The Nativity of the Mother of God

The Nativity of the Mother of God is a Double of the Second Class with a Simple Octave. Prior to the changes to Octaves in 1913 it had a 'normal' Octave.

The feast began with first Vespers yesterday afternoon. The antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc were sung 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 and collect are proper to the feast. At Compline the Sunday psalms were sung andTe lucis was sung to the melody of the Incarnation with the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is Nativitatem Virginis Mariae celebremus: * Christum ejus Filium adoremus Dominum, the hymn, from the Common, Quem terra. In the first nocturn the antiphons Benedicta tua etc are sung with psalms 8, 18 & 23. The lessons in the first nocturn are the Incipit of the Song of Songs, with much exquisite imagery, with repsonories proper to the feast. In the second nocturn the antiphons Specie tua etc are sung with psalms 44, 45 & 88. The lessons are taken from a sermon attributed to St. Augustine. Last year a learned reader commented that the sermon is actually from a sermon of (St) Fulbert of Chartres. In the third nocturn the antiphons Gaude, Maria virgo etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 97. St. Jerome provides the homily on St. Matthew's Gospel. The ninth lesson is of St. Hadrian, a former perecutor of Christians who became a martyr himself.

At Lauds the antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc are again sung, this time with the psalms of Sunday Lauds (Ps. 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148). After the collect of the day a commemoration is sung of St. Hadrian.

At Prime the first of the antiphons used at Vespers and Lauds is sung with the festal psalms (Ps. 53, 118i & 118ii). In the short responsory the versicle Qui natus es is sung. The short lesson is In plateis. At the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology and tone of the Incarnation.

Mass is sung after Terce. In some countries a blessing of seeds, figs, grapes or other fruits takes place (the fruits in question depending on the climate of the place. The introit is Salve, sancta Parens, the Gloria is sung, in said Masses the second collect is of St. Hadrian, the Creed is sung and the preface is of the BVM, Et te in Nativitate.

Vespers are of the feast. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung and Te lucis has the proper Doxology.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast loses first Vespers, and on Wednesday Vespers were ferial. At Mattins there is no ninth lesson of St. Hadrian. At the Little Hours the hymns do not have the melody or Doxology of the Incarnation. At the Little Hours the ferial psalms are sung and at Prime the lectio brevis is of the season.

Icon: Russian, 18th century

XII Sunday after Pentecost

The twelfth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is also the first Sunday of September. The Gospel pericope from St. Luke contains the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Vespers yesterday afternoon marked the beginning of the Autumn volume of the Breviary, Pars Autumnalis. The psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September. The Suffrage of the Saints was sung after the collect of the Sunday and at Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are as on preceding 'green' Sundays. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the Book of Morals by St. Gregory the Great and in the third nocturn the homily on the Gospel is from the writings of the Venerable Bede.

At Lauds the Suffrage of the Saints is sung after the collect of the Sunday. At Prime both Quicumque and the Dominical preces are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is A cunctis, the third collect is chosen by the Dean or Rector from those available. The Creed is sung and the preface is that of the Blessed Trinity.

At Vespers a commemoration of the following feast of St. Laurence Justiniani is sung after the collect of the feast followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' this year the first Sunday of September is also the first Sunday in September so the readings at Mattins coincide with those in the traditional rite. There is no Suffrage at Vespers nor are the preces (ever) sung at Compline. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is no Suffrage nor is Quicumque sung at Prime. Mass has only one collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations and no Suffrage.

Art: Jerome Nadal

The Old Mass in pictures...

Source: Google Books, Missale Romanum, Christopher Plantini, Awtwerp, 1576

The Beheading of St. John the Baptist

The feast of the Decollation of St. John the Baptist is of greater-double rite and its liturgical colour is red. Texts for the feast are either proper or from the Common of a Martyr.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Martyrum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn Deus, tuorum militum. In the first nocturn the antiphons In lege Domini etc are sung with psalms 1, 2 & 3. The lessons are proper to the feast taken from the Incipit of the Book of Jeremiah with responsories of the feast. In the second nocturn the antiphons Filii hominum etc are sung with psalms 4, 5 & 8. The lessons are from St. Ambrose. In the third nocturn the antiphons Justus Dominus etc are sung with psalms 10, 14 & 20. The homily is from St. Augustine and the Te Deum is sung.

At Lauds the antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc are sung with psalms 92, 99, 62, Benedicite & 148. The Office hymn is Invicte Martyr, unicum. The antiphon on the Benedictus and collect are proper to the feast. A commemoration is sung of St. Sabina.

At the Hours the antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc are sung with the festal psalms. At Prime (Pss. 53, 118i & 118ii) the lectio brevis is Justus cor suum.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Sabina and the Common Preface is sung.

At Vespers the antiphons Herodes enim tenuit etc are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 115. The Office hymn is Deus, tuorum militum. The antiphon on the Magnificat is proper. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Rose of Lima and SS Felix and Adauctus. At Compline the Sunday psalms are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast has become a 'III class' feast. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. The antiphons and psalms are from the ferial psalter. The first and second lessons are from occurring scripture - a week different from the old rite - but two of the responsories from the old Office remain. At Lauds all is as in the usus antiquior but at the Hours the antiphons and psalms are of the ferial day. In sung Masses the commemoration of St. Sabina is omitted. At Vespers all is as in the usus antiquior except there are no commemorations. At Compline the psalms are ferial. In the forma ordinaria of the 1962 books the feast has gained a proper preface.

XI Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost and the fifth Sunday of August. It is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Mark contain the account of the LORD healing a deaf and dumb man with His spittle.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Observa, fili for the Saturday before the fifth Sunday in August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Joseph Calasanctius, St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Hermes. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline because of the occurring double feasts.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are as sung on previous 'green' Sundays. In the first nocturn the lessons continue to be read from the Book of Ecclesiasticus. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Chysostom. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory the Great. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds after the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of St. Augustine and St. Hermes. The Suffrage is omitted because of the occurring double feast.

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. Augustine, the third collect of St. Hermes. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, St. Augustine and St. Sabina. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline due to the occurring double feast.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers on Saturday the antiphon on the Magnificat is Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday in August. There are no commemorations. Mattins is slashed down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. Mass has only one collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

St. Bartholomew the Apostle

The feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle is a Double of the Second Class. The feast was preceded by a Vigil yesterday. Although the Office of the Vigil was outranked by the feast of St. Philip Benizi it was commemorated at Lauds. However, 'private' Masses of the Vigil, celebrated in violet with a commemoration of the feast, were permitted.

Celebration of St. Bartholomew's feast began with first Vespers yesterday. The antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc were sung along with the psalms of first Vespers from the Common Apostles (Pss. 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116) with the Office hymn Exsultet orbis gaudiis, other texts were from the same Common except the collect of the feast which was proper. After the collect of the feast a commemoration of the preceding Office of St. Philip Benizi was sung. At Compline the Dominical psalms were sung and the Dominical preces preces were omitted.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Apostolorum Dominum, venite adoremus. 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. At Lauds the antiphons Hoc est praeceptum meum etc are sung with the Sunday psalms.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are used. At Prime the festal psalms are sung (Pss. 53, 118i, 118ii). The lectio brevis is Ibant Apostoli.

Mass is sung after Terce. The introit is Mihi autem nimis. The Gloria is sung, the Creed is sung and the preface is of the Apostles.

Vespers are of the feast with a commemoration of the following feast of St. Louis of France. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast loses first Vespers and is not commemorated at Vespers of St. Philip Benizi. The Vigil of St. Bartholomew has been abolished. At Compline on Tuesday the ferial psalms were sung. At Prime the ferial antiphons and psalmody are used, the lectio brevis is of the season. At the other Little Hours the ferial antiphons and psalms are also sung. The feast only has second Vespers, with no commemoration of St. Louis.

Icon: Melkite Eparchy in Australia

X Sunday after Pentecost

Today is the tenth Sunday after Pentecost and the fourth Sunday of August. The Sunday is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour is green. The Gospel pericope at Mattins and Mass is the parable of the Publican and Pharisee from St. Luke's Gospel.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Sapientia for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Bernard, St. Jane Frances Fremiot and of the Octave of the Assumption. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline because of the occurring double feasts and Octave.

At Mattins there are the usual three nocturns. The invitatory and hymn are as sung on previous 'green' Sundays. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Ecclesiasticus. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book of Morals. In the third nocturn a section from St. Augustine's 36th sermon on the words of the LORD provides the lessons. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds commemorations are sung of St. Jane Frances and the Octave.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Jane Frances, the third collect of the Octave. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Octave Day of the Assumption, St. Jane Frances and SS Timothy, Hippolytus and Symphorian. The Suffrage is omitted due to the double feasts and at Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the antiphon on the Magnificat at Vespers on Saturday is Omnis sapientia for the Saturday before the third Sunday. There are no commemorations or Suffrage at Vespers. The Octave has been abolished. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn of three lessons. There are no commemorations at Lauds. At Mass there is a single collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.