Nativity of the BVM

The Nativity of the Mother of God is a Double of the Second Class feast with a Simple Octave. Prior to the changes to Octaves in 1913 it had a 'normal' Octave. This year the feast falls on the thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (and second Sunday of September) which is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of the BVM (Pss. 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. At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung andTe 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 Nativitatem Virginis Mariae celebremus: * Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum, the hymn, from the Common, Quem terra. In the first nocturn the antiphons Benedicta tua etc are sung with psalms 8, 18 & 23. The lessons in the first nocturn are the Incipit of the Song of Songs, with much exquisite imagery, with repsonsories proper to the feast. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung with psalms 44, 45 & 88. The lessons are taken from a sermon attributed to St. Augustine. Last year a learned reader commented that the sermon is actually from a sermon of (St) Fulbert of Chartres. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude, Maria virgo etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 97. St. Jerome provides the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday from St. Augustine's writings on St. Luke's Gospel. Only the first of the three lessons of the homily is required to be read but all three may be read together to form an extended ninth lesson. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc are again sung, this time with the psalms of Sunday Lauds (Ps. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148). After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Hadrian.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime (Ps. 53, 118i & 118ii) in the short responsory the versicle Qui natus es is sung and the short lesson is In plateis. The Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. In some countries a blessing of seeds, figs, grapes or other fruits takes place (the fruits in question depending on the climate of the place. The introit is Salve, sancta Parens, the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. In said Masses the third collect is of St. Hadrian. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM, Et te in Nativitate and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are of the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung and Te lucis has the Doxology and Melody of the Incarnation.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God is merely commemorated at Lauds and said Masses. Vespers yesterday afternoon were of the Sunday with no commemorations. The hymns of the Hours have the ordinary Doxology. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds a commemoration is sung of the Nativity of the BVM. At sung Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Icon: Russian, 18th century