St. Joachim, Father of the BVM

The feast of St. Joachim, father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. This year the feast occurs on its former day of celebration the Sunday within the Octaves of the Assumption and of St. Lawrence. Today is also the XII Sunday after Pentecost and third Sunday of August which is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. Although the day within the Octave of the Assumption is not commemorated hymns of Iambic metre still take the Marian Doxology and tone and Qui natus es is sung at Prime in the short responsory. Following the reforms of 1911-13 the Octave of St. Lawrence is mostly latent.

In pre-Trent times the feast was often celebrated on the 20th March. The feast was suppressed by Pius V in the Tridentine Missal and Breviary and re-instated by Gregory XIII in 1584. In 1623 the feast gained a proper Office and was transferred to the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption by Clement XII in 1738. Leo XIII raised the feast to a double of the second class in 1879. The 1948 Pian Commission discussed joining the feast with that of St. Anne, which indeed happened in due course (c.f. Memoria sulla riforma liturgica, ## 108, 178).

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Assumption were sung. The antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of the BVM, Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Ave maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Hodie Maria Virgo caelos ascendit: gaudete, quia cum Christo regnat in aeternum. After the collect of the feast, the sublime Famulorum tuorum, commemorations were sung of St. Joachim and of the XII Sunday after Pentecost (the antiphon on the Magnifcat being Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August). At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung and Te lucis was sung with the Doxology and tone of the Octave, Jesu, tibi...qui natus etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Iste Confessor. In the first nocturn the antiphons Beatus vir etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 1, 2 & 3. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the Common of Confessor non-Pontiffs, Beatus vir, etcwith their responsories. In the second nocturn the antiphons Invocantem etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 4, 5 & 8 and the lessons are proper to the feast. The fourth lesson is from the Discourse on the Praises of the Virgin by St. Epiphanius, the fifth and six lessons from a Discourse on the Birth of the Virgin by St. John Damascene. In the third nocturn the antiphons Domine etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 14, 20 & 23. The lessons, from the Common, are again from St. John Damascene. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

At the Hours the Office hymns have the Doxology of the Octave. The antiphons of Lauds are used in the usual order. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i) & 118(ii), Qui natus es is sung as the verse in the responsory because of the Octave and the lectio brevis is Justum deduxit.

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

At Vespers the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Iste, Confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Hyacinth and of the Sunday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the XII Sunday after Pentecost takes precedence over the feast of St. Joachim. The Octaves of the Assumption and of St. Lawrence have been abolished. At Vespers yesterday there was no commemoration of St. Joachim. At Compline, and the Hours, the ordinary Doxology was sung. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds a commemoration of St. Joachim is sung. At Low and Conventual Masses a commemoration is made of St. Joachim. At Vespers there are no commemorations.
Art: Icon of SS Joachim and Anna from the Greek Church

The Holy Innocents

The feast of the Holy Innocents is a Double of the Second Class with, since the reform of 1911-13, a simple Octave. The feast of the Holy Innocents is unique in the Roman rite in that it changes its liturgical colour depending on whether it falls on a weekday or a Sunday. As this year it is celebrated on Sunday the liturgical colour is red. When it falls on a week-day the feast is celebrated in violet, the origin of this practice being a synthesis of the differences in Gallican and Roman praxis.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms from second Vespers of the Nativity were sung. From the chapter, Qui timet Deum, the Office was of St. John with commemorations of the Holy Innocents and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Martyrum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Audit tyrannus anxius (sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation). In the first nocturn the antiphons Secus decursus aquarum etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 1, 2 and 3. The lessons are from the Prophet Jeremiah. In the second nocturn the antiphons Dabo Sanctis meis etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 14, 15 & 23. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Augustine on the Saints. In the third nocturn the antiphons Justi autem etc are sung with psalms 32, 33 & 45. However, the eighth antiphon, Isti sunt, is proper to the feast. The homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from the writings of St. Jerome. As the feast occurs on a Sunday this year Gloria Patri is added to the eighth responsory, the ninth responsory is omitted and the Te Deum is sung in its place. At Lauds the antiphons Herodes iratus etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Salvete, flores Martyrum (again, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation). After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung, not doubled, with the festal psalms. The hymns have their Doxology changed in honour of the Incarnation. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i), 118(ii) the short lesson is of the feast, Hi empti sunt.

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Alleluia and its verse given in the Missal are sung before the Gospel. The Creed is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity are sung, but from the chapter are of the Holy Innocents. The Office hymn is Salvete, flores Martyrum. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity. Vespers yesterday had the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity, from the chapter of St. John with a commemoration of the Sunday but not of the Holy Innocents nor of the Octave. Mattins has but a single nocturn. At Lauds there is a commemoration of the Holy Innocents but not of the Octave of the Octave. At the Hours the antiphons and psalms are of the Sunday and the hymns lose the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime the short lesson is of the season. At said Masses only there is a commemoration of the Holy Innocents. Vespers are of the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity without any commemorations.

X Sunday after Pentecost

The tenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins this year, is green. The Gospel pericope from St. Luke is of the parable of the Pharisee and Publican. This year it is the third Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octaves of St. Lawrence and of the Assumption.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of St. Joachim were sung. The antiphons Domine, quinque talenta were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Iste, Confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the The antiphon on the Magnificat being Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August) and of St. Hyacinth. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology, Jesu, tibi...Qui natus etc, and melody of the Incarnation. The Dominical preces were omitted.

In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Wisdom. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Ambrose's Book of Offices. In the third nocturn the lessons of the homily are from St. Augustine's 36th sermon on the words of the LORD. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Hyacinth, of the Octave of the Assumpiton and of the Octave Day of St. Lawrence. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation. At Prime Pss. 117, 118(i) & 118(ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted. The verse in the short responsory is Qui natus es.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Hyacinth, the third collect of the Octave of the Assumption and the fourth collect of the Octave Day of St. Lawrence. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Prior to the reform of 1911-13 the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption was the feast of St. Joachim, Father of the BVM. One Mass, other than the Conventual, may be sung of the feast. The Mass Dispersit is sung in white vestments with Gloria, the second collect of the Sunday, the third collect is of St. Hyacinth. The Creed is sung, the Preface is of the Holy Trinity and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

Vespers are of the Sunday, Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113, and the Office hymn is Lucis creator, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following day within the Octave of the Assumption and of St. Agapitus. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octaves of St. Lawrence and of the Assumption have been abolished. At Vespers only the Sunday is commemorated. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations.The hymns of the Hours have the ordinary Doxology. At Mass there is but a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The SS Apostles Peter & Paul

The feast of the Apostles SS Peter and Paul is a Double of the First Class with an Octave. The liturgical colour of the feast, and Octave, is red. The third Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart, is commemorated in the Office and at Mass, along with the Octave of the Sacred Heart. As the feast is a Double of the First Class the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is not commemorated today.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Petrus et Joannes etc were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn was Decora lux. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the third Sunday after Pentecost and of the Octave of the Sacred Heart. The Suffrage was omitted.  At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Tone3 melody and Doxology of the Sacred Heart: Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui corde fundis gratiam etc., and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the texts come from the Common of Apostles except for the lessons and responsories. The invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christe munera. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 18, 33 and 44. The lessons are taken from the Acts of the Apostles. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 46, 60 and 63 and the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. Today the ninth lesson is of the Sunday taken from a homily of St Gregory the Great on St Luke’s Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Petrus et Joannes etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Beate Pastor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave of the Sacred Heart.

At Prime and the Hours the Hymns have the melody and Doxology of the Sacred Heart. The antiphons of the feast are sung with the festal psalms. At Prime the lectio brevis is proper to the feast, Et Petrus etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect of the Octave of the Sacred Heart. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Apostles and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At second Vespers the antiphons Iuravit Dominus etc, from the Common are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 and 138. The Office hymn is Decora lux aeternitatis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday and of the Octave of the Sacred Heart. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the melody and Doxology of the Sacred Heart and the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the liturgical books of 1962' the Octaves of SS Peter and Paul and of the Sacred Heart have been abolished. Only the Sunday is commemorated at Vespers, Lauds and Mass. At Mattins there is no ninth lesson of the Sunday. At the Hours the Hymns have the ordinary Doxology and the antiphons are doubled.  At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season. At Mass the last Gospel is In principio.

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the LORD

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is white.

Yesterday afternoon Vespers of the Holy Innocents were sung in violet vestments. The antiphons, doubled, and psalms (109, 110, 111, 129 & 131) of the Nativity were sung. From the chapter, Vidi supra montem etc., the Office was of the Holy Innocents with the Office hymn was Salvete, flores Martyrum. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity, of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changes to white. The invitatory and hymn, antiphons (not doubled) and psalms are those that were sung on the feast of the Nativity. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Epistle to the Romans. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Leo on the Nativity. In the third nocturn the homily is taken from St. Augustine's writings on the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons from the Nativity, Quem vidistis etc., are sung (not doubled) with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper to the Sunday as is the collect. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order. The hymns of the Hours are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation. At Prime, Pss. 53, 118(i), & 118(ii) the lectio brevis is proper to the Sunday, Itaque jam non est servus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formulary isDum mediumetc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Thomas of Canterbury, the third collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Creed, preface and communicantes are of the Nativity are sung.

Vespers of the Nativity are sung, from the chapter of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave of the Nativity (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Hodie Christus natus est etc) and of St. Thomas of Canterbury.

In England the feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury is a Double of the First Class or Double of the Second Class, depending on particular dioceses, and takes precedence over the Sunday. The feast is celebrated in red vestments. The Sunday within the Octave and Octave are commemorated.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers red vestments were worn and there was a commemoration of the Sunday only. Mattins has the psalmody of the Nativity (with the curtailed Ps. 88 ) and the usual cut-down single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At the Hours the antiphons and psalmody of Sunday are sung, rather than the festal ones of the Octave (at Prime Pss. 117, 1181, 118ii and the lectio brevis of 'the season'). There is no proper Doxology (or melody) at the hymns of the Hours. Mass has but a single collect. Vespers are of the Nativity without any commemorations.

VI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins to None this year, is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Mark's Gospel describe the Feeding of the Four Thousand with seven loaves and fishes. This year it is the Sunday within the Octaves of St. John the Baptist and SS Peter & Paul.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of SS Peter & Paul were sung. The antiphons Iuravit etc, from the Common, were sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 112, 115, 125 and 138. The Office hymn was Decora lux aeternitatis. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Nocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the twelfth chapter of the Second Book of the Kings. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Ambrose's Defence of David. Again, St. Ambrose provides the homily in the third nocturn on St. Mark's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Commemoration of St. Paul the Apostle, of St. Peter and of the Octave of St. John the Baptist. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Commemoration of St. Paul the Apostle, the third collect is of St. Peter and the fourth collect is of the Octave of St. John the Baptist. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Blessed Trinity.

Where the feast of SS Peter & Paul was not observed yesterday its external solemnity may be celebrated today. All Masses, except the Conventual, may be of the feast. The proper Mass Nunc scio vere is sung with Gloria, 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 there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of The Most Precious Blood are sung. The antiphons Quis est iste etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is Festivis resonent compita vocibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octaves of St. John the Baptist and of SS Peter & Paul have been abolished. Mattins is reduced to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Mass there is but a single collect.

Image: Missale Romanum, 1572, Paris.

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the LORD

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. It is also the Sunday within the Octaves of St. Stephen, St. John and of the Holy Innocents but since the reform of 1911-13 those Octaves are all but invisible.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity were sung, the antiphons were not doubled. The Office hymn was Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the Octave of the Nativity and of St. Sylvester. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted. Throughout the Octave hymns of Iambic metre are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi...Qui natus etc.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn, antiphons (not doubled) and psalms are those that were sung on the feast of the Nativity. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Epistle to the Romans. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Leo on the Nativity. In the third nocturn the homily is taken from St. Ambrose on the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons from the Nativity, Quem vidistis etc., are sung (not doubled) with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper to the Sunday as is the collect. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Sylvester and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns of the Hours are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, & 118ii) the Dominical preces are omitted and the lectio brevis is proper to the Sunday, Itaque jam non est servus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formulary is Dum medium etc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Sylvester, the thrid collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Creed is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

After None first Vespers of the feast of the Circumcision are sung. The, proper, antiphons O admirabile commercium etc are sung, doubled, with the psalms for feasts of the BVM (Pss.109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium (as on the feast of the Nativity). The Doxology, which has been sung since first Vespers of the Nativity ,Jesu, tibi sit gloria etc continues to be sung until the Epiphany.
There are no commemorations. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations - including the Octave of the Nativity - at either Vespers. Mattins has the psalmody of the Nativity (with the curtailed Ps. 88 ) and the usual cut-down single nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. At the Hours the antiphons and psalmody are from the Sunday Office, not of the Nativity. There is no proper Doxology at the hymns of the Hours. Mass has but a single collect. 

Being the only Sunday within an Octave possible within MR1962 it is bizarre that the Octave is not commemorated at all whilst only half a century earlier the Octaves of the Nativity, of St. Stephen, of St. John and of the Holy Innocents (and in English dioceses that of St. Thomas) would have been commemorated on this day. (The feast of St. Sylvester would have been observed with commemorations of the Sunday and 4, or 5, Octaves.)

Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart - Third Sunday after Pentecost

The Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart, the third Sunday after Pentecost, is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The structure of the Office is as last Sunday. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke have the parable of the shepherd going after one sheep missing from his hundred strong flock. Today is also the Sunday within the Octave of St. John the Baptist.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of St. John the Baptist. The antiphons Elisabeth Zachariae etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms from Vespers for the Common of Apostles. The Office hymn was Ut queant laxis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday, of SS John and Paul and of the Octave of the Sacred Heart. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and Te lucis was sung with the Doxology and tone of the Octave. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Cor Jesu amore nostri vulneratum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Auctor beate saeculi, both as on the feast., In the first nocturn the antiphons from the feast, Cogitationes etc are sung, not doubled, with Pss. 32, 35 & 40 and the lessons are a continuation of the First Book of the Kings. The responses are of the Octave. In the second nocturn the antiphons Rex omnis terrae etc are sung with Pss. 46, 60 & 93. The lessons are from the Encyclical of Pius XI in 1928 that, inter alia, gave the feast an Octave. In the third nocturn the antiphons Qui diligitis Dominum etc are sung with Pss. 96, 97 & 107. The homily is from St. Gregory on St. Lukes Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Unus militum etc are sung, again as on the feast but not doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62 Benedicite & 148. The Office hymn is Cor, arca legem continens. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of SS John and Paul, of the Octave of the Sacred Heart and of the Octave of St. John the Baptist. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the hymns have the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui Corde fundis gratiam etc. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in the normal sequence at the Hours. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii). In the short responsory the versicle Qui Corde fundis gratiam is sung. The lectio brevis is of the Sunday, Deus autem.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS John and Paul, the third collect is of the Octave of the Sacred Heart, the fourth collect of the Octave of St. John the Baptist. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Sacred Heart.

Prior to end of the 1913 phase of the reform the fourth Sunday of June, the Sunday preceding the feast of SS Peter and Paul, was the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. All Masses, other than the Conventual Mass, may be of the feast and the liturgical colour is white. The Mass De ventre is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect of the Octave of the Sacred Heart, the Creed is sung (due to the commemoration of the Sunday), the preface is of the Sacred Heart and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Unus militum etc are sung, not doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 115, 127 & 147. The Office hymn is En ut superba criminum. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave of the Sacred Hearth, of SS John and Paul and of the Octave of St. John the Baptist. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octaves of the Sacred Heart and of St. John the Baptist have been abolished. The liturgical colour of the day is green. There are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins is is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. Mass has a single collect and the preface of the Trinity.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The Holy Name

The feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. The feast was granted to the Franciscan Order in 1530 to be kept on 14th January. In 1721 the feast was extended to the Universal Calendar to be kept on the second Sunday after the Epiphany. Following the 1911-13 reform this feast takes the place of the second 'vacant' Sunday after the Nativity or, when no Sunday falls between the Circumcision and the Epiphany, it is kept on January 2nd. In the Sarum Rite the feast was kept on August 7th and that date still appears in the Calendar of the Book of Common Prayer. The Office of the feast begins with Mattins.

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Circumcision were sung. The antiphons O admirabile commercium were sung, doubled, with the same psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The Office hymn was Jesu, redemptor omnium. After the collect of the feast there were no commemorations. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Admirabile nomen Jesu etc and the Office hymn is Jesu, Rex admirabilis etc. In the first nocturn the antiphons Domine, Dominus noster etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 8, 18 & 23 and the lessons are from the Acts of the Apostles. In the second nocturn the antiphons Memores erunt etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 44, 45 & 86 and lessons are taken from a sermon of St. Bernard. In the third nocturn the antiphons Cantate Domino etc are sung, doubled. with psalms 95, 96 & 97. The homily is also from St. Bernard. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons are again proper, Oleum effusum etc sung, doubled, with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The Office hymn is Jesu, decus angelicum. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Octave Day of St. Stephen the Protomartyr.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung in the usual order with the festal psalms. The Doxologies of the hymns at the Little Hours are changed in honour of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi sit gloria etc. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) the short lesson is proper, Omne quodcumque.

The Mass is proper, In nomine Jesu. The Gloria is sung. In said Masses the second collect is of the Octave Day of St. Stephen the Protomartyr. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Nativity.

At second Vespers the antiphons Omnis qui invocaverit etc are again sung, doubled, with Psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 115. The Office hymn is Jesu, dulcis memoria. No commemorations are sung. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation and the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the co-title 'Circumcision' has been dropped although the texts remain the same. At Compline and at the Hours the hymns do not have their Doxologies changed. The Octave of St. Stephen, or at least what little had remained of it, has been abolished. At the Hours the antiphons and psalms are from the Sunday Office, not of the feast (at Prime Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) and the short lesson at Prime is from the season, Ipsi peribunt). At Mass there is a single collect.

Art: Jastrow, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

St. John the Apostle and Evangelist

The feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist is a Double of the Second Class with, since the reform of 1911-13, a simple Octave. Before that reform the feast had a common Octave. The liturgical colour of the feast is white. The feast completely displaces the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Aeterna Christi munera, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. In the first nocturn the antiphons In omnem terram etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 18, 33 & 44. The lessons are the Incipit of the former Epistle of St. John. The responsories are proper to the feast. In the second nocturn the antiphons Principes populorum etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 46, 60 & 63 and the lessons are from the writings of St. Jerome. In the third nocturn the antiphons Exaltabuntur etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 74, 96 & 98. The homily on St. John's Gospel is from St. Augustine. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Valde honorandus est etc are sung, doubled, with the Dominical psalms (92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148). The Office hymn is Exsultet orbis gaudiis sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. The antiphon on the Benedictus, Iste est Joannes etc., is proper to the feast. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Octave of the Nativity.

At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime the antiphon Valde honorandus est is sung with the festal psalms (53, 118i & 118ii) and the lectio brevis is In medio Ecclesiae. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in due order at the other Horae Minores.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Creed is sung, the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

Vespers are of the Nativity but from the chapter of St. John. The Office hymn, Exsultet orbis gaudiis, is sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. Commemorations are sung of tomorrow's feast of the Holy Innocents and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung and the Dominical preces are omitted.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity (although no commemoration of the Octave is made). Mattins (of the Sunday) is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. The Doxology in honour of the Incarnation is omitted in the singing of the Office hymns of the Little Hours. At the Little Hours the antiphons and psalms are taken from the psalter for Sunday, not from the feast. At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season. St. John gets commemorated at Lauds and in said Masses. At other Masses there is a single collect. At Vespers no commemoration is made of the Holy Innocents nor of St. John or the Octave of the Nativity.

Miniature of St. John from Wikipedia.

St. Joachim, Father of the BVM

The feast of St. Joachim, father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Double of the Second Class and its liturgical colour is white. This year the feast falls on both its current date of celebration, August 16th, and on its former day of celebration the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption. Today is also the XI Sunday after Pentecost and third Sunday of August which is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass. Although the day within the Octave is not commemorated hymns of Iambic metre still take the Marian Doxology and tone and Qui natus es is sung at Prime in the short responsory. Following the reforms of 1911-13 the Octave of St. Lawrence is mostly latent.

In pre-Trent times the feast was sometimes celebrated on the 20th March. The feast was suppressed by Pius V in the Tridentine Missal and Breviary and re-instated by Gregory XIII in 1584. In 1623 the feast gained a proper Office and was transferred to the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption by Clement XII in 1738. Leo XIII raised the feast to a double of the second class in 1879. The 1948 Pian Commission discussed joining the feast with that of St. Anne, which indeed happened in due course (c.f. Memoria sulla riforma liturgica, ## 108, 178).

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of the Assumption were sung. The antiphons Assumpta est Maria etc were sung, doubled, with the psalms from the Common of the BVM (Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147). The Office hymn was Ave maris stella. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Hodie Maria Virgo caelos ascendit: gaudete, quia cum Christo regnat in aeternum. After the collect of the feast, the sublime Famulorum tuorum, commemorations were sung of St. Joachim and of the XI Sunday after Pentecost (the antiphon on the Magnifcat being Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August). At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung and Te lucis is sung with the proper Doxology and tone.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Iste Confessor. In the first nocturn the antiphons Beatus vir etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 1, 2 & 3. The lessons in the first nocturn are taken from the Common of Confessor non-Pontiffs, Beatus vir, etcwith their responsories. In the second nocturn the antiphons Invocantem etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 4, 5 & 8 and the lessons are proper to the feast. The fourth lesson is from the Discourse on the Praises of the Virgin by St. Epiphanius, the fifth and six lessons from a Discourse on the Birth of the Virgin by St. John Damascene. In the third nocturn the antiphons Domine etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 14, 20 & 23. The lessons, from the Common, are again from St. John Damascene. The ninth lesson is of the Sunday. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday is sung.

At the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are used in the usual order. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) Qui natus es is sung as the verse in the responsory because of the Octave and the lectio brevis is Justum deduxit.

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

At Vespers the antiphons Domine, quinque talenta are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn is Iste, Confessor. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Hyacinth and of the Sunday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the XI Sunday after Pentecost takes precedence over the feast of St. Joachim. The Octaves of the Assumption and of St. Lawrence have been abolished. At Vespers yesterday there was no commemoration of St. Joachim. At Compline the ordinary Doxology was sung. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn. At Lauds a commemoration of St. Joachim is sung. At Low and Conventual Masses a commemoration is made of St. Joachim. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is white.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were of the Holy Innocents celebrated in violet vestments. The antiphons, doubled, and psalms (109, 110, 111, 129 & 131) were of the Nativity with the Office from the chapter of the Holy Innocents. The chapter was Vidi supra montem etc and the Office hymn Salvete, flores Martyrum. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity, of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changes to white. The invitatory and hymn, antiphons (not doubled) and psalms are those that were sung on the feast of the Nativity. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Epistle to the Romans. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Leo on the Nativity. In the third nocturn the homily is taken from St. Augustine's writings on the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons from the Nativity, Quem vidistis etc., are sung (not doubled) with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper to the Sunday as is the collect. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns of the Hours are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, & 118ii) the lectio brevis is proper to the Sunday, Itaque jam non est servus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formulary isDum mediumetc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Thomas of Canterbury, third collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

Vespers of the Nativity are sung, from the chapter of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave of the Nativity (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Hodie Christus natus est etc) and of St. Thomas of Canterbury.

In England the feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury is a Double of the First Class or Double of the Second Class, depending on particular dioceses, and takes precedence over the Sunday. The feast is celebrated in red vestments. The Sunday within the Octave and Octave are commemorated.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers red vestments are worn and there is a commemoration of the Sunday only. Mattins has the psalmody of the Nativity (with the curtailed Ps. 88 ) and the usual cut-down single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At the Hours the antiphons and psalmody of Sunday are sung, rather than the festal ones of the Octave (at Prime Pss. 117, 1181, 118ii and the lectio brevis of 'the season'). There is no proper Doxology (or melody) at the hymns of the Hours. Mass has but a single collect. Vespers are of the Nativity without any commemorations.

Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart - Third Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart, the third Sunday after Pentecost, is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins until None this year, is white. The structure of the Office is as last Sunday. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke have the parable of the shepherd going after one sheep missing from his hundred strong flock. This year today is also the Sunday within the Octave of St. John the Baptist and Sunday within the Octave of SS Peter and Paul (although the latter is not commemorated in the liturgy today due to the occurring Office of the Commemoration of St. Paul the Apostle).

Yesterday afternoon second Vespers of the feast of SS Peter and Paul were sung. The antiphons Juravit Dominus etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 115, 125 & 138. The chapter was Misit Herodes and the Office hymn of the feast, Decora lux. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday and of the Octave of the Sacred Heart. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and Te lucis had the Doxology and tone of the Octave. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are as on the feast of the Sacred Heart but the antiphons are not doubled. In the first nocturn the lessons are a continuation of the First Book of the Kings. The responses are of the Octave. In the second nocturn the lessons are from the Encyclical of Pius XI in 1928 that, inter alia, gave the feast an Octave. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory on St. Lukes Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Unus militum etc are sung, as on the feast, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Cor, arca legem continens. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Commemoration of St. Paul the Apostle, of St. Peter, of the Octave of the Sacred Heart and of the Octave of St. John the Baptist. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the hymns have the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui Corde fundis gratiam etc. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in the normal sequence at the Hours. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii). In the short responsory the versicle Qui Corde fundis gratiam is sung. The lectio brevis is of the Sunday, Deus autem.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Paul, the third collect is of St. Peter, the fourth collect is of the Octave of the Sacred Heart and the fifth collect is of the Octave of St. John the Baptist. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Sacred Heart.

At Vespers there is a colour change to red and first Vespers of the feast of the Precious Blood are sung. The antiphons Quis est iste etc are sung, doubled, with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 and 116. The Office hymn is Festivis resonent compita vocibus. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of Sunday. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octave of the Sacred Heart has been abolished as have the Octaves of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist and SS Peter and Paul. The liturgical colour of the day is green. Mattins is is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. Mass has a single collect and the preface of the Trinity.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. It is also the Sunday within the Octaves of St. Stephen, St. John and of the Holy Innocents but since the reform of 1911-13 those Octave are all but invisible.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity were sung, the antiphons were not doubled. The Office hymn was Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted. Throughout the Octave hymns of Iambic metre are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Jesu, tibi...Qui natus etc.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn, antiphons (not doubled) and psalms are those that were sung on the feast of the Nativity. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Epistle to the Romans. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Leo on the Nativity. In the third nocturn the homily is taken from St. Ambrose on the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons from the Nativity, Quem vidistis etc., are sung (not doubled) with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper to the Sunday as is the collect. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration of the Octave of the Nativity is are sung.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns of the Hours are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, & 118ii) the lectio brevis is proper to the Sunday, Itaque jam non est servus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formulary is Dum medium etc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of Octave of the Nativity. Today there is no third collect. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity are sung. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Sylvester and of the Octave of the Nativity. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers. Mattins has the psalmody of the Nativity (with the curtailed Ps. 88 ) and the usual cut-down single nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. At the Hours the antiphons and psalmody are from the Sunday Office, not of the Nativity. There is no proper Doxology at the hymns of the Hours. Mass has but a single collect.

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the LORD

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. It is also the Sunday within the Octaves of St. Stephen, St. John and of the Holy Innocents but since the reform of 1911-13 those Octave are all but invisible.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity were sung, the antiphons not being doubled. The Office hymn was Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the Octave of the Nativity and of St. Sylvester. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical preces were omitted. Throughout the Octave hymns of Iambic metre are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn, antiphons (not doubled) and psalms are those that were sung on the feast of the Nativity. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Epistle to the Romans. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Leo on the Nativity. In the third nocturn the homily is taken from St. Ambrose on the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons from the Nativity, Quem vidistis etc., are sung (not doubled) with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper to the Sunday as is the collect. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Sylvester and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns of the Hours are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, & 118ii) the lectio brevis is proper to the Sunday, Itaque jam non est servus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formulary is Dum medium etc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Sylvester, the third collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

Vespers are first Vespers of the feast of the Circumcision. The antiphons O admirabile commercium etc are sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. There are no commemorations. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at Vespers on Saturday. Mattins has the psalmody of the Nativity (with the curtailed Ps. 88 ) and the usual cut-down single nocturn of three lessons. At the Hours the antiphons and psalmody are of from the Sunday Office, not of the Nativity. There is no proper Doxology at the hymns of the Hours. Mass has but a single collect.

Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart - Third Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart, the third Sunday after Pentecost, is of semi-double rite. The structure of the Office is as last Sunday and again the liturgical colour is white. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke have the parable of the shepherd going after one sheep missing from his hundred strong flock. This year it is also the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of St. John the Baptist. The antiphons Elisabeth Zachariae etc were sung, doubled, with Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Ut queant laxis. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday, of the Octave of the Sacred Heart and of St. William the Abbot. The Suffrage was omitted. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and Te lucis had the Doxology and tone of the Octave. The Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory, hymn, antiphons and psalms are as on the feast of the Sacred Heart but the antiphons are not doubled. In the first nocturn the lessons are a continuation of the First Book of the Kings. The responses are of the Octave. In the second nocturn the lessons are from the Encyclical of Pius XI in 1928 that, inter alia, gave the feast an Octave. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory on St. Lukes Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Unus militum etc are sung, as on the feast, with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Cor, arca legem continens. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. William, of the Octave of the Sacred Heart and of the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The Suffrage is omitted.

At the Hours the hymns have the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui Corde fundis gratiam etc. The antiphons from Lauds are sung in the normal sequence at the Hours. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii). In the short responsory the versicle Qui Corde fundis gratiam is sung. The lectio brevis is of the Sunday, Deus autem.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. William, the third collect of the Octave of the Sacred Heart, the fourth collect of the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Sacred Heart.

As noted last Sunday in one of the many liturgical changes initiated by Pius X in 1911-13 the feast of St. John the Baptist was moved from its traditional date of 24th June to the fourth Sunday in June. Consequently, although the fest was restored to its correct date all Masses today, except the Conventual Mass, may be of the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist with a commemoration of the Sunday and Octave of the Sacred Heart and last Gospel of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons Unus militum etc, not doubled, are sung with psalms 109, 110, 115, 127 & 147. The Office hymn is En ut superba criminum. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of SS John and Paul, of St. William, of the Octave of the Sacred Heart and of the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The Suffrage is omitted. At Compline Te lucis has the Doxology and tone of the Octave, the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octaves of the Sacred Heart and of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist have been abolished. The liturgical colour of the day is green. At Vespers on Saturday the Sunday, only, was commemorated. Mattins is is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. Prime has the Dominical psalms and Qui sedes etc in the short responsory. None of the hymns have the Doxology of the abolished Octave. Mass has a single collect and the preface of the Trinity. At Vespers the antiphons and psalms of Sunday are sung, there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn, antiphons (not doubled) and psalms are those that were sung on the feast of the Nativity. In the first nocturn the lessons are from the Epistle to the Romans. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Leo on the Nativity. In the third nocturn the homily is taken from St. Ambrose on the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons from the Nativity, Quem vidistis etc., are sung (not doubled) with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper to the Sunday as is the collect. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the Octave of the Nativity.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns of the Hours are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, & 118ii) the lectio brevis is proper to the Sunday, Itaque jam non est servus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formulary isDum mediumetc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

Vespers of the Nativity are sung as on previous days, with the antiphons not doubled. From the chapter the Office is of the Sunday, the Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Sylvester and of the Octave of the Nativity.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the sixth day within the Octave of the Nativity. Mattins has the psalmody of the Nativity (with the curtailed Ps. 88 ) and the usual cut-down single nocturn of three lessons. At the Hours the antiphons and psalmody are of from the ferial Psalter. There is no proper Doxology at the hymns of the Hours. Mass has but a single collect. Vespers are of the Nativity without any commemorations.

The Holy Innocents

The feast of the Holy Innocents is a Double of the Second Class with, since the reform of 1911-13, a simple Octave. The feast of the Holy Innocents is unique in the Roman rite in that it changes its liturgical colour depending on whether it falls on a weekday or a Sunday. As this year it is celebrated on Sunday the liturgical colour is red. When it falls on a week-day the feast is celebrated in violet, the origin of this practice being a synthesis of the differences in Gallican and Roman praxis.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms from second Vespers of the Nativity were sung. From the chapter, Qui timet Deum, the Office was of St. John with commemorations of the Holy Innocents and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Martyrum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn Audit tyrannus anxius (sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation). In the first nocturn the antiphons Secus decursus aquarum etc are sung with psalms 1, 2 and 3. The lessons are from the Prophet Jeremiah. In the second nocturn the antiphons Dabo Sanctis meis etc are sung with psalms 14, 15 & 23. The lessons are from a sermon of St. Augustine on the Saints. In the third nocturn the antiphons Justi autem etc are sung with psalms 32, 33 & 45. However, the eighth antiphon, Isti sunt, is proper to the feast. The homily on St. Matthew's Gospel is from the writings of St. Jerome. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Herodes iratus etc are sung with the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is Salvete, flores Martyrum (again, sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation). After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Prime and the Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns have their Doxology changed in honour of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii) the short lesson is of the feast, Hi empti sunt.

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Alleluia and its verse given in the Missal are sung before the Gospel. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Octave of the Nativity. T

Vespers have the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity, but from the chapter are of the Holy Innocents. The Office hymn is Salvete, flores Martyrum. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity. Vespers yesterday had the antiphons and psalms of the Nativity, from the chapter of St. John with a commemoration of the Octave of the Nativity but not of the Holy Innocents (or the Sunday within the Octave). Mattins has but a single nocturn. At Lauds there is a commemoration of the Holy Innocents but not of the Octave of the Nativity. At the Hours the antiphons and psalms are of the Sunday and the hymns lose the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime the short lesson is of the season. At said Masses only there is a commemoration of the Holy Innocents. Vespers are of the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity without any commemorations.

X Sunday after Pentecost

The tenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins onwards, is green. This year it is the third Sunday of August and the Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of St. Joachim. The antiphons Domine, quinque, talenta etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was Iste Confessor. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the Sunday was sung (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday of August) and of St. Hyacinth. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi sit gloria etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn isNocte surgentes. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Wisdom. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Ambrose's Book of Offices. In the third nocturn the lessons are from section from St. Augustine's 36th sermon on the words of the LORD. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Hyacinth, of the Octave of the Assumption and of the Octave Day of St. Lawrence. The Suffrage is omitted.

At Prime and the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are omitted, the versicle in the short responsory is Qui natus etc.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Hyacinth, the third collect is of the Octave of the Assumption and the fourth collect is of the Octave Day of St. Lawrence. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Being Sunday within the Octave of the Assumption a Mass of St. Joachim, whose feast prior to the 1911-13 reform was celebrated on the Sunday withing the Octave, may be celebrated. The liturgical colour is white. A commemoration is sung of the Sunday, the preface is of the Sunday as is the last Gospel.

asAt Vespers (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 113) the Office hymn is Lucis creator, sung with the Doxlogy and melody of the Incarnation. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of the fourth day within the Octave of the Assumption, of St. Hyacinth and of the Octave Day of St. Lawrence. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology and melody of the Incarnation.


In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Octaves of the Assumption and of St. Lawrence have been abolished. At Vespers on Saturday there is no commemoration of St. Hyacinth. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. The hymns are sung with the ordinary Doxology and tone used for Sundays. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is white.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were of the Holy Innocents celebrated in violet vestments. The antiphons (doubled) and psalms (109, 110, 111, 129 & 131) were of the Nativity with the Office from the chapter of the Holy Innocents. The chapter was Vidi supra montem etc and the Office hymn Salvete, flores Martyrum. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity, of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changes to white. The invitatory and hymn, antiphons (not doubled) and psalms are those that were sung on the feast of the Nativity. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Epistle to the Romans. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Leo on the Nativity. In the third nocturn the homily is taken from St. Augustine's writings on the second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons from the Nativity, Quem vidistis etc., are sung (not doubled) with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite and 148. The chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper to the Sunday as is the collect. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung with the festal psalms. The hymns of the Hours are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i, & 118ii) the lectio brevis is proper to the Sunday, Itaque jam non est servus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Mass formulary isDum mediumetc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Thomas of Canterbury, third collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

Vespers of the Nativity are sung, from the chapter of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the Octave of the Nativity (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Hodie Christus natus est etc) and of St. Thomas of Canterbury.

In England the feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury is a Double of the First Class or Double of the Second Class, depending on particular dioceses, and takes precedence over the Sunday. The feast is celebrated in red vestments. The Sunday within the Octave and Octave are commemorated.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' Mattins has the psalmody of the Nativity (with the curtailed Ps. 88 ) and the usual cut-down single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is no commmoration of St.Thomas or even of the Octave. At the Hours the antiphons and psalmody of the Sunday are sung, rather than the festal ones of the Octave (at Prime Pss. 117, 1181, 118ii and the lectio brevis of 'the season'). There is no proper Doxology (or melody) at the hymns of the Hours. Mass has but a single collect. Vespers are of the Nativity without any commemorations.