Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel - Litaniae Minores

The feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel is of greater-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. Today is also Rogation Wednesday and the Vigil of the Ascension.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon. The antiphons Stetit Angelus etc were sung with psalms 109. 110, 111, 112 and 137 (as second Vespers cannot be sung this year). The Office hymn was Te splendor et virtus Patris. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the preceding Office of St. Stanislaus.

Mattins has three nocturns. The invitatory is Regem Archangelum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn as at Vespers. In the first nocturn the antiphons Concussum est mare etc are sung with psalms 8, 10 & 14. The lessons are from the Prophet Daniel. In the second nocturn the antiphons Michael Archangeli etc are sung with psalms 18, 23 & 33. The lessons recount the apparition of St. Michael at Gargano at the time of Gelasius I. In the third nocturn the antiphons Angelus etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 102. The homily is from St. Hiliary on St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Vigil. The Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Stetit Angelus etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Christe sanctorum decus Angelorum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Vigil is sung.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns have the Doxology of Paschaltide. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order, at Prime the lectio brevis is Factum est praelium etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Vigil, the third collect of the Rogations. The Creed is sung, the preface is of Paschaltide and the last Gospel is of the Vigil. Private Masses may be of the Vigil with Gloria, second collect of St. Michael and third collect of the Rogations.

When the Procession is held it takes place after None. The altar is vested in a violet antependium. The celebrant, vested in violet cope, assisted by deacon and subdeacon in violet dalmatic and tunicle reverence the altar then kneel and pray for a short while. They rise and the cantors begin the antiphon Exsurge Domine. The choir continue....adjuva nos, et libera nos, propter nomen tuam. Ps. Deus auribus nostris audivimus patres nostri annuntiaverunt nobis. Gloria Patri etc, Sicut erat etc and then Exsurge Domine is repeated. All all kneel (except the crucifer and acolytes who go and stand at the entrance of the choir) and the cantors then begin the Litany of the Saints. Each invocation is doubled, i.e. the cantors sing e.g. Pater de caelis, Deus, miserere nobis and this is repeated in its entirety by everyone else. When Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis has been repeated all rise and the Procession sets off.

The Procession goes outside of the Church and may visit other Churches on its route. In this case the celebrant is offered lustral water at the entrance to the church and processes to the High Altar. After a moment for silent prayer the choir signs the antiphon of the patron of the church, its versicle and response (with Alleluia added as it is Paschaltide) and the celebrant sings the collect of the Patron. The Litany is then resumed and the Procession continues. If the Procession has a long route the Litany, from Sancta Maria etc may be repeated or the Seven Penitential Psalms sung to the tonus in directum. When the Procession enters the church where Mass will be celebrated, lustral water is received on entering and the Procession goes to the sanctuary. All kneel as the Litany ends. The celebrant intones Pater noster etc and then the cantors sing psalm 69. After the versicles that follow the celebrant stands to sing the ten collects. He then kneels again as Exadiat nos etc is sung. The ministers then rise and the celebrant changes from a cope to chasuble and all put on their maniples. The Mass Exaudivit is then sung. The chants are those used for ferial Masses. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect is Concede nos, the third collect Ecclesiae. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino. The Paschal Candle is not lit.

When there is only one Mass and the Procession takes place then the Mass is of the Rogations, Exaudivit, with the second collect of St. Michael, the third collect of the Vigil and last Gospel of the Vigil. In Cathedral and Collegiate Churches there are three Masses today. Those obliged to the Office who do not take part in Rogation Processions must recite the Litany, in Latin.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of the Ascension.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel has been struck from the calendar. Today is the Vigil of the Ascension, II class. The Mass has a single collect. If the Rogation Procession takes place the Litany may be sung in the vernacular if the faithful are present. The petitions are not duplicated. In the votive Mass that follows all the 'preparatory prayers' i.e. In nomine Patris..., Introibo ad altare Dei..., Judica me Deus..., Confiteor Deo..., the versicles, Aufer a nobis... and Oramus te, Domine are all cut out. There is a single collect. The dismissal is Ite, missa est. However, the Ordinary may substitute other excercises/services in place of the Rogation Procession. Those not present at the Procession or other designated services are not bound to recite the Litany.

St. Ubaldus - Vigil of the Ascension - Rogation Wednesday Litaniae Minores

The feast of St. Ubaldus is of semi-double rite and its liturigcal colour is white. Today is also the Vigil of the Ascension and the last day, the Wednesday, of the Rogations or Lesser Litanies. Rogation Wednesday is not commemorated in the Office

At Mattins the lessons in the first nocturn are Fidelis sermo, taken from the Common of Confessor Bishops. In the third nocturn the ninth lesson is a homily for the Vigil (its three lessons may be read as one)from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds a commemoration of the Vigil is sung (the antiphon on the Benedictus is proper but the prayer is of the preceding Sunday) and the Commemoration of the Cross is sung.

At the Little Hours the Paschaltide Doxology and tone is sung at the hymns (for the last time this year). At Prime the Dominical preces are sung. The first entry in the Martyrology is the announcement of the feast of the Ascension tomorrow.

Mass follows Terce. The Gloria is sung the second collect is of the Vigil, the third of the Rogations, the Paschaltide preface is sung (for the last time this year) and the last Gospel is of the Vigil. Private Masses may be of the Vigil, the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Ubaldus and the third collect that of the Rogations, the preface is of Paschaltide and, unusually for a Vigil, the vestments are white.

Where the Rogation Procession takes place and there is only one Mass it is sung after None. The antiphon Exsurge Domine is sung by the cantors and then the Litany of the Saints is sung: each invocation and its response being sung by the cantors and then repated by the choir. The celebrant wears a violet cope, the deacon and subdeacon violet dalmatic and tunicle respectively. When Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis has been sung all rise and the Cross-bearer leads the Procession accompanied by acolytes carrying candles followed by the cantors, choir and the ministers. The people follow. The Procession should, in theory, go around the parish with the Litany being repeated if necessary or the Penitential and Gradual Psalms added if the distance requires them. After the Procession re-enters the church the psalm Deus in adjutorium is sung and all kneel, the celebrant rises to sing the following ten collects. The Mass Exaudivit follows sung in ferial tones with violet vestments. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect is of St. Ubaldus, the third of the Vigil, Benedicamus Domino as the dismissal and last Gospel of the Vigil.

In Cathedral and Collegiate Churches three Masses are celebrated: that of St. Ubaldus after Terce; the Mass of the Vigil after Sext; and, finally, that of the Rogations is sung after None and the Procession. In the Rogation Mass the second collect is Concede nos, the third collect Ecclesiae.

First Vespers of the great feast of the Ascension are Sung. At Compline and the other Hours hymns of Iambic metre have the Ascensiontide Doxology: Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui victor in caelum redis, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil has been raised in rank to II class and takes precedence over St. Ubaldus. St. Ubaldus is commemorated at Lauds but the Commemoration of the Cross is suppressed. At the Hours the Paschaltide Doxology and tone are not sung for the hymns, at Prime the Dominical preces are omitted. St. Ubaldus is commemorated in Low Mass.

Where a Procession takes place the Litany is not duplicated and may be in the vernacular. At the votive Mass following the 'preparatory prayers' are suppressed, the Vigil is commemorated but not St. Ubaldus, Ite missa est is sung as the dismissal. The Doxology of the Ascension is not sung at Compline or the other Little Hours.

Rogation Monday - Litaniae Minores

The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the feast of the Ascension are Rogation Days or days of the 'Lesser Litanies', lesser as they are less ancient and celebrated with less solemnity than the 'Greater Litanies' celebrated on the 25th April.

Today, Monday of the Rogations, the Office is of the ferial day. At Mattins a homily from St. Ambrose is read at the nocturn. At Lauds the antiphon on the Benedictus is proper, Petite, et accipietis etc., as is the collect Praesta, quaesumus etc. Following this collect a commemoration of St. Boniface is sung followed by the Commemoration of the Cross. At the Hours all is taken from the ferial Psalter except the collect which is that which was sung at Lauds. At Prime the Dominical preces are sung.

After None the altar is vested in a violet antependium. The celebrant, vested in violet cope, assisted by deacon and subdeacon in violet dalmatic and tunicle reverence the altar then kneel and pray for a short while. They rise and the cantors begin the antiphon Exsurge Domine. The choir continue....adjuva nos, et libera nos, propter nomen tuam. Ps. Deus auribus nostris audivimus patres nostri annuntiaverunt nobis. Gloria Patri etc, Sicut erat etc and then Exsurge Domine is repeated. All all kneel (except the crucifer and acolytes who go and stand at the entrance of the choir) and the cantors then begin the Litany of the Saints. Each invocation is doubled, i.e. the cantors sing e.g. Pater de caelis, Deus, miserere nobis and this is repeated in its entirety by everyone else. When Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis has been repeated all rise and the Procession sets off.

The Procession goes outside of the Church and may visit other Churches on its route. In this case the celebrant is offered lustral water at the entrance to the church and processes to the High Altar. After a moment for silent prayer the choir signs the antiphon of the patron of the church, its versicle and response (with Alleluia added as it is Paschaltide) and the celebrant sings the collect of the Patron. The Litany is then resumed and the Procession continues. If the Procession has a long route the Litany, from Sancta Maria etc may be repeated or the Seven Penitential Psalms sung to the tonus in directum. When the Procession enters the church where Mass will be celebrated, lustral water is received on entering and the Procession goes to the sanctuary. All kneel as the Litany ends. The celebrant intones Pater noster etc and then the cantors sing psalm 69. After the versicles that follow the celebrant stands to sing the ten collects. He then kneels again as Exadiat nos etc is sung. The ministers then rise and the celebrant changes from a cope to chasuble and all put on their maniples. The Mass Exaudivit is then sung. The chants are those used for ferial Masses. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect is of St. Boniface and the third collect is Concede nos. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino. The Paschal Candle is not lit.

Vespers are of the following feast of St. John Baptist de la Salle.

Those obliged to the Office who do not take part in Rogation Processions must recite the Litany on the three days.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' when the Rogation Procession takes place the Litany may be sung in the vernacular if the faithful are present. The petitions are not duplicated. In the votive Mass that follows all the 'preparatory prayers' i.e. In nomine Patris..., Introibo ad altare Dei..., Judica me Deus..., Confiteor Deo..., the versicles, Aufer a nobis... and Oramus te, Domine are all cut out. The dismissal is Ite, missa est. However, the Ordinary may substitute other excercises/services in place of the Rogation Procession. Those not present at the Procession or other designated services are not bound to recite the Litany. Vespers are ferial.

Rogation Days - Litaniae Minores

The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the feast of the Ascension are Rogation Days or days of the 'Lesser Litanies', lesser as they are less ancient and celebrated with less solemnity than the 'Greater Litanies' celebrated on the 25th April.

On Monday of the Rogations the Office is of the ferial day. At Mattins a homily from St. Ambrose is read at the nocturn. At Lauds the antiphon on the Benedictus is proper, Petite, et accipietis etc., as is the collect Praesta, quaesumus etc. Following this collect a commemoration of St. Felix is sung followed by the Commemoration of the Cross. At the Hours all is taken from the ferial Psalter except the collect which is that which was sung at Lauds. At Prime the Domincal preces are sung.

After None the altar is vested in a violet antependium. The celebrant, vested in violet cope, assisted by deacon and subdeacon in violet dalmatic and tunicle reverence the altar then kneel and pray for a short while. They rise and the cantors begin the antiphon Exsurge Domine. The choir continue....adjuva nos, et libera nos, propter nomen tuam. Ps. Deus auribus nostris audivimus patres nostri annuntiaverunt nobis. Gloria Patri etc, Sicut erat etc and then Exsurge Domine is repeated. All all kneel (except the crucifer and acolytes who go and stand at the entrance of the choir) and the cantors then begin the Litany of the Saints. Each invocation is doubled, i.e. the cantors sing e.g. Pater de caelis, Deus, miserere nobis and this is repeated in its entirety by everyone else. When Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis has been repeated all rise and the Procession sets off.

The Procession goes outside of the Church and may visit other Churches on its route. In this case the celebrant is offered lustral water at the entrance to the church and processes to the High Altar. After a moment for silent prayer the choir signs the antiphon of the patron of the church, its versicle and response (with Alleluia added as it is Paschaltide) and the celebrant sings the collect of the Patron. The Litany is then resumed and the Procession continues. If the Procession has a long route the Litany, from Sancta Maria etc may be repeated or the Seven Penitential Psalms sung to the tonus in directum. When the Procession enters the church where Mass will be celebrated, lustral water is received on entering and the Procession goes to the sanctuary. All kneel as the Litany ends. The celebrant intones Pater noster etc and then the cantors sing psalm 69. After the versicles that follow the celebrant stands to sing the ten collects. He then kneels again as Exadiat nos etc is sung. The ministers then rise and the celebrant changes from a cope to chasuble and all put on their maniples. The Mass Exaudivit is then sung. The chants are those used for ferial Masses. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect is of St. Felix and the third collect is Concede nos. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

Vespers are of the following feast of St. Angela Merici with a commemoration sung of St. Petronilla.

On Tuesday the Office of St. Angela Merici is sung and there is no commemoration of the Rogation Day in the Office. Mattins has three nocturns. At Lauds a commemoration of St. Petronilla is sung. When the Rogation Procession takes place the Mass Exaudivit is sung as detailed above for Monday. The second collect is of St. Angela Merici, the third collect is of St. Petronilla. Where the Rogation Procession does not take place the Mass Dilexisti is sung (for St. Angela Merici) with the second collect of the Rogation Mass, the third collect of St. Petronilla. Vespers are of the feast.

On Wednesday the Office of the Vigil of the Ascension is celebrated. At Mattins the homily is taken from the writings of St. Augustine. At Lauds the Commemoration of the Cross is sung after the collect of the Office (that of the preceding Sunday). At Prime the Dominical preces are sung. Mass is celebrated of the Vigil in white vestments with Gloria, the second collect of the Rogations, the third collect Concede nos and with the preface of Paschaltide. At None the Paschal Doxology is sung for the last time this year. When the Rogation Procession takes place the Mass Exaudivit is sung after None as detailed for Monday above. The second collect is of the Vigil, the third collect Concede nos and the last Gospel of the Vigil. Vespers are first Vespers of the Ascension.

Those obliged to the Office who do not take part in Rogation Processions must say the Litany on the three days.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' when the Rogation Procession takes place the Litany may be sung in the vernacular if the faithful are present. The petitions are not duplicated. In the votive Mass that follows all the 'preparatory prayers' i.e. In nomine Patris..., Introibo ad altare Dei..., Judica me Deus..., Confiteor Deo..., the versicles, Aufer a nobis... and Oramus te, Domine are all cut out. The dismissal is Ite, missa est.

SS Nereus and Companions - Vigil of the Ascension - Lesser Litanies

The feast of SS. Nereus and Companions is of semi-double rite. Today is also the Vigil of the Ascension and the last day, the Wednesday, of the Rogations or Lesser Litanies.

At Mattins the lessons in the first nocturn are Fratres: Debitores, taken from the Common of Martrys in Paschaltide. In the third nocturn the ninth lesson is a homily for the Vigil (its three lessons may be read as one)from St. Augustine. At Lauds a commemoration of the Vigil is sung (the antiphon on the Benedictus is proper, the prayer from the preceding Sunday) and the Commemoration of the Cross is sung.

At the Little Hours the Paschaltide Doxology and tone is sung at the hymns (for the last time this year). At Prime the Dominical preces are sung. The first entry in the Martyrology is the announcement of the feast of the Ascension tomorrow.

Mass follows Terce. The Gloria is sung the second collect is of the Vigil, the third of the Rogations, the Paschaltide preface is sung (for the last time this year) and the last Gospel is of the Vigil. Private Masses may be of the Vigil, the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Nereus and Companions and the third collect that of the Rogations, the preface is of Paschaltide and, unusually for a Vigil, the vestments are white.

Where the Rogation Procession takes place and there is only one Mass it is sung after None. The antiphon Exsurge Domine is sung by the cantors and then the Litany of the Saints is sung: each invocation and its response being sung by the cantors and then repated by the choir. The celebrant wears a violet cope, the deacon and subdeacon violet dalmatic and tunicle respectively. When Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis has been sung all rise and the Cross-bearer leads the Procession accompanied by acolytes carrying candles followed by the cantors, choir and the ministers. The people follow. The Procession should, in theory, go around the parish with the Litany being repeated if necessary or the Penitential and Gradual Psalms added if the distance requires them. After the Procession re-enters the church the psalm Deus in adjutorium is sung and all kneel, the celebrant rises to sing the following ten collects. The Mass Exaudivit follows sung in ferial tones with violet vestments. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect is of SS Nereus, the third of the Vigil, Benedicamus Domino as the dismissal and last Gospel of the Vigil.

In Cathedral and Collegiate Churches three Masses are celebrated: one of the Vigil, one of the feast and the Rogation Mass after the Procession. In the Rogation Mass the second collect is Concede nos, the third collect Ecclesiae.

First Vespers of the great feast of the Ascension are Sung. At Compline and the other Hours hymns of Iambic metre have the Ascensiontide Doxology: Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui victor in caelum redis, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil has been raised in rank to II class and takes precedence over SS Nereus and Companions. St. Nereus is commemorated at Lauds, the Commemoration of the Cross is suppressed. At the Hours the Paschaltide Doxology and tone are not sung for the hymns, at Prime the Dominical preces are omitted. St. Nereus is commemorated in Low Mass.

Where a Procession takes place the Litany is not duplicated and may be in the vernacular. At the votive Mass following the 'preparatory prayers' are suppressed, the Vigil is commemorated but not St. Nereus, Ite missa est is sung as the dismissal. The Doxology of the Ascension is not sung at Compline or the other Little Hours.

Rogation Tuesday

Tuesday of the Rogations, this year, falls on a ferial day of Paschaltide. The Office is of simple rite.

At the nocturn of Mattins the lessons are from the fourth chapter of the first Epistle of St. Peter that was begun on Sunday. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphon on the Benedictus is proper, Oportebat pati Christum etc. The Commemoration of the Cross is sung.

At Prime and the Hours the Paschaltide Doxology is sung at the conclusion of the hymns. At Prime the Dominical preces are sung.

A Procession takes place, where possible, before Mass. During the Procession the petitions are sung entire by the cantors and then repeated by the choir and people. Mass is of the Rogations celebrated in violet vestments. There is no Gloria, the second collect Concede nos, the third collect Ecclesiae etc. There is no Creed, the ferial tones are used and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

Vespers are of the following feast of SS Nereus and Companions, with the Commemoration of the Cross and the Dominical preces are sung at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today become the feast of SS Philip and James, shamefully ejected from May 1st by Pius XII in 1956. Mass is of the Rogations with a commemoration of SS Philip and James when the Procession takes place, Ite missa est is sung as the dismissal. When the Procession takes place the vernacular made be used when the people are present, the petitions are not duplicated. The prayers at the foot of the altar are suppressed. Those not present for the Procession are not obliged to say the Litany.

St Antoninus - Rogation Monday - Lesser Litanies

Today is the double feast of St. Antoninus. It is also Rogation Monday, a non-privileged greater feria. It is the first of the three days of the 'Lesser Litanies' sung on the days preceding the feast of the Ascension.

At Mattins, in the first nocturn, as there is no occurring Scripture for Rogation Monday the lessons are taken from the Common of Confessors, Fidelis sermo etc. The ninth lesson is of the commemorated Rogation Monday rather than SS Gordian and Epipmachus. At Lauds commemorations are sung of both the feria and SS Gordian and Epimachus.

The Little Hours of course have the Paschaltide Doxology sung at their hymns. The Domincal preces are omitted at Prime due to the occurring double feast.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, a commemoration of the feria is sung, followed by a third collect of SS Gordian and Epimachus. The preface is that of Paschaltide and the last Gospel that of the feria.

Where the venerable practice of the Rogation Procession takes place the procession takes place after None. The antiphon Exsurge Domine is sung by the cantors and then the Litany of the Saints is sung: each invocation and its response being sung by the cantors and then repated by the choir. The celebrant wears a violet cope, the deacon and subdeacon violet dalmatic and tunicle respectively. When Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis has been sung all rise and the Cross-bearer leads the Procession accompanied by acolytes carrying candles followed by the cantors, choir and the ministers. The people follow. The Procession should, in theory, go around the parish with the Litany being repeated if necessary or the Penitential and Gradual Psalms added if the distance requires them. After the Procession re-enters the church the psalm Deus in adjutorium is sung and all kneel, the celebrant rises to sing the following ten collects. The Mass Exaudivit follows sung in ferial tones with violet vestments. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect Concede nos, the third Ecclesiae and Benedicamus Domino sung as the dismissal.

Where only one Mass is sung and there is the Procession the Mass Exaudivit is sung with commemorations of St. Antoninus and SS Gordian and Epimachus with Benedicamus Domino as the dismissal. Those with an obligation to the Office are bound to say the Litanies if they do not attend the Procession.

Vespers are of the feast without any commemorations.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' St Antoninus is cut down to a third class feast of three lessons. Scriptural lessons have been inserted from the second chapter of St. Peter's Epistle. There is no third (or ninth obviously) lesson of the feria. The feria is not commemorated at Lauds or in Mass. SS Gordian and Epimachus are commemorated at Lauds and Low Mass. At the Little Hours the Paschaltide Doxology and its tone are not sung. Vespers are without any commemorations.

If the Procession takes place the Litany may be sung in the vernacular if the faithful are present. The petitions are not duplicated. In the votive Mass that follows all the 'preparatory prayers' i.e. In nomine Patris..., Introibo ad altare Dei..., Judica me Deus..., Confiteor Deo..., the versicles, Aufer a nobis... and Oramus te, Domine are all cut out. The dismissal is Ite, missa est.

The Bishop may transfer the Rogation Days to some other season as he sees fit (c.f. rubric pro loco 1962 Missale Romanum and c.f. Caeremoniale Episcoporum editio typica 1985 Cap. XIV, ## 381-384 for these directions in the completed, ordinary, form of the 1962 rite). The Bishop may also, following the 1962 books order prayers and/or supplications in place of the Litany where he sees fit to do so. Clergy must sing the Litanies in Latin but, as noted above, where the Procession takes place and the faithful are present singing the Litany in the vernacular is permitted. There is no longer any obligation to say the Litany in private if one does not take part in a Procession.

St. Bernardine of Sienna - Vigil of the Ascension

Today is the feast of St. Bernardine of Sienna a Franciscan who died on the Vigil of the Ascension in 1444. The feast is of semi-double rite. Today is also the Vigil of the Ascension and Rogation Wednesday.

At Mattins the lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the Common, Beatus vir. In the third nocturn the ninth lesson is a homily for the Vigil from St. Augustine. At Lauds a commemoration of the Vigil is sung as is the Commemoration of the Cross in Paschaltide.

At the Little Hours the Paschaltide Doxology and tone is sung at the hymns (for the last time this year). At Prime the Dominical preces are sung and the short lesson is for a Confessor, Justum deduxit.

Mass follows Terce. The Gloria is sung the second collect is of the Vigil, the third of the Rogations, the Paschaltide preface is sung (for the last time this year) and the last Gospel is of the Vigil. Private Masses may be of the Vigil, the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Bernardine and the third collect that of the Rogations, the preface is of Paschaltide and, unusually for a Vigil, the vestments are white.

Where the Rogation Procession takes place and there is only one Mass it is sung after None. The Rogation Procession takes place as described in the post for Rogation Monday. At Mass (Exaudivit) the second collect is of St. Bernardine, the third collect of the Vigil, the Paschaltide preface (sung in the ferial tone like the orations), Benedicamus Domino as the dismissal and the last Gospel that of the Vigil.

First Vespers of the great feast of the Ascension are Sung. At Compline and the other Hours hymns of Iambic metre have the Ascensiontide Doxology: Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui victor in caelum redis, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil has been raised in rank to II class and takes precedence over St. Bernardine's feast. St. Bernardine is commemorated at Lauds, the Commemoration of the Cross is not sung. At the Hours the Paschaltide Doxology and tone are not sung for the hymns, at Prime the Dominical preces are omitted, the festal chapter Regi saeculorum is sung even though the Office is classed as ferial, the short lesson is of the season. In said Masses of the Vigil St. Bernardine is commemorated.

Where a Procession takes place the Litany is not duplicated and may be in the vernacular. At the votive Mass following the 'preparatory prayers' are chopped the Vigil is commemorated but not St. Bernardine, Ite missa est is sung as the dismissal. The Ascensiontide Doxology is not sung at the Little Hours.

The picture is a 'screen dump' of the start of the Rogation Procession held today at St. Gertrude the Great Church in West Chester, USA. Bishop Dolan is kneeling before the choir altar at the start of the Litany. How refreshing that a least one Catholic church on the planet is bothering to celebrated the liturgy well. St. Gertrude's have had a Procession for each of the Rogation Days and have sung Liturgy every day. The school children sing beautifully and may Almighty God bless their splendid efforts for the Liturgy abundantly. Their excellent web-broadcast programme has first Vespers of the Ascension scheduled for 19:30 BST this evening. The picture below is of Bishop Dolan singing the nine collects after the Litany.

St. Peter Celestine - Rogation Tuesday

Today is the double rite feast of St. Peter Celestine. It is also Rogation Tuesday but the feria is not commemorated in the Office today. St. Peter Celestine was born in 1221 and became a Benedictine. Attracting many followers these later became known as Celestines from the name St. Peter took after being elected Bishop of Rome only holding that office for a few months before resigning. He died May 19th 1296.

At Mattins the first nocturn lesson are from occuring scripture. The ninth lesson is of St. Pudentiana. A commemoration of St. Pudentiana is also sung at Lauds.

At the Little Hours the Paschaltide Doxology and tone is used for the hymns. At Prime in the Martyrology the first entry is for the Vigil of the Ascension, the short lesson is Fungi sacerdotio for a Confessor-Bishop.

Mass follows Terce. The Gloria is sung the second collect is of the Rogations (from the Mass Exaudivit), the third collect for S. Pudentiana.

Where the Rogation Procession takes place and there is only one Mass this takes place after None as described in yesterday's post. The Mass Exaudivit is sung with ferial tones for the prayers and preface. The second collect is of St. Peter Celestine, the third of St. Pudentiana and Benedicamus Domino sung as the dismissal.

At Vespers a commemoration is made of the following feast of St. Bernardine of Sienna.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' St. Peter Celestine is reduced to a third class feast of three lessons. There is no commemorated lesson at Mattins of St. Pudentiana. At the Little Hours the Paschaltide Doxology and tone are not sung at the hymns, the short lesson at Prime is of the season. At Mass (without a Procession) there is no commemoration of the Rogations but of St. Pudentiana in said Masses only. Where the Procession takes place the same rules as yesterday apply so the Litany may be sung in the vernacular (the petitions not duplicated) and the 'preparatory prayers' chopped from the beginning of the votive Mass etc and Ite, missa est as the dismissal. Vespers are without a commemoration. There is no longer any obligtion for clergy to pray the Litany if they do not take part in a Procession.

The photograph is from a series of a Rogation Procession at St. Clement's Episcopal Church, Philadelphia. A Google image search showed many Anglican Rogation Processions (but not using the Roman Rite!) but where are the Catholic ones?

St. Venantius - Rogation Monday

Today is the double rite feast of St. Venantius a third century martyr. It is also Rogation Monday, a non-privileged greater feria, the first of the three days of the 'Lesser Litanies' sung on the days preceding the feast of the Ascension.

In the Office of St. Venantius the hymns are proper. As the first Vespers were not sung due to the Sunday Office the hymn from Vespers, Martyr Dei Venantius, is joined to the hymn of Mattins, Athleta Christi nobilis. The Rogation Day does not have ocurring scripture so for the first nocturn lessons are taken from the Common of Martyrs. In the third nocturn the ninth lesson is a homily for the Rogation Day.

At Lauds a commemoration of the feria is sung. The Little Hours of course have the Paschaltide Doxology sung at their hymns. The Domincal preces are not sung due to the feast being of double rite and at Prime the short lesson is that appointed for a martyr.

Mass follows Terce. The Gloria is sung, a commemoration of the feria is sung, the preface that of Paschaltide and the last Gospel that of the feria.



Where the venerable practice of the Rogation Procession takes place the procession takes place after None. The antiphon Exsurge Domine is sung by the cantors and then the Litany of the Saints is sung: each invocation and its response being sung by the cantors and then repated by the choir. The celebrant wears a violet cope, the deacon and subdeacon violet dalmatic and tunicle respectively. When Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis has been sung all rise and the Cross-bearer leads the Procession accompanied by acolytes carrying candles followed by the cantors, choir and the ministers. The people follow. The Procession should, in theory, go around the parish with the Litany being repeated if necessary or the Penitential and Gradual Psalms added if the distance requires them. After the Procession re-enters the church the psalm Deus in adjutorium is sung and all kneel, the celebrant rises to sing the following ten collects. The Mass Exaudivit follows sung in ferial tones with violet vestments. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect Concede nos, the third Ecclesiae and Benedicamus Domino sung as the dismissal. Where one Mass is sung and there is the procession the Mass Exaudivit is sung with a commemoration of St. Venantius and Benedicamus Domino as the dismissal.

Vespers are 'from the chapter' of the following Office of St. Peter Celestine with a commemoration sung of the preceding Office of St. Venantius and of St. Pudentiana.

Those who have the misfortune to be using the 'liturgical books of 1962' have St. Venantius cut down to a third class feast of three lessons. The hymns are not joined at Mattins. Scriptural lessons have been inserted from the second chapter of St. Peter's Epistle. There is no third (or ninth obviously) lesson of the feria. The feria is not commemorated at Lauds or in Mass. At the Little Hours the Paschaltide Doxology and its tone are not used, at Prime the short lesson is of the season and not for a martyr. Vespers are without any commemorations

If the Procession takes place the Litany may be sung in the vernacular if the faithful are present. The petitiions are not duplicated. In the votive Mass that follows all the 'preparatory prayers' i.e. In nomine Patris..., Introibo ad altare Dei..., Judica me Deus..., Confiteor Deo..., the versicles, Aufer a nobis... and Oramus te, Domine are all cut out. The dismissal is Ite, missa est.

The Bishop may transfer the Rogation Days to some other season as he sees fit (c.f. rubric pro loco 1962 Missale Romanum and c.f. Caeremoniale Episcoporum editio typica 1985 Cap. XIV, ## 381-384 for these directions in the completed, ordinary, form of the 1962 rite). The Bishop may also, following the 1962 books order prayers and/or supplications in place of the Litany where he sees fit to do so. Clergy must sing the Litanies in Latin but, as noted above, where the Procession takes place and the faithful are present singing the Litany in the vernacular is permitted. There is no longer any obligation to say the Litany in private if one does not take part in a Procession.

The photograph is taken from a series on St. Clements Episcopal Church website. Canon Reid and his team might perhaps offer training courses, for an appropriate fee of course, to help the vast majority of Roman rite Catholics rediscover their own liturgical Tradition...