Ember Saturday in Pentecost

Ember Saturday in the Octave of Pentecost is of semi-double rite and the last of the summer Ember or Quarter-Tense days. The liturgical colour is the red of the Octave.

The Office is as on the feast, except for those parts that are proper, but the antiphons at Mattins and Lauds are not doubled. At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are those that were sung on the feast of Pentecost. The versicle and response are Repleti sunt omnes Spiritu Sancto, alleluia and Et coeperunt loqui, alleluia. The lessons of the homily are taken from the writings of St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. At Lauds the antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the day. After the collect of the day a commemoration is of SS Marcellinus and his Companions.

At the Hours all is celebrated as on Pentecost Sunday. At Terce the hymn is Veni Creator. The Pentecost Doxology is sung at the conclusion of hymns of the Hours.

Mass is sung after None, as on the Ember Days this week. The ministers wear red dalmatic and tunicle and not folded chasubles. The Mass is proper with the introit Caritas Dei etc. After the Kyrie there are a series of five structural units comprising of the invitation Oremus, followed by a collect, O.T. reading and Alleluia. The readings are from Joel, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus again and Daniel. After the pericope from Daniel the Alleluia is a fragment of the hymn of the Three Men in the fiery furnace, Alleluia, Benedictus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum et laudabilis in saecula. The then Gloria is sung followed by the collect Deus, qui tribus pueris. After this the collect Ecclesiae is sung. The sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus is sung but without Alleluia at its conclusion, the Creed is sung, the preface, Hanc igitur and communicantes are of Pentecost.

After Mass has been sung the Office of the Octave of Pentecost and Paschaltide come to an end. At the noon bell the last Regina Caeli of the year is sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the distinction between the rank of the feast and Monday and Tuesday with the rest of the Octave has been lost with all days being first class and excluding all commemorations. The antiphons are doubled at both the Greater and Little Hours. The Pentecost Doxology is not sung at the Little Hours. A 'mini-Mass' Ember Day is permitted whereby only one OT reading, that from Joel, is read.

Ember Saturday in Lent

Ember Saturday in Lent is a greater, non-privileged, ferial day of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet. It is one of the traditional days for ordinations.

At Mattins the invitatory is Non sit vobis etc and the Office hymn is Ex more docti mystico. In the nocturn the antiphons Memor fuit etc are sung with the nine psalms appointed for Saturday 104, 105 and 106 - each split into three divisi. The three lessons are from a homily of St. Leo on St. Matthew's Gospel. After the third responsory, Absocondite etc., the second scheme of Lauds for Saturday is sung. The antiphons Benigne fac etc., are sung with psalms 50, 91, 63, the Canticle of Moses & 150. The Office hymn is O sol salutis. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Assumpsit Jesus etc. After the antiphon is sung in full after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung. The collect is proper to the Ember Saturday, Populum tuum. After the collect of the Ember Saturday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

At the Hours the antiphons and psalms are of Saturday. At Prime (Pss 93i, 93ii, 107 & 149) the fourth psalm is the one displaced by the Miserere in the second schema of Lauds. The chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. The Dominical and ferial preces are sung with the choir kneeling. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are sung, again with the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None and has the usual, ancient, form, common to Ember Saturdays. The ministers wear folded chasubles. After the Kyrie there are a series of five structural units comprising of the invitation Oremus, followed by Flectamus genua (sung by the deacon), Levate (sung by the sub-deacon), a collect, O.T. reading and gradual. Four of these readings are from Isaiah and the last from Daniel. After the pericope from Daniel instead of a gradual the hymn of the Three Men in fiery furnace is sung, Benedictus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum and its collect Deus, qui tribus pueris. After this collect the second collect is A cunctis followed by the third collect Omnipotens. Mass then continues as usual (with of course kneeling for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as usual on penitential days) and with Benedicamus Domino sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar. The Office of the Ember Saturday ends with its Mass.

In the afternoon Vespers of the second Sunday in Lent are sung. The antiphons and psalms are of Saturday, the Office hymn is Audi benigne Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday the Suffrage of the Saints is sung. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung (the choir standing).

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Lauds the Canticle of Moses gets sliced down from 65 to 27 verses and the Suffrage has been abolished. At Prime the fourth psalm is not added and the ferial chapter Pacem et veritatem is replaced by the festal Regi saeculorum. The ferial preces are omitted at Prime and the Hours. The Mass of the day is sung after Terce. The Mass has the option of the 'mini-Ember Day' consisting of just one additional unit of collect, pericope and gradual. There are no additional collects. The ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle, the penitential kneeling is reduced and the dismissal is Ite, missa est. At Vespers the Suffrage has been abolished as have the Dominical preces at Compline.

St. Gabriel of the Seven Dolours - Ember Friday in Lent

The feast of St. Gabriel of the Seven Dolours is of double rite and its liturgical colour is white. Today is also Ember Friday in Lent.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum etc and the Office hymn is Iste Confessor. In the nocturns the antiphons Suscitavit Dominus etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms appointed for Mattins of Friday. In the first nocturn the lessons are taken from the Common of Confessor Non-Bishops , Justus si morte etc, from the second place followed by their responsories as the Ember Friday is without occurring Scripture. In the second nocturn three hagiographic lessons proper to the feast are read. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Bede on St. Mark's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Ember Friday and a homily from St. Augustine on St. John's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Exaltate etc are sung with psalms 98, 142, 84, Vere tu es Deus & 147. The Office hymn at Lauds is Jesu, corona celsior. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Ember Friday with the antiphon on the Benedictus, Angelus Domini etc., the versicle Angelus suis etc and respond Ut custodiant etc. The collect is proper to the Ember Friday, Esto, Domine etc.

At Prime the lectio brevis is Justum deduxit.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Friday. The preface is of Lent and the last Gospel is of the Ember Friday.

Private Masses may be of the Ember Friday. There is neither Gloria nor Creed. The second collect is of St. Gabriel of the Seven Dolours. The preface is of Lent, an Oratio super populum is said after the last post-Communion and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

In Cathedral and Collegiate churches two Masses are celebrated. The feast of St. Gabriel of the Seven Dolours is celebrated after Terce. The Gloria is said, the preface is of Lent and the last Gospel is In principio. Mass of the Ember Friday is sung after None. The ministers wear violet folded chasubles and four candles are on the altar. The Mass is proper. The second collect is A cunctis, and the third collect is Ominopotens. The choir kneels for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as is usual on penitential days. The preface of Lent is sung and there is the Oratio super populum. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers there is a commemoration of the Lenten feria. As the Office of the Ember Friday ended at None the commemoration consists of the antiphon on the Magnificat, Hoc est testimonium etc, the versicle Rorate caeli etc, its respond, Aperiatur terra etc and the collect of the preceding Sunday, Aurem tuam etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung, the choir standing.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Ember Friday is II class and takes precedence over the III class feast of St. Gabriel. At Mattins the three lessons are the homily for the Ember Friday from St. Augustine. At Lauds the second schema of psalms is used. The ferial preces are sung and there is a commemoration of St. Gabriel. Although the second schema of Lauds is sung the fourth psalm is not added at Prime and the ferial chapter Pacem et veritatem is replaced by the festal (!) Regi saeculorum. The ferial preces are omitted at Prime and the Hours. At said Masses there is a commemoration of St. Gabriel. The penitential kneeling is reduced. The dismissal is Ite, missa est and the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. One strange feature of 1962 Ember Wednesdays and Fridays is that whilst traditionally the Ember Day liturgy ended with the Mass sung after None, in the 1962 books Vespers becomes formally part of the Ember Day. On this Ember Friday in Lent that makes no practical difference. At Vespers the ferial preces are sung but the Suffrages are omitted.

Ember Saturday in Advent

Ember Saturday in Advent is a greater, non-privileged, ferial day of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet. The Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle is commemorated at Mass only. Today is one of the traditional days for ordinations.

At Mattins the invitatory Prope est jam Dominus etc is sung and the Office hymn is Verbum supernum prodiens. In the nocturn the antiphons Memor fuit etc are sung with the nine psalms appointed for Saturday 104, 105 and 106 - each split into three divisi. The three lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. After the third responsory, Veni, Domine, et noli tardare etc., the second scheme of Lauds for Saturday is sung. The special set of antiphons for the Saturday before the Vigil of the Nativity, Intuemini etc., are sung with psalms 50, 91, 63, the Canticle of Moses & 150. The Office hymn is En clara vox. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Quomodo fiet istud etc. After the antiphon is sung in full after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung. The collect is proper to the Ember Saturday, Deus qui conspicis.

At the Hours the antiphons Intuemini etc are used in the usual sequence. At Prime (Pss 93i, 93ii, 107 & 149. The fourth psalm is the one displaced by the Miserere in the second schema of Lauds. The chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. The Dominical and ferial preces are sung with the choir kneeling. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are sung, again with the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None and has the usual, ancient, form, common to Ember Saturdays. The ministers wear folded chasubles. After the Kyrie there are a series of five structural units comprising of the invitation Oremus, followed by Flectamus genua (sung by the deacon), Levate (sung by the sub-deacon), a collect, O.T. reading and gradual. Four of these readings are from Isaiah and the last from Daniel. After the pericope from Daniel instead of a gradual the hymn of the Three Men in fiery furnace is sung, Benedictus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum and its collect Deus, qui tribus pueris. After this collect the second collect is of the Vigil of St. Thomas and the third collect is of the BVM, Deus, qui de Beate. Mass then continues as usual (with of course kneeling for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as usual on penitential days) with Benedicamus Domino, sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar, and the last Gospel is of the Vigil of St. Thomas. Private Masses may be of the Vigil of St. Thomas. When ministers are present they wear dalmatic and tunicle, not plantis plicatis. In the Mass of the Vigil the second collect is of the Ember Saturday (the collect after the Kyrie, Deus, qui conspicis), the third collect is Deus, qui de Beate, Benedicamus Domino is the dismissal and the last Gospel is of the Ember Saturday.

In the afternoon Vespers of the fourth Sunday in Advent are sung. The antiphons Canite tuba etc are sung with the Saturday psalms. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum and the Great 'O' Antiphon O clavis David is sung. The 'Great O' Antiphons are 'doubled', i.e. they are sung entire both before and after the Magnificat even on days of simple rank with the choir standing. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung (the choir standing).

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of St. Thomas has been abolished. At Lauds the Canticle of Moses gets sliced down from 65 to 27 verses. At Prime the fourth psalm is not added and the ferial chapter Pacem et veritatem is replaced by the festal Regi saeculorum. The ferial preces are omitted at Prime and the Hours. The Mass has the option of the 'mini-Ember Day' consisting of just one additional unit of collect, pericope and gradual. There are no additional collects for St. Thomas or the Blessed Virgin. The ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle, the dismissal is Ite, missa est and the last Gospel is In principio. The doubling of the Great 'O' Antiphons is no different to all other antiphons throughout the year. The Dominical preces are omitted at Compline.

Ember Friday in Advent

The Ember Friday in Advent is a greater, non-privileged, ferial day of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet.

At Mattins the invitatory is Prope est and the Office hymn is Verbum supernum. In the nocturn the antiphons Suscitavit Dominus etc, from the Psalter for Friday, are sung with psalms 77 (split into six divisi), 78, 80 & 82. The lessons are a homily from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. Following the third lesson a third responsory, Germinaverunt etc, is sung. At Lauds the second schema is sung and so the antiphons appointed for the Friday before the Vigil of the Nativity, Constantes estote etc, are sung with psalms 50, 142, 84, Domine, audivi & 147. The Office hymn is En clara vox. After the antiphon on the Benedictus, Ex quo facta est, has been sung in full after the Canticle the choir kneels for the singing of the ferial preces. The same set of antiphons are sung with the Little Hours in the usual order. At Prime Pss. 21i, 21ii, 21iii & 98 the chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem etc. At the Hours the ferial preces are sung, the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None. The ministers wear violet folded chasubles. The texts are proper, the introit being Prope es tu etc. The second collect is Deus, qui de beatae and the third collect Ecclesiae. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar. With the celebration of the Eucharist the Office of the Ember Day ends.

Vespers is of the Advent ferial day with the antiphons and psalms of the ferial Psalter. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum. The antiphon on the Magnificat is proper to the seventeenth day, O radix Jesse, and is sung in full both before and after the Canticle with the choir standing. The choir kneels for the ferial preces and the collect of the previous Sunday is sung. At Compline the Domincal preces are sung, again the choir kneeling.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962 Ember Days become of second class rank. At Mattins and Lauds all the antiphons are doubled. Although the preces are sung at Lauds they are omitted at the Hours. Prime has but three psalms and the festal Regi saeculorum as the chapter. Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. There is a single collect. The dismissal is Ite, missa est. The Office of the Ember Day continues through Vespers. The doubling of antiphons means the singular feature of the Great O antiphons is lost. The collect is of the Ember Day, not of the preceding Sunday. At Compline there are no preces.

Ember Wednesday in Advent

Today is Ember Wednesday in Advent and the first of three Ember Days observed this week. The day is a greater, non-privileged, ferial day of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet.

The Office of the Ember Day begins with Mattins. The invitatory is Prope est and the Office hymn Verbum supernum. In the nocturn the antiphons Speciosus forma etc, from the Psalter for Wednesday, are sung with psalms 44i, 44ii, 45, 44, 481, 48ii, 49i, 49ii & 49iii. Psalm 49 is divided into three rather than two divisi as the second scheme of Lauds will be sung later. The lessons are a homily from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. Following the third lesson a third responsory, Modo veniet Dominator Dominus, is sung. At Lauds the second schema is sung and so the antiphons appointed for the Wednesday before the Vigil of the Nativity, Prophetae praedicaverunt etc, are sung with psalms 50, 64, 100, Exsultavit cor meum & 145. The Office hymn is En clara vox. After the antiphon on the Benedictus, Missus est Gabriel, has been sung in full after the Canticle the choir kneels for the singing of the ferial preces. The same set of antiphons are sung with the Little Hours in the usual order. At Prime Pss. 25, 51, 52 & 96 the chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem etc. At the Hours the ferial preces are sung, the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None. The texts are proper, the introit being Rorate, caeli etc. After the Kyrie there immediately follows the dialogue Oremus sung by the celebrant, Flectamus genua sung by the deacon and Levate sung by the sub-deacon. This is followed by the collect Praesta, quaesumus and an additional OT lesson and gradual. After this the celebrant sings Dominus vobiscum and the collect Festina, quaesumus. The second collect is Deus, qui de beatae and the third collect Ecclesiae. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar. The ministers, of course, wear violet folded chasubles. With the celebration of the Eucharist the Office of the Ember Day ends.

Vespers is of the Advent ferial day. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum. The antiphon on the Magnificat is proper to the seventeenth day, O Sapientia, and is sung in full both before and after the Canticle with the choir standing. The choir kneels for the ferial preces and the collect of the previous Sunday is sung. At Compline the Domincal preces are sung, kneeling.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962 Ember Days become of second class rank. At Mattins and Lauds all the antiphons are doubled. Although the preces are sung at Lauds they are omitted at the Hours. Prime has but three psalms and the festal Regi saeculorum as the chapter. Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. The sub-deacon does not sing Levate. Two of the additional collects are omitted. The dismissal is Ite, missa est. The Office of the Ember Day continues through Vespers. The doubling of antiphons means the singular feature of the Great O antiphons is lost. The collect is of the Ember Day, not of the preceding Sunday.

Ember Saturday - SS Eustace and Companions

Today is the Ember Saturday in September and is also the double rank feast of SS Eustace and Companions. Today is also the Vigil of St. Matthew the Apostle. However, as today is an Ember Day the Vigil is not commemorated in the Office. The liturgical colour of the feast is red.

At Mattins the lessons in the first nocturn are those appointed for Tuesday of this week sung with the responsories of Saturday. In the second nocturn the lessons are proper to the feast. In the third nocturn the ninth lesson is the homily from the Ember Saturday which is taken the writings of St. Gregory. At Lauds a commemoration of the Ember Saturday is sung after the collect of the feast.

Mass, of the feast, is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Saturday (the first collect after the Kyrie and invitation to pray - Omnipotens...) and the third collect is of the Vigil. The common preface is sung and the last Gospel that of the Ember Saturday.

Private Masses, celebrated in violet vestments, may be of the Ember Saturday with commemorations of the feast and Vigil with the last Gospel of the Vigil. Private Masses may also be of the Vigil, again in violet, with commemorations of the feast and Ember Saturday with the last Gospel of the Ember Saturday.

In Cathedral and Collegiate Churches Mass of the feast is celebrated after Terce without any commemoration of the Ember Saturday or of the Vigil. After None the Mass of the Ember Saturday is celebrated in violet vestments with the deacon and subdeacon wearing folded chasubles rather than dalmatic and tunicle. The Mass has the usual, ancient form, for Ember Saturdays. After the Kyrie there are a series of structural units comprising of the invitation Oremus, followed by Flectamus genua, Levate, a collect, O.T. reading and gradual. The first and second OT readings are from the Book of Leviticus. The third lesson is from Micheas the Prophet, the fourth from the Prophet Zachararias. The fifth is from the Prophet Daniel describing the LORD protecting Azarias and his two companions in the Babylonian fiery furnace. After the reading from Daniel instead of a gradual the hymn of the Three Men in fiery furnace is sung, Beneditus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum and its collect Deus, qui tribus pueris. After this collect the collect of the Vigil is sung followed by the collect A cunctis. A Tract is sung between the Epistle and Gospel. Mass then continues as usual (with of course kneeling for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as usual on penitential days) with Benedicamus Domino as the dismissal and the last Gospel of the Vigil.

When orders are conferred the Tonsure is given after the Kyrie. After the first OT lesson Door-keepers are ordained; after the second, Readers; after the third, the Exorcists; after the fourth, the Acolytes; after the fifth, the Subdeacons; after the Epistle, the Deacons, and before the last verse of the Tract, the priests.

In the afternoon first Vespers of the feast of St. Matthew are sung with commemorations of the Sunday and of SS Eustace and Companions.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is a IV class Saturday of the BVM. SS Eustace and Companions get a commemoration at Lauds and low Mass. Vespers are of the Sunday (with a different antiphon on the Magnificat as they are a week behind) and no commemorations.

Ember Friday - SS Januarius and Companions

Today the Ember Friday in September. Traditionally it was a day of fast and abstinence. Today is also the double feast of St. Januarius and Companions. The liturgical colour of the feast is red.

At Mattins the lessons in the first nocturn are those appointed for Monday of this week (when the lessons from occurring Scripture could not be read due to the proper lessons for the feast of the Seven Dolours and the transferred Incipit of the Book of Tobias) sung with the responsories appointed for today. In the third nocturn the ninth lesson is of the Friday. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds after the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Ember Friday.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Friday, the Common Preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Ember Friday.

Private Masses may be of the Ember Friday with violet vestments. The Mass texts are proper, the second collect is of the feast and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino. In Cathedral and Collegiate churches there are two Masses. The first, of the feast, is after Terce. There is no commemoration of the Ember Day and the last Gospel is In principio. After None the Mass of the Ember Friday is sung without commemoration of the feast. The deacon and sub-deacon wear violet folded chasubles rather than dalmatic and tunicle.

Vespers are, from the chapter, of the following feast of SS Eustace and Companions with a commemoration of the preceding feast. The liturgy of the Ember Day ends with None so there is no commemoration of it at Vespers.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Ember Friday is postponed until next week. Today is the II class feast of SS Januarius and his Companions with a single nocturn at Mattins. Vespers are of the feast with no commemorations.

Ember Wednesday - The Impression of the Stigmata of St. Francis

Today is the Ember Wednesday in September or, sometimes, referred to as the Michaelmas Ember Wednesday. Traditionally it was a day of fast and abstinence. Today is also the double feast of The Impression of the Stigmata of St. Francis. The liturgical colour of the feast is white.

At Mattins the lessons in the first nocturn are proper to the feast with the responsories from the Common of Confessors. In the third nocturn the eighth responsory is proper to the feast and the ninth lesson is of the Ember Wednesday. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds after the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Ember Wednesday is sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Wednesday, the Common Preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Ember Wednesday.

Private Masses may be of the Ember Wednesday with violet vestments. The Mass texts are proper, the second collect is of the feast and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino. In Cathedral and Collegiate churches there are two Masses. The first, of the feast, is after Terce. There is no commemoration of the Ember Day and the last Gospel is In principio. After None the Mass of the Ember Day is sung without commemoration of the feast. The deacon and sub-deacon wear violet folded chasubles rather than dalmatic and tunicle.

Vespers are of the following feast of St. Joseph of Cupertino with a commemoration of the preceding feast. The liturgy of the Ember Wednesday ends with None so there is no commemoration of it at Vespers.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Ember Wednesday is postponed a week due to the novel way introduced of calculating the first Sunday of the month. Today is a IV class ferial day with the Mass of the preceding Sunday. At Lauds and Low Mass there is a commemoration of the Impression of the Stigmata of St. Francis.

St. Thomas the Apostle - Ember Saturday in Advent

The feast of St. Thomas the Apostle is a Double of the Second Class. According to tradition St. Thomas preached the Gospel in Asia and the Indian sub-continent. He is believed to have founded, inter alia, the St. Thomas Christians on the West coast of India, one of several groups using the East-Syrian family of liturgies. This year his feast falls on the Ember Satuday in Advent.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. The antiphon on the Magnificat was proper to the feast, Quia vidisti me etc. After the collect of the feast the Advent feria was commemorated with the Great 'O' Antiphon appointed for the 20th December O clavis David followed by the collect of the preceding Sunday. (The Office of the Ember Friday in Advent ended with the celebration of Mass after None). At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and the preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christi munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung with psalms 18, 33 & 44. The lessons are Sic nos existimet homo from St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung with psalms 46, 60 & 63. The fourth lesson is proper to the feast, the fifth and sixth are taken from the Common. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily on St. John's Gospel is from St. Gregory. The ninth lesson is of the Ember Saturday, a homily from St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with the Dominical psalms (92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148). The antiphon on the Benedictus, Quia vidisti me, Thoma, credidisti: beati, qui non viderunt, et crediderunt, alleluia, is proper to the feast and refers to the incident recorded in the Gospel of St. John about St. Thomas' doubt in the Risen LORD. A commemoration is then Sung of the Ember Saturday, the antiphon on the Benedictus is proper to the 21st December, Nolite timere etc., and the collect is proper to the Ember Saturday.

The antiphons sung at Lauds are sung in due order at the Horae Minores. At Prime the festal psalms (53, 118i & 118ii) are sung and the lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Saturday. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Apostles and the last Gospel is of the Ember Saturday.

At second Vespers the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The antiphon on the Magnificat is Quia vidisti me, Thoma etc and the fourth Sunday of Advent is commemorated with the Great 'O' Antiphon O Oriens. and the collect of the fourth Sunday. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung and the preces are omitted.

According to the 'liturgical books of 1962' St. Thomas' feast suffers the usual 'cuts' for a second class feast. There is no first Vespers, the ferial psalter is used at the Little Hours and the short lesson at Prime is of the season rather than of the feast. There is no ninth lesson of the Ember Saturday and no last Gospel of the Ember Saturday at Mass. Vespers are of the following fourth Sunday of Advent without any commemoration of St. Thomas. So this year St. Thomas does not have Vespers at all in the ancient rite of the 1960s.
Art: Wikipedia: a Russian Icon of St. Thomas, 18th century.

Ember Saturday in Advent

Ember Saturday in Advent is a greater, non-privileged, ferial day of simple rite.

At Mattins the invitatory Prope est jam Dominus etc is sung and the hymn is Verbum supernum prodiens. In the nocturn the antiphons Memor fuit etc are sung with the nine psalms' divisi for Saturday. The three lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. After the third responsory, Veni, Domine, et noli tardare etc., the second scheme of Lauds for Saturday is sung. The special set of antiphons for the Saturday before the Vigil of the Nativity, Intuemini etc., are sung with psalms 50, 91, 63, the Canticle of Moses & 150. The hymn at Lauds is En clara vox. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Quomodo fiet istud etc. After the antiphon is sung in full after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung. The collect is proper to the Ember Saturday, Deus qui conspicis.

At the Hours the antiphons Intuemini etc are used in the usual sequence. At Prime the fourth psalm is added (the one displaced by the Miserere in the schema of Lauds II, Ps. 149) and the chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. The Dominical and ferial preces are sung with the choir kneeling. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are sung, again with the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None and has the usual, ancient, form, common to Ember Saturdays. The ministers wear folded chasubles. After the Kyrie there are a series of five structural units comprising of the invitation Oremus, followed by Flectamus genua, Levate, a collect, O.T. reading and gradual. Four of these readings are from Isaiah and the last from Daniel. After the pericope from Daniel instead of a gradual the hymn of the Three Men in fiery furnace is sung, Benedictus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum and its collect Deus, qui tribus pueris. After this collect the second collect is of the BVM, Deus, qui de Beate and the third collect for the Church, Ecclesiae, or Deus omnium. Mass then continues as usual (with of course kneeling for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as usual on penitential days) with Benedicamus Domino sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar.

Vespers of the fourth Sunday in Advent are sung. The antiphons Canite tuba etc are sung with the Saturday psalms. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum and the Great 'O' Antiphon O Rex gentiumis sung. The 'Great O' Antiphons are 'doubled', i.e. they are sung entire both before and after the Magnificat even on days of simple rank with the choir standing. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung (the choir standing).

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Canticle of Moses at Lauds gets sliced down from 65 to 27 verses. At Prime the fourth psalm is not added and the ferial chapter Pacem et veritatem is replaced by the festal (!) Regi saeculorum. The ferial preces are omitted at Prime and the Hours. The Mass has the option of the 'mini-Ember Day' consisting of just one additional unit of collect, pericope and gradual. There are no additional collects for the Blessed Virgin or for the Church. The dismissal is Ite, missa est and the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. The doubling of the Great 'O' Antiphons is no different to all other antiphons throughout the year. The Dominical preces are omitted at Compline.

Ember Wednesday in Advent

Today, Friday and Saturday are the Advent Ember days or Quarter Tense days. Ember Days are of simple rite and their liturgical colour, like the rest of Advent, is violet.

The Office of the Ember Day begins with Mattins. The invitatory is Prope est and the Office hymn Verbum supernum. In the nocturn the antiphons Speciosus forma etc are sung with psalms 44i, 44ii, 45, 44, 481, 48ii, 49i, 49ii & 49iii. Psalm 49 is divided into three rather than two divisi as the second scheme of Lauds will be sung. The lessons are a homily from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. Following the third lesson a third responsory, Modo veniet Dominator Dominus, is sung. At Lauds the second schema is sung and so the antiphons appointed for the Wednesday before the Vigil of the Nativity, Prophetae praedicaverunt etc, are sung with psalms 50, 64, 100, Exsultavit cor meum & 145. The Office hymn is En clara vox. After the antiphon on the Benedictus, Missus est Gabriel, has been sung in full after the Canticle the choir kneels for the singing of the ferial preces. The same set of antiphons are sung with the Little Hours in the usual order. At the Hours the ferial preces are sung, kneeling.

Mass is sung after None. The texts are proper, the introit being Rorate, caeli etc. After the Kyrie there immediately follows the dialogue Oremus, Flectamus genua and Levate and a collect, Praesta, quaesumus, is sung followed by an additional OT lesson and gradual. After this the celebrant sings Dominus vobiscum and the collect Festina, quaesumus. The second collect is Deus, qui de beatae and the third collect Ecclesiae. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino. The ministers, of course, wear violet folded chasubles. With the celebration of the Eucharist the Office of the Ember Day ends.

Vespers is of the Advent ferial day. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum. The antiphon on the Magnificat is proper to the nineteenth day, O radix Jesse, and is sung in full both before and after the Canticle with the choir standing. The choir kneels for the ferial preces and the collect of the previous Sunday is sung. At Compline the Domincal preces are sung, kneeling.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962 Ember Days become of second class rank. At Mattins and Lauds all the antiphons are doubled. Although the preces are sung at Lauds they are omitted at the Hours. Mass is sung after Terce. The ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle and two of the collects are omitted. The dismissal is Ite, missa est. The Office of the Ember Day continues through Vespers. The doubling of antiphons means the singular feature of the Great O antiphons is lost. The collect is of the Ember Day.

Ember Saturday in the Octave of Pentecost

Ember Saturday in the Octave of Pentecost is of semi-double rite and the last of the summer Quarter-Tense days. The liturgical colour is the red of the Octave.

The Office is as on the feast, except for those parts that are proper, but the antiphons at Mattins and Lauds are not doubled. At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are those that were sung on the feast of Pentecost. The versicle and response are Repleti sunt omnes Spiritu Sancto, alleluia and Et coeperunt loqui, alleluia. The lessons of the homily are taken from the writings of St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. At Lauds the antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the day. After the collect of the day a commemoration is of SS Marcellinus and his Companions.

At the Hours all is celebrated as on Pentecost Sunday. At Terce the hymn is Veni Creator. The Pentecost Doxology is sung at the conclusion of hymns of the Hours.

Mass is sung after None, as on the Ember Days this week. The Mass is proper with the introit Caritas Dei etc. After the Kyrie there are a series of five structural units comprising of the invitation Oremus, followed by a collect, O.T. reading and Alleluia. The readings are from Joel, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus again and Daniel. After the pericope from Daniel the Alleluia is a fragment of the hymn of the Three Men in the fiery furnace, Alleluia, Benedictus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum et laudabilis in saecula. The the Gloria is sung followed by the collect Deus, qui tribus pueris. After this collect a commemoration is sung of St. Ephrem and SS Mark and Marcellinus. The sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus is sung but without Alleluia at its conclusion, the Creed is sung, the preface, Hanc igitur and communicantes are of Pentecost.

After Mass has been sung the Office of the Octave of Pentecost and Paschaltide come to an end. At the noon bell the last Regina Caeli is sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the distinction between the rank of the feast and Monday and Tuesday with the rest of the Octave has been lost with all days being first class and excluding all commemorations. The antiphons are doubled at both the Greater and Little Hours. The Pentecost Doxology is not sung at the Little Hours. A 'mini-Mass' Ember Day is permitted whereby only one OT reading, that from Joel, is read.

Ember Friday in the Octave of Pentecost

Ember Friday in the Octave of Pentecost is the second of the summer Quarter-Tense days. It is of semi-double rite. The liturgical colour is the red of the Octave.

The Office is as on the feast of Pentecost, except for those parts that are proper to the day. The antiphons at Mattins, Lauds and Vespers are not doubled. At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are those that were sung on the feast. The versicle and response are Spiritus Paraclitus, alleluia and Docebit vos omnia, alleluia. The three lessons of the homily are taken from the writings of St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the day.

At the Hours all is celebrated as on Pentecost Sunday. At Terce the hymn Veni Creator is sung. The Pentecost Doxology is sung at the conclusion of the hymns.

Mass, as on Wednesday, is sung after None. This is common to the Ember Days of the other seasons. Unlike the other Ember Days the deacon and subdeacon do not wear folded chasubles as the colour of the Octave is used. The Mass is proper with the introit Repleatur os meum etc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is Ecclesiae, for the Church. The sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus is sung, the Creed is sung, the preface, Hanc igitur and communicantes are of Pentecost.

Vespers are as on the feast, except the antiphons are not doubled. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect are proper to the day. After the collect of the day a commemoration is sung of SS Marcellinus and his Companions.

Ember Saturday in Advent

Today is the Ember Saturday in Advent. It ranks as a greater, non-privileged ferial day, of simple rite. Today also being the 17th of December sees, in the Roman rite, the start of the series of 'Great O' Antiphons and a series of special antiphons at Lauds and the Hours on the ferial days before the Vigil of the Nativity.

At Mattins the invitatory Prope est jam Dominus etc is sung and the hymn is Verbum supernum prodiens. In the nocturn the antiphons Memor fuit etc are sung with the nine psalms' divisi for Saturday. The three lessons are from a homily of St. Gregory on St. Luke's Gospel. After the third responsory, Veni, Domine, et noli tardare etc., the second scheme of Lauds for Saturday is sung. The special set of antiphons for the Saturday before the Vigil of the Nativity, Intuemini etc., are sung with psalms 50, 91, 63, the Canticle of Moses & 150. This set of antiphons for the Saturday before Christmas Eve is actually rather a modern addition to the series of antiphons at Lauds and the Hours that are used from the 17th December. Prior to the 1911-13 reform on the Saturday before Christmas Eve the particular set of antiphons that fell on the day of the week occupied by St. Thomas' feast were either anticipated or transferred to this Saturday. The hymn at Lauds is En clara vox. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Quomodo fiet istud etc. After the antiphon is sung in full after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung. The collect is proper to the Ember Saturday, Deus qui conspicis.

At the Hours the antiphons Intuemini etc are used in the usual sequence. At Prime the fourth psalm is added (the one displaced by the Miserere in the schema of Lauds II, Ps. 149) and the chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. The Dominical and ferial preces are sung with the choir kneeling. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are sung, again with the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None and has the usual, ancient, form, common to Ember Saturdays. The ministers wear folded chasubles. Four candles are on the altar. After the Kyrie there are a series of five structural units comprising of the invitation Oremus, followed by Flectamus genua, Levate, a collect, O.T. reading and gradual. Four of these readings are from Isaiah and the last from Daniel. After the pericope from Daniel instead of a gradual the hymn of the Three Men in fiery furnace is sung, Benedictus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum and its collect Deus, qui tribus pueris. After this collect the second collect is of the BVM, Deus, qui de Beate and the third collect for the Church, Ecclesiae, or Deus omnium. Mass then continues as usual (with of course kneeling for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as usual on penitential days) with Benedicamus Domino sung as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar.

Vespers of the fourth Sunday in Advent are sung. The antiphons Canite tuba etc are sung with the Saturday psalms. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum and the Great 'O' Antiphon O Sapientiais sung. The 'Great O' Antiphons are 'doubled', i.e. they are sung entire both before and after the Magnificat even on days of simple rank. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung, with the choir standing.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Canticle of Moses at Lauds gets shortened from 65 to 27 verses. At Prime the fourth psalm is not added and the ferial chapter Pacem et veritatem is replaced by the festal (!) Regi saeculorum. The ferial preces are omitted at Prime and the Hours. The Mass has the option of the 'mini-Ember Day' consisting of just one additional unit of collect, pericope and gradual. There are no additional collects for the Blessed Virgin or for the Church. The dismissal is Ite, missa est and the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. The doubling of the Great 'O' Antiphons is no different to all other antiphons throughout the year. The Dominical preces are omitted at Compline.

Ember Friday in Advent - Saint Eusebius

Today is Ember Friday in Advent. It ranks as a greater, non-privileged ferial day of simple rite. The Ember Day is outranked by the semi-double feast of the Martyr St. Eusebius. The liturgical colour of the day is red.

At Mattins the invitatory Regem martyrum Dominum etc is sung and the hymn is Deus, tuorum militum. In the nocturns the antiphons Suscitavit Dominus etc are sung with the nine psalms/divisi given for Mattins of Friday. In the first nocturn the lessons are taken from the Common of Martyrs , A Mileto Paulus etc followed by their responsories. In the second nocturn three hagiographic lessons proper to the feast are read. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory the Great on St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Ember Friday and a homily from St. Ambrose on St. Luke's account of the Visitation. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Exaltate etc are sung with psalms 98, 142, 84, Vere tu es Deus & 147. The hymn at Lauds is Invicte Martyr, unicum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Ember Friday with the antiphon on the Benedictus, Ex quo facta est etc., the versicle Vox clamantis etc and respond Rectas facite etc. The collect is proper to the Ember Friday, Excita quaesumus etc.

At Prime the Domincial preces are sung, with the choir standing, and the lectio brevis is Beatus vir.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Friday, the third collect of the BMV in Advent, Deus, qui de beate. The common preface is sung and the last Gospel is of the Ember Friday.

Private Masses may be of the Ember Friday. There is neither Gloria nor Creed. The second collect is of St. Eusebius, the third of the BVM in Advent. The common preface is sung and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

In Cathedral and Collegiate churches two Masses are celebrated. The feast of St. Eusebius is celebrated after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the BVM, Deus, qui de beate, and the third collect for the Church, Ecclesiae. The common preface is sung and the last Gospel is In principio. Mass of the Ember Friday is sung after None. The ministers wear violet folded chasubles and four candles are on the altar. The Mass is proper. The second collect is of the BVM, Deus, qui de Beate, and the third collect for the Church, Ecclesiae. The choir kneels for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as is usual on penitential days. There is no Creed and the common preface is sung. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the altar.

At Vespers there is a commemoration of the Advent feria. As the Office of the Ember Friday ended at None the commemoration consists of the antiphon on the Magnificat, Hoc est testimonium etc, the versicle Rorate caeli etc, its respond, Aperiatur terra etc and the collect of the preceding Sunday, Aurem tuam etc. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung, the choir standing.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Ember Friday is II class and takes precedence over the III class feast of St. Eusebius (reduced to a single nocturn). At Mattins the three lessons are the homily for the Ember Friday from St. Ambrose. At Lauds the second schema of psalms is used and there is a commemoration of St. Eusebius and the ferial preces are sung. Although the second schema of Lauds is sung the fourth psalm is not added at Prime and the ferial chapter Pacem et veritatem is replaced by the festal (!) Regi saeculorum. The ferial preces are omitted at Prime and the Hours. At Mass there is no additional collect for the Blessed Virgin or for the Church. The penitential kneeling is reduced. The dismissal is Ite, missa est and the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. One strange feature of 1962 Ember Wednesdays and Fridays is that whilst traditionally the Ember Day liturgy ended with the Mass sung after None, in the 1962 books Vespers becomes formally part of the Ember Day. In the traditional rite if Vespers were ferial, the collect from the preceding Sunday was sung as noted above. In the 1962 rite the collect from the Ember Day is used at Vespers, so today Excita, quaesumus is sung.

Our Lady of Ransom - Ember Saturday

The feast of Our Lady of Ransom is of greater double rite and its liturgical colour is white. Today is also Ember Saturday in September. The Ember Day is commemorated at Mattins, Lauds and Mass.

At Mattins the lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the Common along with their responsories. In the second nocturn the lessons are proper to the feast. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Bede on St. Luke's Gospel. The ninth lesson is the homily from the Ember Saturday which is taken the writings of St. Gregory. At Lauds a commemoration of the Ember Saturday is sung after the collect of the feast.

At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology and proper melody of the Incarnation. At Prime in the short responsory Qui natus es de Maria Virgine is sung and the lectio brevis is In plateis.

Mass, of the feast, is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Saturday (the first collect after the Kyrie and invitation to pray - Omnipotens...), the Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM and the last Gospel that of the Ember Saturday.

Private Masses may be of the Ember Saturday with a commemoration and last Gospel of the feast. In Cathedral and Collegiate Churches Mass of the feast is celebrated after Terce without any commemoration of the Ember Saturday. After None the Mass of the Ember Saturday is celebrated in violet vestments with the deacon and subdeacon wearing folded chasubles rather than dalmatic and tunicle. The Mass has the usual, ancient form, for Ember Saturdays. After the Kyrie there are a series of structural units comprising of the invitation Oremus, followed by Flectamus genua, Levate, a collect, O.T. reading and gradual. The first and second OT readings are from the Book of Leviticus. The third lesson is from Micheas the Prophet, the fourth from the Prophet Zachararias. The fifth is from the Prophet Daniel describing the LORD protecting Azarias and his two companions in the Babylonian fiery furnace. After the reading from Daniel instead of a gradual the hymn of the Three Men in fiery furnace is sung, Beneditus es, Domine, Deus patrum nostrorum and its collect Deus, qui tribus pueris. The additional collects are A cunctis and a collect chosen by the Dean. A Tract is sung between the Epistle and Gospel. Mass then continues as usual (with of course kneeling for the orations and from the Canon through to the Fraction as usual on penitential days) with Benedicamus Domino as the dismissal.

When orders are conferred the Tonsure is given after the Kyrie. After the first OT lesson Door-keepers are ordained; after the second, Readers; after the third, the Exorcists; after the fourth, the Acolytes; after the fifth, the Subdeacons; after the Epistle, the Deacons, and before the last verse of the Tract, the priests.

In the afternoon Vespers of Sunday are sung. The hymn, Jam sol recedit igneus, is sung with the Doxology and tone of the Incarnation. The antiphon on the Magnificat is Adonai, Domine of the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the preceding Office of Our Lady of Ransom. The Suffrage is not sung because of the double feast and the Dominical preces are omitted at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of Our Lady of Ransom has been slashed down from a feast of nine lessons to a mere commemoration in the ferial Office. In the Office of the Ember Saturday the ferial preces are sung at Lauds (but not at the Little Hours). A commemoration is sung of Our Lady of Ransom after the collect of the Ember Saturday. At the Hours the hymns do not have the Doxology or tone of the Incarnation. At Prime although the Office is ferial the chapter is Regi saeculorum. Mass of the Ember Saturday is sung after Terce, the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. A commemoration of the BVM is made only in said Masses. A cut down mini-version of the Ember Saturday Mass may be celebrated with one OT reading, epistle and Gospel. At Vespers no commemoration is sung.

St. Linus - Ember Friday

Today the feast of St. Linus. The feast is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is red. Today is also the Ember Friday in September.

At Mattins the lessons in the first nocturn are A mileto from the Common with the responsories also taken from the same. In the second nocturn the fourth lesson is hagiographical and the fifth and sixth lessons are are taken from an Exposition on Psalm 118 by St. Ambrose. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory the Great on St. Luke's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Ember Friday and is also a homily from St. Gregory. (Its three lessons may be read as one but the first suffices). The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the feast, commemorations are sung of the Ember Friday and St. Thecla followed by the Suffrage.

At Prime the Dominical preces are sung (whilst standing) and the lectio brevis is Justus cor suum etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Friday, the third collect of St. Thecla. The last Gospel is that of the Ember Friday. Private Masses may be of the Ember Friday (the Ember Friday Masses do not have additional OT lessons unlike those of Wednesday and Saturday). The Mass is proper and celebrated in violet vestments, the ministers wearing folded chasubles. The feasts of St. Linus and St. Thecla are commemorated, Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal.

In Cathedral and Collegiate Churches two Masses are celebrated. The Mass of the feast takes place after Terce with the second collect of St. Thecla and the third collect A cunctis. The last Gospel is In principio. The Mass of the Ember Friday, with the ministers wearing folded chasubles, is sung after None with the second collect A cunctis the third at the choice of the Dean and Benedicamus Domino as the dismissal.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of Our Lady of Ransom. The antiphons and psalms are from the Common of the BVM. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of St. Linus. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung and Te lucis is sung with the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria and its melody.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Ember Friday takes precedence over the now III class feast of St. Linus. Mattins consists of one nocturn. At Lauds the second schema of psalms is sung. The ferial preces are sung (kneeling). A commemoration is sung of St. Linus. At the Hours the ferial preces are not sung. Mass of the Ember Friday is sung after Terce, the ministers wearing violet dalmatic and tunicle. (In said Masses a commemoration is made of St. Linus). The dismissal is Ite, missa est. Vespers are of the Ember Day (a novelty introduced into the 1961 Breviary as the Office of an Ember Day traditionally ran from Mattins to None) the ferial preces are sung (kneeling). There are no commemorations.

St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist - Ember Wednesday

The feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist is a Double of the Second class and the liturgical colour of the feast is red. This year the feast falls on the Ember Wednesday in September. Yesterday the feast was preceded by a Vigil which was commemorated in the Office of SS Eustace and Companions with the ninth lesson of the Vigil at Mattins and commemoration of the Vigil at Lauds and Mass, and with last Gospel of the Vigil at the end of Mass. Private Masses were allowed of the Vigil with a commemoration of SS Eustace and Companions and in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches two Masses were celebrated: the first of SS Eustace and Companions after Terce, and that of the Vigil after None.

Celebration of the feast of St. Matthew began with first Vespers yesterday afternoon. The antiphons from the Common of Apostles, Hoc est praeceptum meum etc., were sung with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the preceding Office was sung. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung with psalms 18, 33 & 44, all taken from the Common of Apostles, with the lessons and responsories also from the Common. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung with psalms 46, 60 & 63. The lessons are proper to the feast. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Jerome's Commentary on the same and is proper to the feast. The ninth lesson is of the Ember Wednesday and is a homily from St. Bede. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with the Sunday psalms. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Ember Wednesday is sung.

At the Little Hours the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with the festal psalms (at Prime 53, 118i & 118ii). At Prime the lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Ember Wednesday. The collect used to commemorate the Ember Wednesday is the first collect that would have been sung after the Kyrie in the proper Mass, Misericordiae. (In the Missale Romanum the propers for the September Ember Days are found after those for the XVII Sunday after Pentecost). The Creed is sung, the preface is that of the Apostles and the last Gospel that of the Ember Wednesday.

At Second Vespers the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum are again sung, at this hour with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Thomas of Villanova. At Compline the Sunday psalms are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil for the feast of St. Matthew has been abolished as have First Vespers. This year the Ember Days are celebrated in the same week in the 'Extraordinary Form' as in the old rite. At Compline on Tuesday the ferial psalms were sung. The feast retains its three nocturns at Mattins but there is no ninth lesson of the Ember Wednesday. At the Little Hours ferial psalmody is used and, at Prime the short lesson is of the season. At Mass the last Gospel is In principio. At Vespers there is a commemoration of the Ember Day (!) having the antiphon for the Benedictus being repeated at Vespers but with no commemoration of the following feast.

Ember Friday in the Octave of Pentecost

Ember Friday in the Octave of Pentecost is the second of the summer Quarter-Tense days. It is of semi-double rite. The liturgical colour is the red of the Octave.

The Office is as on the feast of Pentecost, except for those parts that are proper, but the antiphons at Mattins, Lauds and Vespers are not doubled. At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are those that were sung on the feast. The versicle and response are Spiritus Paraclitus, alleluia and Docebit vos omnia, alleluia. The lessons of the homily are taken from the writings of St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. At Lauds the antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the day.

At the Hours all is celebrated as on Pentecost Sunday. At Terce the hymn is Veni Creator. The Pentecost Doxology is sung at the conclusion of the hymns.

Mass, as on Wednesday, is sung after None. This is common to the Ember Days of the other seasons. Unlike the other Ember Days the deacon and subdeacon do not wear folded chasubles as the colour of the Octave is used. The Mass is proper with the introit Repleatur os meum etc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is Ecclesiae, for the Church. The sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus is sung, the Creed is sung, the preface, Hanc igitur and communicantes are of Pentecost.

Vespers are as on the feast, except the antiphons are not doubled. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect are proper. Commemorations are sung of St. Ephrem the Syrian and SS Mark and Marcellianus.