The week of Quinquagesima

Quinquagesima Sunday

Quinquagesima Sunday is a semi-double of the second class and its liturgical colour is violet. The Gospel pericopes are taken from St. Luke and give the account of the giving of sight to the man born blind.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter was proper to Quinqugesima Sunday, Fratres: Si linguis hominum, and the Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect were also proper to Quinquagesima Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins, as on the previous two Sundays, the antiphons and psalms are those used on Sundays throughout the year and the Office hymn is Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are again from Genesis and this Sunday concern the story of Abraham. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose on the Book on the Patriarch Abraham and in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel of the man blind from birth whose sight was restored by the LORD. The blind man is a figure of the human race according to St. Gregory. A ninth responsory, Caecus sedebat secus viam etc, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

At Lauds the 'second scheme' of psalms is sung: Pss. 50, 117, 62, Benedictus es and 148. The antiphons at Lauds are proper for Quinquagesima Sunday, Secundum multitudinem etc. The Office hymn is Aeterne. The antiphon at the Benedictus and the collect are proper to Quinquagesima. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At all the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper to Quinquagesima Sunday. At Prime the order of psalmody is that used when the second scheme of Lauds is sung, i.e. Pss. 92, 99 (displaced at Lauds) and Ps. 118i & 118ii. The versicle in the short responsory at Prime is Qui natus es. The Dominical preces are omitted.

At Mass the Gloria is omitted, the second collect is of St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows. Today there is no third collect. A Tract is sung after the Gradual, the Credo is sung, the Preface is of the Blessed Trinity and Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday are sung, the chapter is proper to the Sunday as is the antiphon at the Magnificat. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Domincal preces.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. At Mattins there is only a single nocturn. At Prime Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii are sung, as on festal days. At Mass there is a single collect and Benedicamus Domino is suppressed in favour of Ite, Missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The week of Sexagesima

Sexagesima Sunday

Sexagesima Sunday is a semi-double Sunday of the second class and its liturgical colour is violet. The Sunday is characterised by a very lengthy Epistle from St. Paul's Latter Epistle to the Corinthians. The Gospel pericopes are from St. Luke and contain the parable of the sower with his seed landing on rock, amongst weeds and on the good ground.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter was proper to the Sunday, Fratres: Libenter suffertis, and the Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints was sung as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the antiphons and psalms are from the Psalter for Sundays. In the first nocturn the lessons continue to be read from Genesis (Ch. 5 & 6), the beginning of the story of Noah. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose on Noah and the Ark and in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on the Gospel of the seed falling on good and poor ground. A ninth responsory, Cum turba plurima, is sung in place of the Te Deum.

At Lauds the 'second scheme' of psalms is sung: Pss 50, 117, 62, Canticle of the Three Children (Benedictus es) and 148. The antiphons at Lauds are proper for Sexagesima Sunday, Secundum magnam misericordiam etc as are the chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus. After the collect of the Sunday the suffrage of the Saints is sung.

At Prime the order of psalmody is Pss. 92, 99 (displaced at Lauds) 118i & 118ii. The Dominical preces are omitted. At the Hours the antiphons, Semen cecidit etc, and chapters are proper to Sexagesima Sunday.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is omitted, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect chosen by the Dean or rector. A Tract is sung after the Gradual, the Creed is sung, the Preface is of the Trinity and Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar.

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 the Suffrage is sung as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Suffrage of the Saints has been abolished as have the Dominical preces at Compline and Prime. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Prime the arrangement of psalmody is festive, Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii. At Mass there is single collect and Benedicamus Domino is suppressed in favour of Ite, missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The week of Septuagesima

Septuagesima Sunday

Septuagesima is a semi-double Sunday of the second class and its liturgical colour is violet.

At Vespers of Septuagesima yesterday afternoon the liturgical mood became more sombre as penitential violet became the liturgical colour of the season. Although more sombre than the season after the Epiphany the short season of Septuagesima is not as penitential as Lent. Although the colour violet is used at Mass the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle for these three Sundays and for ferial days. The organ is still played until Ash Wednesday. However, from Septuagesima until Holy Saturday the dress of some prelates changes. Cardinals of the Court of Rome no longer wear scarlet choir dress but that of violet. Correspondingly bishops do not wear violet choir dress but their black, or mourning dress. In the case of the latter this is not to be confused with their habitus pianus, or house dress. The black choir cassock has a train, like the violet one, and the mozzeta or mantelletum are faced with violet. However, Protonotaries Apostolic and Domestic Prelates do not change their choir dress (except sede vacante). The sixth Sunday after the Epiphany was anticipated yesterday.

At Vespers on Saturday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter was proper to Septuagesima Sunday and the Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order. The Suffrage was omitted. (Anticipated Sundays do not have second Vespers). The Suffrage was omitted. At the end of Vespers Alleluia was added, twice, to both Benedicamus Domino and to its response. After that Alleluia will not be heard again until the Vesperal Liturgy of Holy Saturday. At Compline after the Lesser Doxology, and at all Hours until Compline on Holy Saturday, Laus tibi Domine Rex aeterne gloriae is sung in place of Alleluia. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Praeoccupemus and the Office hymn Primo die. The antiphons and psalms are as on previous 'green' Sundays. In the first nocturn the Incipit of the Book of Genesis is read. In the second nocturn the lessons are from the Enchiridion of St. Augustine, in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Gregory on the Gospel of the labourers in the vineyard. The Te Deum is not sung but in its place is sung a ninth responsory, Ubi est Abel frater tuus?.

At Lauds the 'second scheme' of psalms is sung: Pss 50, 117, 62, Canticle of the Three Children (Benedictus es) and 148. The antiphons at Lauds are proper to the Sunday as are the versicle after the hymn Aeterne, chapter, antiphon at the Benedictus and collect. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage is sung.

At the Hours the antiphons and chapters are proper. At Prime the order of psalmody is changed and four psalms are sung, Pss. 92, 99 (displaced from Lauds) and the usual first two stanzas of Ps. 118. Quicumque is omitted and the Dominical preces are sung.

At Mass the Gloria is omitted. The ministers wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or rector. A Tract replaces the Alleluia after the Gradual, the Credo is sung and the Preface is of the Blessed Trinity. Benedicamus Domino is sung, by the deacon facing the altar, as the dismissal.

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 a commemoration is are sung of the following feast of St. Valentine followed by the Suffrage. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there is no anticipation of the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. At Vespers there were no commemorations. Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn. At Prime the arrangement of psalms is truly bizarre with the festal arrangment of Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii (!) The Dominical preces have been abolished. At Mass there is only one collect and Benedicamus Domino is suppressed in favour of Ite, missa est. At Vespers there are no commemorations nor Suffrage.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Anticipated sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

 

Today is the anticipated sixth 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 exhibited. Prior to the 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 of Friday were sung. The Office hymn was that appointed for Friday Hominis superne Conditor sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi...Qui natus etc. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order. 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 lessons are the Incipit of the Epistle to the Ephesians (from the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. The lessons appointed for the Saturday the Incipit of the Epistle to Philemon having been anticipated on Thursday). 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 the Seven Founders of the Servite Order. The Suffrage is omitted. At Prime the chapter is Regi saeculorum. The Dominical preces are omitted.

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 the Founders of the Servite Order. 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. the antiphons and psalms of Saturday are sung. The Office hymn is Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of Septuagesima Sunday (the Office of the anticipated Sunday ceases after None) a commemoration is sung of the Founders of the Servite Order. 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 non-privileged III class feast of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order. The formerly double ranked feast is stripped down to a single nocturn and, following the latest decrees, made be replaced with a Votive Mass of any saint canonised after 1962. At Vespers of Septuagesima there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal.

5th week after the Epiphany

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

The fifth Sunday after the Epiphany is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew speak of the parable where the enemy sows cockle seed into the field sown with good seed.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms appointed for Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Suscepit Deus. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Agatha, of St. Titus and of St. Dorothy. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted at Vespers as were the Dominical preces at Compline because of the concurrent and occurrent double feasts.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Primo die . In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of St. Paul's Epistle to Timothy. In the second nocturn the lessons are from the writing of St. Augustine on the Apostle. In the third nocturn the homily is, again, from St. Augustine. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Titus and of St. Dorothy. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted due to the occurring double feast.

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Titus, the third collect is of St. Dorothy. The Credo is sung and the preface is that of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers the Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Romuald and of St. Titus. The Suffrage is omitted due to the double feasts as are the Domincal 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. There are no commemorations at Lauds. At Mass there is but a single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal