XXVI and last Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-sixth, and last, Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. It is also the fifth Sunday of November. 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 St. Felix of Valois and of the Presentation of the BVM. 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 sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation.. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Presentation of the BVM. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Presentation. Today this is, ordinarily, no third collect. The Creed is sung. the preface is of the Blessed Trinity and the last Gospel is of the Presentation.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Cecilia and of the Presentation. 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 either Vespers. The Doxologies of the hymns at Vespers and the Hours 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 and the last Gospel is In principio.

Art: Jerome Nadal Nadal's image of the Antichrist enthroned whilst the clergy and people give him false worship.