Anticipated Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Today is the anticipated fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. The Sunday is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is green. The Sunday follows the usual rules for Sundays in occurrence and concurrence.

Anticipated Sundays following the reform of 1911-13 gained far more prominence than they had hitherto. Prior to this reform they were treated in the same manner as 'resumed' Sundays in that they were of simple rite and had but three lessons at Mattins (those of the homily of the Sunday) and no Creed at Mass. If the Saturday before Septuagesima was occupied by a feast of nine lessons they could be anticipated on the nearest day free of a feast of nine lessons or, if there were no such days, commemorated in the feast of nine lessons falling on the Saturday.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms were of Friday. The Office hymn was that appointed for Friday Hominis superne Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Francis de Sales and of St. Martina. The Suffrages were omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are from the Psalter for Saturday. In the first nocturn the first lesson is the Incipit of the Epistle to the Philippians (from the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany), the second lesson is the Incipit of the Epistle to the Colossians (from the Tuesday after the IV Sunday) and the third lesson is the Incipit of the Epistle to the Thessalonians (from the Thursday after the IV Sunday). The responsories are those of the anticipated Sunday. In the second nocturn the lessons, appointed for the Sunday are from St. Gregory's Book on Morals and in the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons, psalms, chapter and hymn are from the Psalter for Saturday. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Martina followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Prime the chapter is Regi saeculorum. The Dominical preces are sung.

At the other Hours the antiphons and psalms are of the Saturday, the collect is of the Sunday. Mass is sung after Terce as normal for Sundays. At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Martina, the third collect is Deus, qui saltutis. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers the liturgical mood and colour change. The altar is vested in violet and Vespers are of Septuagesima. After the collect of Septuagesima Sunday (the Office of the anticipated Sunday ceases after None) commemorations are sung of St. John Bosco and of St. Martina. The Suffrage is omitted due to the occurring double feast. Alleluia is added, twice, to both Benedicamus Domino and to its response. After that Alleluia will not be heard until the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' anticipated Sundays have been abolished. Today is the III class feast of St. Martina. The formerly semi-double feast is stripped down to a single nocturn. At Vespers of Septuagesima there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal.