The first week of November

Christ the King - XXII Sunday after Pentecost

The feast of Christ the King is a Double of the First Class and its liturgical colour is white. This year it is also the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost and the first Sunday of November.  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 commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of SS Simon & Jude and of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Vidi, Dominum for the Saturday before the first Sunday of November. The Suffrage was omitted. 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. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Jesum Christum, Regem regum Venite adoremus and the Office hymn Aeterna Imagao Altissimi. 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-second Sunday after Pentecost, a sermon of St. Hilary on St. Luke'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 had been it would be of the fifth Sunday of October, not the first Sunday of November). 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.

A note on certain proper last Gospels

Some comments were made on the post for the XVII Sunday after Pentecost on which this year the feast of Our Lady of Ransom occurred and was commemorated in the Office and at Mass. At Mass the last Gospel was of the commemorated feast. Reference was made to another highly-useful website, Restore the '54', that stated as the Gospel for the feast of Our Lady of Ransom was from the Common for feasts of the BVM then it was not proper, presumably based on Additiones et Variationes IX, 3.

However, such an interpretation ignores a decree (4369) of the Sacred Congregation of Rites of 29th April 1922 that clarified the above rubric and indicated which Gospels were strictly proper. The basis of the decree was the special dignity of Persons.

As well as J.B. O'Connell, quoted in the comments of the post, Joseph Wuest C.SS.R in 'Matters Liturgical' delineates these as:

 "The following Masses of Mysteries, Feasts or Persons of special dignity have Gospels that must be regarded as Proper:

(a) Mysteries and Feasts of Our Lord except the Dedication of a Church with the Gospel 'Ingressus Jesus';

(b) Of the Blessed Virgin Mary, except the Mass of the Assumption 'Intravit Jesus in quoddam castellam';

(c) Of the Archangels and of the Guardian Angels;

(d) Of St. John the Baptist and of St. Joseph;

(e) Of the Twelve Apostles." 

He then adds the Gospels for the feasts of the Holy Innocents, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Martha, the Commemoration of All Holy Pontiffs and the first series of Votive Masses printed in the Missal. Many printing of the Missal after the decree, although not all, clarified the matter for the celebrant by the additiion of a 'P' to note the Gospel was proper or even a rubric as in the case of this 1932 Ratisbon edition for the feast of Our Lady of Ransom although the Gospel is from the Common:

Looking at the same Missal for the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel the same Gospel is marked with a 'P':

The last image from the same Missal shews the Common of Feasts of the BVM and, again, there is a 'P' noting the Gospel pericope is indeed proper:

Finally, Ordo 2023 was compared with two extant ordines in our collection. Firstly a 1939 Capuchin Ordo for Switzerland. The commemoration of Our Lady of Ransom is the second commemoration due to an occuring OFM feast but the last Gospel is clearly indicated:

The second Ordo, for 1944, was from Carcassonnne. Again, the last Gospel of the feast of Our Lady of Ransom is explicitly mentioned.

The fourth week of October

XXI Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of October and Mission Sunday. At the request of the Superior Council of the Pontifical Work for the Propagation of the Faith the Sacred Congregation of Rites directed in 1926 that the prayer, from the Votive Mass Pro Propagatione Fidei, should be added to all Masses today as an oratio imperata pro re gravi. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the parable of the unjust and ungrateful servant who, forgiven his debts by the King, demands what is owed to him from others and shews complete ingratitude.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Exaudiat Dominus for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of October. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints was sung. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn isPrimo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Second Book of the Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a tract of St. Chrysostom on the forty-third psalm. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome on the eighteenth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday 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 A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector, the fourth collect is Deus, qui nos homines - for the propagation of the faith. This is taken from the Votive Mass Pro Propagatione Fidei The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the the Suffrage of the Saints is sung as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Suffrage of the Saints and the Dominical preces have been abolished. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Prime Quicumque is said only once during the year. At Mass the prayer Deus, qui omnes homines is added to the collect of the Sunday under one conclusion. The other collects are omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The third week of October

XX Sunday after Pentecost

The twentieth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the third Sunday of October. The Gospel pericopes from St. John give the account of the healing of the ruler's son at Capharnaum.

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 Lugebat autem Judam for the Saturday before the third Sunday of October. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Callistus and of St. Teresa of Avila. 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 continue to be read from the first book of Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the book of St. Ambrose's Book of Offices. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Teresa is sung. 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. Teresa. Today there is no third. The Creed is sung as is the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following Office of St. Hedwig and of St. Teresa. 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. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Mass there is an single collect.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The second week of October

XIX Sunday after Pentecost

The nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins this year, is green. This year it is the second Sunday of October. The Gospel pericopes contain the parable of the wedding feast from St. Matthew's Gospel with the sobering concluding words of the LORD Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Most Holy Rosary of the BVM were sung. The antiphons Quae est ista etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147.  The Office hymn was Te gestientem gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday, the antiphon on the Magnifcat being Refulsit sol for the Saturday before the second Sunday of October, and of St. Bridget. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation (Jesu, tibi...Qui natus) 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 continue to be read from the First Book of the Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Augustine writings on the City of God. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory on St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of St. Bridget of the Child Jesus is sung. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted due to the double feast.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Bridget. Today there is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of SS Denis, Rusticus & Eleutherius and of St. Bridget. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline due to the occurring double feast.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Saturday's feast has been renamed BVM of the Rosary. At Vespers on Saturday only the Sunday was commemorated. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the ordindary Doxology. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is but one collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The first week of October

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. Jerome and of St. Remegius. 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. Remegius is sung followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Remegius, the third collect is A cunctis. 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 (in a said Mass the third collect is of St. Remegius). 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 a commemoration is sung of the following Office of the Holy Guardian Angels. 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 Prime Quicumque is said but once a year and the Dominical preces have been abolished. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal