Vigil of All Saints - All Hallows Eve

The Vigil of All Saints is of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet. As with simple rite Vigils the Office runs from Mattins to None.

At Mattins the inivitatory, hymn, antiphons, psalms, versicle and response are from the Psalter for Thursday. The lessons in the nocturn are a homily of St. Ambrose from the Common of Several Martyrs. The responsories are from the Thursday of the fifth week of October. The Te Deum is not sung. The second scheme of Lauds for Wednesday is sung. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been repeated the ferial preces are sung, with the choir kneeling. After the collect of the Vigil the Suffrage of the Saints is omitted. (Prior to the reform of 1911-13 the Suffrages would have been sung).

At Prime the psalm displaced from Lauds by the Miserere, Ps. 96, is added to the psalmody of the day: Pss. 25, 51, 52 & 96. Both the Dominical and ferial preces are sung, the choir kneeling. At the other Horae Minores the short series of ferial preces are sung, again with the choir kneeling, before the collect of the Vigil.

Mass is sung after None. Following the normal rules for Vigils four candles are placed on the altar, in contrast with two on ordinary ferial days. The deacon and sub-deacon wear violet dalmatic and tunicle, not folded chasubles. The ferial tone is used for the orations and for the preface and Pater noster. There is no Gloria. The second collect is of the Holy Ghost, Deus,qui corda, the third collect Ecclesiae. As it is a 'kneeling day' the choir kneels for the prayers and from the Sanctus until Pax Domini. As the Gloria is not sung the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

Vespers are first Vespers of All Saints with a corresponding colour change to festive white. The Office is proper and the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is Placare, Christe, servulis. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of All Saints has been abolished. Today is kept as a IV class ferial 'green' day. Mass is of Pentecost XX, there is but a single collect. Although the Gloria is not sung Ite, missa est is the dismissal.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a privileged greater feria although only of simple rite. No feast can be celebrated on this day of whatever rank. The liturgical colour of the day is violet. In earlier times the rite which gives the day its name, the sprinkling of ash on the heads of penitents, was reserved to those public penitents who underwent a public and dramatic expulsion from the church building. Although no longer generally practiced echoes of the above can be found in today's Liturgy which contains a general imposition of Ashes on all of those who wish to receive them. The Liturgy is interesting too in that much remains of the Office of the Septuagesima season as originally Lent began with the Office of the first Sunday.

The third part of the Pontificale Romanum still contains the rite for the Expulsion of Public Penitents - De Expulsione Publice Poenitentium ab Ecclesia in feria Quarta Cinerum. In that rite, after Sext, when the bishop was to celebrate Mass this day, the bishop vested in pontificals as far as the dalmatic and then donned a violet cope. Public penitents assembled in sack-cloth in their bare feet and were given a penance for Lent and then were given ashes, which the bishop had blessed. Then followed a ceremony that included the Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany. It culminated in the penitents being led, physically, from the church and expelled. The Caermoniale Episcoporum alludes to the Expulsion of Penitents in churches where it is the custom, C.E. Lib II, Cap.18, 2.

The Expulsion of Penitents from a 1611 edition of the Pontificale Romanum from Google Books.

The Office of Ash Wednesday begins with Mattins. The invitatory is Deum magnum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Rerum Creator optime both from the ferial Office per annum. The antiphons Speciosus forma etc are sung with the nine psalms/psalm divisi of a single nocturn from the ferial Office for Wednesdays. The second scheme of Mattins for Wednesday is used, wherein Psalm 49 is split into three divisi rather than the usual two. The lessons in the nocturn are from a homily of St. Augustine reflecting on the LORD's Sermon on the Mount from St. Matthew's Gospel. The responsories are taken from the third nocturn of Quinquagesima Sunday. At Lauds the second scheme of psalmody is used (Pss. 50, 64, 100, Canticle of Anna & 145. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are both proper to the day. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been sung in full after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung. After the collect of the day a commemoration of St. Scholastica is sung. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted due to the occurring double feast.

At the Hours again the ferial antiphons and psalter are used. Prime has a fourth psalm displaced from Lauds by the Miserere, so the psalmody at Prime is Pss. 25, 51, 52 & 96. At Prime both the Dominical and ferial preces are sung kneeling, the chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are chanted with the choir again kneeling.

The blessing of Ashes and Mass follows None. The celebrant vests in a violet cope while the deacon and subdeacon wear violet folded chasubles. The organ is silent following the general rule when folded chasubles are worn. The Ashes, made from burning of the preceding year's Palms, are blessed with four collects of blessing. The short conclusion of these prayers may indicate the blessing was separated by the Expusion of Penitents from the Mass which follows. The Ashes are imposed whilst two antiphons are chanted Immutemur habitu and Inter vestibulum. These are followed by the poignant responsory Emendemus in melius. The Mass that now immediately follows is proper. The Gloria is not sung. The second collect is of St. Scholastica. There is no third collect today. The preface of Lent is sung for the first time this year. The ferial tones are used for the orations, preface and Pater noster. The choir kneels for the Orations and from the Sanctus until Pax Domini. After the last collect the deacon sings Humiliate capita vestra Deo and the celebrant sings the Oratio super populum. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar.

Vespers see a colour change to white with first Vespers of the feast of the Apparition of the BVM at Lourdes. The antiphons Candor est etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Ave maris stella. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the feria and of St. Scholastica. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi,..Qui natus etc and the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the ferial preces are sung at Lauds and Vespers only. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Prime there are three psalms 25, 51 & 52 and the chapter is the festal Regi saeculorum - bizzare! At Prime and the Hours the preces are omitted. Mass is sung after Terce. At the blessing of Ashes and Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. Judica me Deus etc is omitted from the beginning of Mass. There is only one collect. The extended kneeling is omitted with the choir rising at the conclusion of the Canon. The dismissal is Ite missa est. Vespers are of the feria without any commemorations.

Vigil of the Nativity

The Vigil of the Nativity is unique in the Liturgical Year in that it is of simple rite at Mattins and then becomes of double rite from Lauds onwards. The liturgical colour of the Vigil is violet. At Mass the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle.

Mattins has a single nocturn of three lessons. The invitatory is Hodie scietis and the Office hymn is Verbum supernum. The antiphons, In Deo salutare meum etc., and psalms are from the ferial psalter for Thursday but the versicles, lessons and responsories are proper to the day. The homily is taken from St. Jerome's commentary on the first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds the antiphons, Judaea et Jerusalem nolite timere etc, are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The Office hymn is En clara vox. The chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus, and collect are proper to the Vigil. The ferial preces are not sung the Office now being of double rite.

Prime is festal with the first antiphon from Lauds, as usual, and psalms 53, 118(i) and 118(ii). The Martyrology is sung with extra solemnity today. The Hebdomadarius dons a violet cope and preceded by acolytes bearing candles and a thurifer with incense enters the choir. After reverencing the choir and altar the Martyrology is censed, as a Gospel book, three times. The the choir rise and the Hebdomadarius chants 'Octavo Kalendas Januarii. Luna quarta. Anno a creatione mundi, quando in principio Deus creavit coelum et terram, quinquies millesimo centesimo nonagesimonono: A diluvio etc., listing the years since the birth of Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, the anointing of David, the time since Daniel the Prophet, since the founding of Rome and the conception of the LORD by the Holy Ghost. He continues until '...novemque post conceptionem decursis mensibus', then raising the pitch of the chant, whilst the choir kneel, he continues, 'in Bethlehem Judae nascitur ex Maria Virgine factus Homo'. Then, in the tone of the Passion: 'Nativitas Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundem carnem.' The choir then rise and sit whilst in the normal tone the Hebdomadarius (or a lector, depending on the custom of the place) continues with the entries for the day: 'Eodem die natalis santae Anastasiae etc. The lectio brevis, Per quem accepimus, is proper to the Vigil. The antiphons from Lauds are used in sequence at the rest of the Hours.

Mass is sung after None. Today the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but violet dalmatic and tunicle. There is just one collect. The dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung by the deacon to a most beautiful and ornate tone reserved for today, the feast of the Holy Innocents and pro re gravi Masses.

First Vespers of the Nativity are sung in the afternoon. The antiphons Rex pacificus etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. All hymns of Iambic metre have the Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria, qui natus es de Virgine for the Octave and up until the feast of the Epiphany. At Compline the Domincial psalms are sung, Te lucis has the Doxology of the Incarnation and the Domincal preces are omitted.

Vigil of All Saints

The Vigil of All Saints is of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet. As with all simple rite Vigils the Office runs from Mattins to None.

At Mattins the invitatory is Populus Domini etc, the Office hymn Summae Parens clementiae etc from the ferial Office of Saturday along with the antiphons, psalms and V&R too from the Saturday. The lessons, proper to the Vigil, in the nocturn are taken form a homily of St. Ambrose from the Common of Several Martyrs. The responsories are from the Saturday. The Te Deum is not sung. The second scheme of Lauds for Saturday is sung with psalms 50, 91, 63, Audite, caeli, and 150. The Office hymn is Aurora jam spargit. After the antiphon on the Benedictus , Illumina, Domine, has been repeated the ferial preces are sung, with the choir kneeling. After the collect of the Vigil the Suffrage of the Saints is omitted (c.f. pre-1911-13 praxis when the Suffrages were sung).

At Prime the psalm displaced from Lauds by the Miserere is added to the psalmody of the day: Pss. 93i, 93ii, 107 & 149. The chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. Both the Dominical and ferial preces are sung, with the choir kneeling. At the other Hours the short series of ferial preces are sung, again with the choir kneeling, before the collect of the Vigil.

Mass is sung after None. Following the normal rules for Vigils four candles are placed on the altar, in contrast with two on ordinary ferial days. The deacon and sub-deacon wear violet dalmatic and tunicle, not folded chasubles. The ferial tone is used for the orations and for the preface and Pater noster. There is no Gloria. The second collect is of the Holy Ghost, Deus,qui corda, the third collect Ecclesiae. As it is a 'kneeling day' the choir kneels for the prayers and from the Sanctus until Pax Domini. As the Gloria is not sung the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of All Saints with a corresponding colour change to festive white. The Office is proper and the antiphons Vidi turbam magnam etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is Placare, Christe, servulis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung with the antiphon on the Magnificat being Vidi, Dominum for the Saturday before the first Sunday of November. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Vigil of All Saints has been abolished. Today is kept as a IV class BVM on Saturday.

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.

Vigil of the Nativity

The Vigil of the Nativity is unique in the Liturgical Year in that it is of simple rite at Mattins and then becomes of double rite from Lauds onwards. The liturgical colour of the Vigil is violet. At Mass the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle.

Mattins has a single nocturn of three lessons. The invitatory is Hodie scietis and the Office hymn is Verbum supernum. The antiphons, Speciosus forma etc., and psalms are from the ferial psalter for Wednesday (with psalm 50 as the last psalm as the second scheme of Lauds will not be sung) but the versicles, lessons and responsories are proper to the day. The homily is taken from St. Jerome's commentary on the first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds the antiphons, Judaea et Jerusalem nolite timere etc, are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The Office hymn is En clara vox. The chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus, and collect are proper to the Vigil. The ferial preces are not sung the Office now being of double rite.

Prime is festal with the first antiphon from Lauds, as usual, and psalms 53, 118(i) and 118(ii). The Martyrology is sung with extra solemnity today. The Hebdomadarius dons a violet cope and preceded by acolytes bearing candles and a thurifer with incense enters the choir. After reverencing the choir and altar the Martyrology is censed, as a Gospel book, three times. The the choir rise and the Hebdomadarius chants 'Octavo Kalendas Januarii. Luna quarta. Anno a creatione mundi, quando in principio Deus creavit coelum et terram, quinquies millesimo centesimo nonagesimonono: A diluvio etc., listing the years since the birth of Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, the anointing of David, the time since Daniel the Prophet, since the founding of Rome and the conception of the LORD by the Holy Ghost. He continues until '...novemque post conceptionem decursis mensibus', then raising the pitch of the chant, whilst the choir kneel, he continues, 'in Bethlehem Judae nascitur ex Maria Virgine factus Homo'. Then, in the tone of the Passion: 'Nativitas Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundem carnem.' The choir then rise and sit whilst in the normal tone the Hebdomadarius (or a lector, depending on the custom of the place) continues with the entries for the day: 'Eodem die natalis santae Anastasiae etc. The lectio brevis, Per quem accepimus, is proper to the Vigil. The antiphons from Lauds are used in sequence at the rest of the Hours.

Mass is sung after None. Today the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but violet dalmatic and tunicle. There is just one collect. The dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung by the deacon to a most beautiful and ornate tone reserved for today, the feast of the Holy Innocents and pro re gravi Masses.

First Vespers of the Nativity are sung in the afternoon. The antiphons Rex pacificus etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. All hymns of Iambic metre have the Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria, qui natus es de Virgine for the Octave and up until the feast of the Epiphany. At Compline the Domincial psalms are sung, Te lucis has the Doxology of the Incarnation and the Domincal preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there is no change of rank between Mattins and the rest of the day. The antiphons at both Mattins and the Hours are doubled. At Prime the special short lesson is omitted and the one used for all of Advent is sung. Not having folded chasubles the distinction of the lightening of the penitential tone is lost at Mass and the beautiful chant of the Benedicamus Domino is replaced by Ite, missa est. Mass is sung after Terce, not after None. The hymns at the Little Hours through the Octave etc do not have the special tone and Doxology in honour of the Incarnation.

Vigil of SS Simon and Jude

The Vigil of SS Simon and Jude is of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet.

The Office is largely taken from the ferial Office of Monday but the lessons at Mattins and the collect are proper to the Vigil. At Mattins the ferial invitatory, Venite, Exsultemus Domino, is sung and the Office hymn is Somno refectis artubus. The nine antiphons and psalm divisions for Monday are sung followed by the versicle Psallite Domino etc and its response Et confitemini etc. As the lessons for the Vigil contain a Gospel after the Absolution, Exaudi, Domine etc., the first blessing is Evangelica lectio etc. The Gospel fragment is from St. John and the homily is taken from the writings of St. Gregory. The Te Deum is not sung. The second scheme of Lauds for Monday is sung beginning with the antiphon fragment Ecce veniet. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been repeated the ferial preces are sung, with the choir kneeling. After the collect of the Vigil the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

At Prime a fourth psalm is added, that displaced by the Miserere at Lauds, Psalm 46, Omnes Gentes. The chapter is that sung on ferial days, Pacem et veritatem etc. The Dominical and ferial preces are sung, both sets are sung with the choir kneeling. At the other Horae Minores the short set of ferial preces are sung, again the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None. Following the normal rules for Vigils four candles are placed on the altar, unlike two on ordinary ferial days. The deacon and sub-deacon wear violet dalmatic and tunicle, not folded chasubles. The chant for the Mass is ferial, the second collect is Concede nos, and the third for the Church. Being a 'kneeling day' all in choir kneel for the orations and from the Sanctus to the response after Pax Domini. As there is no Gloria , following the usual rule, Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal.

Vespers are first Vespers of the Holy Apostles SS Simon and Jude.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' theVigil of SS Simon and Jude has been abolished and the day becomes a mere IV class 'green' ferial day with the Mass of the previous Sunday without Gloria but with Ite missa est. At Mattins the readings are from the second Book of the Machabees, Lauds is the festal form without either the preces or Suffrage. At Prime there is no fourth psalm and Pacem et veritatem has been abolished, replaced always by the festal Regi saeculorum. There are neither Dominical nor ferial preces. Mass (of the preceding Sunday) is sung after Terce. Vespers are of the feria, SS Simon & Jude don't even get a commemoration.

Spy Wednesday

Wednesday in Holy Week, Spy Wednesday, is a privileged ferial day. Although of simple rite no feast may take precedence over it. A feast is either commemorated or transferred depending on its rank. The liturgical colour of the day is violet.

At Mattins the invitatory is Hodie etc and the Office hymm Pange, lingua, gloriosi. Mattins has a single nocturn. The lessons are taken from the book of Jeremy the Prophet, the responsories are proper. At the second scheme of Lauds the antiphons are proper, Libera me etc sung with psalms 50, 64, 100, Exsultavit cor meum and 145. The Office hymn is O sol salutis. After the antiphon on the Benedictus, Simon, dormis etc., has been repeated after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung followed by the, proper, collect of the day. These same antiphons, Libera me etc., are sung at the Hours. At Prime (Pss. 25, 51, 52 & 96 the chapter is the ferial Pacem et vertiatem. The ferial preces are also sung at each of the Hours, again the choir kneeling.

At Mass, sung after None, the deacon and subdeacon wear folded chasubles. The formula is proper to the day with the introit In nomine Jesu.  After the Kyrie the celebrant sings Oremus, the deacon sings Flectamus genua and the subdeacon responds Levate. A collect is sung followed by an OT lesson from Isaiah which, in turn, is followed by a gradual. After the gradual has been sung the collect of the day is sung, preceded, as usual, with Dominus vobiscum etc., followed by the second collect,  Ecclesiae. The Passion according to St. Luke is sung (Luke 22:1-71; 23: 1-53). The preface is of the Cross, there is an Oratio super populum and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar. Vespers follow Mass. The Office hymn is Vexilla regis sung for the penultimate time this Lent. After the antiphon on the Magnificat, Ancilla dixit etc., has been repeated the choir kneel and the preces feriales are sung. The collect, Respice, will become very familiar during the Triduum. At Compline, sung at the usual time, the Dominical preces are also sung kneeling. After Compline the Palms decorating the sanctuary etc are removed and candles of unbleached wax placed upon the altar for Tenebrae.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the day is I class.  At the Hours the ferial preces are omitted. At Prime (Pss. 25, 51, 52 the chapter is the festal Regi saeculorum. At Mass there is no additional  collect, the Passion is shortened to Luke 22: 39-71; 23:1-53 - the special Gospel portion being sung with the rest of the Passion without distinction, the dismissal is Ite, missa est and the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. Vespers are sung in the afternoon and are sung without the ferial preces. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a privileged greater feria although only of simple rite. No feast can be celebrated on this day of whatever rank. The liturgical colour of the day is violet. In earlier times the rite which gives the day its name, the sprinkling of ash on the heads of penitents, was reserved to those public penitents who underwent a public and dramatic expulsion from the church building. Although no longer generally practised echoes of the above can be found in today's Liturgy which contains a general imposition of Ashes on all of those who wish to receive them. The Liturgy is interesting too in that much remains of the Office of the Septuagesima season as originally Lent began with the Office of the first Sunday.

The third part of the Pontificale Romanum still contains the rite for the Expulsion of Public Penitents - De Expulsione Publice Poenitentium ab Ecclesia in feria Quarta Cinerum. In that rite, after Sext, when the bishop was to celebrate Mass this day, the bishop vested in pontificals as far as the dalmatic and then donned a violet cope. Public penitents assembled in sack-cloth in their bare feet and were given a penance for Lent and then were given ashes, which the bishop had blessed. Then followed a ceremony that included the Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany. It culminated in the penitents being led, physically, from the church and expelled. The Caermoniale Episcoporum alludes to the Expulsion of Penitents in churches where it is the custom, C.E. Lib II, Cap.18, 2.

The Expulsion of Penitents from a 1611 edition of the Pontificale Romanum from Google Books.

The Office of Ash Wednesday begins with Mattins. The invitatory is Deum magnum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Rerum Creator optime both from the ferial Office per annum. The antiphons Speciosus forma etc are sung with the nine psalms/psalm divisi of a single nocturn from the ferial Office for Wednesdays. The second scheme of Mattins for Wednesday is used, wherein Psalm 49 is split into three divisi rather than the usual two. The lessons in the nocturn are from a homily of St. Augustine reflecting on the LORD's Sermon on the Mount from St. Matthew's Gospel. The responsories are taken from the third nocturn of Quinquagesima Sunday. At Lauds the second scheme of psalmody is used (Pss. 50, 64, 100, Canticle of Anna & 145. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the day. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been sung in full after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung. After the collect of the day the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

At the Hours again the ferial antiphons and psalter are used. Prime has a fourth psalm displaced from Lauds by the Miserere, so the psalmody at Prime is Pss. 25, 51, 52 & 96. At Prime both the Dominical and ferial preces are sung kneeling, the chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are chanted with the choir again kneeling.

The blessing of Ashes and Mass follows None. The celebrant vests in a violet cope while the deacon and subdeacon wear violet folded chasubles. The organ is silent following the general rule when folded chasubles are worn. The Ashes, made from burning of the preceding year's Palms, are blessed with four collects of blessing. The short conclusion of these prayers may indicate the blessing was separated by the Expusion of Penitents from the Mass which follows. The Ashes are imposed whilst two antiphons are chanted Immutemur habitu and Inter vestibulum. These are followed by the poignant responsory Emendemus in melius. The Mass that now immediately follows is proper. The Gloria is not sung. The second collect is A cunctis, the third collect of Omnipotens. The preface of Lent is sung for the first time this year. The ferial tones are used for the orations, preface and Pater noster. The choir kneels for the Orations and from the Sanctus until Pax Domini. After the last collect the deacon sings Humiliate capita vestra Deo and the celebrant sings the Oratio super populum. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar.

Vespers see a colour change to red as first Vespers of SS Perpetua and Felicity are sung. The antiphons and psalms are of Wednesday. The Office hymn is Fortem virili pectore. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of Ash Wednesday. The Suffrage is omitted being a double feast as are the Domincal preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the ferial preces are sung at Lauds and Vespers only. At Lauds there is no Suffrage of the Saints. At Prime there are three psalms 25, 51 & 52 and the chapter is the festal Regi saeculorum - bizzare! At Prime and the Hours the preces are omitted. Mass is sung after Terce. At the blessing of Ashes and Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. Judica me Deus etc is omitted from the beginning of Mass. There is only one collect. The extended kneeling is omitted with the choir rising at the conclusion of the Canon. The dismissal is Ite missa est. Vespers are of the feria without a commemoration of SS Perpetua and Felicity.

Vigil of the Nativity

The Vigil of the Nativity is unique in the Liturgical Year in that it is of simple rite at Mattins and then becomes of double rite from Lauds onwards. The liturgical colour of the Vigil is violet.

Mattins has one nocturn of three lessons. The invitatory is Hodie scietis and the Office hymn is Verbum supernum. The antiphons, Expugna etc., and psalms are from the ferial psalter for Tuesday but the versicles, lessons and responsories are proper to the day. The homily is taken from St. Jerome's commentary on the first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds the antiphons, Judaea et Jerusalem nolite timere etc, are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The Office hymn is En clara vox. The chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus, and collect are proper to the Vigil. The ferial preces are not sung the Office now being of double rite.

Prime is festal with the first antiphon from Lauds, as usual, and psalms 53, 118(i) and 118(ii). The Martyrology is sung with extra solemnity today. The Hebdomadarius dons a violet cope and preceded by acolytes bearing candles and a thurifer with incense enters the choir. After reverencing the choir and altar the Martyrology is censed, as a Gospel book, three times. The the choir rise and the Hebdomadarius chants 'Octavo Kalendas Januarii. Luna vicesima altera. Anno a creatione mundi, quando in principio Deus creavit coelum et terram, quinquies millesimo centesimo nonagesimonono: A diluvio etc., listing the years since the birth of Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, the anointing of David, the time since Daniel the Prophet, since the founding of Rome and the conception of the LORD by the Holy Ghost. He continues until '...novemque post conceptionem decursis mensibus', then raising the pitch of the chant, whilst the choir kneel, he continues, 'in Bethlehem Judae nascitur ex Maria Virgine factus Homo'. Then, in the tone of the Passion: 'Nativitas Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundem carnem.' The choir then rise and sit whilst in the normal tone the Hebdomadarius (or a lector, depending on the custom of the place) continues with the entries for the day: 'Eodem die natalis santae Anastasiae etc. The lectio brevis, Per quem accepimus, is proper to the Vigil. The antiphons from Lauds are used in sequence at the rest of the Hours.

Mass is sung after None. Today the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but violet dalmatic and tunicle. There is just one collect. The dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung by the deacon to a most beautiful and ornate tone reserved for today, the feast of the Holy Innocents and pro re gravi Masses.

First Vespers of the Nativity are sung in the afternoon. The antiphons Rex pacificus etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. All hymns of Iambic metre have the Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria, qui natus es de Virgine for the Octave and up until the feast of the Epiphany. At Compline the Domincial psalms are sung, Te lucis has the Doxology of the Incarnation and the Domincal preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there is no change of rank between Mattins and the rest of the day. The antiphons at both Mattins and the Hours are doubled. At Prime the special short lesson is omitted and the one used for all of Advent is sung. Not having folded chasubles the distinction of the lightening of the penitential tone is lost at Mass and the beautiful chant of the Benedicamus Domino is replaced by Ite, missa est. Mass is sung after Terce, not after None. The hymns at the Little Hours through the Octave etc do not have the special tone and Doxology in honour of the Incarnation.

Vigil of the Assumption

The Vigil of the Assumption is of simple rite and the liturgical colour of the day is violet. Traditionally it has been a day of fasting and abstinence in the West (in many Eastern rites a far stricter fast of preparation takes place from the beginning of August).

At Mattins everything is taken from the ferial psalter except the lessons. As the Vigil falls on a Wednesday this year the second arrangement of the third nocturn is sung (with psalm 49 split into three sections). The three lessons in the nocturn on St. Luke's Gospel are from a homily of St. Chrysostom. At Lauds the Second Scheme of psalms is sung (Pss. 50, 64, 100, Exsultavit & 145), the ferial preces are sung, with the choir kneeling. After the collect of the Vigil a commemoration is sung of St. Eusebius. At Prime and the Hours ferial preces are sung. These are, again, sung whilst kneeling. At Prime the fourth psalm is added, today psalm 96, as is the case when the Second Scheme of Lauds is sung. The chapter is the ferial Pacem.

Mass is sung after None. Violet vestments are worn, the ministers wearing dalmatic and tunicle not folded chasubles. The Mass is proper, Vultum tuum, the Gloria is not sung. The second collect is of St. Eusebius, the third collect Deus, qui corda - of the Holy Ghost. As it is a 'kneeling day' all in choir kneel for the orations and from the Sanctus to the response after Pax Domini. As is the rule when the Gloria is not sung Benedicamus Domino is chanted as the dismissal by the deacon facing the altar rather than Ite, missa est.

In the afternoon there is a colour change to white and the great feast and Octave begin with first Vespers.


In the 'liturgical books of 1962' as usual much has been lost. At Lauds the ferial preces are not sung nor are they sung at the Hours. At Prime there is no fourth psalm and the chapter is the festal Regi saeculorum. Mass is sung after Terce, not after None. In sung Masses there is only one collect. The extended kneeling does not take place.

Wednesday in Holy Week

Wednesday in Holy Week, Spy Wednesday, is a privileged ferial day. Although of simple rite no feast may take precedence over them. A feast is either commemorated or transferred depending on its rank. The liturgical colour of the day is violet.

At Mattins the invitatory is Hodie etc and the Office hymm Pange, lingua, gloriosi. Mattins has one nocturn. The lessons are taken, as yesterday,  from the book of Jeremy the Prophet, the responsories are proper. At the second scheme of Lauds the antiphons are proper, Libera me etc sung with psalms 50, 64, 100, Exsultavit cor meum and 145. The Office hymn is O sol salutis. After the antiphon on the Benedictus, Simon, dormis etc., has been repeated after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung followed by the, proper, collect of the day. These same antiphons, Libera me etc., are sung at the Hours. At Prime (Pss. 25, 51, 52 & 96 the chapter is the ferial Pacem et vertiatem. The ferial preces are also sung at each of the Hours, again the choir kneeling. At Mass, sung after None, the deacon and subdeacon wear folded chasubles. The formula is proper to the day with the introit In nomine Jesu.  After the Kyrie the celebrant sings Oremus, the deacon sings Flectamus genua and the subdeacon responds Levate. A collect is sung followed by an OT lesson from Isaiah which, in turn, is followed by a gradual. After the gradual has been sung the collect of the day is sung, preceded, as usual, with Dominus vobiscum etc., followed by the second collect,  Ecclesiae. The Passion according to St. Luke is sung (Luke 22:1-71; 23: 1-53). The preface is of the Cross, there is an Oratio super populum and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar. Vespers follow Mass. The Office hymn is Vexilla regis. After the antiphon on the Magnificat, Ancilla dixit etc., has been repeated the choir kneel and the preces feriales are sung. The collect, Respice, will become very familiar during the Triduum. At Compline, sung at the usual time, the Dominical preces are also sung kneeling.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the day is I class.  At the Hours the ferial preces are omitted. At Prime (Pss. 25, 51, 52 the chapter is the festal Regi saeculorum. At Mass there is no additional  collect, the Passion is shortened to Luke 22: 39-71; 23:1-53 - the special Gospel portion being sung with the rest of the Passion without distinction, the dismissal is Ite, missa est and the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. Vespers are sung in the afternoon and are sung without the ferial preces. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Tuesday in Holy Week

Tuesday in Holy Week, Fig Tuesday, is a privileged ferial day. Although of simple rite no feast may take precedence over them. A feast is either commemorated or transferred depending on its rank. The liturgical colour of the day is violet.

At Mattins the invitatory is Hodie etc and the Office hymm Pange, lingua, gloriosi. Mattins has one nocturn. The lessons are taken from the book of Jeremy the Prophet, the responsories are proper. At the second scheme of Lauds the antiphons are proper, Vidi, Domine etc sung with psalms 50, 42, 66, Ego dixi and 134. The Office hymn is O sol salutis. After the antiphon on the Benedictus, Ante diem festum etc., has been repeated after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung followed by the, proper, collect of the day. These same antiphons, Vide, Domine etc., are sung at the Hours. At Prime (Pss. 24i, 24ii, 24iii & 95 the chapter is the ferial Pacem et vertiatem. The ferial preces are also sung at each of the Hours, again the choir kneeling. At Mass, sung after None, the deacon and subdeacon wear folded chasubles. The formula is proper to the day with the introit Nos autem gloriari, the second collect is Ecclesiae. The Passion according to St. Mark is sung (Mark 14:1-72; 15: 1-46). The preface is of the Cross, there is an Oratio super populum and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar. Vespers follow Mass. The Office hymn is Vexilla regis. After the antiphon on the Magnificat, Potestatem habeo etc., has been repeated the choir kneel and the preces feriales are sung. At Compline, sung at the usual time, the Dominical preces are also sung kneeling.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the day is I class. At Lauds the ferial preces are omitted. At the Hours the ferial preces are also omitted. At Prime (Pss. 24i, 24ii, 24iii) the chapter is the festal Regi saeculorum. At Mass there is only a single collect, the Passion is shortened to Mark 14: 32-72; 15:1-46 - the special Gospel portion being sung with the rest of the Passion, the dismissal is Ite, missa est and the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. Vespers are sung in the afternoon and are sung without the ferial preces. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Monday in Holy Week

Monday in Holy Week is a privileged ferial day as are tomorrow and Wednesday. Although of simple rite no feast may take precedence over them. A feast is either commemorated or transferred depending on its rank. So the feast of the Annunciation is transferred to April 8th this year. The liturgical colour of the day is violet.

At Mattins the invitatory is Hodie etc and the Office hymm Pange, lingua, gloriosi. Mattins has one nocturn. The lessons are taken from a homily of St. Augustine on St. John's Gospel account of the raising of Lazarus, the responsories are proper. At the second scheme of Lauds the antiphons are proper, Faciem meam etc sung with psalms 50, 5, 28, Confitebor tibi and 116. The Office hymn is O sol salutis. After the antiphon on the Benedictus, Clarifica me, Pater etc., has been repeated after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung followed by the, proper, collect of the day. These same antiphons, Faciem meam etc., are sung at the Hours. At Prime (Pss. 23, 18i, 18ii & 46the chapter is the ferial Pacem et vertiatem. The ferial preces are also sung at each of the Hours, again the choir kneeling. At Mass, sung after None, the deacon and subdeacon wear folded chasubles. The formula is proper to the day with the introit Judica, Domine, nocentes me, the second collect is Ecclesiae, the preface is of the Cross, there is an Oratio super populum and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar. Vespers follow Mass. The Office hymn is Vexilla regis. After the antiphon on the Magnificat, Non haberes etc., has been repeated the choir kneel and the preces feriales are sung. At Compline, sung at the usual time, the Dominical preces are also sung kneeling.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the day is I class. At Lauds the ferial preces are omitted. At the Hours the ferial preces are also omitted. At Prime (Pss. 23, 18i, 18ii) the chapter is Regi saeculorum. At Mass there is only a single collect, the dismissal is Ite, missa est and the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. Vespers are sung in the afternoon and are sung without the ferial preces. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

Feria Quarta Cinerum - Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a privileged greater feria although only of simple rite. No feast can be celebrated on this day of whatever rank. The liturgical colour of the day is violet.

The third part of the Pontificale Romanum still contains the rite for the Expulsion of Public Penitents - De Expulsione Publice Poenitentium ab Ecclesia in feria Quarta Cinerum. In that rite, after Sext, when the bishop was to celebrate Mass this day, the bishop vested in pontificals as far as the dalmatic and then donned a violet cope. Public penitents assembled in sack-cloth in their bare feet and were given a penance for Lent and then were given ashes, which the bishop had blessed. Then followed a ceremony that included the Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany. It culminated in the penitents being led, physically, from the church and expelled. The Caermoniale Episcoporum alludes to the Expulsion of Penitents in churches where it is the custom, C.E. Lib II, Cap.18, 2. Although no longer generally practised echoes of the above can be found in today's Liturgy which contains a general imposition of Ashes on those who are not expelled. The Liturgy is interesting too in that much remains of the Office of the Septuagesima season as originally Lent began with the Office of the first Sunday.

The Expulsion of Penitents from a 1611 edition of the Pontificale Romanum from Google Books.

The Office of Ash Wednesday begins with Mattins. The invitatory is Deum magnum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Rerum Creator optime both from the ferial Office per annum. The antiphons Speciosus forma etc are sung with the nine psalms/psalm divisi of a single nocturn from the ferial Office for Wednesdays. The second scheme of Mattins for Wednesday is used, wherein Psalm 49 is split into three divisi rather than the usual two. The lessons in the nocturn are from a homily of St. Augustine reflecting on the LORD's Sermon on the Mount from St. Matthew's Gospel. The responsories are taken from the third nocturn of Quinquagesima Sunday. At Lauds the second scheme of psalmody is used (Pss. 50, 64, 100, Canticle of Anna & 145. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the day. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been sung in full after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung. After the collect of the day the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

At the Hours again the ferial antiphons and psalter are used. Prime has a fourth psalm displaced from Lauds by the Miserere, so the psalmody at Prime is Pss. 25, 51, 52 & 96. At Prime both the Dominical and ferial preces are sung kneeling, the chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are chanted with the choir again kneeling.

The blessing of Ashes and Mass follows None. The celebrant vests in a violet cope while the deacon and subdeacon wear violet folded chasubles. The organ is silent following the general rule when folded chasubles are worn. The Ashes, made from burning of the preceding year's Palms, are blessed with four collects of blessing. The short conclusion of these prayers may indicate the blessing was separated by the Expusion of Penitents from the Mass which follows. The Ashes are imposed whilst two antiphons are chanted Immutemur habitu and Inter vestibulum. These are followed by the poignant responsory Emendemus in melius. The Mass that now immediately follows is proper. The Gloria is not sung. The second collect is A cunctis, the third collect of Omnipotens. The preface of Lent is sung for the first time this year. The ferial tones are used for the orations, preface and Pater noster. The choir kneels for the Orations and from the Sanctus until Pax Domini. After the last collect the deacon sings Humiliate capita vestra Deo and the celebrant sings the Oratio super populum. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar.

Vespers are ferial with the antiphons and psalms of the ferial Psalter for Wednesday. The Office hymn is Caeli Deus sanctissime. The antiphon on the Magnificat and collect are proper to the day. After the collect of the day a commemoration is sung of St. Valentine followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung, with the choir kneeling.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the ferial preces are sung at Lauds and Vespers only. At Lauds there is no Suffrage of the Saints. At Prime there are three psalms 25, 51 & 52 and the chapter is the festal Regi saeculorum - bizzare! At the blessing of Ashes and Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. Judica me Deus etc is omitted from the beginning of Mass. There is only one collect. The extended kneeling is omitted with the choir rising at the conclusion of the Canon. The dismissal is Ite missa est. Vespers are of the feria without a commemoration of St. Valentine and without the Suffrage of the Saints.

Saturday Office of the BVM - Resumed Sunday

As today there is no occuring semi-double, or higher ranking feast, today is celebrated the Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin. The rite is simple. and the liturgical colour is white.

At second Vespers yesterday afternoon of St. Peter's Chair a commemoration of the Saturday Office was sung after the commemoration of St. Paul and before the other commemorations. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the melody and with the Doxology of the Incarnation.

At Mattins the invitatory was Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum and the Office hymn Quem terra pontus sidera. The antiphons and psalms of the nocturn are from the Psalter for Saturday. The first and second lessons were from Scripture occurring, the Epistle to the Corinthians, and the third lesson is proper to the month of January, De via perversitatis. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antipons and psalms are of the Saturday, the Office hymn is O gloriosa Virginum. After the collect of the day commemorations were sung of SS Marius and Others and St. Canute. The commemorations were followed by the special form of the Suffrage of the Saints used on feasts of the BVM.

At Prime Jam lucis is sung to the melody and with the Doxology of the Incarnation. The versicle is the short responsory is changed to Qui natus es de Maria Virgine and the Dominical preces are sung. At the Hours the hymns have the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation.

Mass is of the resumed Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany. The liturgical colour is white. The Mass formulary is In excelso throno. The Gloria is sung the second collect is of the BVM, the third collect of SS Marius and Others, the fourth collect is of St. Canute. The preface is of the BVM with the verse Et te in Veneratione. Private Votive Masses are forbidden.

Vespers are of the second Sunday after the Epiphany with a colour change to green.  The Office hymn is Jam sol recedit igneus.  After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of SS Fabian and Sebastian.  At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted due to the concurring double feast.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Suffrage was omitted at Laudes.  At Prime there are no Dominical preces. At the Hours the hymns have the ordinary tone and Doxology.  Mass is of the BVM with a single collect. The Mass of the resumed Sunday is ignored.  At Vespers there are no commemorations.

The Vigil of the Nativity

The Vigil of the Nativity is unique in the Liturgical Year in that it is of simple rite at Mattins and then becomes of double rite from Lauds onwards.

Mattins has one nocturn of three lessons. The invitatorium is Hodie scietis and the hymn Verbum supernum, the antiphons and psalms are from the ferial psalter for Saturday, Memor fuit in saeculum etc., but the versicles, lessons and responsories are proper. The homily is taken from St. Jerome's commentary on the first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds the antiphons, Judaea et Jerusalem nolite timere etc, are sung with the psalms of Sunday. The Office hymn is En clara vox. The chapter, antiphon on the Benedictus, and collect are proper to the Vigil. The ferial preces are not sung.

Prime is festal with the first antiphon from Lauds, as usual, and psalms 53, 118(i) and 118(ii). The Martyrology is sung with extra solemnity today. The Hebdomadarius dons a violet cope and preceded by acolytes bearing candles and a thurifer with incense enters the choir. After reverencing the choir and altar the Martyrology is censed, as a Gospel book, three times. The the choir rise and the Hebdomadarius chants 'Octavo Kalendas Januarii. Luna undecima. Anno a creatione mundi, quando in principio Deus creavit coelum et terram, quinquies millesimo centesimo nonagesimonono: A diluvio etc., listing the years since the birth of Abraham, the Exodus from Egypt, the anointing of David, the time since Daniel the Prophet, since the founding of Rome and the conception of the LORD by the Holy Ghost. He continues until '...novemque post conceptionem decursis mensibus', then raising the pitch of the chant, whilst the choir kneel, he continues, 'in Bethlehem Judae nascitur ex Maria Virgine factus Homo'. Then in the tone of the Passion: 'Nativitas Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundem carnem.' The choir then rise and sit whilst in the normal tone the Hebdomadarius (or a lector, depending on the custom of the place) continues with the entries for the day: 'Eodem die natalis santae Anastasiae etc. The lectio brevis, Per quem accepimus, is proper to the Vigil. The antiphons from Lauds are used in sequence at the rest of the Hours.

Mass is sung after None. Today the ministers do not wear folded chasubles but dalmatic and tunicle. There is just one collect. The dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung by the deacon to a most beautiful and ornate tone reserved for today, the feast of the Holy Innocents and pro re gravi Masses.

First Vespers of the Nativity are sung in the afternoon. The antiphons Rex pacificus etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. All hymns of Iambic metre have the Doxology Jesu, tibi sit gloria, qui natus es de Virgine for the Octave and up until the feast of the Epiphany.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there is no change of rank between Mattins and the rest of the day. The antiphons at Mattins and the Hours are doubled. At Prime the special short lesson is omitted and the one used for all of Advent is sung. Not having folded chasubles the distinction of the lightening of the penitential tone is lost at Mass and the beautiful chant of the Benedicamus Domino is replaced by Ite, missa est. Mass is sung after Terce, not after None. The hymns at the Little Hours through the Octave etc do not have the special tone and Doxology in honour of the Incarnation.

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.

Feria IV Cinerum - Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is a privileged greater feria although of simple rite. No feast can be celebrated on this day of whatever rank. The liturgical colour of the day is violet.

The third part of the Pontificale Romanum still contains the rite for the Expulsion of Public Penitents - De Expulsione Publice Poenitentium ab Ecclesia in feria Quarta Cinerum. In that rite, after Sext, when the bishop was to celebrate Mass this day, the bishop vested in pontificals as far as the dalmatic and then donned a violet cope. Public penitents assembled in sack-cloth in their bare feet and were given a penance for Lent and then were given ashes, which the bishop had blessed. Then followed a ceremony that included the Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany. It culminated in the penitents being led, physically, from the church and expelled. The Caermoniale Episcoporum alludes to the Expulsion of Penitents in churches where it is the custom, C.E. Lib II, Cap.18, 2. Although no longer generally practised echoes of the above can be found in today's Liturgy which contains a general imposition of Ashes. The Liturgy is interesting too in that much remains of the Office of the Septuagesima season as originally Lent began with the Office of the first Sunday.

The Expulsion of Penitents from a 1611 edition of the Pontificale Romanum from Google Books.

The Office of Ash Wednesday begins with Mattins. The invitatory is Deum magnum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Rerum Creator optime both from the ferial Office per annum. The antiphons Speciosus forma etc are sung with the nine psalms/psalm divisi of a single nocturn from the ferial Office for Wednesdays. The second scheme of Mattins for Wednesday is used, wherein Psalm 49 is split into three divisi rather than the usual two. The lessons in the nocturn are from a homily of St. Augustine reflecting on the LORD's Sermon on the Mount from St. Matthew's Gospel. The responsories are taken from the third nocturn of Quinquagesima Sunday. At Lauds the second scheme of psalmody is used (Pss. 50, 64, 100, Canticle of Anna & 145. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the day. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been sung in full after the canticle the choir kneels and the ferial preces are sung. After the collect of the day commemorations are sung of the simplified feast of St. Peter's Chair at Antioch and of St. Paul the Apostle.

At the Hours again the ferial antiphons and psalter are used. Prime has a fourth psalm displaced from Lauds by the Miserere, so the psalmody at Prime is Pss. 25, 51, 52 & 96. At Prime both the Dominical and ferial preces are sung kneeling, the chapter is the ferial Pacem et veritatem. At the other Hours the short set of ferial preces are chanted with the choir again kneeling.

The blessing of Ashes and Mass follows None. The celebrant vests in a violet cope while the deacon and subdeacon wear violet folded chasubles. The organ is silent following the general rule when folded chasubles are worn. The Ashes, made from burning of the preceding year's Palms, are blessed with four collects of blessing. The short conclusion of these prayers may indicate the blessing was separated by the Expusion of Penitents from the Mass which follows. The Ashes are imposed whilst two antiphons are chanted Immutemur habitu and Inter vestibulum. These are followed by the poignant responsory Emendemus in melius. The Mass that now immediately follows is proper. The Gloria is not sung. The second collect is of St. Peter, the third collect of St. Paul. The preface of Lent is sung for the first time this year. The ferial tones are used for the orations, preface and Pater noster. The choir kneels for the Orations and from the Sanctus until Pax Domini. After the last collect the deacon sings Humiliate capita vestra Deo and the celebrant sings the Oratio super populum. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar. The last Gospel is from the Mass of St. Peter's Chair.

Vespers are first Vespers of the following feast of St. Peter Damian with a corresponding colour change to white. Commemorations are sung of the feria (the antiphon on the Magnificat and collect are proper) and of St. Peter and of St. Paul.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the ferial preces are sung at Lauds and Vespers only. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Prime there are three psalms 25, 51 & 52 and the chapter is the festal Regi saeculorum. At the blessing of Ashes and Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle. Judica me Deus etc is omitted from the beginning of Mass. There is only one collect. The extended kneeling is omitted with the choir rising at the conclusion of the Canon. The dismissal is Ite missa est. Vespers are of the feria without any commemorations.