Update: Orders to Europe

Update The Post Office has started to accept mail for Europe again. Not surprisingly there are backlogs so it is not normal service, yet. Please find the first few days of January as an image below.

Hopefully the situation will now improve with the Christmas mail out of the system. ===========================================================

Yesterday [21 Dec 2020] the Post Office stopped accepting orders to mainland Europe and Ireland due to the cancellation of flights in response to the new virus mutation. There are four orders for Europe that have not been posted. Hopefully the situation will resolve and mail services resume. If not refunds will be processed next week.

St. John the Apostle and Evangelist

The feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist is a Double of the Second Class with, since the reform of 1911-13, a simple Octave. Before that reform the feast had a common Octave. The liturgical colour of the feast is white. The feast completely displaces the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christi munera, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 18, 33 & 44. The lessons are the Incipit of the former Epistle of St. John. The responsories are proper to the feast. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 46, 60 & 63 and the lessons are from the writings of St. Jerome. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily on St. John's Gospel is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Valde honorandus est etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms (92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148). The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. The antiphon on the Benedictus, Iste est Joannes etc., is proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Octave of the Nativity.

At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime the antiphon Valde honorandus est is sung with the festal psalms (53, 118i & 118ii) and the lectio brevis is In medio Ecclesiae. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in due order at the other Horae Minores.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Creed is sung, the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

Vespers are of the Nativity but from the chapter of St. John. The Office hymn, Exsultet orbis gaudiis, is sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. Commemorations are sung of tomorrow's feast of the Holy Innocents and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung and the Dominical preces are omitted.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity (although no commemoration of the Octave is made). Mattins (of the Sunday) is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. The Doxology in honour of the Incarnation is omitted in the singing of the Office hymns of the Little Hours. At the Little Hours the antiphons and psalms are taken from the psalter for Sunday, not from the feast. At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season. St. John gets commemorated at Lauds and in said Masses. At other Masses there is a single collect. At Vespers no commemoration is made of the Holy Innocents nor of St. John or the Octave of the Nativity.

Miniature of St. John from Wikipedia.

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 is sung.

A very happy Christmass to all customers and readers!

Fourth Sunday of Advent

The fourth Sunday of Advent is a semi-double Sunday of the second class and its liturgical colour, until Vespers 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." The Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle was anticipated yesterday.

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 the Great 'O' Antiphon O radix Jesse which, although the Sunday is of semi-double rite sung entire, i.e. doubled, before and after the Canticle with the choir standing. The Suffrage is omitted in Advent. 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 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 there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle are sung. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis. The antiphon on the Magnificat is Quia vidisti me, proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat for the commemoration is O clavis David. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of St. Thomas has been abolished. 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. Vespers are of the Sunday with no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Ordines Update

All orders received as of this morning have been despatched. Orders received over the weekend will be posted on Monday, 21st, the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle. After that, due to Christmas and caring duties, orders will not be processed until Tuesday 29th, the feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury.

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, of rose colour. 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.  This year it is also the Sunday within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception.

 
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, sung with the ordinary Doxology (prior to 1911-13 the Doxology of the Incarnation would have been sung). After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the Octave of the Immaculate Conception and of St. Lucy. 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 commemorations are sung of St. Lucy and of the Octave of the Immaculate Conception. The Suffrage is omitted. 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 St. Lucy, the third collect of the Octave of the Immaculate Conception. 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 day within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception (the antiphon on the Magnficat being Beatem me dicent etc) and of St. Lucy. 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.

Second Sunday of Advent

The second Sunday of Advent is a semi-double Sunday of the second class and its liturgical colour is violet. The Gospel pericopes, from St. Matthew, tell of St. John the Baptist in prison sending two of his followers to meet the LORD. The liturgical colour is violet.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Ecce in nubibus caeli etc were sung, not-doubled, with psalms of Saturday. The Office hymn was Creator alme siderum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Sunday was sung followed by a commemoration of St. Nicholas of Myra. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted due to the commemorated 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 St. Nicholas is sung. At Prime the versicle in the responsory is Qui venturus es in mundum. The Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce, the deacon and subdeacon wear violet folded chasubles. The Gloria is not sung. The second collect is of St. Nicholas. 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 feast of St. Ambrose and of St. Nicholas. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn 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.

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, until Vespers, 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. Vespers on Saturday before Advent Sunday mark the beginning of the Pars Hiemalis or Winter volume of the Breviary.

The Vigil of St. Andrew the Apostle was anticipated yesterday.

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 made of St. Saturninus.  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 etc 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, 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.  After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Saturninus is sung.  The Suffrage is omitted, as noted, during Advent.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds, In illa die, is sung, not doubled, 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 of St. Saturninus, 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 there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle are sung. The antiphons Salve, crux pretiosa etc, proper to the feast are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of St. Andrew has been abolished.  Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Compline on Saturday and 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. Vespers are of the Sunday with no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Ordo Recitandi MMXXI now available to order

Ordo Recitandi MMXXI is now available to order. We are pleased to be able to offer this edition at the same cover price as last year. Outside of our control Royal Mail has increased its postage charges yet again. It has also created a new postal zone, Zone 3, exclusively for USA destinations. We have revamped the shopping cart and hope the inclusion of some national flags to indicate the postage zones will make ordering easier.

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' ( olim 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 3 (USA ONLY), Zone 1 (Canada, South America, Africa, most of Asia) or to Zone 2 (Australia, New Zealand etc). If you are unsure of which Zone you are in please visit here. 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 2021' etc rather than two single copies. 

If you live e.g in the USA, France etc 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. 

Please note that due to the illness of a close family member we will only be able to process and despatch orders from Wednesday to Friday inclusive each week.

XXV Sunday after Pentecost

[Apologies to readers for the lack of a post on Sunday. Unfortunately I have had to care for an elderly relative who was discharged from hospital and needed more care, and time, than I anticipated.] 

Today is the twenty-fifth, and last, Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the fifth Sunday of November. The liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew's Gospel contain the prophetic words of the LORD concerning the last days and the coming of the Antichrist. The texts of the Mass and Office come from the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost which are always used on the last Sunday before Advent.

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. 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 the Presentation of the BVM and of St. Cecilia. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the double feasts. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation 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 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 is sung of St. Cecilia. 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. Cecilia. Today this is, ordinarily, 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 Office of St. Clement, of St. Cecilia and of St. Felicitas. 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. The Doxologies of the hymns at Vespers and Compline are not changed. 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.

XXIV Sunday after Pentecost (VI after Epiphany)

The twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of November. As this year the number of Sundays after Pentecost is greater than twenty-four, twenty-five in fact, the texts for the twenty-fourth Sunday found in the Breviary and Missal are used next Sunday, the last Sunday after Pentecost. This Sunday the texts of the propers of the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, which was not celebrated before Septuagesima, are combined with texts 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 Qui caelorum for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday (taken from the texts for the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany) commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Josaphat and of St. Albert the Great. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the concurring and occurring 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 Hosea. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Augustine's City of God. In the third nocturn (from the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Albert the Great. The Suffrage 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 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 sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Albert the Great. Today, ordinarily 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. Gertrude and of St. Albert the Great. 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.

Available soon!

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

Please kindly do not use the shopping cart for the 2020 edition to order the new edition. An updated cart will appear when 2021 is ready for despatch.

As always thank you to our valued and loyal customers.

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 third Sunday of November as this year the second Sunday of November and its week are omitted. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the passages where the LORD heals a woman with an issue of blood and raises Jairus' daughter from the dead.

As Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Muro tuo for the Saturday before the third Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the Octave Day of All Saints and of the SS Four Crowned Martyrs. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Incipit of the book of the Prophet Daniel.In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Athanasius' book to Virgins. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome on the ninth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave Day of All Saints and of the SS Four Crowned Martyrs. 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 the Octave Day of All Saints, the third collect is of the SS Four Crowned Martyrs. The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

In England & Wales, being the Sunday closest to the 11th November, a Mass of Requiem may be celebrated, and usually is, 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.

In the afternoon the liturgical colour changes to white and Vespers of the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilca 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 the Octave Day of All Saints. 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 Octave for All Saints has been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn and three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. There is a single collect at Mass. At Vespers, of the Sunday, there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

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. The twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost, and this year the first Sunday of November, is commemorated in the Office and at Mass. The feast was preceded by a Vigil yesterday. 

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. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Vidi, Dominum for the Saturday before the first Sunday of November). At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and 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, doubled, 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, doubled, 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, doubled, with psalms 33, 60 & 96. The homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Augustine. Today the eighth and ninth lessons of the feast are read together and the ninth lesson is the homily for the Sunday which is a commentary of St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. 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.  After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

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 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 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 Mattins there is no ninth lesson of the Sunday.  At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season and at the Little Hours the antiphons are doubled. At Mass the last Gospel is In principio. The 'double Vespers' has been abolished and Vespers for the Dead will not be sung until tomorrow afternoon.

Christ the King - XXI Sunday after Pentecost

The feast of Christ the King is a Double of the First Class and its liturgical colour is white. This year it is also the twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost and the fourth Sunday of October.  The Sunday is commemorated in the Office and at Mass.

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 of the Sunday was sung (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Exaudiat Dominus for the Saturday before the fourth 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 the antiphons Ego autem etc are sung, doubled, with Pss.2, 8 & 23. The lessons are taken from St. Paul's Epistle to the Colossians. In the second nocturn the antiphons Sedebit etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 28, 44 & 46. The lessons are taken from Pius XI's encyclical Quas primas. In the third nocturn the antiphons Benedicentur in ipso are sung, doubled, with 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-first Sunday after Pentecost, a sermon of St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Suscitabit etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Vexilla Christus inclyta. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

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

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

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

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

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

St. Luke the Evangelist

The feast of St. Luke the Evangelist is a Double of the Second Class and the liturgical colour of the feast is red. St. Luke was probably born in Antioch in Syria and was a physician. He is the author of the Gospel that bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles. He is one of the Four Evangelists and is traditionally represented by an ox. St. Luke is believed to have died at the age of 84 in Boeotia, and his tomb was located at Thebes. The twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, and the third Sunday of October is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. The third Sunday of October is also Mission Sunday and an oratio imperata pro re gravi is ordered to be added to all Masses following a rescript of the SCR of April 14th, 1926.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Margaret Mary and of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Lugebat autem Judam for the Saturday before the third Sunday of October. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, * Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christi munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 18, 33 & 44. The lessons are from the common of Evangelists and are the Incipit of the Book of the Prophet Ezechiel, In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 46, 60 & 63. The lessons are proper to the feast and are taken from St. Jerome's Book on Ecclesiastical Writers. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 74, 96 & 98. The lessons are again from the Common of Evangelists and a homily from St. Gregory on the Gospels. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc., are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148). After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) and the lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli etc. The Dominical preces are omitted.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect is Deus, qui nos homines (from the Votive Mass for the Propagation of the Faith). The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Apostles and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At second Vespers the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Peter of Alcantara and of the Sunday. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the 'green' Sunday takes precedence over the feast of St. Luke. This year the third Sunday of October is omitted and today becomes the fourth Sunday (this happens when the third Sunday falls on a date from 18th to 21st October). At Vespers the antiphon on the Magnificat was Exaudiat Dominus for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of October. There were no commemorations. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds a commemoration of St. Luke is sung. At Mass the collect Deus, qui nos homines is added to the collect of the Sunday under a single conclusion. At Low Masses a commemoration of St. Luke is said. The last Gospel is In principio. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

St. Luke from an early seventeenth century Armenian Gospel Bodleian Library MS. Arm. d.13. Armenian Gospels-0043-0" by Unknown - The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 via Commons.

Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. The feast was instituted in the Universal Calendar in 1932 by Pius XI in honour of the fifteenth centenary of the Council of Ephesus where Mary had been defined as Mother of God. The feast had been granted to Portuguese dioceses in the eighteenth century and by the time of the 1911-13 reform the feast was being kept in almost all local calendars for celebration on the second Sunday of October (with the introit Salve sancta parens otherwise textually the same). The Gospel is St. Luke's account of finding the young Christ in the Temple debating with the doctors of the law. The nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and second Sunday of October, is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons Beata es, etc, proper to the feast, were sung doubled with Pss. 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 (the antiphon on the Magnificat was Refulsti sol for the Saturday before the second Sunday of October). 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, Jesu, tibi sit gloria etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is Maternitatem beate Marie Virginis celebremus * Christum Filium adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Caelo Redemptor praetulit. In the first nocturn the antiphons Benedicta tu etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 8, 18 & 23 from the Common. The lessons in the first nocturn are from the Book of Ecclesiasticus. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 44, 45 & 86. The fourth and fifth lessons are from a sermon by St. Leo on the Nativity of the LORD and the sixth lesson is from the writings of Pius XI. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude, Maria Virgo etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 95,96 & 97. The lessons are from a homily by St. Bernard, the ninth lesson is of the commemorated Sunday.

At Lauds the antiphons Beata es etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The Office hymn is Te, Mater alma Numinis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. The hymns are sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) the verse in the short responsory is Qui natus es and the lectio brevis is In plateis.

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 (Et te in Festivitate) and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all is sung as at first Vespers except that the antiphon on the Magnificat is Maternitas tua etc. After the collect of the feast of commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Vespers on Saturday were of the Sunday without any commemoration of the feast. The 'green' Sunday takes precedence over the feast. Sunday Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. The feast is commemorated at Lauds and Low Masses only. The Marian Doxology is not sung, Prime's psalms are as on Sundays, there is no Qui natus es. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations.

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 first 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 Adaperiat Dominus for the Saturday before the first Sunday of October. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus and of St. Francis of Assisi. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted 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 lessons are a homily from St. Peter Chrysologus on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Francis 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. Francis. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Prior to the reform of 1911-13 the first Sunday in October was the feast of the Most Holy Rosary of the BVM. All Masses, except the Conventual Mass (although a Double of the Second Class the feast had special privileges), 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. Francis. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Blessed Virgin 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 Office of SS Placid & Companions and of St. Francis. 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, nor Suffrage. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XVII Sunday after Pentecost

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

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 Domine, Rex omnipotens for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of SS Cosmas & Damian followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Esther. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Ambrose's Book of Offices. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Chrysostom 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 SS Cosmas & Damina is sung followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

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

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

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday (109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) are sung. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Wenceslaus and of SS Cosmas & Damian followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the fourth Sunday of September. At Vespers on Saturday the antiphon on the Magnificat was Adonai, Domine for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of September. There were no commemorations nor Suffrage. The Dominical preces at Compline and Prime have been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. The first and second lessons are from the Book of Judith. At Lauds there are no commemorations nor Suffrage. At Prime Quicumque is not sung. At Mass there is but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations nor Suffrage and at Compline the Dominical preces have been abolished.
Art: Jerome Nadal

XVI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour, until None, is green. This year it the fourth Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke tell of the LORD healing the man with dropsy on the Sabbath. The Vigil of St. Matthew the Apostle was anticipated yesterday. (Due to the occurrence of the Ember Saturday the Vigil of St. Matthew was not commemorated in the Office but commemorated at Mass, or private Masses may have been celebrated of the Vigil with commemorations of SS Januarius & Others and the Ember Saturday).

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 Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of SS Januarius & Others and of SS Eustace & Others. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline 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 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 SS Eustace & Others 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 SS Eustace & Others. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Prior to the reform of 1911-13 the third Sunday in September was observed as the feast of the Seven Dolours of the BMV. One Mass, but not the Conventual Mass, may be celebrated of the Seven Dolours in white vestments. The Mass Stabant juxta Crucem is sung with Gloria, the second collect of the Sunday, the third collect of SS Eustace & Others, the sequence Stabat mater, Creed, preface of the BVM and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Entry from a 1952 Ordo for Tarbes & Lourdes showing the option of having the Mass of the Seven Dolours on the third Sunday in September (and the fourth Sunday of September in the sense of the Mattins lessons). 

At Vespers there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Matthew are celebrated. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of SS Eustace & Others. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of St. Matthew has been abolished and the Ember Days are a week later. At Vespers there were no commemorations. Today is the third Sunday of September. 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. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal.

XV Sunday after Pentecost

The fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers, is green. This year it is the third Sunday of September and the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM. The week ahead will see the observance of the September Ember Days.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation (Jesu, tibi...Qui natus es etc) and the antiphon on the Magnificat was Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of the Holy Name of Mary. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation 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 Tobias. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo on fasting in the seventh month. In the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Augustine on St. Lukes's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Prior to the reform of 1911-13 Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM was the feast of the Holy Name of Mary. One Mass of the feast may be celebrated. The Mass Vultum tuum is sung in white vestments with Gloria, second collect of the Sunday, Creed, preface of the BVM and last Gospel of the Sunday.

In the afternoon there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross are sung. The antiphons O magnum pietatis opus etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Vexilla Regis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the second Sunday in September and the Ember Days are delayed by a week. At Vespers there are no commemorations and the hymns have the ordinary Doxology. 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. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations.

XIV Sunday after Pentecost

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

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung.The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was In omnibus his for the Saturday before the second Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of St. Laurence Justinian 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 Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book on Morals. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy 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' today is first Sunday of September. At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphon on the Magnificat was Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September. There were no commemorations. The Suffrage has been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. The first two lessons are from the Incipit of the Book of Job. At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. At Mass there is a single collect. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XIII Sunday after Pentecost

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

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 commemoration were sung of the preceding feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, of St. Rose of Lima and of SS Felix & Adauctus. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book of Morals. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Luke's Gospel is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Rose of Lima & of SS Felix & Adauctus. 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. Rose of Lima, the third collect is of SS Felix & Adauctus. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday (109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) are sung. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Raymund Nonnatus and of St. Rose of Lima. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers the antiphon on the Magnificat was Observa, fili for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of August. There were not commemorations. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XII Sunday after Pentecost

The twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers this year, is green. It is also the fourth Sunday of August. The Vigil of St. Bartholomew was anticipated yesterday, the Octave Day of the Assumption.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus sung with the meloday and Doxology of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi...Qui natus etc. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August). After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of the Octave Day of the Assumption and of St. Philip Benizi. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces 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 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. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Luke's 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. Philip Benizi. 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. Philip Benizi. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

In the afternoon there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle are sung. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. Philip Benizi. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of St. Bartholomew has been abolished as has the Octave of the Assumption. Yesterday Vespers were of the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a commemoration of only the Sunday. At Compline Te lucis had the ordinary Doxology. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers, of the Sunday, there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

St. Joachim, Father of the BVM

The feast of St. Joachim, father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. This year the feast falls on both its current date of celebration, August 16th, and on its former day of celebration the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption. Today is also the XI Sunday after Pentecost and third Sunday of August which is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. Although the day within the Octave is not commemorated hymns of Iambic metre still take the Marian Doxology and tone and Qui natus es is sung at Prime in the short responsory. Following the reforms of 1911-13 the Octave of St. Lawrence is mostly latent.

In pre-Trent times the feast was sometimes celebrated on the 20th March. The feast was suppressed by Pius V in the Tridentine Missal and Breviary and re-instated by Gregory XIII in 1584. In 1623 the feast gained a proper Office and was transferred to the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption by Clement XII in 1738. Leo XIII raised the feast to a double of the second class in 1879. The 1948 Pian Commission discussed joining the feast with that of St. Anne, which indeed happened in due course (c.f. Memoria sulla riforma liturgica, ## 108, 178).

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Assumption were sung. The antiphons Assumpta est Maria 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 was Hodie Maria Virgo caelos ascendit: gaudete, quia cum Christo regnat in aeternum. After the collect of the feast, the sublime Famulorum tuorum, commemorations were sung of St. Joachim and of the XI Sunday after Pentecost (the antiphon on the Magnifcat being Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August). At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung and Te lucis is sung with the proper Doxology and tone.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Iste Confessor. In the first nocturn the antiphons Beatus vir etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 1, 2 & 3. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the Common of Confessor non-Pontiffs, Beatus vir, etcwith their responsories. In the second nocturn the antiphons Invocantem etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 4, 5 & 8 and the lessons are proper to the feast. The fourth lesson is from the Discourse on the Praises of the Virgin by St. Epiphanius, the fifth and six lessons from a Discourse on the Birth of the Virgin by St. John Damascene. In the third nocturn the antiphons Domine etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 14, 20 & 23. The lessons, from the Common, are again from St. John Damascene. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

At the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are used in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) Qui natus es is sung as the verse in the responsory because of the Octave and the lectio brevis is Justum deduxit.

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

At Vespers the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Iste, Confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Hyacinth and of the Sunday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the XI Sunday after Pentecost takes precedence over the feast of St. Joachim. The Octaves of the Assumption and of St. Lawrence have been abolished. At Vespers yesterday there was no commemoration of St. Joachim. At Compline the ordinary Doxology was sung. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds a commemoration of St. Joachim is sung. At Low and Conventual Masses a commemoration is made of St. Joachim. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

X Sunday after Pentecost

The tenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, until Vespers, is green. This year it is the second Sunday of August. The Gospel pericope from St. Luke is of the parable of the Pharisee and Publican. The Vigil of St. Lawrence the Deacon was anticipated yesterday.

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 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 of SS Cyriacus, Largus & Smaragdus, of St.John Mary Vianney and of St. Romanus. 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 Ecclesiastes. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon by St. Chrysostom. 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 St. John Mary Vianney and of St. Romanus. 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. John Mary Vianney, the third collect is of St. Romanus. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

In the afternoon there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of St. Lawrence are sung. The antiphons Laurentius ingressus etc are sung, doubled, with psalms from the Common of Apostles, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Deus, tuorum militum. The chapter, antiphon on the Magnificat and collect are proper. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of St. John Mary Vianney. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of St. John Mary Vianney has been moved from the 9th August to the 8th so as not to impede the Vigil of St. Lawrence. However, this year the Vigil of St. Lawrence is entirely omitted. 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, of the Sunday, there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

IX Sunday after Pentecost

The ninth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the first Sunday of August. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke contain the account of the LORD casting out the money lenders in the temple.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Sapientia for the Saturday before the first Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Peter's Chains, of St. Paul the Apostle, of St. Alphonsus Liguori and of St. Stephen. The Suffrage of the Saints 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 Incipiunt of the Proverbs of Solomon. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from a tract of St. Ambrose on the 118th Psalm. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Luke's Gospel is from St. Gregory. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds after the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Alphonsus Liguori and of St. Stephen. 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. Alphonsus, the third collect is of St. Stephen. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) and the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of the Finding of the Body of St. Stephen the Protomartyr and of St. Alphonsus Liguori. 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 feasts of St. Peter's Chains and the Finding of the Body of St. Stephen have both been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is a single collect.

St. Anne, Mother of the BVM

The feast of St. Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin, is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. The eighth Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. The feast was originally celebrated by the Franciscans and appears as a feast of nine lessons in the 1550 Breviarium Romanum. The feast was suppressed in the 1568-70 reform but was returned to the Kalendar in 1584 as a feast of double rite. The feast became a greater double in 1738 and a Double of the Second Class in 1879. Most of the texts for the feast are from the Common of Non-Virgins.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of St. James the Apostle. 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 St. Anne and of the eighth Sunday after Pentecost. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and the preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Laudemus Deum nostrum, in confessione beatae Annae and the Office hymn is Hujus oratu. In the first nocturn the antiphons O quam pulchra etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 8, 18, & 23. The lessons are Mulierem fortem etc from the Proverbs of Solomon. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung with Pss.44, 45 & 47. The lessons are proper to the feast from St. John Damascene. In the third nocturn the antiphons Nigra sum etc are sung with Pss. 95, 96 & 97. The homily is from the writings of St. Gregory on St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. At Lauds the antiphons Dum esset Rex etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Fortem virili pectore. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime the psalmody is festal 53, 118i & 118ii and the lectio brevis is Multae filiae.

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Trinity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Dum esset Rex etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Fortem virili pectore. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast does not take precedence over the Sunday. At Vespers of St. James yesterday there was no commemoration of St. Anne.  Mattins of the Sunday is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds there is a commemoration of St. Anne. At said Masses there is a second collect of St. Anne. At Vespers there are no commemorations.