Dominica in Albis - Low Sunday

Dominica in Albis, Low Sunday, is a greater-double of the first class. The Sunday is also often referred to as Quasimodo from the first words of its introit. Anciently on this day, or on Saturday, those who had been baptised on Holy Saturday took off their white robes which had been worn since the Oil of Catechumens and Chrism had been lavished upon them on Holy Saturday. The Gospel at Mattins and Mass is the account of the LORD appearing in to His disciples behind the shut doors of the room and the doubting of St. Thomas. Indeed another name for the Sunday is 'Thomas Sunday'. The Office of the Octave of Pascha ended with the Office of None yesterday. Octaves for other feasts are resumed from today. As the feast of the Annunciation occured on the Monday of Holy Week it is translated to tomorrow. By a curious calendric coincidence, this year, the same happens in the Julian Calendar.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung under the single antiphon, Alleluia. Chapters and hymns return to the Office from this Vespers. The Paschaltide hymn Ad regias Agni dapes was sung. Its Doxology,Deo Patri sit gloria, Et Filio qui a mortuis, Surrexit ac Paraclito, In sempiterna saecula, is sung at all hymns of Iambic metre until the Ascension. From this Office the dismissal, Benedicamus Domino, is sung without the double Alleluia that marked the Paschal Octave. The Suffrage is not sung. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory Surrexit Dominus vere Alleluia continues to be sung. The Office hymn is Rex Sempiterne Caelitum. The psalms of each nocturn are sung under a single antiphon. In the first nocturn the antiphon is Alleluia, * lapis revolutus est, alleluia: ab ostio monumenti, alleluia, alleluia and the lessons are from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians. In the second nocturn the antiphon is Alleluia, * quem quaeris mulier? alleluia, alleluia, viventem cum mortuis, alleluia, alleluia and the lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Augustine on the Octave of Easter. In the third nocturn the antiphon is Alleluia, * noli flere Maria, alleluia: resurrexit Dominus, alleluia, alleluia and the homily is from the writings of St. Gregory on St. John's Gospel. At Lauds the Sunday psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148) are sung under a single antiphon, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. The Office hymn is Aurora caelum purpurat. The Suffrage is omitted.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) and the Hours the psalms are again sung under a single antiphon at each Hour, Alleluia, * alleluia, alleluia - which is not doubled of course, even today.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung. There is a single collect.The Creed is sung and the preface is of Paschaltide (In hoc potissimum).

After None first Vespers of the, translated, feast of the Annunciation are sung. The antiphons Missus est Gabriel Angelus ad Mariam etc with an added Alleluia are sung, doubled, with Pss.109, 112, 121, 126 & 14). The Office hymn is Ave Maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of Low Sunday is sung. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology in honour of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi sit gloria etc.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn of three lessons with the single antiphon Alleluia, lapis revolutus etc. At the Little Hours the Paschaltide Doxology is not sung with the hymns. At Mass there is a change to one word in the introit as 'rationabile' replaced 'rationabiles' in the 1953 edition of the Roman Missal and subsequent editions. Vespers are of the Sunday with a commemoration of the Annunciation. At Compline the ordinary Doxology and tone are sung with Te lucis.

Image: Jerome Nadal.

XXV Sunday after Pentecost

The twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of November. Texts for the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany are used along with those from the twenty-third Sunday in the same manner as last week. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew are of the parable of the mustard seed and the leaven.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of SS Peter and Paul were sung. The antiphons Domum tuam Dominus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 147. The Office hymn was Caelestis urbs Jerusalem beata. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon being Qui caelorum etc for the fourth Sunday of November), of St. Elizabeth and of St. Pontianus. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted, as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum etc and the Office hymn is Primo die. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of the Prophet Osee. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Augustine's Book the City of God. In the third nocturn (that appointed for the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany) the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Aeterne rerum Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Elizabeth and of St. Pontianus. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The introit, gradual, Alleluia verse, offertory and communion texts are, again, those of the twenty-third Sunday. The rest of the texts are those of the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Elizabeth, the third collect is of St. Pontianus. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113). The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St.Felix of Valois and of St. Elizabeth. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' on Saturday Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is only one collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Image: Missale Romanum 1572 Paris Google Books. As explained in the post above the introit Adorate is not actually sung today but Dicit Dominus from the XXIII Sunday.

The Transfiguration of the LORD

The feast of the Transfiguration of the LORD is a Double feast of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. The X Sunday after Pentecost (and the second Sunday of August) is commemorated at in the Office and at Mass.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Assumpsit Jesus etc., proper to the feast, were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Quicumque Christum quaeritis. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Christus Jesus, splendor Patris etc and the collect was proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of the Dedication of Sancta Maria ad Nives and of the Sunday, the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ego in altissimis for the Saturday before the second Sunday of August. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline, and at all the Hours, the hymns have the Doxology Jesu tibi Domine, Qui apparusti hodie etc along with its melody.

At Mattins the invitatory is Summum Regem gloriae, Venite adoremus. The Office hymn is, again, Quicumque Christum quaeritis. In the first nocturn the proper antiphons, Paulo minus etc, are sung with psalms 8, 28 & 44. The lessons in the first nocturn are from the Second Epistle of St. Peter. In the second nocturn the antiphons Illuminans etc are sung with psalms 75, 83, and 86. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo. In the third nocturn the antiphons Thabor et Hermon etc are sung with psalms 88, 96 and 103. The homily in the third nocturn is taken from St. Chrysostom's 57th homily on St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday a homily by St. Augustine on St. Luke. The Te Deum is sung. The Incipit of the Book of Ecclesiastes, from the second Sunday is transferred to tomorrow's first nocturn.

At Lauds the antiphons Assumpsit Jesus Petrum et Jacobem etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Lux alma, Jesu, mentium. The antiphon on the Benedictus is Et ecce vox etc. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of SS Xystus & Companions. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns have the proper Doxology and melody as noted above. The antiphons from Lauds are sung at the Hours in the usual order. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (53, 118i & 118ii), the verse in the short response is Qui apparuisti and the lectio brevis is Sustulit me.

Mass is sung after Terce. Where it is the custom a blessing of grapes takes place immediately before Mass. The introit is Illuxerant. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, (in private Masses the third collect is of SS Xystus etc). The Creed is sung, the Preface is of the Nativity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all is sung as was sung at first Vespers except for the antiphon on the Magnificat, Et audientes, which is proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Cajetan and of the Sunday. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today would be the first Sunday of August but it is entirely omitted and not commemorated in the Office or Mass of the feast. The beginning of the Book of Proverbs (read last week in the traditional rite) is entirely omitted this year. At Vespers there are no commemorations. At Mattins Psalm 88 ends with the verse Quia Domini est assumptio nosta etc and the verses from Tunc locutus es etc to the end, 34 verses in all, are omitted. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At the Hours the hymns have the ordinary Doxology and the antiphons are of the Sunday, not the feast, Prime has Pss. 117, 1181 & 118ii. The lectio brevis is of the season. At Mass there is only one collect, the Preface is of the Trinity and the last Gospel is In principio. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

VII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventh Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the words of warning from the LORD concerning false prophets appearing as sheep but who, in reality, are wolves.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The Office hymn was Jam sol recedit igneus. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office St. Camillus de Lellis and of St. Vincent de Paul. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the double feasts as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Officie hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Third Book of the Kings. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from am epistle of St. Jerome to Nepotianus. In the third nocturn the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from St. Hiliary. The Te Deum is sung. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of St. Vincent de Paul. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

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

At Vespers (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) the Office hymn is Lucis Creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of St.Jerome Aemiliani. of St. Vincent de Paul and of St. Margaret. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers there are no commemorations. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

First Sunday in Lent

The First Sunday in Lent is a semi-double Sunday of the first class. No feast can take precedence over it or any such Sunday. The liturgical colour of the Sunday is violet. At Mass, unlike on the Sundays of Septuagesima, the ministers wear folded chasubles rather than dalmatic and tunicle and the organ is silent (as has been the practice too since Ash Wednesday). The Gospel pericope at Mattins and Mass is St. Matthew's account of the LORD's temptation by Satan in the desert. Vespers yesterday morning mark the ancient beginning of Lent before the addition of Ash Wednesday and the intervening days. On these added days although certain penitential practices have entered the Liturgy such as the use folded chasubles and the ferial preces at the Hours the Office hymns etc were still those used in previous weeks. Vespers yesterday morning marked the beginning also of the Spring volume of the Breviary, Pars Verna.

At Vespers yesterday morning the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The chapter was proper, Fratres: Hortamur vos, and the Office hymn was Audi, benigne Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of St. Peter's Chair at Antioch and of St. Paul the Apostle. The Suffrage was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Non sit vobis and the hymn is Ex more. These are both used throughout the first four weeks of Lent. The antiphons and psalms given in the Psalter for Sundays are sung, as on previous Sundays. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from a sermon on Lent by St. Leo the Great and in the third nocturn the lessons are a homily of St. Gregory the Great on St. Matthew's account of the temptation of the LORD. As in Septuagesima there is no Te Deum but a ninth responsory, which today is Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper to the Sunday, Cor mundum etc., and the second scheme of Psalms is sung (50, 117, 62, Benedictus es, 148). The chapter is proper to the Sunday and hymn is O sol salutis. After the collect of the day commemorations are sung of St. Peter's Chair and of St. Paul. The Suffrage is omitted due to the occurring double feast.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons are proper to the Sunday, Jesus autem etc. At Prime the psalms are 92, 99 (displaced from Lauds) and the first two divisi of 118. The Dominical preces are omitted and the short lesson is Quaerite Dominum.

Mass is sung after Terce. As folded chasubles are word by the ministers the organ is silent. At Mass the Gloria is not sung. The second collect is of St. Peter's Chair, the third collect of St. Paul. A Tract is sung after the Gradual, the Creed is sung, the preface is of Lent and the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino, sung by the deacon facing the celebrant and altar.

Vespers are of the Sunday, sung at the normal time (as Sundays are not fast days). The antiphons and psalms are those used on Sundays, the chapter is proper and the hymn is Audi, benigne Conditor. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of the St. Peter Damian and then of St. Peter's Chair and of St. Paul. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Vespers on the weekdays of Lent are sung at the same time as during the rest of the Liturgical year. There were no commemorations at Vespers. Mattins is slashed down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Prime the psalms are Ps. 53 and the first two divisi of Ps. 118 as on feasts. At Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle, as in Septuagesima. There is but a single collect. The dismissal is Ite, missa est. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today is the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is of greater double rite and takes precedence, as a feast of the LORD, over the 'green' Sunday. The origin of the feast was the dedication of Constantine's basilica in Jerusalem in 335. The feast appears to have been celebrated in Rome since the seventh century. A double feast in the Tridentine Missal of 1570 it was raised to greater double rank by Clement VIII. The liturgical colour of the feast is red. The fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and this year the third Sunday of September, is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons O magnum pietatis opus etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was the magnificent Vexilla regis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September). The Suffrage was omitted due to the double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Christum Regem, pro nobis in Cruce exaltatum, Venite adoremus. The antiphons and responsories for the three nocturns are proper. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the Book of Numbers with the account of Moses and the brazen serpent, a prefigurement of the Cross. In the second nocturn the lessons describe the taking of the Cross from Jerusalem and its triumphant return. In the third nocturn the lessons are from a homily on the Passion of the Lord from St. Leo the Great. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday, a homily from St. Augustine on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons O magnum pietatis opus etc are, again, sung this time with Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The Office hymn is Lustra sex. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

At the Hours the O magnum pietatis opus etc are sung in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted, the lectio brevis is proper, Humiliavit semetipsum.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. There is no third collect today. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Holy Cross and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers see a colour change to white and first Vespers of the following feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin. The antiphons Quo abiit 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 preceding feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and of the Sunday. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology proper to the feast of the Seven Sorrows, Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui passus es pro servulis etc. The week ahead will be that of the September Ember Days.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' although the feast has been raised in rank to 'second class' (connected with the abolition of the May feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross) it loses first Vespers with the exception of when it falls on a Sunday. The Sunday is not commemorated being considered an identical mystery with the feast. If the Sunday were to be commemorated it would be the second Sunday of September not the third. At the Little Hours the antiphons for the Sunday, not the feast are sung. At Prime (Ps. 117, 118i & 118ii) the lectio brevis is of the Sunday. At Mass there is a single collect and the last Gospel is In principio. Vespers are second Vespers of the Exaltation of the Cross without commemoration of the following Office of the Seven Sorrows or of the Sunday. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the ordinary Doxology. The Ember Days will not be celebrated for another week.

Icon from the Greek Catholic Church.

St. Bartholomew the Apostle

The feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle is a Double of the Second Class and the liturgical colour of the day is red. The feast was preceded by a Vigil yesterday and although the Office of the Vigil was outranked by the double feast of St. Philip Benizi it was commemorated at Mattins, Lauds and Mass. In Cathedral and Collegiate churches the Mass of the feast was celebrated after Terce, the Mass of the Vigil after None. However, 'private' Masses of the Vigil, celebrated in violet with a commemoration of the feast, were permitted. Today the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc were sung with the psalms of first Vespers from the Common Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116). The Office hymn was Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Philip Benizi and of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August). The Suffrage was omitted due to the double feasts. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and the Dominical preces preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christi munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung with psalms 18, 33 & 44. The lessons are Sic nos existimet homo from the former Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung with psalms 46, 60 & 63 followed by lessons proper to the feast. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily is taken from a commentary by St. Ambrose on St. Luke's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii). Both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. The lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli.

Mass is sung after Terce. The introit is Mihi autem nimis. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Apostles and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Juravit Dominus etc are sung with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The Office hymn is again Exsultet orbis gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Louis and of the Sunday. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast is outranked by the 'green' Sunday. Regardless the feast has lost its first Vespers and Vigil. At Vespers, of the Sunday, there are no commemorations. At Compline yesterday the ferial psalms were sung. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. St. Bartholomew is commemorated at Lauds. At said Masses there is a second collect of St. Bartholomew, in sung celebrations there is but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Icon: Melkite Eparchy in Australia

The Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel

The feast of the Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel is a Double of the First Class and has been celebrated since the sixth century. The feast originated as the dedication festival of a church in the Circus at Rome that Boniface II dedicated to St. Michael. The liturgical colour of the feast is white. The feast became a Double of the First Class in 1917. The Office is proper. The nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (this year the first Sunday of October) is commemorated in the Office and Mass of the feast.

At first Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Stetit angelus etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Te, splendor et virtus Patris. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Adaperiat Dominus etc for the Saturday before the first Sunday of October) . At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Archangelum Dominium, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is, again, Te, splendor. 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 Archangele etc are sung with psalms 18, 23 & 33. The lessons in the second nocturn are taken from a homily of St. Gregory the Great. In the third nocturn the antiphons Angelus Archangelus Michael etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 102. The lessons are a homily of St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday and is a homily of St. Gregory on St. Matthew's gospel. At Lauds the antiphons Stetit angelus etc are sung with the Dominical psalms (Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148). The Office hymn is Christe, sanctorum decus Angelorum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the antiphons Stetit Angelus etc are sung with the festal psalms. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) the lectio brevis is Factum est praelium.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Blessed Trinity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers all is sung as at first Vespers yesterday except Ps. 137 is sung in place of Ps.116 and the versicle and response and antiphon on the Magnificat are proper to second Vespers. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the following feast of St. Jerome.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast becomes 'first class'. At first Vespers the Sunday is commemorated with the antiphon Domine, Rex omnipotens for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of September. At Mattins there is no ninth lesson of the Sunday. At the Hours the antiphons are doubled. At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season. At Mass the last Gospel is In principio. At second Vespers there is a commemoration of the Sunday but that of St. Jerome is omitted.

Icon: St. Michael in a Icon from Archangel Cathedral, the Kremlin, from Wikipedia.

XXIV and Last Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the twenty-fourth and last Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the fifth Sunday of November. The Sunday is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew contain the prophetic words of the LORD concerning the last days and the coming of the Antichrist.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Super muros tuos for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday of November. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of St. Felix of Valois and of St. Elizabeth. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted because of the occurring double feasts as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Michah the Prophet. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Basil the Great on the thirty-third psalm. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration of St. Felix of Valois is sung.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St Felix of Valois. There is no third collect. The Creed is sung and the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. Lucis Creator is sung with the melody and Doxology of the Incarnation Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of the Presentation of the BVM and of St. Felix. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted because of the occurring double feasts.

The week ahead, with its completion of the series of Minor Prophets, often sees many of the Incipits move to ensure their reading. This year Monday's Incipit of the Book of Nahum becomes the first lesson read on Wednesday and Tuesday's Incipit of the Book of Habacuc is read as the second lesson on Wednesday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the twenty-third Sunday was not anticipated yesterday but entirely omitted this year. There are no commemorations or Suffrage at Vespers. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is neither commemoration nor Suffrage. At Mass there is one collect. Vespers are of the Sunday without any commemorations and Lucis creator is sung with the ordinary Doxology.

Art: Jerome Nadal Nadal's image of the Antichrist enthroned whilst the clergy and people give him false worship.

XVI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite. This year it is the first Sunday of October. Its liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke are of the LORD healing the man with dropsy on the Sabbath.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Adaperiat Dominus for the Saturday before the first Sunday of October. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration was sung of the occurring feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. The Suffrage was omitted due to the double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins there are the usual three nocturns. The invitatory is Adoremus Dominum, qui fecit nos and the hymn is Primo die. This combination is now kept in the Sunday office until Advent. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the firt Book of Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are from the book of Offices by St. Ambrose. In the third nocturn the lessons are again from St. Ambrose, a homily on St. Lukes's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds a commemoration is sung of the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels and the Suffrage is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Holy Guardian Angels. There is no third collect. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Holy Trinity and proper last Gospel of the Holy Guardian Angels.

Vespers are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Theresa and of the Holy Guardian Angels. The Suffrage is omitted due to the occurring double feast as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers there are no commemorations. Mattins is slashed down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is only one collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal.