St. Sylvester of Rome

The feast of St. Sylvester I Pope and Confessor is of double rite and the liturgical colour of the day is white.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Confessorum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn Iste Confessor. The antiphons and psalms are from the Psalter for Saturday. In the first nocturn the Epistle to the Romans continues to be read. The second nocturn lessons are hagiographical and in the third nocturn the homily is Sint lumbi from the Common of Confessor non-Pontiffs with the responsories of Confessor-Pontiffs. At Lauds the antiphons and psalms are again taken from the Psalter for Saturday. The Office hymn is Jesu, Redemptor omnium and it is sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation. After the collect of the feast a commemoration is sung of the Octave of the Nativity.

At the Hours the hymns have the Doxology of the Incarnation. The antiphons and psalmody are from the ferial psalter. At Prime the lectio brevis is Fungi sacerdotio.

Mass is sung after Terce. The formulary is Sacerdotes tui etc. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is a commemoration of the Octave of the Nativity. The Creed is sung and the preface and communicantes in the Canon are of the Nativity.

Vespers are first Vespers of the Circumcision without any commemorations.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' today is the seventh day within the Octave of the Nativity. At Mattins the antiphons and psalmody are festal but there is only one nocturn of three lessons, from occurring Scripture. At Lauds a commemoration of St. Sylvester is made. At the Hours ferial antiphons and psalms are used, the hymns do not have the tone or Doxology in honour of the Incarnation. At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season. The Mass is Puer natus with a commemoration of St. Sylvester in Low Masses only. Vespers are the same as the Old Rite.

The icon is from the All Merciful Saviour Mission's selection of icons of Western Saints.

Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity

Today is the Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity. It is of semi-double rite and its liturgical colour is white. The displaced Sunday's Mass and Office are transferred from the 25th December this year to today. Whenever the feast of the Nativity or the feasts of St. Stephen, St. John or the Holy Innocents fall on a Sunday then the Sunday is transferred with its Office to the 30th December.

At Mattins all is sung as on the feast of the Nativity except the lessons. In the first nocturn the Incipit of the Epistle to the Romans was traditionally assigned to the 30th but was moved to the 29th in the 1911-13 reform, so today the first nocturn lessons are a continuation from 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 with the Dominical psalms. The chapter and antiphon on the Benedictus are proper to the Sunday as is the collect. Following 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.are from the Nativity and the psalmody is festal. 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, from the chapter of the Sunday within the Octave with a commemoration of the following day's feast of St. Silvester 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 antiphons and psalmody of the Nativity (with the shortened Ps. 88 ) and one nocturn of three lessons from occuring scripture, the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. (In the Old Rite when the sixth day within the Octave was celebrated there were second nocturn lessons again from St. Leo and third nocturn lessons from St. Ambrose, these of course just get excised). At the Hours ferial antiphons and psalmody are sung. There is no proper Doxology (or melody) at the hymns of the Hours and the short lesson at Prime is 'of the season'. Mass is celebrated of a day within the Octave, Puer natus with but one collect. Vespers are of the Nativity with no commemorations.

St. Thomas of Canterbury

The feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury is of double rite. The liturgical colour of the day is red.  St. Thomas of Canterbury, or St. Thomas Becket, fell foul of the political machinations of King Henry II and was slain by the King's soldiers in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29th, 1170.  The liturgical celebration of his feast entered Western calendars almost immediately after his canonisation. Apart from Vespers the Office is taken mostly from the Common of Martyrs.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem Martyrum Dominum, Venite adoremus and the Office hymn is Deus, tuorum militum sung, of course, with the Doxology of the Incarnation. The antiphons and psalms are taken from the Psalter for Thursday. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. In the second nocturn the lessons are hagiographical and in the third nocturn the lessons are from a homily of St. Chrysostom on St. John's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the antiphons and psalms are from the ferial psalter. The Office hymn is Invicte Martyr unicum, 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 the Hours the hymns are sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation but the antiphons and psalmody are ferial. At Prime the lectio brevis is Justus cor suum.

At Mass the Gloria is sung, the second collect is a commemoration of the Octave of the Nativity, the Creed is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Octave of the Nativity.

Vespers are of the Octave of the Nativity but from the chapter of the following Sunday within the Octave of the Nativity with a commemoration of St. Thomas Becket and of the Octave of the Nativity.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' St. Thomas is reduced to a commemoration in the fifth day within the Octave of the Nativity. The liturgical colour of the day is white. However, festal psalmody is used at Mattins and Lauds, as on the feast of the Nativity (this contrasts with the previous practice for third order Octaves when a double feast falls within them). Mattins is reduced to one nocturn of three lessons. At the Hours the hymns are not sung with the Doxology of the Incarnation, the antiphons and psalmody are ferial, at Prime the lectio brevis is of the season. Mass is of a day within the Octave, with Gloria, commemoration of St. Thomas (at read Masses only), Creed, preface and communicantes; of the Nativity.  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 a simple Octave. Today the liturgical mood changes as the altars and ministers change their recent festive colours to the violet of mourning. 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. This year as the feast falls on a weekday it is celebrated in violet. When it falls on a Sunday the feast is celebrated in red. The origin of this practice is a synthesis between the differences in Gallican and Roman praxis.

Much of the Office comes from the Common of Several Martyrs. 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 not sung but a ninth responsory in its place, Isti qui amicti sunt. 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 the short lesson is of the feast, Hi empti sunt.

At Mass the deacon and subdeacon wear violet dalmatic and tunicle. The Gloria is not sung, the second collect is of the Octave of the Nativity. The Alleluia and its verse given in the Missal are not sung but in their place the Tract Effuderunt sanguinem Sanctorum. The Credo is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Octave of the Nativity. The beautiful solemn tone of Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal.

Vespers are of the Nativity, but from the chapter of the Holy Innocents with a commemoration of the following day's feast of St. Thomas of Canterbury and of the Octave of the Nativity.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the feast of the Holy Innocents loses its penitential aspect (and Octave!) and is always celebrated in red. The Te Deum replaces the ninth responsory. The hymns lose their proper Doxology. At the Hours the antiphons and psalms are ferial. At Prime the short lesson is of the season. At Mass the Gloria and Alleluia are sung. The Tract and magnificent Benedicamus Domino are never heard. At Vespers there is only a commemoration of the Octave of the Nativity.

St. John the Evangelist

The feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist is a Double of the Second Class with a simple Octave. The liturgical colour is white.

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 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 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 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 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.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' the Doxology in honour of the Incarnation is omitted in all the hymns. At the Little Hours the antiphons and psalms are taken from the ferial psalter. At Prime the lectio brevis is of the season, not of the feast. At Vespers no commemoration is made of the Holy Innocents.

Miniature of St. John from Wikipedia.

St. Stephen the Protomartyr

Today is the feast of St. Stephen the Protomartyr, the feast is a Double of the Second Class with a simple Octave. The liturgical colour of the day is red. Many saints, originally more than now, were celebrated around the Nativity of the LORD. These were described as the 'comites Christi' . e.g. St. James the Lesser and King David. In 'modern' calendars we are left with St. Stephen, St. John the Evangelist, and the Holy Innocents.

Yesterday St. Stephen was commemorated at Second Vespers of the Nativity, (Special rules apply to Vespers for the Octave of the Nativity). as noted in yesterday's post.

At Mattins the invitatory is proper, Christum natum, qui beatum hodie coronavit Stephanum. The Office hymn is Deus, tuorum militum sung with the Doxology of the Nativity. In the first nocturn the antiphons In lege Domini etc are sung with psalms 1, 2 & 3 all from the Common of a Martyr. The lessons are from the Acts of the Apostles with responsories proper to the feast. In the second nocturn the antiphons Filii hominum etc are sung with psalms 4, 5 & 8 and the lessons are from a sermon of St. Fulgentius on St. Stephen's martyrdom. In the third nocturn the antiphons Justus Dominus etc are sung with psalms 10, 14 & 20. The homily is from St. Jerome on St. Matthew's Gospel. The Te Deum is sung. At Lauds the proper antiphons, Lapidaverunt Stephanum etc., is sung with the Sunday psalms. The Office hymn is Invicte Martyr unicum 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 the antiphon Lapidaverunt Stephanum is sung with the festal psalms (53, 118i & 118ii). The short responsory has the versicle of the Incarnation and the lectio brevis is Positis autem. At the other Little Hours the psalms of Lauds are used in the usual order. The hymns of the Little Hours have the tone and Doxology of the Incarnation.

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

Vespers are Second Vespers of the Nativity, but from the chapter they are of St. Stephen with a commemoration of St. John the Evangelist and the Octave of the Nativity of the LORD.

Following the 'liturgical books of 1962' there is no commemoration of St. Stephen in Second Vespers of the Nativity. At Mattins and Lauds the hymns are sung without the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Prime the antiphons and psalms of Monday are sung, not the proper antiphons and festal psalms. The lectio brevis is Ipsi peribunt. At the Hours the hymns are without the Doxology of the Incarnation. At Vespers there is no commemoration of St. John.

The Nativity of the LORD

The feast of the Nativity of the LORD is a Double of the First Class with a privileged Octave of the third order. The liturgical colour of the feast is white.

Mattins is ordinarily sung later in the evening than usual, so that the Mass which immediately follows can begin at midnight. The Caeremoniale Episcoporum gives special instructions, Lib.II, Cap. XIV, 3, for Pontifical Mattins, but may be reasonably applied to other celebrations or arranging adequate candles to supply light for the service and talks of candelabris ferreis magnis to help provide this. One can easily see where the modern practice of candlelit nine lessons and carols comes from, but how unfortunate that the same effort is not made to celebrate solemn Mattins! The invitatory is proper, Christus natus es nobis: Venite adoremus. When intoning the hymn, Jesu, Redemptor omnium, the Hebdomadarius turns and bows to the altar. Mattins has three nocturns and the usual nine lessons. In the first nocturn the antiphon Dominus Dixit etc are sung with psalms 2, 18 & 44. The lessons are from Isaiah but, interestingly, are sung without a title. In the second nocturn the antiphons Suscepimus etc are sung with psalms 47, 71 & 84. The lessons in the second nocturn are taken from a homily on the Nativity by St. Leo. In the third nocturn the antiphons Ipse invoccabit etc are sung with psalms 88, 95 & 97. The lessons are three Gospel pericopes, two from St. Luke and the third from St. John. After the Te Deum the collect is sung followed by Benedicamus Domino.

Then the first of the three Masses for the Nativity is sung. The Gloria is sung (one theory of its origin in the Mass rite is from the song of the Angels on Christmas night to the shepherds) as is the Creed. The preface and communicantes are of the Nativity. Lauds immediately follow Mass. The antiphons Quem vidistis pastores etc are sung the Dominical psalms. The Office hymn is A solis ortus cardine.

Later in the morning Prime is sung. All hymns of Iambic metre have the tone and Doxology in honour of the Incarnation, Jesu tibi sit gloria etc. The first antiphon from Lauds, Quem vidistis pastores, is sung with the festal psalms (53, 118i & 118ii). In the short responsory the versicle Qui natus es de Maria Virgine is sung. The lectio brevis is Ipsi peribunt. Prime is followed by the second Mass, the Missa in aurora. In the second Mass the Gloria is sung, there is a second collect to commemorate St. Anastasia. The Creed is sung and the preface and communicantes are of the Nativity.

After Terce the third Mass is sung. This Mass too has the Gloria and Creed along with the preface and communicantes of the Nativity. As the Gospel pericope for this Mass is In principio the Gospel of the Epiphany, Cum natus esset Jesus, is read as a proper last Gospel.

Second Vespers has yet a third set of proper antiphons for the feast, Tecum principium etc., that are sung with psalms 109, 110, 111, 129 and 131. These antiphons and psalms will be used through the Octave. The following feast of St. Stephen is commemorated. At Compline the Dominical psalms are sung.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' at Mattins in the third nocturn, and for the Octave, psalm 88, Misericordias Domini is cut from 51 to 36 verses. The verses from Tu vero repulisti et despexisti to the end are omitted. The tone and Doxology in honour of the Nativity is not sung at the hymns of the Little Hours. In the third Mass the last Gospel is omitted and at Vespers no commemoration of St. Stephen is made.

A very blessed and Holy Christmass to all.