Sunday 1 August 2010

X Sunday after Pentecost


Today is the tenth Sunday after Pentecost and the first Sunday of August. The first Sunday of the months of August, September, October and November is the Sunday nearest the Kalends of the month so may actually be the last Sunday in the previous calendar month. This year the first Sunday of August is also the first Sunday in the month 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 first Sunday in August. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations were sung of the preceding Office of St. Ignatius of Loyola, of St. Peter in Chains, of St. Paul the Apostle and the Holy Machabbes. The Suffrage of the Saints was omitted as were the Dominical preces at Compline because of the occurring double feasts.

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 Proverbs of Solomon. In the second nocturn the lessons are from a Tract of St. Augustine on the 118th Psalm. In the third nocturn a homily from St. Augustine also provides the lessons. The seventh responsory is Domine, pater et Deus vitae meae. At Lauds commemorations are sung of St. Peter in Chains, St. Paul and the Holy Machabees.

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

Mass is sung after Terce. The Gloria is sung, the second collect is of St. Peter in Chains, the third collect of St. Paul, the fourth collect of the Holy Machabees. The Creed is sung, the preface is of the Holy Trinity and the last Gospel is the Gospel for the feast of St. Peter in Chains rather than In principio.

Vespers are of the Sunday. After the collect of the Sunday commemorations are sung of the following feast of St. Alphonsus, St. Peter in Chains, St. Paul the Apostle and St. Stehen I. At Compline the Dominical preces are omitted.

In the 'liturgical books of 1962' the first Sunday of August, September, October and November is always the first Sunday in the calendar month (hence the reason why the September Ember Days are often at variance in the Old Rite compared with the Extraordinary Form of the New Rite). The feast of St. Peter in Chains has been abolished from the calendar. Even if it had not been abolished it would not be commemorated. Neither are the Holy Machabees commemorated. Both Vespers, and Lauds, are without commemorations. Mass has one collect and the last Gospel is In principio as it always except for Palm Sunday when the blessing of Palms does not take place or when, in anticipation of the next (1964) phase of the refom, the last Gospel is simply omitted.

Art: Jerome Nadal

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