The Second Sunday of Advent

The second Sunday of Advent, and the third and fourth, are semi-doubles of the second class in rank. The Gospel pericopes, from St. Matthew, concern St. John the Baptist in prison sending two of his followers to meet the LORD. St. Nicholas of Myra is commemorated at Vespers, Lauds and Mass. He is of course one of the antecedants of 'Santa Claus'.

At Vespers on Saturday the proper antiphons from Lauds are used, Ecce in nubibus caeli etc, with the psalms of Saturday. A commemoration is sung of St. Nicholas. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted because of the occurring double feast.

At Mattins in the first nocturn the lessons are a continuation of Isaiah and today contain the beautiful symbolism of the Rod of Jesse. In the second nocturn this them is continued as the lessons are taken from Expositon on Isaias the Prophet by St. Jerome. Like so much of the Advent liturgy these readings are exquisite:

Therefore upon this flower, which shall suddenly come forth from the stock and root of Jesse through the Virgin Mary, the Spirit of the LORD shall rest: for truly in him all the fulness of the Godhead was pleased to dwell corporeally: the spirit was not poured out upon him by measure, as it was upon the other Saints: but as we read in the Hebrew Gospel used by the Zazarenes: The whole fountain of the Holy Ghost shall be poured forth upon him. For the LORD is a Spirit; and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty.

(Lesson VI, Stanbrooke Abbey translation.) In the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory.

At Lauds the antiphons are proper. A commemoration is sung of St. Nicholas. At Prime the Dominical preces are omitted because of the occurring double feast.

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is not sung in the seasonal liturgy of Advent. A commemoration of St. Nicholas is sung, the Creed is sung and the preface that of the Trinity. The dismissal is Benedicamus Domino. The deacon and subdeacon wear folded chasubles.

At Vespers the antiphons from Lauds are used. Commemorations are sung of tomorrow's feast of St. Ambrose and St. Nicholas.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' there are no commemorations at either Vespers, Lauds or Mass. Mattins is cut down to one nocturn of three lessons. At Mass the ministers wear dalmatic and tunicle and the dismissal is Ite, missa est.

Art: Jerome Nadal

How to...Mattins (2)

Today is Saturday in the first week of Advent. The day is of simple rite and as such its Mattins consist of one nocturn and three lessons.

The Breviary needs to be marked in two or three places for Mattins: Sabbato ad Matutinum, Saturday of the first week in Advent for the lessons and the Ordinarium depending on the layout of the particular edition being used.

Mattins begins with the prayer Aperi Domine followed by the inaudible recitation of Pater noster, Ave Maria and Credo. Then the versicle Domine, labia mea aperies (with the Sign of the Cross made on the lips) and its response Et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam. Turning now to the section Sabbato ad Matutinum the invitatories for Advent are given. For the first and second weeks this is Regem venturum Dominum * Venite adoremus. This is said in its entirety, then repeated and followed by the first part of Ps. 94 Venite, exsultemus Domino etc found in Ordinarium. The invitatory is then, again, repeated in its entirety. The next section of the psalm is then said Quoniam Deus magnus etc. After that the fragment of the invitatory, Venite adoremus, only. Then the next part of the psalm Quoniam ipse est mare etc followed by the entire invitatory. Next Hodie si vocem etc followed by the fragment, then Quadraginta annis followed by the entire invitatory. Then the Lesser Doxology, fragment of the invitatory and, finally, the entire invitatory is said again.

The hymn Verbum supernum prodiens is then said.

Now the nocturn is said. The first antiphon given for Sabbato ad Matutinum, Memor fuit, is said only as far as the asterisk, i.e. Memor fuit in saeculum. This is because today is not of double rank. Then the first psalm, Ps 104(i) Confitemini Domino is said. Then the lesser Doxology and the antiphon in its entirety is repeated, Memor fuit in saeculum testamenti sui Dominus, Deus noster. Then the second antiphon as far as the asterisk, the second psalm, Lesser Doxology and the antiphon in its entirety. This arrangement is repeated for the third psalms and its antiphon.

After the repitition of the third antiphon unlike in Mattins of nine lessons the versicle and response etc is NOT said here. Instead the antiphon fragment of the fourth psalm, Salvavit eos Dominus is said. Then follows the fifth antiphon and psalm followed by the sixth. After the repitition of the sixth psalm again the versicle and response etc are not said but the fragment of the seventh antiphon. Then the seventh psalm etc, the eighth and ninth. After the repitition of the ninth antiphon, Videbunt recti etc then an antiphon and versicle are said. The antiphon is that for the ferial office of Advent Egredietur Dominus and its response Veniet. Then is said the Pater noster, inaudibly, followed by the versicle Et ne nos inducas in tentationem and the response Sed libera nos a malo.

Then is said the absolution A vinculis etc followed by Jube, domne and the first blessing Ille nos benedicat. (The blessings vary according to whether Mattins has three or nine lessons, whether it is a feast of the BVM or Saint, and whether a Gospel fragment is read or not. Which blessing is said when is easily learnt with practice). Then turning to Saturday of the first week of Advent the first lesson is Et factum est in diebus Achaz etc followed by its responsory Ecce virgo concipiet. After the responsory again Jube, domne and the second blessing Divinum auxillium etc. Then the second lesson is said Et dices ad eum followed by its responsory Audite verbum. Then again Jube domne and the third blessing Ad societatem etc and the third lesson Et adjecit Dominus etc. Unlike on a feast, or in Paschaltide, at ferial Mattins the Te Deum is not said. In its place a third (or ninth) responsory follows. For today this is Ecce dies veniunt.

After the third responsory Lauds follow. (In private recitation, if Lauds are not said, the ending of Mattins is as given in the first example here with the collect of the first Sunday of Advent being used.)

How to...Mattins (I)

This post in the series of 'How to' will look at Mattins. Mattins is one of the three 'Great Hours' and the only Office in the Roman rite still to contain extensive passages of scripture and writings from the Fathers.

Mattins basically consists of units of psalmody and readings. The units were originally called vigils and later nocturns. Mattins can be either of three nocturns or a single nocturn depending on the liturgical day being celebrated. Each nocturn consists of three lessons so often, particularly when looking at pre-Trent liturgy, one sees references to feasts of three or nine lessons (in such times whether a feast had three or nine lessons was used in the classification system then in use, often with the additional qualification of whether the feast was 'ruled' or not). In the modern Roman rite doubles and semi-doubles have three nocturns at Mattins made up of nine psalms and nine lessons (with the exception of the feast of Easter and Pentecost and their Octaves) and simple feasts and ferial days have one nocturn consisting of nine psalms and three lessons.

The greater-double feast of St. Francis Xavier will be our first example. A Breviary will need to be marked in four or even five places: 'Feria quinta ad Matutinum', Thursday of the first week of Advent, the texts for St. Francis Xavier given on December 3rd and the 'Common of a Confessor non-bishop'. Depending on the layout of the Breviary one may need to also refer to the very beginning section Ordinarium divini Offici ad Matutinum (when more familiar with the texts the latter will not need to be referred to).

The prayer Aperi Domine etc is said followed by the inaudible recital of Pater noster, Ave Maria and Credo. Mattins then begins with the versicle Domine, labia mea aperies (with the Sign of the Cross made on the lips) and its response Et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam. This is followed by the usual introductory rites of Deus in adjutorium, Lesser Doxology and Alleluia (all very familiar of course to those acquainted with Choral Evensong - Abp. Cranmer was very good at 'cut and paste'). Turning now to the Common the invitatory, Regem Confessorum Dominum, Venite adoremus, is said and then repeated. Then the first part of Ps. 94 Venite, exsultemus Domino etc found in the Ordinarium. The invitatory is then repeated. The next section of the psalm is then said Quoniam Deus magnus etc. After that the fragment of the invitatory from the * is said: Venite adoremus (only). Then the next part of the psalm Quoniam ipse est mare etc followed by the entire invitatory. Next Hodie si vocem etc followed by the fragment, then Quadraginta annis followed by the entire invitatory. Then the Lesser Doxology, fragment of the invitatory and, finally, the entire invitatory is said again.

Then the hymn, Iste Confessor, is said.

We now move into the first nocturn. The psalmody comes from the ferial psalter. So, turning to Feria quinta ad Matutinum, we begin with the entire (as it is a double feast) antiphon In Deo salutare meum, et gloria mea: et spes mea in Deo est. Then Ps. 61, Lesser Doxology and the antiphon is repeated. This arragement is repeated for the next psalm-fragment 65(i) and after that 65(ii). After the last antiphon, Audite, omnes...suam a me, is repeated as it is a feast of nine lessons the versicle Non amovit is said with its response Et misericordiam. Pater noster is then said inaudibly followed by Et ne nos inducas in tentationem and its response Sed libera nos a malo. Then is said the absolution Exaudi, Domine Jesu Christi etc. (The full texts of all the absolutions and blessings are found in Ordinarium section.) Then Jube, domne (or Domine in private recitation) benedicere and the blessing before the first Lesson, Benedictione perpetua etc. (When Breviaries were printed most included a separate sheet with the Venite, absolutions and blessings along with the Te Deum which could be moved around for convenience of the user).

The first nocturn, scriptural, lessons are taken from Thursday of the first week of Advent. The first lesson is Et apprehendent septem mulieres (from Isaiah). At the end of each lesson is said Tu autem Domine, miserere nobis and the response Deo gratias. This is followed by the first responsory Suscipe verbum. Then Jube domne, the next blessing Unigenitus, the second lesson Cantabo dilecto etc followed by the second responsory Aspicebam in visu noctis. Then Jube again and the third blessing Spiritus sancti. Then follows the third lesson Et nunc ostendam etc and then the third responsory Missus est Gabriel. That completes the first nocturn.

Now for the second nocturn. We turn back to 'Feria quinta ad Matutinum' and have another three antiphons and three psalm-fragments: Exsurgat Deus...inimici ejus followed by Ps 67(i), Lesser Doxology, Exsurgat Deus...inimici ejus, then Deus noster...exitus mortis followed by Ps 67(ii), Lesser Doxology, Deus noster...exitus mortis, then In ecclesiis...Domino Deus followed by Ps 67(iii), Lesser Doxology, In ecclesiis...Domino Deus. After the psalmody the versicle Mirabilis Deus and its response Deus Israel. Then, as in the first nocturn, a Pater noster inaudibly until Et ne nos etc. The absolution for the second nocturn is Ipsius pietas etc.

Then, turning to the texts for St. Francis Xavier on December 3rd, Jube domne and the blessing Deus Pater etc. The fourth lesson is Franciscus etc, then the responsory Honestum fecit. Then Jube domne and the blessing Christus etc and the fifth lesson Vitae austeritate etc and its responsory Amavit eum. After that Jube domne, the blessing Ignem etc and the sixth lesson Hunc dilatandi etc and its responsory Iste homo. That concludes the second nocturn.

Lastly, to the third nocturn. We turn back again to 'Feria quinta ad Matutinum' and have the last three antiphons and three psalm-fragments: Salvum me fac...animam meam, Ps 68(i), Lesser Doxology, Salvum me fac...animam meam, then Propter inimicos...Domine, Ps 68(ii), Lesser Doxology, Propter inimicos...Domine, and finally Quaerite...anima vestra, Ps 68(iii), Lesser Doxology, Quaerite...anima vestra. Then the versicle Laudabo and its response Et magnificabo. Then, as in the previous two nocturns, a Pater noster inaudibly until Et ne nos etc. The absolution for the third nocturn is A vinculis etc.

Turning back to the texts for St. Francis Xavier. Ignore the short lesson preceded by the rubric Si hoc Festum ad instar Simplicis redigatur etc. The seventh lesson is the Gospel fragment from St. Mark. Jube domne, the blessing Evangelica etc then the Gospel fragment and St. Gregory's homily Potest omnis creaturae etc. After the lesson the seventh responsory Iste est. Then Jube domne, the blessing Cujus festum colimus etc and the lesson Neque etenim etc and its responsory Sint lumbi. Then Jube domne and the final blessing Ad societatem etc followed by the ninth lesson Signa autem etc. After the ninth lesson, as today is a feast, the Te Deum is said instead of a ninth responsory.

In Choral Office Mattins is never separated from Lauds, except as noted above at Christmas. In private recitation, and to complete this example, the hour concludes Dominus vobiscum etc, Domine exaudi orationem meam etc, Oremus followed by the collect of the day, Dominus vobiscum etc, Benedicamus Domino and its response Deo gratias, the versicle Fidelium animae and an inaudible Pater noster.

So that is Mattins for a feast of nine lessons. It looks more complex than it really is and the above took longer to think and type than it would take to say Mattins. With practice the absolutions and blessings become part of liturgical consciousness and the Office less 'fiddlesome' than it at first appears. The next example will be a ferial Office of three lessons.

Typo alert

I trust users of the Ordo noted the 'typo' in yesterday's entry:

In M (de Dom praec sine Allel, v post Graduale et Cr) 2 or Deus, qui de beate, 3 or Fidelium, 4 or Eccl vel pro Papa.

If yesterday had been a Monday the entry would have been correct but Fidelium is not said on first free day of December when it falls in Advent.

Mea culpa.

How to...Compline

The Office of Compline is the last Office of the liturgical day and one of the 'Little Hours' or Horae Minorae. Its structure differs from that of Vespers and Lauds and it has certain affinities with Prime. Both Prime and Compline historically having been monastic praxis that became imported into the secular Office.

Today is an Advent feria but Vespers are the first Vespers of St. Bibiana which is a semi-double feast. So for Compline today in the Breviary the texts are to be found at 'Feria tertia ad Completorium'.

The Office begins with Aperi Domine etc followed, not by the usual introductory rites as at the other Hours, by a request for a reader-blessing Jube, domne (or Domine in private recitation) benedicere then the blessing Noctem quietem et finem perfectum etc and Amen. After that the short lesson Fratres: Sobrii estote, et vigilate etc followed by Deo gratias and then the versicle Adjutorium nostrum and its response Qui fecit caelum. Then Pater noster is said inaudibly followed by the Confiteor, Misereatur and Indulgentiam. Then the versicle Converte nos, Deus, salutaris noster (during which a small Sign of the Cross is made on the chest) its response, Et averte and then the usual introductory rites of Deus, in adjutorium, Lesser Doxology and Alleluia.

Then comes the psalmody which since 1911 is variable (before being invariably Pss.4, 30 (vv 1-6), 90 and 133). For Tuesday's Compline this now consists of the antiphon fragment Tu, Domine followed by Psalm 11, Lesser Doxology, Psalm 12, Lesser Doxology and Psalm 15 followed by the Lesser Doxology and the antiphon Tu, Domine...custodies nos in aeternum in its entirety. The hymn Te lucis ante terminum then follows. The hymn is followed by the chapter Tu autem in nobis etc and its response Deo gratias.

Following the hymn and chapter comes the short responsory In manus tuas etc. This is followed by the versicle Custodi nos, Domine and its response Sub umbra. Then the antiphon fragment Salva nos and the NT canticle Nunc dimittis, Lesser Doxology and the antiphon Salva nos...requiescamus in pace in its entirety.

The Domincal preces are then said. Kyrie, Christe, Kyrie followed by the Pater noster and Credo and series of versicles and responses. After the last response Dominus vobiscum etc and the collect Visita, quaesumus. After that the final greeting and Benedicamus Domino, its response and the blessing Benedicat et custodiat etc. Following that the antiphon to the Blessed Virgin, Alma Redemptoris, its versicle & response and collect. Then the versicle Divinum auxillium and an inaudible Pater, Ave and Credo.

The most complex hour, Mattins, later in the week.

How to...Prime

Today is the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. The feast is a double of the second class.

Continuing the 'revision' of how to say Canonical Hours originally 'dissected' last year today concludes with Prime before moving on later this week to look at Compline and Mattins. The Office of Prime was discussed previously here and here. Today's example will look at Prime for today's feast.

Prime basically has three forms: festal, Dominical and ferial. These differ mainly in their component psalms, chapters, short lessons and whether the preces, Dominical or ferial, are said. The festal form, as celebrated today, is perhaps the easiest form to start with.

Aperi, Domine etc followed by Pater noster, Ave Maria & Credo. Then Deus in adjutorium, Domine, ad adjuvandum, Lesser Doxology and Alleluia followed by the hymn Jam lucis orto sidere.

The fragment of the antiphon Salve, crux pretiosa (the first antiphon at Lauds then used for Prime. The antiphons are proper for St. Andrew and found in the texts for November 30th) followed by Psalm 53. At the end of the psalm the Lesser Doxology then the first stanza of Psalm 118, Beati immaculati followed by Lesser Doxology and then the second stanza, Retribue servo tuo. After the Lesser Doxology after the last stanza the antiphon Salve, crux pretiosa is repeated in its entirety.

The chapter Regi saeculorum is then said followed by the short responsory Christe, Fili Dei vivi. In the responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum is said as it is Advent. After a versicle and response the collect Domine, Deus omnipotens and the reading of the Martyrology although this is often omitted outside of Choir.

Then the versicle Pretiosa and its response, Mors Sanctorum ejus, followed (without the usual Oremus) by the collect Sancta Maria, Deus in adjutorium and its response is then sung three times. The Lesser Doxology is then sung followed by Kyrie, Christe, Kyrie.. a secret Pater noster and further short series of versicles and responses, again the Lesser Doxlogy and the collect Dirigere et sanctificare. Then Jube, Domine benedicere, the blessing Dies et actus and short lesson Isaias enim dicit (for St. Andrew) ending with Tu autem, Domine, miserere nobis and Deo gratias. Concluding the Hour of Prime Adjutorium nostrum, its response then Benedicite followed by its response Deus and the blessing Dominus nos benedicat... Amen. Then, if Terce does not follow, a final secret Pater noster.

Advent Sunday

The Season of Advent begins with Vespers on the Saturday before Advent Sunday. The liturgy of Advent is perhaps the most beautiful of the entire liturgical year with 'layers' of meaning for both the First and Second Comings of the LORD. Advent Sunday is a semi-double Sunday of the first class. The eschatalogical theme of last Sunday's Gospel continue with St. Luke today and the Coming of the Divine Judge.

At Vespers the antiphons are proper. The Office hymn is Creator alme siderum. A commemoration of St. Saturninus is sung. However, the Suffrage is omitted for all of Advent. At Compline the Dominical preces are sung.

At Mattins the invitatory is Regem venturum and this is sung in the Dominical and ferial Offices until the third Sunday. The hymn is Verbum supernum and the antiphons are proper for Advent. In the first nocturn the lessons are the Incipit of the prophet Isaiah. In the second nocturn the lessons are taken from the writing of St. Leo on the fast of the tenth month, the theme of which is preparing for the Coming and, in the third nocturn the homily is from St. Gregory continuing the theme with his commentary on St. Luke's Gospel about the end times. A ninth responsory is sung and the Te Deum omitted in the Office of Advent. At Lauds the antiphons sung at Vespers are again used, the hymn is En clara vox. A commemoration of St. Saturninus is sung but, as noted above, the Suffrage is omitted.

At Prime the first antiphon from Lauds is used with the usual Dominical psalms (117, 118(i), 118(ii)). In the short responsory the versicle Qui venturus es in mundum replaces Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris for all of Advent except when an occuring feast has a proper versicle. The Dominical preces are sung. At the other Hours the antiphons of Lauds are sung.

Mass is sung after Terce. For Advent the deacon and sub-deacaon do not wear dalmatic and tunicle but violet folded chasubles, an ancient feature of the Roman liturgy. The Gloria in not sung, the second collect is of St. Saturninus and the third collect of the BVM in Advent, Deus, qui de beate. The Creed is sung, the preface that of the Trinity and, as the Gloria was not sung, the dismissal is Benedicamus Domino.

At Vespers the liturgical colour and mood change as First Vespers of St. Andrew the Apostle are sung with a commemoration of the Sunday.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' no commemoration is made at Vespers on Saturday (and, of course, the antiphons are doubled etc). There are no preces at Compline. Mattins is cut down to just one nocturn of three lessons. At Lauds there is no commemoration of St. Saturninus who is omitted this year. At Prime there are no preces. At Mass the deacon wears the 'garment of joy' the dalamtic, and the sub-deacon the tunicle. There is only one collect and the dismissal is Ite, missa est. Vespers are of the Sunday, St. Andrew 'the first called' doesn't even get a mention.

Art: Jerome Nadal