Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is white.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were of the Holy Innocents celebrated in violet vestments. The antiphons, doubled, and psalms (109, 110, 111, 129 & 131) were of the Nativity with the Office from the chapter of the Holy Innocents. The chapter was Vidi supra montem etc and the Office hymn Salvete, flores Martyrum. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity, of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changes to white. 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 the Incipit of 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. Augustine's writings 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. Thomas of Canterbury 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 isDum mediumetc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Thomas of Canterbury, third collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

Vespers of the Nativity are sung, from the chapter of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave of the Nativity (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Hodie Christus natus est etc) and of St. Thomas of Canterbury.

In England the feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury is a Double of the First Class or Double of the Second Class, depending on particular dioceses, and takes precedence over the Sunday. The feast is celebrated in red vestments. The Sunday within the Octave and Octave are commemorated.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers red vestments are worn and there is a commemoration of the Sunday only. Mattins has the psalmody of the Nativity (with the curtailed Ps. 88 ) and the usual cut-down single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At the Hours the antiphons and psalmody of Sunday are sung, rather than the festal ones of the Octave (at Prime Pss. 117, 1181, 118ii and the lectio brevis of 'the season'). There is no proper Doxology (or melody) at the hymns of the Hours. Mass has but a single collect. Vespers are of the Nativity without any commemorations.

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 None of the Vigil of the Epiphany. From this Vespers until Candlemas the Marian antiphon is Alma Redemptoris with the versicle Post partum etc and the collect Deus, qui salutis. Where resources permit six pluvialistae assist the Hebdomadarius. 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 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. 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). Lauds immediately follow Mass and again, resources permitting, six pluvialistae assist. The antiphons Quem vidistis pastores etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine.

Later in the morning Prime is sung. 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. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. 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 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.

A very happy Christmass to all customers and readers!

Ordines update

As of today all orders received by 8:00am on Saturday 21st have been posted. No orders will be processed until Friday 27th due to the Christmass break. Posting of orders will recommence on Saturday 28th.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

The fourth Sunday of Advent is a semi-double Sunday of the second class and its liturgical colour, from Mattins this year, 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."

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle were sung. The antiphons Juravit Dominus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Quia vidisti me, Thoma etc and the Sunday was commemorated with the Great 'O' Antiphon O Oriens proper to the twenty-first day of December and its collect. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung and the preces are omitted.

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 etc. 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 O Rex Gentium. 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' Vespers on Saturday are first Vespers of the Sunday. This year St. Thomas's feast has no Vespers at all. 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 season. 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 a commemoration was sung of the Octave Day of the Immaculate Conception. 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 the Octave Day of the Immaculate Conception. The Suffrage is omitted being Advent. At Prime the versicle in the Short Responsory is Qui venturus and the Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. The Gloria not sung. The second collect is of the Octave Day of the Immaculate Conception. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface is 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 commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Eusebius and of the Octave Day of the Immaculate Conception. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octave has been abolished. There are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is stripped down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. 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.

Immaculate Conception of the BVM

The feast of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM is a Double of the First Class with an Octave. The colour of the feast and its Octave is white. The feast takes precedence over the second Sunday of Advent. The feast was prepared for by a Vigil, commemorated in the Office of St. Ambrose yesterday. The feast, as the Conception of the BVM, gained an Octave in 1693 and was raised to a Double of the 2nd Class. Leo XIII raised the feast to a Double of the First Class, adding the Vigil, in 1879. The majority of the texts of the current Office and Mass are from 1863.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon 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 was sung of the Sunday. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria and to the melody proper to the Incarnation.

At Mattins the invitatory is Immaculatum Conceptionem Virginis Mariae celebremus: Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Praeclara custos Virginum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Admirabile est etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 8, 18 & 23. The lessons are taken from the third chapter of the Book of Genesis. In the second nocturn the antiphons Diffusa est etc are sung with psalms 44, 45 & 86. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Jerome and and the sixth lesson is from the acts of Pius IX. In the third nocturn the antiphons Sanctimonia et magnificentia etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 97. The homily is from St. Germanus on St. Luke's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday, a homily from St. Gregory on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Tota pulchra etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. The Office hymn is O gloriosa Virginum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons Tota pulchra etc are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns have the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria and the melody of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) the versicle in the short responsory is changed to Qui natus es de Virgine and the lectio brevis is Signum magnum apparuit.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Tota pulchra are sung doubled, with the psalms of the BVM. The hymn is Ave maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Sunday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast has been stripped of both its Vigil and Octave. At Compline and the Hours the Doxology is not changed and the hymns are not sung to the melody for hymns of the Incarnation. At Mattins there is no ninth lesson of the Sunday. At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season, Domine, miserere. At Mass the last Gospel is In principio.

The question of the feast taking precedence over the Sunday has arisen in a recent discussion. The history of its precedence is rather contradictory with the various changes from the middle of the twentieth century. In the stage of the modernist reform immediately prior to the 'liturgical books of 1962', i.e. 1956-1960 the changes of Cum nostra, the feast did not take precedence over the Sunday of Advent (which had been raised in rank) and so was moved Monday, 9th December, as was the case in 1957. Somewhat perversely although both the Vigil and Octave were stripped from the feast by Cum nostra the non-existent Vigil remained a day of fast and abstinence. The 1960 rubrics, effective from 1st January 1961, gave especial privileges to the feast (Rub.Gen., Cap. III, 15) and to this feast alone so it would again take precedence over the Sunday.

Ordo Recitandi, Bourges, 1957

First Sunday of Advent

The first Sunday of Advent is a semi-double Sunday of the first class and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, 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. In the Breviary Vespers of Advent Sunday mark the beginning of the Pars Hiemalis.

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.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of St. Andrew were sung. The antiphons Salve, crux pretiosa etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday. The Suffrage was omitted due to the double feast and is omitted for the entirety of 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 there is a colour change to violet and 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, not doubled, 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, not doubled, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is En clara vox. The Suffrage is omitted, as noted, 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, with the exception of the third Sunday Gaudete, 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 Deus, qui de beatae, the third collect is Ecclesiae etc. 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. Bibiana. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Vespers were of the Sunday without any commemoration of St. Andrew (whose feast does not get Vespers at all this year). 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. At Vespers there are no commemoration and at Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XXIV & Last Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the twenty-fourth, 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.

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. Clement, of St. John of the Cross and of St. Chrysogonus. 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 St. John of the Cross and of St. Chrysogonus. 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. John of the Cross, the third collect is of St. Chrysogonus. 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 Office of St. Catharine and of St. John of the Cross. 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.

XXIII Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until after None, is green. Today is also the fourth Sunday of November. 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 Qui caelorum for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

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 Osee. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Augustine's City of God. 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 is sung of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus 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. Gregory Thaumaturgus, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

In the afternoon the liturgical colour changes to white and Vespers of the feast of the Dedication of the Basilcas of SS Peter & Paul are sung. The antiphons Domum tuam etc are sung, doubled, with Pss.109, 110, 111, 112 & 147. The Office hymn is Caelestis urbs Jerusalem. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus. 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 Vespers. The Suffrage and the Dominical preces have been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn and three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. At Prime Quicumque is only said on a single Sunday within the year. There is a single collect at Mass. At Vespers, of the Sunday, there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Ordo Recitandi MMXX now available to order

Ordo MMXX is now available to order. We are pleased to be able to offer this edition at the same cover price and, for once, Royal Mail has not increased its postage costs for several months.

Please visit the Online Shop to place your order.

The prices are inclusive of the cost of postage either 2nd class UK postage or 'International Standard' (=AirMail) to other countries. Please do make sure you select the correct postage option for your destination, i.e. to the UK, or to Europe (+ Turkey, Russia), or to Zone 1 (USA, Canada, South America) or to Zone 2 (Australia, New Zealand etc). If you are unsure of which Zone you are in please visit here.

If you live e.g in the USA, France and choose the option of a copy/copies to a UK address then your payment will have to be refunded and you will be invited to re-order the correct option for where you live. Then there are 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 2020' etc rather than two single copies.

XXII Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. This year it is the third Sunday of November. The second Sunday of November, and its week, are both omitted this year. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew's Gospel 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.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. 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 commemorations were sung of the Sunday, the antiphon on the Magnificat being Muro tuo for the Saturday before the third Sunday of November, and of St. Andrew Avellino. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and the preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Primo die. IIn 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 third nocturn the lessons are taken from a commentary of St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aetere. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Andrew Avellino and of SS Tryphon & Others. 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. Andrew Avellino, the third collect is of SS Tryphon & Others. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

In England & Wales, being the Sunday closest to the 11th November, a Mass of Requiem may be celebrated for the War Dead. The anniversary Mass for the Dead is sung with one collect, the sequence Dies Irae and the preface for the dead. After the last Gospel the ceremony of Absolution over the catafalque may follow.

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. Martin, of St. Andrew Avellino and of St. Mennas. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline due to the 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 nor Suffrage. At Mass there is only one collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XXI Sunday after Pentecost - Sunday within the Octave of All Saints

The twenty-first 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. 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.

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 of November. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave of All Saints is sung. The Suffrage is omitted, as are the Dominical preces at Compline, being within an Octave.

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 Ezechiel. In the second nocturn the lessons are from an exposition of St. Gregory on Ezechiel. 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 the octave of All Saints. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted being within an Octave.

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

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 as is the preface 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 the following feast of St. Charles Borromeo, of the Octave and of SS Vitalis and Agricola. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octave of All Saints has been abolished. At both 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 but a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Available very soon!

Ordo Recitandi MMXX will be available shortly. Please watch out for an announcement when it will be available to order.

Please kindly do not use the shopping cart for the 2019 edition to order the new edition. An updated cart will appear when 2020 is ready for despatch.

As always thank you to our valued and loyal customers.

All Souls' Day

All Souls' Day is of Double rite. Since 1917 it has a standing almost like that of a primary Double of the First Class of the Universal Church. The day gained an independent Office after the 1911-13 reform. Prior to then Vespers, Mattins and Lauds of the Dead were sung in addition to the Office of the second day within the Octave of All Saints (as indeed was the Office of the Dead sung on the Mondays of Lent and Advent and certain other days). The reforms of Pius X gave the day its own Office with the creation of Little Hours of the Dead and some adjustments to the lessons of Mattins. The day excludes the occurrence of any other Office.

At Mattins the invitatory and psalms are those used for Mattins of the Dead. The invitatory is Regem cui omnia vivunt, * Venite adoremus. In the first nocturn the antiphons Dirige etc (hence the English term Dirge) are sung, doubled, with psalms 5, 6 & 7. As at Vespers yesterday Requiem aeternam is sung in place of Gloria Patri at the end of each psalm. The lessons are taken from the Book of Job. The first lesson, Parce mihi, is the first lesson from the Office of the Dead but the second and third lessons are now proper to the day in their current arrangement. Homo natus de muliere etc, the second lesson (the fifth lesson before 1911), is highly poignant being familiar as a Funeral Sentence in the Book of Common Prayer, its source being the Sarum Office. In the second nocturn the antiphons In loco pascuae etc are sung with psalms 22, 24 & 26. The lessons in the second nocturn are new and taken form the book of St. Augustine on the care for the Dead. In the third nocturn the antiphons Complaceat etc are sung with psalms 39, 40 and 41. The lessons are from the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians (pre-1911 these too were taken from the Book of Job). At Lauds the antiphons Exsultabunt etc are sung with psalms 50, 64, 62, Ego dixi and 150. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been sung at the end of the canticle the choir kneels, as at Vespers yesterday, and a Pater noster is said followed by a series of versicles and their responses and the collect Fidelium.

The Hours have a special form as introduced in the 1911-13 reform. At Prime the Office begins after the silent recitation of the Pater, Ave and Credo with psalms 87, 27 & 31 without antiphons. Although the Miserere is sung at Lauds the displaced psalm is not transferred to Prime as on other days. At the reading of the Martyrology a special preamble is read, Hac die Commemoratio Omnium Fidelium Defunctorum..., before the announcement of the next day Tertio Nonas Novembris.etc. The psalms are sung either to the tone in directum or to a tone introduced with the Office of All Souls Day. Terce follows a similar, simplified, form and has psalms 37i, 37ii & 55. Sext has psalms 69, 84 & 85 and None psalm 101 divided into three sections. The Office of the day ends with None.

In the Universal Church three Masses may be celebrated by every priest on this day. This practice was first observed in Spain with an indult from Benedict XIV and extended to the Universal Church by Benedict XV in 1915 after the carnage of the First World War. The accepted practice of Collegiate churches is for the first Mass to be celebrated after Lauds, the second after Prime and the third after None. In all three Masses the sequence Dies irae is sung and the preface of the Dead is sung. Common practice is to have the Absolution of the Dead at a catafalque after the principal Mass. The Office of the day ends with the Mass after None.

Vespers see a colour change to green and Vespers of the following Sunday are sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat is Vidi, Dominum for the Saturday before the first Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave of All Saints is sung. The Suffrage is omitted, as are the Dominical preces at Compline, being within an Octave.

In 'the liturgical books of 1962' the sequence Dies irae may be omitted in the second and third Masses when they are not sung. The last Gospel is omitted when the Absolution takes place. Vespers of the Dead, which were transferred in the 1955 stage of the reform from the evening of All Saints' Day to the evening of All Souls' Day, are entirely omitted this year. At Vespers of the Sunday there are no commemorations and the Octave of All Saints has been abolished.

Image: Wikipedia. Note the two choir rulers in copes.

All Saints' Day

The feast of All Saints is a Double of the First Class with an Octave. The universal celebration of this feast developed from the dedication of the Pantheon in Rome to St. Mary and the Martyrs. This dedication took place on May 13th, 610. In some places, and the in Byzantine East to this day, a celebration of All Saints took place after Trinity Sunday. The celebration of the feast spread and Gregory IV transferred the feast and dedication to November 1st in 835. Louis the Pious spread the celebration throughout his empire and the feast entered the Universal Calendar. Sixtus IV gave the feast an Octave in the fifteenth century. The liturgical colour for the feast, and its Octave, is white.

At Vespers, yesterday afternoon, the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn was Placare, Christe, servulis. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper to the feast and octave, Regem regum Dominum venite adoremus, Quia ipse est corona Sanctorum omnium, and the Office hymn is Placare, Christe, servulis. In the first nocturn the antiphons Novit Dominus etc are sung with psalms 1, 4 & 8. The lessons are taken from the book of the Apocalypse. In the second nocturn the antiphons Domine, qui operati etc are sung with psalms 14, 23 & 31 and the lessons are taken from a sermon of the Venerable Bede. In the third nocturn the antiphons Timete Dominum etc are sung with psalms 33, 60 & 96. The homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are sung, doubled, with the Sunday psalms (Pss. 99, 92, 62, Benedicite & 148) and the Office hymn is Salutis aeterne dator.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons Vidi turbam magnum etc are sung in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) the lectio brevis is proper to the feast, Benedictio et claritas,.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria and Creed are sung.

At second Vespers the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The Office hymn is Placare, Christe, servulis. After Benedicamus Domino etc the verse Fidelium is omitted and the choir sits as the festive white is removed and is exchanged for the black of mourning. Vespers of the Dead are then sung in choir. These begin with the antiphon Placebo Domino in regione vivorum sung, doubled, with Pss. 114, 119, 120, 129 and 127. Requiem aeternam etc is sung at the end of each psalm in place of Gloria Patri etc. After the psalms there is a versicle and response but no hymn. After the antiphon on the Magnificat the choir kneels for a Pater noster, some versicles and the collect. Following the 1911-13 changes Compline takes a special form, newly created in that reform, 'Compline of the Dead', with psalms 122, 141 and 142.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' both the Vigil and Octave of All Saints have been abolished. At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season and at the Little Hours the antiphons are doubled. The 'double Vespers' has been abolished and Vespers for the Dead will not be sung at all this year as being moved to the afternoon of All Souls' Day Vespers of the following Sunday will be sung.

Vigil of All Saints - All Hallows Eve

The Vigil of All Saints is of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet. As with simple rite Vigils the Office runs from Mattins to None.

At Mattins the inivitatory, hymn, antiphons, psalms, versicle and response are from the Psalter for Thursday. The lessons in the nocturn are a homily of St. Ambrose from the Common of Several Martyrs. The responsories are from the Thursday of the fifth week of October. The Te Deum is not sung. The second scheme of Lauds for Wednesday is sung. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been repeated the ferial preces are sung, with the choir kneeling. After the collect of the Vigil the Suffrage of the Saints is omitted. (Prior to the reform of 1911-13 the Suffrages would have been sung).

At Prime the psalm displaced from Lauds by the Miserere, Ps. 96, is added to the psalmody of the day: Pss. 25, 51, 52 & 96. Both the Dominical and ferial preces are sung, the choir kneeling. At the other Horae Minores the short series of ferial preces are sung, again with the choir kneeling, before the collect of the Vigil.

Mass is sung after None. Following the normal rules for Vigils four candles are placed on the altar, in contrast with two on ordinary ferial days. The deacon and sub-deacon wear violet dalmatic and tunicle, not folded chasubles. The ferial tone is used for the orations and for the preface and Pater noster. There is no Gloria. The second collect is of the Holy Ghost, Deus,qui corda, the third collect Ecclesiae. As it is a 'kneeling day' the choir kneels for the prayers and from the Sanctus until Pax Domini. As the Gloria is not sung the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

Vespers are first Vespers of All Saints with a corresponding colour change to festive white. The Office is proper and the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is Placare, Christe, servulis. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of All Saints has been abolished. Today is kept as a IV class ferial 'green' day. Mass is of Pentecost XX, there is but a single collect. Although the Gloria is not sung Ite, missa est is the dismissal.

Christ the King - XX 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-second Sunday after Pentecost and the fifth Sunday of October. The Vigil for the feast of SS Simon & Jude was anticipated yesterday.

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, doubled, 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 & its 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' the Vigil of SS Simon & Jude has been abolished. 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

XIX Sunday after Pentecost

The nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost is, this year, the fourth Sunday of October. It is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. As it is also the penultimate Sunday of October it is also Mission Sunday. At the request of the Superior Council of the Pontifical Work for the Propagation of the Faith the Sacred Congregation of Rites directed in 1926 that the prayer, from the Votive Mass Pro Propagatione Fidei, should be added to all Masses today as an oratio imperata pro re gravi. 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 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 of October. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Peter of Alcantara and of St. John Cantius. The Suffrage of the Saints 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 a tract of St. Chrysostom on the forty-third psalm. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory on St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds the Office hymm is Aeterne. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. John Cantius 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 double feast.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. John Cantius, the third collect is the oration Deus, qui nos homines..., for the propogation of the faith. This is taken from the Votive Mass Pro Propagatione Fidei. The Creed is sung and the the preface 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. Hilarion, of St. John Cantius and of SS Ursula & Companions. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline due to the occurring double feast.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. The third Sunday of October and its week are omitted and the '62 rite also keeps today as the fourth Sunday of October. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass the prayer Deus, qui omnes homines is added to the collect of the Sunday under one conclusion. There are no other collects. 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 third 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.

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 a commemoration was sung of St. Edward the Confessor followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

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 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. Edward 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. Edward the Confessor, 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 Office of St. Callistus and of St. Edward the Confessor. 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 Refulsit sol for the second Sunday of October. There are neither commemorations nor Suffrage. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons the first and second lessons are from the fourth chapter of the Machabees which were read last Sunday in the traditional rite. At Lauds there are no commemorations, nor Suffrage. At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. 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, until Vespers, is green. This year it is the second 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. Being also the first Sunday in October it is Rosary Sunday.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Refulsit sol for the Saturday before the second Sunday of October. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of St. Bruno. 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 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 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 St. Bruno. 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 Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Bruno. Today there is no third collect. 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 Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, all Masses, except the Conventual Mass may be of the feast. The Mass Gaudeamus is sung in white vestments. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday and the third collect is of St. Bruno. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Blessed Virgin and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the liturgical colour changes to white and first Vespers of the feast of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary are sung. The antiphons Quae est ista are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Caelestis aulae Nuntius. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Bruno. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi...Qui natus etc. The Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the first Sunday of October. At Vespers the antiphon on the Magnificat was Adaperiat Dominus, there were no commemorations. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn the first and second lesson are from the Incipit of the Book of Machabees. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is but a single collect. The feast of the Most Holy Rosary of the BVM has been renamed BVM of the Rosary. A votive Mass of that may be celebrated today but without commemoration of St. Bruno and without the last Gospel of the Sunday. Vespers are of the Sunday.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel

The feast of the Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel is a Double of the First Class and has been celebrated since the sixth century. The feast originated as the dedication festival of a church in the Circus at Rome dedicated to St. Michael by Boniface II. The liturgical colour of the feast is white. The feast became a Double of the First Class in 1917. The Office is proper. The sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (this year the first Sunday of October) is commemorated in the Office and Mass.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Stetit angelus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Te, splendor et virtus Patris. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Adaperiat Dominus etc for the Saturday before the first Sunday of October). At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Archangelum Dominium, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is, again, Te, splendor. In the first nocturn the antiphons Concussum est mare etc are sung with psalms 8, 10 & 14. The lessons are from the prophet Daniel. In the second nocturn the antiphons Michael Archangele etc are sung with psalms 18, 23 & 33. The lessons in the second nocturn are taken from a homily of St. Gregory the Great. In the third nocturn the antiphons Angelus Archangelus Michael etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 102. The lessons are a homily of St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. At Lauds the antiphons Stetit angelus etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148). The Office hymn is Christe, sanctorum decus Angelorum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the antiphons Stetit Angelus etc are sung in the usual order with the festal psalms. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) the lectio brevis is Factum est praelium.

Mass is sung after Terce. 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.

At Vespers all is sung as at first Vespers yesterday except Ps. 137 is sung in place of Ps.116 and the versicle and response and antiphon on the Magnificat which are proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the following feast of St. Jerome.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast becomes 'first class'. At first Vespers the Sunday is commemorated with the antiphon Domine, Rex omnipotens for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of September. At Mattins there is no ninth lesson of the Sunday. At the Hours the antiphons are doubled. At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season. At Mass the last Gospel is In principio. At second Vespers there is a commemoration of the Sunday but that of St. Jerome is omitted.

Icon: St. Michael in a Icon from Archangel Cathedral, the Kremlin, Moscow, from Wikipedia.

XV Sunday after Pentecost

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

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of St. Matthew the Apostle were sung. The antiphons Juravit Dominus etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Adonai, Domine for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of September) and of St. Thomas of Villanova. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted. At Compline the Sunday psalms are sung and 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 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. Augustine on St. Luke'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. Thomas of Villanova and of SS Mauritius & Others. 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 Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Thomas of Villanova, the third collect is of St. Mauritius & Others. 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 St. Linus, of St. Thomas of Villanova and of St. Thecla. 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 is commemorated but not St. Thomas of Villanova. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is only one collect. At Vespers on Sunday there are no commemorations.

Seven Dolours of the BVM

The feast of the Seven Dolours, or sometimes termed the Seven Sorrows, of the BVM is a Double of the Second Class. The fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and third Sunday of September, is commemorated in the Office and at Mass. The liturgical colour of the feast is white.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons, Quo abiit etc, proper to the feast, were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147.  The Office hymn was Jam toto subitus. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were both proper to the feast.  After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September). At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui passus es pro servulis etc and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper, Stemus juxta Crucem etc. The hymn is O quot undis lacrimarum. In the first nocturn the antiphons Multiplicati sunt etc are sung with psalms 3, 10 & 30. The lessons are from the prophet Jeremiah. In the second nocturn the antiphons Factum est cor meum etc are sung with psalms 21, 55 & 41. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Bernared. In the third nocturn the antiphons Intenderunt etc are sung with psalms 63, 6 & 45. The homily on St. John's Gospel is from the writings of St. Ambrose. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Quo abiit etc, are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn at Lauds is Summae Deus clementiae. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Nicomedes.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung to the special tone of the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui passus es pro servulis etc. At Prime and the Hours the antiphons Quo abiit etc are sung with the festal psalms (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii). In the short responsory the verse Qui passus es propter nostram salutem is sung and the lectio brevis is proper to the feast Deduc quasi etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. In said Masses the third collect is of St. Nicomedes. After the Gradual and Alleluia Stabat Mater is sung as a sequence. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM with the clause Et te in Transfixione and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all is sung as at first Vespers except the antiphon on the Magnificat, Opressit me dolor etc, which is proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following Office of SS Cornelius and Cyprian and of the Sunday. At Compline Te lucis is sung to the tone of the proper Doxology and the Dominical preces are, again, omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Vespers yesterday afternoon were of the Exaltation of the Cross without any commemorations. The Office of the Seven Dolours does not outrank the Sunday so the colour of the Office, from Mattins, is green. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds a commemoration is sung of the Seven Sorrows but St. Nicomedes is forgotten. At Prime the Domincal psalms are sung. At the Hours the hymns have the ordinary tone and Doxology. In said Masses a commemoration is made of the Seven Dolours.

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

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 first Sunday of September and the beginning of the Pars Autumnalis volume 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 commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Raymund Nonnatus, of St. Giles and of the Holy Twelve Brothers. 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 Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book of Morals. 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 commemorations are sung of St. Giles and of the Holy Twelve Brothers followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Giles, the third collect is of the Holy Twelve Brothers. 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 a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Stephen of Hungary followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers there were no commemorations. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations nor Suffrage. Quicumque is only said once a year at Prime and the Dominical preces have been abolished. At Mass there is but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations nor Suffrage and the Domincal preces have been abolished at Compline.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XI Sunday after Pentecost

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

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers for the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle were sung. The antiphons Juravit Dominus etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August) and of St. Louis of France. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and 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 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 on St. Mark's Gospel. 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. Louis of France 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. Louis, the third collect is A cunctis. 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 commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Zephyrinus and of St. Louis followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' 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 nor Suffrage. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

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 the third Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption. 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 sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui natus es de Virgine etc. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Hyacinth, of the Octave of the Assumption and of St. Agapitus. 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.

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 St. Ambrose's book of Offices. In the third nocturn the lessons of the homily are 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 the Octave of the Assumption and of St. Agapitus. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the hymns are sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnatioin. At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted and the versicle in the short responsory is Qui natus es de Maria Virgine.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave, the third collect is of St. Agapitus. 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 one, may be said of St. Joachim. The Mass formulary is Dispersit is with Gloria, second collect of the Sunday, third collect of the Octave, and fourth collect of St. Agapitus. The preface is of the Holy Trinity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) and the Office hymn is Lucis creator sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. John Eudes and of the Octave of the Assumption. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octave of the Assumption has been abolished. The hymns of the Hours have the ordinary Doxology. 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 but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal