In Octava Patrocinii S. Joseph ~ Duplex majus

Commemoratio: S. Bonifatii Martyris

Wed, 5/14/25:

Today is the octave day of St. Joseph under the 1954 (double major) rubrics.

Mass: As on the feast. White. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Credo. Preface of St. Joseph (et te in Festivitate). Ite. Commemoration of St. Boniface, M.

Office: Ordinary office. White. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1st nocturn = occurring Scripture, 2nd & 3rd nocturns = of the octave [lesson IX = short hagiography of St. Boniface]). Te Deum. Psalms of the feria with Paschaltide antiphon. All else from the proper (as on the feast). Proper Benedictus antiphon (as on the feast). Collect of the feast. Commemoration of St. Fidelis at Lauds. Omit suffrage. (Source: LB236.)

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be holpen by the succour of his prayers to thee on our behalf;
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
℟. Amen

Let us pray.
Commemoration St. Boniface, Martyr
Grant, almighty God, we beseech You, that we who keep the feast of Your blessed Martyr Boniface may be helped by his intercession with You.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

From the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 3:21-23
At that time: When all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened. And so on, and that which followeth.

A Homily by St. Augustine the Bishop
Serm. 36 de Temp. Bapt. Christi
The day of his baptism is, as it were, a second birthday of the Saviour. For we know that he was born with signs and wonders like to those of his baptism, and that in the latter is a great mystery like to his birth. For God saith: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. This second birth is indeed more glorious than the first. For then, he was born in silence, and without witnesses. Now, the Lord is baptized with a proclamation of his divinity. Then, Joseph, who was supposed to be his father, denied that he was. Now, his true Father, who was not believed to be so, proclaimeth himself so to be. Then, the Mother was enduring suspicion, because no father was acknowledged. Now she that bore him is honoured because the Divinity maketh him known as his Son.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Refreshed at the fount of divine blessing, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that as thou dost gladden us by the protection of blessed Joseph, so by his merits and intercession thou woulds make us partakers of his heavenly glory.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
Commemoration St. Boniface, Martyr
With our strength renewed from having shared in Your sacred gift, we beseech You, O Lord our God, that by the intercession of blessed Boniface, Your Martyr, we may feel the benefit of the worship we are offering.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Dominica III Post Pascha ~ Semiduplex Dominica minor

Sun, 5/11/25:

Today is the 3rd Sunday after Easter under the 1954 (semi-double Sunday) and 1962 (II class Sunday) rubrics. 

Mass: Proper Mass. White. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Credo. Preface of Easter. Ite. Under 1954, commemoration of the octave of St. Joseph. Under 1962, commemoration of Ss. Philip and James the Lesser, Ap, at conventual/low Mass only (formerly assigned to May 1).

Under the 1954 rubrics, in all Masses except for the conventual Mass, the external solemnity of the feast of St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church (observed on the preceding Wednesday and formerly assigned to the 3rd Sunday after Easter) may be celebrated (cf. Matters Liturgical, 1938, no. 671). Mass as on the feast. White. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Credo. Preface of St. Joseph (et te in Festivitate). tIe. Commemoration and Last Gospel of the Sunday. (Source: LB236)

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, Who showest to them that be in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Religion, that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
For Octava St Joseph
God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be holpen by the succour of his prayers to thee on our behalf;
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
℟. Amen

From the Holy Gospel according to John
John 16:16-22
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: A little while, and now you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father. And so on.

Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
Tract 101 of John
This little while is the whole duration of this present world. In the same sense this same Evangelist saith in his Epistle ii. 18: It is the last time. The words, because I go to the Father, refer to the first clause of the text, namely, A little while and ye shall not see Me, and not to the latter clause, that is, and again a little while, and ye shall see Me. By His going to the Father He was about to bring it to pass that they should see Him no more. And thus it was that He said, not that He was about to die, and that after His death they should not see Him until He rose again, but that He was going to the Father, which He did when, after that He was risen again and had manifested Himself to them for forty days, He ascended up into heaven.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May the Sacraments which we have received, O Lord, we ask, refresh us with spiritual nourishment, and preserve as with bodily assistance.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
For Octava St Joseph
Refreshed at the fount of divine blessing, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that as thou dost gladden us by the protection of blessed Joseph, so by his merits and intercession thou woulds make us partakers of his heavenly glory.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

S. Antonini Episcopi et Confessoris ~ Duplex

Commemoratio: De IV die infra Octavam S. Joseph

Sat, 5/10/25:

Today is the feast of St. Antoninus, B & C, under the 1954 (double; mtv) and 1962 (III class) rubrics.

Mass: Statuit of a confessor bishop with proper collect. White. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Credo (1954 only; for the octave of St. Joseph). Preface of St. Joseph (et te in Festivitate) (1954)/Preface of Easter (1962). Ite. Commemoration of the octave of St. Joseph (1954 only) and of Ss. Gordian and Epimachus, Mm (at conventual/low Mass only under 1962).

Office: Ordinary office. White. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1954; IX = of Ss. Gordian and Epimachus)/1 nocturn of 3 lessons (1962; II = II & III of occurring Scripture combined, III = short hagiography). Te Deum. Psalms of the feria with Paschaltide antiphon. All else from the common of a confessor bishop. Proper collect of the feast. At Lauds, commemoration of the octave of St. Joseph (1954 only) and of Ss. Gordian and Epimachus.

(Source: LB236)

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O Lord, may the merits of St. Antoninus, Your Confessor and Bishop, help us; and just as we praise You for the wonders You have wrought in him, so may we glory in Your mercy toward us.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
Commemoration Die IV infra Octavam Patrocinii St Joseph
God, Who in thine unspeakable foreknowledge didst choose thy blessed servant Joseph to be the husband of thine Own most holy Mother; mercifully grant that now that he is in heaven with thee, we who on earth do reverence him for our Defender, may worthily be holpen by the succour of his prayers to thee on our behalf;
Commemoration Sts. Gordian and Epimachus, Martyrs
Grant, almighty God, we beseech You, that we who keep the feast of Your blessed Martyrs Gordian and Epimachus, may be helped by their intercession with You.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
Matt 25:14-23
At that time Jesus spake unto His disciples this parable A man, travelling into a far country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And so on.

Homily by Pope St Gregory the Great.
9th on the Gospels.
Dearly beloved brethren, this Lesson from the Holy Gospel moveth us to take good heed lest we, who are seen in this world to have received more than others, should thereby bring ourselves into greater condemnation from the Maker of this world. To whom much is given, of the same is much required. Therefore, let him that receiveth much, strive to be all the more lowly, and all the more ready to do God service, for his very gifts’ sake, knowing that he will be obliged to give account thereof. Behold, a man, travelling into a far country, calleth his own servants, and delivereth unto them talents, to the end that they may trade therewith. After a long time, the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them, and to them that have done well He rendereth a reward of their labours, but that servant which was careless of his master’s work He condemneth.

Antonine was born of respectable parents at Florence, in the year of grace 1389, and the holiness of his after life was foreshadowed in him even as a little child. When he was sixteen years of age he entered the Order of Friars Preachers, and from that time forth he was a burning and a shining light to all the godly. He proclaimed a truceless war against idleness after a short night's rest, he was the first to come to the service of Matins when they were over he spent the rest of the night in prayer, or at least in reading, or writing out books, or if sleep altogether overcame his weary body, he would rest against the wall with his head bowed down, and then shake off slumber again, and set himself anew with fresh eagerness to his sacred watch. (Breviarium Romanum)

S. Petri Martyris ~ Duplex

Scriptura: Feria Tertia infra Hebdomadam I post Octavam Paschæ

Tues, 4/29/25:

Today is the feast of St. Peter, M, under the 1954 (double) and 1962 (III class) rubrics.

Mass: Proper Mass. Red. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Omit Credo. Preface of Easter. Ite. No commemorations or additional prayers.

Office: Ordinary office. Red. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1954; 1st nocturn = Incipit liber Actuum Apostolorum of Monday after Low Sunday)/1 nocturn of 3 lessons (II = II & III of occurring Scripture combined [of Tuesday after Low Sunday; the incipit of Acts is omitted this year]), III = short hagiography). Te Deum. Psalms of the feria with Paschaltide antiphon. All else from the common of one martyr in Paschaltide. Proper collect. No commemorations at Lauds. Omit suffrage (1954). (LB236 on Twitter/X.)

Collect
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Grant us grace, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, to follow with zeal conformable thereto after the pattern of that great example of faith, thy blessed Martyr Peter, who, for the spreading of the same faith, did so run as to obtain the palm of martyrdom.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

From the holy Gospel according to John
John 15:1-7
In that time Jesus said to his disciples: I an the true vine; and my Father is the husbandman. And so on.

Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo.
Tract 80 on John
Dearly beloved brethren, this passage of the Gospel, wherein the Lord saith that He is the vine, and that His disciples are the branches, is to be taken in that sense wherein it is also said, that He is the Head of the Church, Eph. v. 23, and that we are the members of Him 30 Who is the Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. ii. 5. The vine and his branches are of one and the same nature. Therefore, seeing that He was God, of which nature we are not, He was made man, to the end that He might have in Himself this vine, that is, the manhood, whereof we men can be made branches.

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
May the Sacrament, O Lord, which we, the faithful people have received, hold us in safe keeping, and through the intercession of thy blessed Martyr Peter defend us from all assaults of the enemy.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Dominica in Albis in Octava Paschæ ~ Duplex I. classis

Commemoratio: S. Petri Canisii Confessoris et Ecclesiæ Doctori

Sun, 4/27/25:Today is Low Sunday (Dominica in albis) under the 1954 (double major of the I class) and 1962 (I class) rubrics. 

Mass: Proper Mass. Station church at St. Pancras. White. Gloria. Paschal Alleluia. Credo. Preface of Easter (in hoc potissimum, etc., from now on). Ite. Under 1954, Commemoration of St. Peter Canisius, C & D. No commemorations under 1962.

Office: Sunday office. White. Invitatory Surrexit Dominus with hymn Rex sempiterne. Matins of 3 nocturns of 9 lessons (1954)/1 nocturn of 3 lessons (1962; lesson II = II & III of the old Breviary combined, III = lesson VII of the old Breviary). Te Deum. Psalms of Sunday (Lauds = schema I; unless otherwise noted [i.e., on penitential days, vigils], schema I will be used from today until the ferial days of Advent) with Paschaltide antiphon. All else from the proper. Hymn Aurora at Lauds. Proper Benedictus antiphon at Lauds. Under 1954, commemoration of St. Peter Canisius. No commemorations at Lauds under 1962. Omit suffrage (1954 only). At Prime, begin using psalm 117 once more as the first psalm of Sunday. (LB236 on Twitter/X.)

Introitus

1 Pet 2:2
Quasi modo géniti infántes, allelúja: rationábiles, sine dolo lac concupíscite, allelúja, allelúja, allelúja.
Ps 80:2.
Exsultáte Deo, adjutóri nostro: jubiláte Deo Jacob.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Quasi modo géniti infántes, allelúja: rationábiles, sine dolo lac concupíscite, allelúja, allelúja, allelúja.

From the Holy Gospel according to John
John 20:19-31
At that time: Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. And so forth.

Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great.
26th on the Gospels
When we hear this passage of the Gospel read, a question straightway knocketh at the door of our mind. How was it that the Body of the Risen Lord was a real Body, if It was able to pass through closed doors into the assembly of His disciples? But we ought to know that the works of God are no more wonderful when they can be understood by man's reason, and faith has lost her worth when her subject-matter is the subject-matter of human demonstration. Nevertheless, those very works of our Redeemer which are in themselves impossible to be understood, must be thought over in connection with other of His works, that we may be led to believe in things wonderful, by mean of things more wonderful still. That Body of the Lord, Which came into the assembly of the disciples through closed doors, was the Same, Which at Its birth, had become manifest to the eyes of men by passing out of the cloister of the Virgin's womb without breaking the seal thereof. What wonder is it if that Body Which had come out of the Virgin's womb, without opening the matrix, albeit It was then on Its way to die, now that It was risen again from the dead and instinct for ever with undying life, what wonder is it, I say, if that Body passed through closed doors?

Post Communion
P. The Lord be with you.
S. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, to make the most holy Mysteries which Thou hast given us as a defense of our renewal, a remedy for us now, and in the future.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Sabbato Sancto ~ Feria privilegiata

 

Sat, 4/19/25:

Today is Holy Saturday under the 1954 (double of the I class) and 1962 (I class) rubrics.

Office: The Office is recited in the same manner as for the rest of the Triduum. The liturgical color for the Office is violet. Under 1954, Matins and Lauds of Holy Saturday were sung in choir last night at the Tenebrae service; under the 1962 rubrics, Tenebrae must be sung on the morning of Holy Saturday, as Lauds may no longer be anticipated. Matins of 3 nocturns begun with the first antiphon. Omit Gloria Patri, absolutions, benedictions, and Tu autem. Omit Te Deum. At Lauds, psalms of the feria (schema II) with proper antiphons. Omit chapter, hymn, etc. Antiphon Christie factus. Pater Noster said silently. Collect (without Oremus), with conclusion said in silence. At all hours, the hymns, chapters, preces, and suffrages are omitted, a living relic of the earliest form of the Office. No fourth psalm is added at Prime under 1954. Commemorations are not permitted in the Office or at Mass throughout the Triduum.

Vespers: Under 1954, Vespers is I Vespers of Easter Sunday; in private recitation, it is textually the same as the short version sung at the Vigil (see below). Under 1954, Compline of Sunday with all normal practices (since it is festal). 

Under 1962, since the vigil service has been moved to night, Vespers is of Saturday and recited as on the past two days with some alternate antiphons and collect. As mentioned above, this leaves Easter as the only I class feast without I Vespers. Compline is recited as on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday under 1962 (before the vigil begins). Since the 1962 vigil concludes with a short form of Lauds, those bound to the Office are not required to recite Matins and Lauds of Easter if present at the vigil.

Vigil: Under 1954, after None has been recited in choir in the morning, the altar is decorated with flowers and the candles prepared for the vigil Mass. When the altar has been prepared, the celebrant, vested in violet cope, with deacon and subdeacon, vested in folded violet chasubles, gather outside the church. A fire is struck from flint. After thrice blessing the fire, the priest blesses the grains of incense that will be inserted in the paschal candle. The deacon changes into white dalmatic and holds the triple candlestick (unique in the Roman rite to this ceremony). All enter the church in procession. One of the candles is then lit from the fire.

The deacon thrice chants Lumen Christi. All respond Deo gratias. Each time, another candle on the candlestick is lit. Upon reaching the altar, the deacon receives the blessing and goes to the Gospel side, near the paschal candle. He then chants the Exsultet. When he reaches the text curvat imperia, he stops and places the grains on incense into the paschal candle. After ignis ascendit, he lights the paschal candle from the triple candlestick. All the lights in the church are now lit.

After the chant, the deacon goes to the sedilia and changes into his folded chasuble once more; the celebrant removes his cope and puts on violet chasuble. All three ministers wear maniples. Twelve prophecies are now chanted, each followed by Flecatmus/Levate and a collect; some are also followed by a Tract. When the last prophecy has been chanted, the clerics process to the baptismal font while the choir chants Sicut cervus (As the hart panteth) from Psalm 41. The waters of the font are now blessed in an elaborate ritual including a Preface, the dividing of the waters to the four corners of the earth, and the addition of blessed oil and chrism. If there are catechumens to be baptized, the rite found in the Rituale Romanum is used to baptize them. All then process to the sanctuary.

The celebrant and ministers remove their vestments and, clad only in alb and stole, prostrate themselves before the altar. The choir chants the Litany of the Saints, repeating each line. In the middle of the Litany, they rise and go to the sacristy. They vest in white for the Mass while the altar is prepared; any flowers and decorations not placed before the Vigil are arranged now by the servers. There is no Introit; the Kyrie is sung while the prayers at the foot of the altar are said.

After incensing the altar and quietly saying the Kyrie, the priest intones the Gloria. At this time, the organ is finally played in full once more. While the Gloria is sung, all images covered in violet cloths in the church are unveiled. After the Epistle, the priest chants Alleluia, not said or sung since I Vespers of Septuagesima, thrice, each time in a higher tone, repeated by the choir. A Gradual and Tract precede the Gospel. The Credo is not sung; there is no Offertory chant.

Mass continues as usual. Preface of Easter (in hac potissimum nocte). Proper Communicantes and Hanc Igitur for Easter in the Canon. In place of the Communion chant, a short form of Vespers is chanted. At the dismissal, the deacon adds a double Alleluia to Ite. All respond Deo Gratias, alleluia, alleluia. This form continues throughout the Easter octave. Mass concludes as usual; the Last Gospel is said.

(In churches where a sufficient number of clergy are not available to perform the rites of the vigil as described in the Missal, the simplified form as found in the Memoriale rituum is followed.) (Source LB236 on Twitter/X.)

℣. The Lord be with you.

℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
O God, Who hast bestowed on the faithful the fire of Thy brightness by Thy Son, Who is the Corner-stone, hallow ✠ this new fire produced from a flint that it may be profitable to us: and grant that during this Paschal festival we may be so inflamed with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may come to the solemnity of perpetual light. Through the same Christ our Lord.
℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
O Lord God, almighty Father, never-failing Light, Who art the Creator of all lights, bless this light that is blessed ✠ and sanctified by Thee, Who hast enlightened the whole world: that we may be inflamed with that light and englithened by the fire of Thy brightness: and as Thou didst give light to Moses when he went out of Egypt, so nlighten our hearts and senses, that we may be found worthy to arrive at light and life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord.
℟. Amen.

Let us pray.
O holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God: vouchsafe to co-operate with us, who bless this fire in Thy Name, and in that of Thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord and God, and of the Holy Ghost: help us against the fiery darts of the enemy, and illumine us with Thy heavenly grace. Who livest and reignest with the same Thine only-begotten Son and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever.
℟. Amen.

Continuation + of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Matt 28:1-7
And in the end of the Sabbath, when it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalen and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And behold there was a great earthquake. For an Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone and sat upon it: and his countenance was as lightening and his raiment as snow. And for fear of him the guards were struck with terror and became as dead men. And the Angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you: for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified: He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come and see the place where the Lord was laid. And going quickly, tell ye His disciples that He is risen: and behold He will go before you into Galilee: there you shall see Him. Lo, I have foretold it to you.

℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.
Pour forth, O Lord, we beseech thee, the Spirit of thy love into our hearts, and by thy mercy make all them to be of one mind to whom Thou hast given to eat of thy mystic Passover.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.

Good Friday: Meditation on the Passion of the Lord

Details, Crucifixion, Fra Angelico, Convento di S Domenico, Fiesole (NY Times photos)

Source and more: https://www.artway.eu/posts/fra-angelico-the-crucifixion