Monday, 15 September 2025

The third week of September - Ember Week

7 comments:

Paul said...

I believed that the readings of the ferias couldn't be moved, only the beginnings of the Scriptural books, from my reading of the rubrics and Wapelhorst's commentary. Shouldn't it be just that on Tuesday, the readings of Sunday and Tuesday are combined, if desired, and the rest of the week for the 1st Nocturn are readings from the Proper and Commons of the Saints?

Rubricarius said...

Paul,
That is not correct. If you look in a DA Breviary there is a rubric at the beginning of the entry for the Monday of the third week of September "Si Lectiones de Scriptura...de Feria occurrenti." that gives detailed instructions as to what happens this week. The principle was to avoid recourse to the Commons when occurring Scripture had not been read. The entry for the Ordo matches directions given in a 1930 Ordo I have for Toulouse for the transfer of the respective lessons.

Anonymous said...

Should the Sunday Mass not be resumed on Tuesday? Restore the 54 says it should.

Paul said...

Thanks for the correction. I didn't read that part of the Breviary. That general rule I mentioned is ignored this week and next week, I see.

Gianvitus said...

Do you know why in the 1960 rubrics the Ember Days are postoponed by 1 week?

Rubricarius said...

Anonymous,
No, that is not correct. The Sunday Mass may only be resumed on a semi-double day within an octave, a feast of simple rite or a feria. It cannot be resumed on a semi-double, or higher, feast and is omitted if lower ranking days do not occur that week.

Rubricarius said...

Gianvitus,
It is because the weeks of August, September, October and November are calculated differently in the 1961BR. With the traditional system the first Sunday of September was on August 31st this year. In BR1961 it was September 7th (vide: New Rubrics RG, Pars I, Cap. III, 19). So almost every day this month will have had different lessons depending on whether one is using the traditional Office or a newer form. The Autumn Ember Days are always the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after the third Sunday of September.