be kept on the first Sunday of October.  In 1716 Clement XI extended the feast to the Universal Church with greater-double rank.  Leo XIII raised the rank of the feast to double second class in 1887 and gave the feast proper texts in the following year. During the reforms of 1911-13 the feast was transferred to October 7th.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Quae est ista etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147.  The Office hymn was Caelestis aulae Nuntius. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Bruno and of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Refulsit sol for the Saturday before the second Sunday of October). The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxlogy and melody of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi...Qui natus etc. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper, Solemnitatem Rosarii Virginis Mariae celebremus etc,  as is the hymn, In monte olivis.  In the first nocturn the antiphons Angelus Gabriel etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 8, 18 & 23.  The lessons are from the Book of Ecclesiasticus.  In the second nocturn the antiphons Cum inducerent etc are sung with psalms 44, 45 & 86 .  In the third nocturn the antiphons Apprehendit etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 97 and the lessons are from a homily of St. Bernard on St. Luke's Gospel.  The ninth lesson is of the Sunday, a homily of St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Laetare etc are sung, doubled, with the Sunday psalms.  The Office hymn is Jam morte victor obruta.  After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday, St. Mark and of SS Sergius and Companions.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung, not doubled, with the Sunday psalms in the usual manner.  The hymns of the Hours are sung to the melody for feasts of the BVM with the Doxology of the Incarnation.  At Prime psalms 53, 118(i), 118(ii) are sung, the lectio brevis is proper, Quasi cedrus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung (in private Masses the second collect is of St. Mark and the third collect of SS Sergius and Companions), the Creed is sung, the Preface is of the BVM with the clause Et te in Festivitate and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms are sung as at first Vespers, the Office hymn is Te gestientem gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Bridget and of the Sunday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast has been renamed 'Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary' and is of 2nd class and therefore does not take precedence over the Sunday. The 'green' Sunday is celebrated and is the first Sunday of October in 1962 reckoning. At Vespers (of the Sunday) there was no commemoration of the feast - it has been stripped of first Vespers anyway. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds a commemoration of the 'BVM of the Rosary' is sung. At said Masses the second collect is of the BVM of the Rosary, the last Gospel is In principio. At sung Masses there is no commemoration of the feast although Votive Masses of the feast may be celebrated. At Vespers there are no commemorations. The hours of the hymns are sung with the ordinary tone and Doxology.

Image: Coronation of the Virgin, Giovanni di Paolo, Wikipedia.

XIX Sunday after Pentecost

The nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins this year, is green. This year it is the first 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.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel. The antiphons Stetit Angelus etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 137. The Office hymn was Te, splendor et virtus Patris. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnifcat being Adaperiat Dominus for the Saturday before the first Sunday of October) and of St. Jerome. 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 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 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. Jerome 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. Jerome. 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. Remegius and of St. Jerome. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers on Saturday the Sunday, only, is commemorated with the antiphon Domine rex etc for the fifth Sunday of September. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. The first two lessons are from the Book of Esther. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XVIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighteenth 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. Matthew relate the healing of a paralytic, both by being forgiven his sins and physically healed by the LORD.

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 Adonai, Domine for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of September. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Thomas of Villanova, of St. Linus and, lastly, of St. Thecla. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

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 Judith. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Ambrose on Elias and fasting. 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 commemorations are sung of St. Linus and of St. Thecla 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. Linus, the third collect is of St. Thecla. The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator, sung with the Doxology (Jesu, tibi...Qui natus) and melody of the Incarnation. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of Our Lady of Ransom and of St. Linus. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology and meloday of the Incarnation and 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 of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations nor Suffrage. At Prime Quicumque is not sung and the preces have been abolished. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations and the Office hymn is sung with the ordinary Doxology.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XVII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. This year it is the third Sunday of September. 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. The week ahead will see the September Ember days on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Vespers yesterday were second Vespers of the feast of the Seven Sorrows of the BVM. The antiphons Quo abiit etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Jam toto subitus vesper eat polo. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat was Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September) and of SS Cornelius and Cyprian. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Jesu, tibi...Qui passus etc and the Dominical preces were omitted.

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 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 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 commemorations are sung of SS Cornelius & Cyprianus and of SS Euphemia & Others 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 Cornelius & Cyprian, the third collect is of SS Euphemia & Others. The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

As, prior to the reform of 1911-13, the third Sunday in September was the feast of the Seven Sorrows of the BMV, one Mass, other than the Conventual, may be of the feast. The Mass Stabant juxta Crucem 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 commemorations are sung of the following feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis and of SS Cornelius & Cyprian. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

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

Art: Jerome Nadal

Fr. Peter Lessiter - R.I.P.

It was sad to note from the Archdiocese of Southwark website and GloriaTV that Fr. Peter Lessiter went to his eternal reward on Saturday, 8th September, the feast of the Nativity of the BVM.

Fr. Lessiter was ordained for Southwark in 1959. He left the parish to which he was assigned in the early 1970s and set up an independent mission celebrating Mass in various locations in England and Wales later based in Leicester, working loosely with other traditional clergy who were then around in similar cirumstances. He was an approachable, kind and affable man with an absolute zeal for the cure of souls.

This writer knows personally of three occasions on which Fr. Lessiter drove from Leicester to London and back in the middle of the night to anoint those who were in danger of death from traffic accidents and serious illness when London-based clergy would not do so for whatever reason. Occasional visitors, including this writer, to his Leicester Mass centre in the late ‘80s and ‘90s would always be given a warm welcome.

In the last couple of decades he had been based in the West Country, at Axminster. Until his last couple of years, during which he had been afflicted by Alheimer's Disease, he had always taken the Ordo.

Requiescat in pace.

Photograph: GloriaTV (I am uncertain of the ownership - no infringement of copyright is intended)

XVI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. This year it the second Sunday of September and the Sunday within the - near invisible - Octave of the Nativity of the BVM. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke tell of the LORD healing the man with dropsy on the Sabbath.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast the Nativity of the BVM. The antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of the BVM 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave, maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung, the antiphon on the Magnificat being In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second Sunday of September. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung and Te lucis was sung to the melody of the Incarnation with the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria etc. The Dominical preces were omitted.

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 Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book on Morals. 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 St. Gorgonius 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. Gorgonius, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

One Mass, but not the Conventual Mass, may be celebrated of the Holy Name of Mary as this feast was, prior to the reform of 1911-13, celebrated on the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM. The Mass Vultum tuum is sung in white vestments. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect of St. Gorgonius. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

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 St. Nicholas of Tolentino. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Compline on Saturday Te lucis was sung with the ordinary Doxology. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations nor Suffrage. At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. At Mass there is but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

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 first of September which marks the beginning of the Pars Autumnalis of the Breviary. 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.

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 Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemorations 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 isNocte 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 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. Stephen 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. Stephen, the third collect is A cunctis. 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 a commemoration is sung of St. Stephen 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. The Suffrage and the Dominical preces have been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Prime Quicumque is omitted. 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 fifth Sunday of August. 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 Observa, fili for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Zephyrinus 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 continue to be read from the Book of Ecclesiasticus. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a homily St. Chrysostom 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 a commemoration is sung of St. Zephyrinus 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. Zephyrinus, the third collect is A cunctis. 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 a commemoration is sung of the following Office of St. Joseph Calasanctius. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is fourth Sunday of August. There are no commemoration at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. At Lauds there are no commemoration. At Mass there is a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XIII Sunday after Pentecost - Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption

The thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption. 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.

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 (Jesu, tibi...Qui natus) of the Incarnation. 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 Octave and of St. John Eudes. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline, and at the Hours tomorrow, the hymns are sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation. The Dominical preces were omitted.

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 Ecclesiasticus. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the Book of Morals by St. Gregory the Great and 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 commemorations are sung of St. John Eudes and of the Octave. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) 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 St. John Eudes and 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. John Eudes. 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 (109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) are sung. The Office hymn Lucis creator optime, sung with the meloday and Doxology of the Incarnations. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Bernard, of St. John Eudes and the Octave. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation with the Doxology.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octave of the Assumption has been abolished. At Vespers there are no commemorations. Hymns retain the ordinary Doxology. Today is the third Sunday of August not the third. Mattins has a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Prime the versicle in the short responsory is Qui sedes. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The most beautiful feast in the book...

The most sublime feast in the liturgical year. Keen observers will note that in the above image (Google Books: Missale Romanum, Antwerp, 1576) the conclusion of the collect differs from later editions.

Readers are asked to remember in their prayers the repose of the soul of the Rev. Ronald de Poe Silk. It used to be one of this 'blog author's customs to join him in Cambridge every year for this great feast and after Mass have a decent festal lunch.

May his soul and the souls of countless faithful priests and persons who resisted novelty and invention rest in peace.

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 third Sunday of August and also the Sunday within the Octave of St. Lawrence.

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 St. Clare. 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 Wisdom. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the Book of Morals by St. Gregory the Great. 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 commemoration is sung of St. Clare. 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. Clare. 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 SS Hippolytus & Cassian and of St. Clare. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the second 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 is the second Sunday of August. 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 Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi...Qui natus etc. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Ego in altissimis for the Saturday before the second Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office St. Dominic and of the Dedication of Our Lady of the Snows. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline due to the concurring and occurring double feasts. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation.

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 Ecclesiastes. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Chrysostom. 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 a commemoration is sung of the Dedication of Our Lady of the Snows. The Suffrage is omitted because of the occurring double feast.

At Prime and the Hours the Office hymns are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted because of the occurring double feast. In the short responsory the veriscle is Qui natus es etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of Our Lady of the Snows, today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Holy Trinity and the last Gospel is of Our Lady of the Snows.

In the afternoon the liturgical colour changes to white and first Vespers of the feast of the Transfiguration of the LORD are sung. The antiphons Assumpsit Jesus etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Quicumque Christum quaeritis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of Our Lady of the Snows. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology of the feast, Jesu, tibi...Qui te revelas etc.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the first Sunday of August so the antiphon on the Magnificat on Saturday is that sung a week ago in the traditionl rite as are the first and second lesson in the truncated Mattins. The feast of the Dedication of the Snows is omitted this year and the Office hymns do not have the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is but a single collect. At Vespers (of the Sunday) 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 is also the first Sunday of August. The Gospel pericope from St. Luke is of the parable of the Pharisee and Publican.

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 Office of SS Nazarius & Others, of St. Martha and of SS Felix & Others. After the commemorations the Suffrage was sung. 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 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 commemorations are sung of St. Martha and of SS Felix & others 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. Martha, the third collect is of SS Felix & Others. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Holy Trinity and there is a proper last Gospel for St. Martha.

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 Office of SS Abdon & Sennen and of St. Martha followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the first Sunday of August is next week so on Saturday the antiphon on the Magnificat was Fecit Joas etc and at the cut-down Mattins the first and second lesson are from the fourth Book of the Kings. There are no commemorations at either Vespers. The Suffrage of the Saints has been abolished. At Compline the Dominical preces are abolished. At Lauds there are no commemorations nor Suffrage. At Prime Quicumque and the Domincal preces are omitted. At Mass there is but a single collect and the last Gospel is In principio.

Art: Jerome Nadal