Most Holy Rosary of the BVM

The feast of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Double of the Second Class. The feast had been instituted following the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. In 1573 Gregory XIII extended the feast to those churches where an altar had been dedicated to the Rosary to be kept on the first Sunday of October. In 1716 Clement XI extended the feast to the Universal Church with greater-double rank. Leo XIII raised ther rank of the feast to double second class in 1887 and gave the feast proper texts in the following year. During the reforms of 1911-13 the feast was transferred to October 7th.  The nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (the second Sunday of October this year) is commemorated at Vespers, Mattins, Lauds and Mass.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons Quae est ista etc were sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147.  The Office hymn was Caelestis aulae Nuntius. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the preceding fast of St. Bruno and of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Refulsit sol for the Saturday before the second Sunday of October).   At Compline Te lucis was sung to the special tone for feasts of the BVM with its special Doxology, Jesu tibi sit gloria etc.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper as is the hymn, In monte olivis.  In the first nocturn the antiphons Angelus Gabriel etc are sung with psalms 8, 18 & 23.  The lessons are from the Book of Ecclesiasticus.  In the second nocturn the antiphons Cum inducerent etc are sung with psalms 44, 45 & 86 .  In the third nocturn the antiphons Apprehendit etc are sung with psalms 95, 96 & 97 and the lessons are from a homily of St. Bernard on St. Luke's Gospel.  The ninth lesson is of the Sunday.  The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons Laetare etc are sung with the Sunday psalms.  The Office hymn is Jam morte victor obruta.  After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the Sunday, St. Mark and of SS Sergius and Companions.

At the Hours the antiphons from Lauds are sung with the Sunday psalms in the usual manner.  The hymns of the Hours are sung to the melody for feasts of the BVM with the Doxology of the Incarnation.  At Prime psalms 53, 118(i), 118(ii) are sung, the lectio brevis is proper, Quasi cedrus.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung (in private Masses the second collect is of St. Mark and the third collect of SS Sergius and Companions), the Creed is sung, the Preface is of the BVM with the clause Et te in Festivitate and the last Gospel is of the Sunday.

At Vespers the antiphons and psalms are as at first Vespers, the Office hymn is Te gestientem gaudiis. After the collect of the feast commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Bridget and of the Sunday.

In the 'ancient' 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast is renamed 'Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary' and is of 2nd class and therefore does not take precedence over the Sunday. The Sunday is the first Sunday of October. At Vespers (of the Sunday) there was no commemoration of the feast - it has been stripped of first Vespers anyway. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds a commemoration of the 'BVM of the Rosary' is sung. At Mass the second collect if of the BVM of the Rosary, the last Gospel is In principio. At Vespers there are no commemorations. The hours of the hymns are sung with the ordinary tone and Doxology.

XVIII Sunday after Pentecost

The eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost is, this year, the first Sunday of October. It is of semi-double rite and the liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. The Gospel pericopes from St. Matthew relate the healing of a paralytic, both by being forgiven his sins and physically healed by the LORD.

Vespers yesterday were second Vespers for the feast of St. Michael the Archangel. The antiphons Stetit Angelus etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 137. The Office hymn was Te splendor et virtus Patris. After the collect of the feast commemorations were sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Adaperiat Dominus for the Saturday before the first Sunday of October) and of St. Jerome. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted due to the concurring double feast as were the Dominical preces at Compline.

At Mattins the invitatory is Adoremus Dominum and the Office hymn is Primo die (both now used in the Dominical Office until the fifth Sunday of November). In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the first Book of Machabees. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose's book of Offices. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Peter Chrysologus on St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds the Office hymn from today until the last Sunday of November is Aeterne rerum. After the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration is sung of St. Jerome. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted.

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

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

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of St. Remegius and of St. Jerome. The Suffrage of the Saints is omitted due to the concurring double feast as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the fifth Sunday of September. At Vespers yesterday there was a commemoration of the Sunday - using the antiphon Domine Rex omnipotens - but no commemoration of St. Jerome. At Mattins the invitatory is Dominum qui fecit nos and the Office hymn Nocte surgentes. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons these being taken from the Book of Esther. At Lauds the Office hymn is Ecce jam noctis. At Mass there is only one oollect. At Vespers there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XVII Sunday after Pentecost

The seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the fourth Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes at Mattins and Mass come from the twenty-second chapter of St. Matthew and have the Pharisees asking the LORD what is the greatest commandment.

As Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Adonai, Domine for the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Thomas of Villanova and then of St. Linus and after that St. Thecla. The Suffrage was not sung because of the occurring double feast and the Dominical preces were omitted at Compline.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Judith. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the book of St. Ambrose on Elias and fasting. In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Chrysostom on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, commemorations are sung of St. Linus and of St. Thecla. After the last commemoration the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung as are the Dominical preces.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Linus, the third collect is of St. Thecla. The Creed is sung and the preface of the Blessed Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. Lucis creator is sung to the melody of hymns for the Incarnation and the Doxology is changed to Jesu tibi sit gloria etc. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following Office of Our Lady of Ransom and St. Linus. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted, Te lucis is sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at Vespers. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn. There are no commemorations at Lauds. Quicumque is omitted at Prime as are the preces. At Mass there is only one collect. At Vespers the Doxolgy and tone of the hymn are not changed, there are no commemorations.

Art: Jerome Nadal

XVI Sunday after Pentecost

The sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. This year it the third Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes from St. Luke are of the LORD healing the man with dropsy on the Sabbath.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the feast of the Seven Sorrows of the BVM. The antiphons Quo abiit etc were sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was Jam toto subitus vesper eat polo. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday (the antiphon on the Magnificat being Ne reminiscaris for the Saturday before the third Sunday of September) followed by a commemoration of SS Cornelius and Cyprian. At Compline Te lucis is sung with the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria, Qui passus es pro servulis, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna saecula. The Dominical preces are omitted due to the double feast.

At Mattins the invitatory and Office hymn are as on previous 'green' Sundays. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Tobias. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a sermon of St. Leo on fasting in the seventh month. In the third nocturn the lessons are from St. Ambrose, a homily on St. Lukes's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, commemorations are sung of SS Cornelius and Cyprian and of SS Euphemia, Lucy and Geminianus followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of SS Cyprian and Cornelius, the third collect is of SS Eupemia, Lucy and Geminianus. 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 Impression of the Stigmata of St. Francis and of SS Cornelius and Cyprian. The Suffrage is omitted due to the concurring double feast as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Vespers the Sunday is commemorated but not SS Cornelius and Cyprian. At Compline Te lucis is sung without the proper Doxology. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there are no commemorations. At Prime there are neither preces nor Quicumque. At Mass there is only one collect. 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. 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 a greater double by Clement VIII.

At Vespers yesterday afternoon the antiphons O magnum pietatis opus etc were sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 112 & 116. The Office hymn was the magnificent Vexilla regis.

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.

At the Hours the 'Sunday' psalms are sung under the antiphons of the feast. At Prime the short lesson is proper, Humiliavit semetipsum.

Mass is sung after Terce and has the Gloria, Credo and preface of the Holy Cross.

Vespers are of the following feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin with a commemoration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. A Doxology proper to the feast of the Seven Sorrows is sung at Compline and hymns of Iambic metre tomorrow.

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. At the Little Hours the ferial psalter is used without the antiphons of the feast, at Prime the seasonal short lesson is sung. Vespers are of the Exaltation of the Cross without a commemoration of the following Office.

Icon from the Greek Catholic Church.

XV Sunday after Pentecost

The fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour, from Mattins, is green. This year it is the second Sunday of September. The Gospel pericopes sung at Mattins and Mass are from the seventh chapter of St. Luke's Gospel recount the raising by the LORD from the dead of the son of the widow of Nain.

Vespers yesterday afternoon were second Vespers of the Nativity of the BVM. Where possible the Hebdomarius was assisted by four cantors in white copes. The antiphons Nativitas gloriosae etc were sung with psalms 109, 112, 121, 126 & 147. The Office hymn was the incomparable Ave Maris stella. After the collect of the feast a commemoration was sung of the Sunday the antiphon on the Magnificat being In omnibus his. At Compline Te lucis was sung with the Doxology Jesu tibi sit gloria etc and the Dominical preces were omitted.

At Mattins the liturgical colour changes to green and there are the usual three nocturns. 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 Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from St. Gregory's Book of Morals. In the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Augustine on St. Lukes's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds, after the collect of the Sunday, a commemoration of St. Gorgonius is sung followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

At Prime (Pss. 117, 118i & 118ii) Quicumque is sung as are the Dominical preces.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Gorgonius, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Prior to the far-reaching reforms of 1911-13 the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary was celebrated on the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity of the BVM. One Mass of the feast (other than the Conventual Mass) may be celebrated. The proper Vultum tuum etc is sung, the Gloria is sung, the second collect is of the Sunday, the third collect is of St. Gorgonius. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the BVM and the last Gospel of the Sunday.

Vespers are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday a commemoration is sung of the following feast of St. Nicholas of Tolentino. The Suffrage is omitted as are the Dominical preces at Compline.

In those so traditional 'liturgical books of 1962' at Compline Te lucis is sung without the Doxology of the Incarnation. Mattins is cut down to a single nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is neither any commemoration nor Suffrage. At Prime both Quicumque and the preces are always omitted on 'green' Sundays. At Mass there is only one collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations. At Compline no preces even though there were no commemorations at Vespers.

XIV Sunday after Pentecost

The fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is green. This year it is the first Sunday of September and the beginning of the Pars Autumnalis of the Breviary. The pericopes from St. Matthew's Gospel contain the passages about the 'lilies of the field' and seeking first the Kingdom of God.

At Vespers yesterday the antiphons and psalms of Saturday were sung. The antiphon on the Magnificat was Cum audisset Job for the Saturday before the first Sunday of September. After the collect of the Sunday a commemorations was sung of the St. Stephen followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces were sung.

At Mattins the invitatory and hymn are as sung on previous 'green' Sundays. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Book of Job. In the second nocturn the lessons are from St. Gregory's Book of Morals. In the third nocturn the lessons are a homily from St. Augustine on St. Matthew's Gospel. At Lauds a commemoration is sung of St. Stephen followed by the Suffrage of the Saints.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Stephen, the third collect is A cunctis. The Creed is sung and the preface is of the Holy Trinity.

Vespers are of the Sunday. The Office hymn is Lucis creator. After the collect of the Sunday a commemorations is sung of St. Stephen followed by the Suffrage of the Saints. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962'- back in 'sync' for September with the traditional rite with regards to the week for Mattins - there are no commemortions nor Suffrage at Vespers. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is neither a commemoration of the occurring feast nor Suffrage. At Prime both Quicumque and the preces are omitted. At Mass there is only one collect. At Vespers there are no commemorations and no Suffrage.

Art: Jerome Nadal