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Guidelines on How to Recite


The Benedictine Diurnal
1. Some Principles.

- Division of the Diurnal.


• Proper of the Season,
• Psalter (the Psalms and main daily prayers...): Remember this name.
• Proper of the saints,
• Common of Saints. (& of the Deal)
• Other texts (Litany of the Ss., Commend. a departing soul, Itinerary, Gen. AbsoL)

- What office to say.


Every evening check which Office is to be said the next day:
• First, in the Proper of the Season, check if there is a special feast,
Office... . If there isn’t any, then check in the Proper of the Saints.
• Once the Office to say has been found, check what is proper to this
Office (in the Proper of the Season or the Proper of the Saints).
• Then check if there is something to take from the Common
(from the Common of this or that Season or the Common of Saints).
• The rest is to be taken from the day of the week in the Psalter.

- Psalms.
• So that the 150 Psalms (& some canticles) may be recited every week,
each Hour of the week has its proper psalms.
Exceptions are: [1] Compline, (same 3 Psalms every night), [2] Terce, Sext
& None from Tuesday to Saturday (same Psalms for the 5 days). The OSB
and Roman Psalm distributions are very different
• Lesser Hours (Prime, Terce, Sext & None) do not change psalms on
any feast day (whereas they do on 1st Class feasts in the Roman Breviary)
• Greater Hours (Matins, Lauds & Vespers) change their psalms on 1 st
& 2nd class feasts (& 3rd class feasts when these have proper Antiphons):
in which case, Matins & Vespers take the psalms assigned to the
feast (or the Common of the Saint, if the feast has no proper psalms), but
Lauds always take the Sunday Psalms.
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• Lauds, on Sundays, & on 2nd and 1st class feasts: the Psalms are always the
following ones: 66 (said alone without Antiphon, as every single day of the
year), then, with Antiphons: 92, 99 [both replaced by 50 & 117 on Sundays
of a Violet Season (Advent, Septuagesima, & Lent) and Green Season
(After Epiphany, and After Pentecost)], 62, Canticle of the 3 Young Men,
and finally 148-149-150 (these three altogether as one psalm, as everyday
of the year).

- Lauds.
• The psalms for Lauds are always organized thus:
 Psalm 66 daily: always without Antiphon (& sung in
directum, that is, strait, in a very simple melody very close to
the Recto tono).
 Then 5 groups of psalms, with Antiphons, thus:
1. Psalm 50 daily, except on some occasions (cf. just below).
2. A psalm.
3. A psalm.
4. A canticle of the Old Testament (it reads like a Psalm).
5. Psalms 148-149-150 daily, as a single psalm (that is, with
Gloria Patri only after Psalm 150. These 3 psalms are always
treated as one, and it is from them (which are psalms of praise)
that the Office of Lauds took the name of Lauds (Laudes, in
Latin, & Praise, in English)

• On Sundays, the psalms are always Psalms 66 (in directum), 50, 117, 62,
Canticle of the 3 Young Men, then Psalms 148-149-150, except on festive
Sundays (that is, during the Seasons of Christmas, Epiphany, Easter,
Ascension & Pentecost), which thus have Psalms 66 (in directum), then
92.22, 62, Canticle of the 3 Young Men, then Psalms 148-149-150.

• On 1st & 2nd class feasts (& the very few 3rd class feasts that have proper
Antiphons at Lauds), Lauds take Sunday festive psalms: Psalms 66 (in
directum), then 92.22, 62, Canticle of the 3 Young Men, then Psalms 148-
149-150.

• Each one of these 5 Psalms (or groups of psalms) has its own Antiphon.
However, the three first psalms are said under one Antiphon only, on
Sundays in green (after the Epiphany & Pentecost), on Sundays of
Eastertide (except of course Easter Sunday), and on ferias of Eastertide.
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• Change of Antiphons: Antiphons are always the ferial ones, except on 1 st


& 2nd class feasts (plus the very few ferias and 3rd class feasts which have
proper Antiphons).
- Antiphons for Lesser Hours.
• On ferial days, Lesser Hours keep the Ferial Antiphons (which are in the
Psalter), except on some Seasons (in which case, it is indicated in the
Proper of the Season).
• On all feastdays, Lesser Hours have proper Antiphons: They usually
borrow them from Lauds (in the Common of the Saints if there are no
proper Antiphons for that particular feastday): Thus, when it is indicated
that “the Antiphons of Lauds are to be used for Lesser Hours”, this means
that at Prime Lauds’ 1st Ant. is recited, at Terce the 2nd one, at Sext the 3rd
one, and at None the 5th one (not the 4th). This is a pre-1963 rubric, which
is kept in Bellaigue (in the 1963 rubrics, only 1st cl. Feasts take the
special Antiphons from the feast’s lauds).

- Antiphons to the Blessed Virgin Mary after Compline:


• From the 1st Sunday of Advent (Compline on Saturday night) to 1 st
February: Alma Redemptoris Mater.
 During Advent: verse Angelus Domini... & Prayer Gratiam
tuam...
 During Christmastide: verse Postpartum... & Prayer Deus, qui...
• From 2nd February to Holy Wednesday: Ave Regina Cælorum.
• From Easter Sunday to the 1st Sunday after Pentecost (excluded): Regina Cæli.
• From the 1st Sunday after Pentecost (Compline on Pentecost Saturday), to
the 1st Sunday of Advent (excluded): Salve Regina.

- Compline.
• Compline is the same the whole year round, except for the Final Antiphon
to Our Lady, which changes according to the rule laid down in the
preceding paragraph.
• Compline of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and All
Souls’ Day are special (all is explained at these dates).
• For the Confiteor, If one is alone, or if in the Congregation there are only
females, omit the words et tibi, Pater/et te, Pater (and to thee, Father / and
thee, Father).
• Don’t forget the name of St Benedict during the Confiteor.
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- Bodily Posture during the Office:


• Beginning (until the 1st psalm has been intoned): Remain standing.
During the Gloria Patri... after Deus in adjutorium...., bow your body
deeply (so that your crossed hands can touch your knees) from Gloria to Spiritui
Sancto.).
• Psalms:
 After the first Antiphon has been said (if there is one) & the first
psalm has been intoned: Sit down for the recitation of the psalms.
But:
At the * of the last verse of each Psalm: Stand up.

During each Gloria Patri.: Bow deeply your body as in the


beginning, from Gloria Patri to Spiritui Sancto.
At the * of the Sicut erat (following the Gloria Patri.): Sit
down.

• After the psalms: After having repeated the Antiphon following the last
psalm: Stand up until the end. But during the Pater Noster just before the
Prayer, bow down deeply as during Gloria Patri (even the Celebrant).

• Special rules:
 Lauds and Vespers:
After the intonation of the Antiphon for Benedictus or
Magnificat: sit down while you continue the Antiphon.
Stand up for the Benedictus or the Magnificat (Out of respect
for the New Testament). This is also the case for the Nunc
Dimittis of Compline during the Sacred Triduum & All Souls’
Day.
Once the canticle of the New Testament is over, after Gloria
Patri,.. Sicut erat in principio, et munc, et semper: Sit down at
the * for Et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen. and the repetition of the
Antiphon.

 At each Gloria Patri: Bow deeply your body (so that your crossed
hands can touch your knees) from Gloria Patri to Spiritui Sancto.
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 Little chapters: When asking for the blessing (Jube


Domne/Domine benedicere), bow deeply (to the Cross if you are
alone, to the Celebrant if you are more than one). Bow again when
reciting Tu autem, Domine, Miserere nobis. If you are several, the
Cantor only does these two deep bowings.

 Last Blessings of Prime and Compline: If you are several to recite


the Office together, bow deeply during the last blessing of Prime
(Dominus nos benedicat...), & kneel at that of Compline. The
Celebrant does not bow or kneel at all.

 Prime: Sit down during the reading of the Martyrology (if you read
it) & that of the Rule (but not during the little chapter if you replace
the Rule by it). If you are several, the actual Cantor remains standing while
reading.

 Final Antiphon to Our Lady: Kneel down after it has been intoned
(if you are already kneeling since the blessing, then remain
kneeling), except Saturday and Sunday nights, and during all
Eastertide (when you recite it standing up to the end). This is the
same rule as for the Angelus

 During Advent and Lent: If you are several to recite the Office
together, all (except the Celebrant) kneel down during the prayer
at the end of the Office (At Prime: only at that of Prime itself, Domine
Deus Omnpotens... and not at the one at the end of the Chapter - at
Compline only Viuta quaszemus...).

 Pater Noster: Whether alone or in a group, as soon as the Pater


Noster has been intoned, bow down deeply as during the Gloria
Patri, until Et ne nos inducas in tentationem. Then rise up.

 Prayer:

Right after the short Kyrie eleison litany, at the Oremus of the
prayer, all (except the Celebrant) bow again until the end of the
Prayer.
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On days of penance (Advent, Lent..., Ember Days, Vigils in


Violet, Office of the Dead): instead of bowing down for the
Prayer, kneel down until the end of the Office itself (Divinum
auxilium...)

 Confiteor: When reciting the Office in common, all is done like


during mass (the Celebrant does his Confiteor first, then the
others):
When you say your Confiteor, bow down deeply as during the
Gloria Patri, until the Misereatur, then rise up at Indulgentiam
and do the sign of the Cross.
 Signs of the Cross:
During Deus in adjutorium meum intende.

At the beginning of the Benedictus, Magnificat (&


NuncDimittis).
During Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini (Prime &
Compline)
During Converte nos, Deus, Salutaris noster (Compline): make a
tiny sign of the cross on your breast (as for the Gospel, but on the
breast only).

During the Last Blessings (Prime & Compline): make the sign
of
the Cross (plus, if you are several, all [except the Celebrant]
bow down deeply at Prime, and kneel at Compline).
 Deep Bowing of the head (head only):
At the name of Jesus.
 Slight bowing of the head:
At the name of Mary.
At the name of the Saint of which the feast or Commemoration is
said.
 Medium bowing of the body (your hands reach just above your
knees):
???
???
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2. Rules Proper to Each Class:

• 1st Class FEASTS (not vigils, nor ferias):


 If a 1st class feast cannot be celebrated, then it must be transferred
to the next free day (that is, which isn’t a 1st class day).
 All 1st and 2nd class feasts or Sundays begin with 1” Vespers the
evening before.
 When the 1st Vespers of a 1st class feast fall together with the 2 nd
Vespers of another 1st class feast, we say the 2nd Vespers of the
first feast, with the Commemoration of the 1 st Vespers of the 2nd
feast (e.g. if Christ the King falls on the 30 th October, then on the 30th
October we say Christ the King’s 2nd Vespers, with the Commemoration of
All Saints’ 1st Vespers). There is a very helpful table in the beginning
of the Diurnal.
 All 1st class feasts keep the ferial psalms as in the Psalter (except
at Matins, Lauds & Vespers). But all the rest (even the Antiphons)
is usually taken from the Proper of the feast, (all that isn’t proper,
is taken from the Common of the Season or the Common of
Saints).
 At Lauds, the psalms are those mentioned above, in “Some
Principles”: 66 (without Antiphon), 92 (with Antiphon), 99 (with
Antiphon), 62 (with Antiphon), Canticle of the 3 Young Men
(with Antiphon), 148-149-150 (all three as one psalm, that is, with
only one Gloria Patri and one Antiphon only).
 On a Sunday, if the Feast takes the place of the Sunday, then one
must make the Commemoration of the Sunday (if the feast is not
a feast of Our Lord) at Lauds and Vespers.

• Sundays:
All Sundays are considered as feasts of Our Lord.
 1st class Sundays:

All Sundays of the three Seasons of Advent, Lent & Passion.


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Easter Sunday & the 1st Sunday after Easter, Pentecost Sunday
& Trinity Sunday, as well as Christ the King Sunday.
They never give way to any feast.

 2nd Class Sundays:

All the other Sundays of the year.

They are preferred to 2nd class feasts, except 2nd class feasts of
Our Lord (e.g. the Transfiguration, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross,
the Anniversary of the Dedication of Rome’s Cathedral... which are 2 nd
cl. feasts of Our Lord, will take the place of any 2” class Sunday, and
there will not even be any Commemoration of the Sunday then).

 Sunday Lauds: the psalms are those mentioned above, in “Some


Principles” (beware that the two first psalms (after the 66th) vary
according to the Season: all is explained in the Psalter, at Sunday’s Lauds)

 To know what is proper to each Sunday, you must first check the
Ordinary of this or that Season, in the Proper of the Season.

• 2nd Class FEASTS (not vigils, nor ferias):


 When falling on a 1st class day, they are altogether omitted.

 When falling on a Sunday, they are replaced by a simple


Commemoration (except if they are feasts of Our Lord, in which
case they replace the Sunday, and there is no Commemoration of the
Sunday).
 Greater Hours (Matins, Lauds & Vespers): all is done as in 1st class
feasts., plus any Commemoration eventually (of a 2nd or 3rd class).
 Lesser Hours (Prime, Terce, Sext, None): all is done as in a 3rd class
feast.
 At Lauds, the Psalms are those mentioned above, in “Some
Principles”: 66 (without Antiphon), 92 (with Antiphon), 99 (with
Antiphon), 62 (with Antiphon), Canticle of the 3 Young Men
(with Antiphon), 148-149-150 (all three as one psalm, that is,
with only one Gloria Patri and one Antiphon only).
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 All 2nd class feasts, (as well as all Sundays and all 1 st class feasts)
begin with 1” Vespers the evening before. (1963 Rubrics say that
only 1st class feasts and all Sundays have 1st Vespers, and not the 2nd class
feasts: Bellaigue does not follow this reform:  This means that if you have
a 1963 Diurnal or Breviary, you do not have the texts for the 2 nd class feasts’
1st Vespers: you must have a supplement with these texts).

 When the 1st Vespers of a 2nd class feast fall together with the 2nd
Vespers of another 2nd class feast, we say the 2nd Vespers of the
first feast, with the Commemoration of the 1 st Vespers of the 2nd
feast, (e.g if the Transfiguration [6th August] falls on a Monday,
then on the Sunday evening we say Sunday’s 2nd Vespers with the
Commemoration of the 1st Vespers of the Transfiguration).

• 3s Class FEASTS (not vigils, nor ferias):


 When falling on a 1st or 2nd class day, they are altogether omitted.

 When falling on a 3rd class day (e.g. Advent), they take the place of
that day. In Lent, however, although Ferias are only 3rd class, we
nevertheless say the Lenten ferial office (3rd class feasts are just
commemorated).
 When falling on a 4th class day (e.g. ferias after Pentecost), they
take the place of the day, which is altogether omitted.
 Greater Hours:
Unlike 1st and 2nd Class feasts, 3rd class feasts keep the ferial
psalms and Antiphons. All the rest (from the Little Chapter
right to the end) is usually taken from the Proper of the feast,
or its Common.
Vespers: If the days that follows is a Sunday, a 1st Class feast
or a 2nd Class feast, it will have 1st Vespers. This means that the
3rd Class feast stops after None (it thus does not have Vespers
nor Compline at all). However, at the 1st Vespers of the next
day (only if the next day is a 2nd Class feast and not a Sunday
or a 1st Class feast), we make the Commemora-tion of the
Vespers of the 3rd Class feast. This is not done in the 1963
rubrics: but it was in the former rubrics, and Bellaigue
still does it.
 Lesser Hours:
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Like 1st and 2nd Class feasts, 3rd class feasts keep only their
ferial psalms, and all the rest of the Office (the Antiphon for
the psalms, the Little Chapter, the Verse and the Prayer) is
taken from the Proper of the feast, or its Common: . This is
not done in the 1963 rubrics (which says that the Antiphon is
that of the Feria): but it was in the former rubrics, and
Bellaigue still does it:  So you must not forget to take the
Antiphon from the Lauds of the feast or of the Common of
that Saint, because the 1963 Breviary will not prompt you
to do so.
Practically: Take one of the Antiphons in the Lauds of the
Proper or the Common of the Saint: For Prime, take the Lauds’
1st Antiphon; for Terce, take the Lauds’ 2nd Antiphon; for Sext,
take the Lauds’ 3rd Antiphon; for None, take the Lauds’ 5th
Antiphon.

• Eerias & Vjgils:


 Ferias are usually 4th class (Advent & Lent Ferias have 3rd & 2nd
c1ass ferias).
 Ember days are 2nd class ferias (those during the Pentecost Octave are 1st
class).

 Vigils are of different classes, but are usually treated like ferias.

 On ferial days during the Seasons in green (that is, after the
Epiphany or Pentecost), nothing is proper (except the Prayer,
which is that of the Sunday, usually, or which is sometimes proper
to the day itself like in the Ember days).
 But in all the other Seasons, the texts (from the little chapter
right to the end) are usually taken from the Proper of the Season.
 Some Ferias or Vigils are 1st class: everything is then explained
on the day itself (e.g. Vigil of Christmas, ferias of Holy Week...)
 On penitential days (ferias in violet), the Canticle of Lauds is the
one marked as “ferial” instead of the one marked as “festive”
(which is said on all other ferias and on all the feasts).

• Saturday:
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 All Saturdays without feast, are dedicated to Our Lady: These


Saturdays are 4th class, but the Office is done as if it was a 3rd class
feast with the following exception according to the old rubrics
followed in Bellaigue (cf. the supplement for Bellaigue, where all
is explained):
It has 1st Vespers if the preceding day (Friday) is a 3rd or 4th class.
If the Friday was a 3rd Class, then on Friday’s Vespers, which are
those of Our Lady, you must make the Commemoration of the 3rd
class feast of that day…
It ceases after None (for Vespers are the 1st Vespers of the
Sunday).
In normal 3rd Class feasts, the Antiphons at the Lesser Hours
should be taken from the Lauds of the feast or of the Common.
But since Our Lady on Saturday has no special Antiphons at
Lauds, the Antiphons have been inserted in the given hours in the
Common of tbe Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday (e.g., at Terce an
Antiphon is given…). But since 1963 rubrics suppose that no
special Antiphon is used at the Lesser Hours, these have been
removed from Our Lady on Saturday. In Bellaigue they keep the
old rubric:  You thus must take them from the Lauds of the
feasts of Our Lady (but after Christmas up to 2nd February, take
them from the Lauds of the 1 st January).:  cf the supplement for
Bellaigue, where all is explained.
 On Saturdays of Advent & Lent, we do the Office of Advent or Lent,
and not that of Our Lady.

• Commemorations:
 Commemorations are of two sorts:

Privileged Commemorations: The following days, when impeded


by an office of a higher class: All Sundays, Ember days, ferias of
Advent, Lent & Passiontide. When these offices are impeded, they
are commemorated at Lauds, Vespers & all Masses (E.g. If Saint
Benedict (1° class) falls on afena of Lent, the Office is that of Saint Benedict
with the commemoration of the feia of Lent at the two Vespers, at Lauds and
at Mass).
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Ordinary Commemorations: ll 2nd and 3rd Class impeded offices,


as well as all offices written as simple Commemorations: These
are commemorated at Lauds & Mass (not at Vespers). (E.g. 1. If St.
Matthew (21 Sept) falls on a Sunday, it is just commemorated at Lauds and
Low mass - Eg2. St Marcel (l6 January) is always a simple Commemoration).

 Number of permitted Commemorations:

On 1st classes: only one (and then, only a Privileged Commemoration)

On 2nd class Sundays: only one (and then, only of an impeded 2nd class
feast).

On other 2nd classes: only one (and then, only of an impeded 2nd class
feast).

On 3rd & 4th classes: there may be two.


 Commemorations are made of:
The Antiphon for Benedictus or Magnificat (without the canticle),

The Verse following the Hymn which should have preceded the Antiphon,

The Prayer (without Domine Exaudi...). But, strangely enough, if there are
two Commemorations we omit the conclusion (Per Dominum...) of
thefirst one.

3. The Seasons of the Year:

- The Season of Advent (violet):


• All Fridays of Advent, as well as the Vigil of Christmas, are days of Fast
and Abstinence for the OSB Oblates of Bellaigue (Cf. Statutes of the
Oblates of Bellaigue).
• Sundays:
 They are all 1st class Sundays : They never give way to any feast,
except that of the Immaculate Conception (in this latter case, the
Sunday is Commemorated – cf. Privileged Commemorations –).
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 All is proper to Advent: Each Sunday, everything is explained.


At Lauds, the psalms are those mentioned above, in “Some Principle” [66
(in directum, that is, without Antiphon), 50 (with Antiphon), 117 (with Antiphon), 62
(with Antiphon), Canticle of the 3 Young Men (with Antiphon), then Psalms 148-149-
150 (all 3 as one psalm, with one Gloria Patri only, and one Antiphon only].

• Ferias:
 All are 3rd Class (but 17 to 23 December are 2nd class, & 24 is a 1st Class
Vigil).

 Up to 16th December, they give way to all feasts. From 17th


December, they give way only to 2nd (not particular) and 1st Class
feasts
 If impeded (by a feast), they are commemorated (Lauds, Vespers &
Mass).
 There is no Office of Our Lady on Saturday.

 All is explained in the Ordinary of the Ferial Office in Advent


(which is inserted right after the 1st Sunday of Advent):
 Antiphons for the psalms:

At Lauds: The Antiphons are the usual ferial ones. But, from 17th
to 23rd, they are proper each day: These are inserted after the 3 rd
Sunday. On the 24th (Vigil) they are proper also.
At Vespers: The Antiphons are the usual ferial ones.

At the Lesser Hours: The Antiphons are special and change every
week (take them from the Lauds of that Sunday ofAdvent: For Prime, take
the 1st ; for Terce, the 2nd; for Sext, the 3rd; for None, the 5th). But from 17th
to 23rd, & on the 24th, they change daily (take them from the proper
Lands of that day).

 From the little chapter to the End:

Special to Advent: cf. Ordinary of the Ferial Office in Advent.

 Antiphon for Magnificat:

There is a proper one every day: cf. Proper of the Season of


Advent.
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From the 17th to the 23rd: Forget the Antiphon assigned for that
day of the week, and recite the proper ‘O Antiphon’ assigned to
that particular date (all the ‘O Antiphons’ are inserted after the
3rd Sunday): We remain standing while reciting these Antiphons, to show
our desire to receive our Lord (All 1 st letters of these Antiphons put
together in reverse order make up the word : Ero cras – Tomorrow I shall
come)

• Feasts:
 Up to the 16th December: Feasts are celebrated normally
(Commemoration of the Feria of Advent at Lauds, Vespers and
Mass) But all 1st classes falling on a Sunday (apart from the
Immaculate Conception) are postponed to the next Monday (with
Commemoration of the 1st Vespers of the feast at Sunday’s 2nd
Vespers).
 17th to 23rd December: These are 2nd class Ferias: Only 1st class &
Universal Church 2nd class feasts (that is, neither OSB nor local
feasts) are celebrated. This is done as usual, with Commemoration
of the Feria of Advent at Lauds & Vespers (‘O Antiphon’) and
Mass.

- The Season of Christmas: 25 December to 5 January (white):


• Christmas Day: 1st Class (don’t forget 1st Vespers, on the 24th December)
 All is proper to that day.
 At the Lesser Hours, the Antiphons are taken from Lauds.
• Octave of Christmas: 2nd Class.
 Sunday within the Octave: All is proper to that Sunday (it is
inserted after 28th December, the Holy Innocents)
 26-28 Dec. : The Feast days of some Ss are recited in a very
special way:
Lesser Hours: As normal 2nd class Feasts (ferial psalms, but
the rest is proper to that Saint – even Antiphons, from Lauds
–)
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Lauds: As normal 2nd class Feasts (all is actually proper to


that Saint). But, Commemoration of Christmas Day:
Antiphon for Benedictus, Verse, Prayer (all three from
Christmas Lauds).
Vespers: Psalms & Antiphons of Christmas. The rest is proper
to that Saint Then, add the Commemoration of Christmas
Day: Antiphon for Magnificat, Verse, Prayer (all 3 from
Christmas Vespers).

 29-31 December- Ferias of the Octave: All as on Christmas day


(except that ,at Lesser Hours, the psalms (not the Antiphons) are the ferial
ones).

 1st January Circumcision of Our Lord (Octave Day of Christmas): 1st


Class:
All is proper (Don’t forget the 1st Vespers on the 31st
December).
• Last days within the Season of Christmas (up to the 5th January):
 The Most Holy Name ofJesus: 2d class (all is proper)

It is celebrated on the Sunday between the 1st (Circumcision)


& the 6th (Epiphany) January; but if there is no Sunday, it is
then celebrated on the 2nd January.
Being a 2nd Class feasts, this feast has 1st Vespers (old rubric)

 Other days up to 5th January:

Ferias: Ferial psalms (& Antiphons). The rest is from the 1st
January (even the Antiphons for Benedictus & Magnificat, & the
Prayer).

Feasts: They are celebrated as usual according to their class.

- The Season of the Epiphany: 6 to 13 January (white):


• The Most Holy Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ (6 January): 1st class.
 The former Vigil and Octave do not exist any more.
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 All is proper to that day. Don’t forget 1st Vespers on the 5th
January.
• 1st Sunday after the Epiphany: 2nd class:
 Leo XIII introduced the feast of the Holy Family in the Roman
calendar on the Sunday that follows the Epiphany. But the
Benedictine calendar does not have it. So the Benedictines still
keep the Office and the Mass of the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany.
 The psalms and their antiphons are the usual Saturday evening and
Sunday ones (Cf. the Psalter). All the rest is proper to that Sunday
(in particular, there are proper antiphons for Benedictus (Lauds)
and Magnificat (both Vespers) and a proper Prayer. The hymns at
Lauds & Vespers are those of the Epiphany.
• Other days up to 12th January:
 All the rubrics are explained in the Ordinary of the Ferial Office
in the Season of the Epiphany, which is inserted right after the
feast itself.
 Ferial days:
Ferial psalms and antiphons (cf. the Psalter).

Antiphons at Benedictus & Magnificat are proper each day.

Prayer: - Before Sunday, take the prayer of the Epiphany.


- After Sunday, take that of the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany.
The rest is in the Ordinary of the Ferial Office in the Season of the
Epiphany.
 Feasts:
They are celebrated as usual according to their class.
• 13 January: Baptism of Our Lord (former Octave day of the Epiphany): 2nd class.
th

 If on the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany, it then takes the place of the Sunday.

 The prayer is proper.

 All the rest is borrowed from the feast of the Epiphany.


-17-

 Rules of 2nd class feasts.


• Days following the 13th January, up to the following Sunday:
 These already belong to the Season after the Epiphany (Green,
same rules as for the Season after Pentecost): see below.
 Prayer: It is borrowed from the 1st Sunday after the Epiphany.

- The Season after the Epiphany (green):


• The Season after the Epiphany begins with the 14th January, which is the
day that follows the Commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord.
• The 1st Sunday after the Epiphany falls during the Season of the
Epiphany. So the first Sunday to be part of the Season after the Epiphany is
the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany
• Number of Sundays: this Season can be omitted altogether, or have up to
5 Sundays, according to the date of Easter: Which means that, if it takes
place, it goes from the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany, up to the 6 th Sunday
after the Epiphany eventually (the Sundays that cannot be celebrated are
postponed to the Season after Pentecost).
• Same rules as after Pentecost (cf. Season after Pentecost, in this booklet)

- The Season of Septuagesima (violet):


• This Season lasts for 2 ½ weeks:
 There are three Sundays (2nd class): Septuagesima Sunday,
Sexagesima Sunday, and Quinquagesima Sunday.
 This Season ends on Tuesday after Quinquagesima Sunday,
because the next day is Ash Wednesday (on which Lent begins).
 V However, although Ash Wednesday and the three next days
already belong to Lent, nevertheless they follow all the rules and
texts of the Season of Septuagesima (but they have Lenten
masses!)
• Alleluia is totally omitted till Easter:
 At the beginning of the Office (after “Deus, in Adjutorium...”) it is
replaced by “Laus tibi, Domine, Rex æternæ gloriæ”.
-18-

 All Antiphons with Alleluia, either are said without their Alleluia,
or are replaced by other Antiphons (the latter on Sundays,
particularly).
• Sundays:
 1st Vespers of Septuagesima Sunday itself: The usual verse at the end
of Vespers (V. Benedicamus Domino, R. Deo gratias), is said with
two Alleluias (melody of the Octave of Easter), as a sort of farewell
to Alleluia (all is explained on that particular Saturday evening in the Proper
of the Season).

 Nearly all antiphons, little chapters, responsories & prayers, are


proper each new Sunday: All is explained in the Proper of each of
these Sundays. The rest is in the Psalter.
 At Lauds: The psalms are those mentioned above, in “Some
Principle” [66 (in directum, that is, without Antiphon), 50 (with
Antiphon), 117 (with Antiphon), 62 (with antiphon), Canticle of
the 3 Young Men (with Antiphon), then Psalms 148-149-150 (all 3
as one psalm, with one Gloria Patri only, and one antiphon only].
• Ferias:
 All the texts are the same as during the year (Cf. Seasons after the
Epiphany or after Pentecost). But:
 Everyday has a proper antiphon for Magnificat.

 Ash Wednesday and the three following days still follow the rules of
Septuagesima, but have proper antiphons for Benedictus & Magnificat,
& proper prayers also (there is even a proper prayer just for Vespers, as
in Lent).
 Starting from Ash Wednesday, if several persons recite the Office
together, all kneel during the prayer (except he/she who leads the
Office)

- Lent (violet):
• Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. But from Ash Wednesday to Saturday,
the rules are still those of Septuagesima (as explained in the preceding
paragraph): Lenten rules begin on the 1st Sunday of Lent, which is the
Sunday after Quinquagesima Sunday (at 1st Vespers on Saturday evening).
-19-
• For the Universal Church, Ash Wednesday & Good Friday are days of Fast
and Abstinence. For the Oblates of Bellaigue, all Fridays of Lent and
Passiontide, as well as the Lenten Ember days, are days of Fast and Abstinence,
and Holy Saturday is a day of Abstinence only. (Cf. Statutes of the Oblates)
• Right after the 1st Sunday of Lent, is inserted the Ordinary of the ferial
office in Lent: Apart from the psalms, all is proper to Lent, even the
Antiphons (except the four daily Vesper Antiphons, which are the usual ones).
• Sundays:
 There are four Sundays, and all are 1 st class (1st class feasts falling
on one of these Sundays are thus transferred to the following
Monday).
 Nearly all is proper, and the texts are found on each Sunday of
Lent.
 At Lauds: The psalms are those mentioned above, in “Some
Principle” [66 (in directum, that is, without antiphon), 50 (with
antiphon), 117 (with antiphon), 62 (with antiphon), Canticle of the
3 Young Men (with antiphon), then Psalms 148-149-150 (all 3 as
one psalm, with one Gloria Patri only, and one antiphon only].
• Ferias:
 They all 3rd class, and (unlike 3rd class Advent Ferias) do not give
way to 3rd class feasts:  Only 2nd or 1st class feasts can be
celebrated in Lent: On 3rd class ferial days of Lent, 3rd class feasts
are replaced by a simple Commemoration at Lauds and Low
Mass.
 When impeded (by a 2nd or 1st class feast), ferias are always
commemorated at Lauds, Vespers, and at Mass.
 Every day, there is a proper prayer (the collect of the Mass),
proper Antiphons for Benedictus (Lauds) and Magnificat
(Vespers). And at Vespers the prayer is proper (different from the
proper prayer said for the other Hours: it is actually the second
Lenten postcommunion of the mass – called “prayer upon the
faithful” – ). All the rest is taken from the Ordinary of the ferial
office in Lent.
 Lesser Hours have proper Antiphons (the same ones for the whole
Lent).
-20-

 During the 1st week of Lent, the three Ember Days are celebrated
(2nd class): Fast and abstinence according to the Statutes of the
Oblates.

- Passiontide:
• Passiontide begins on the Sunday after the 4th Sunday of Lent (at
1St Vespers on Saturday evening).
• All the rules are similar to those of Lent, but:
“ The texts themselves are proper to Passiontide,
In the short responsories, the Gloria Patri is omitted,
V The rules for Holy Week are special.
• Right after Passion Sunday (1St Sunday of Passiontide), is inserted the
Ordinarj of the fetial office in Passiontide.
• Friday after the 1st Sunday: Commemoration of Our Lady of Sorrows (at
Lauds & juMass).
• Holy Week in General: Everyday is in class: 4 All 1st class Feasts are
transferred to the firstfine days (2’, 3’° or 4th class) after the Octave of
Easter (Easter Octave is all ia class also). All other feasts are omitted
altogether.
• Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday of Holy Weelc As during Passiontide,but
V Everyday, all anliphons for the psalms are proper (at Lesser Hours, take
those from the proper Lauds) except at Vespers (usual the ferial psalms)
• Maundy Thursday, Good Friday. Holy Saturday:
The Office is the same as the Roman one: 4 If you attend any
Office in the Parish, it is not in the least different from the
Benedictine Office.
Are altogether omitted:
+ In the beginning Dens inAdjutorium. Gloria Patis Lass Tibi
• Gloria Patri (after the psalms, and anywhere else),
+ Little chapters and short responsories,
• Hymns,
• Dominoes vobiscum... (or Dómine exaudi orationem meam...).
+ At the end of all Hours: all that is after the prayer.
The conclusion of every Hour is as follows: After the last psalm, (at Lesser
Hours), or after the Antiphon for Benedictus (Lauds) or that for Magn/icat
(Vespers) has been repeated, then:
+ All kneel (even the Celebrant) & incite the Antiphon Choistusfadus est..
Then PaterNoster (silently), recited kneeling (even the Celebrant).
-21-
• Then the prayer, recited kneeling (even the Celebrant).
• ‘n1 ncc-. i

V At the Tenebne (Matins & Lauds): All is special (even the psalms).
Since the Office is Roman, at Lauds Psalms 66,& 148449-150 are omitted.
V At the Lesser Hours: There is no Antiphon at all.
V At Compline: The Office begins with the examination of consdence
and then the Confiteor. After the psalms, as in the Roman Office, the
Canticle Nunc dimittis is added (standing, & beginning with the sign of
the cross).
V Maundy Thursday (violet, but mass in white):
• The psalms & the Antiphons are proper at Lauds and Vespers.
• The Antiphon Chrictusfactus cut. stops after the word obediena
+ Vespers are not said at all by those who attend the
Vesperal Mass.
V Good Friday (no colour, but Solemn Ceremony in black, with
Communion in violet):
• The psalms & Antiphons are proper at Lauds and Vespers.
+ The Antiphon azristus factus cut. stops after the word Mo#em
+ Vespers are not said at all by those who attend the Solemn
Office of the Passion.
• This is a day of Fast and Abstinence for the whole Church. V Holy
Saturday (no colour, but Solemn Ceremony in violet):
+ The psalms & Antiphons are proper at Lauds and Vespers.
• The Antiphon Christus fact us cut... is recited in its entirety.
• Compline of Holy Saturday (as well as Matins and Lauds
of Eater Sunday) is not said at all by those who attend the
Easter VigiL
• It is a day of Abstinence for the OSB Oblate.
- Pascbaltide (white):
• Paschaltide goes from Easter night, to Saturday within the Octave of
Pentecost.
• All the rules of Holy Week & Lent are done away with.
• One Alkluia is added to all Antiphons, as well as to all verses (those said
after the hymns, the little chapters, and at Commemorations)
• Two Alleixias are added to the short responsories (& to the Introit at Mass

• Easter Octave: All i’ class.


Easter Sunday: All is proper.
• At Lauds & Vespers: The final verse is said with two Alkluia.c
-22-
(V. Benedicamus Domino, Alleluia, Allthiua - R. Dee Gratias, Allthoia,
Alkhoia.)
• At Lauds: Festive Sunday psalms.
v’ Easter Monday to Saturday:
+ All is as on Easter Sunday, except the Antiphons for Benedictus
(Lauds), for Magnjficat (Vespers), and the prayer, which are proper
every day.
+ Even the psalms are those of Sunday daily.
+ The Octave ends on Easter Saturday after None.
• Sundays of Pascbaltide:
V At Lauds:
+ Usual festive Psalms (66 alone, then 2.22, 62, Canticle of the
three young men, 148-149-150). But:
‘F The three first Psalms are said under one Antiphon only (A&kda, *
Allehcia, Alkbda,Allebda, Alkbdc Alle&ia,Alkbda, Alkkeia, Allthoia). Here
is an example that shows the Office should be sung, for the repetition of all
theseAlkluiacis quite tedious if it is not sung.
‘F The Canticle is said with its Antiphon (Sumxit. . .Alleluia). ‘F The three
last psalm are said as usual under one Antiphon only (Alleluia, *Alkl,
Alltheia).
• The Antiphon for Benedictus is proper each Sunday.
• All the rest is well explained in the proper of each of these Sundays.
‘/ At the Lesser Hours:
• At each of them, the Antiphon is the same (Alleluia, *Alleliua,
Alleluia, Alkhoia).
+ All the restis well explained in the proper of each of these Sundays. “ At
Vespers:
• The four psalms are said under one Antiphon only (Allthtic*
Alkheia,Alleluia).
• The Antiphon for Mag,n/icat is proper each Sunday.
• All the rest is well explained in the proper of each of these Sundays

• Ferias of Paschaltide (the Octave excepted):


V Cf. Ordinarj of the Feiial Office in Pa.cchaltide, inserted right after the
1st Sunday after Easter (Low Sunday).
V At Lauds,
+ The three first psalms are always said under one anliphon on/y
(which is always the same: AlIeluia, *A/klj,ja, Alkluia).
-23-
• The canticle is said under the ferial Antiphon (with an added
Alkluia): Cf. the Psalter.
• The three last psalm are said as usual under one Antiphon on/y
(always the same: Alleluia, *Alkja, Alleluia).
• The Antiphon for Benedictus is proper everyday, and the rest is
borrowed to the Ordinarj of Paschaltide.
V At Vespers,
+ The four psalms are said under one anliphon only (AIIeIuia,*
Alleksia A&luia).
• The Antiphon for Magn/icatis proper everyday,
+ The rest (little chapter, short responsory, hymn, and verse) is
borrowed from the Ordinay of Pa.cchaltide.
V Lesser Hours:
• At each Lesser Hour, the Antiphon is the same (Alkluia,* Alltheia,
Alleluia, Alkluia), and the rest is borrowed from the Ordinary of the Fetial
Office in Paschaltide.
• Wednesday of the 2’° Weekafter the Octave of Easter (3 Wednesday after
Easter Sunday): Solemnity of Saint Joseph: 1’ Class.
V In the Roman calendar, this feast has been replaced by that of Saint
Joseph the Worker (lot May). However, OSB monks are allowed to
choose which one of these two feasts they whish to celebrate: In
Bellaigue they celebrate this one, and not that of St Joseph the Worker.
If you do not have the proper of this feast, then use the Proper of Saint
Joseph the Worker (on this very date and not on the 1° May).
V All is proper.
V Sunday festive psalms at Lauds, and psalms of Common of a
Confessor not a Bishop at Vespers.
V Pedal psalms at the Lesser Hours (but Antiphons borrowed from Lauds).
V On a Sunday: Commemoration of the Sunday at Lauds,
Vesr,ers & Low Mass.

• The three last days before the Ascension (Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday after the 5th Sunday after Easter) are Rogation days:
V Only the Mass is special, and nothing in the Office changes. V That very
Wednesday is also the VigiloftheAscension:
+ 2nd class Vigil up to None (the vigil ends at None),
• All as during Paschaltide,
+ No fast, for it is not a penitential vigil.
• Feasts during Paschaltide:
V They are celebrated according to the normal rules of 1st, 2td1 or 3’ class.
V However, when the ferial psalms are used at Lands and Vespers
-24-
(3rd class), the three first psalms at Lauds (after Psalm 66 of course), and
all the psalms at Vespers, are recited under one Antiphon only (a during the
ferial Ofcc): Alleluia, *Alkheia, Alleluia.
- Ascensiontide (white):
• The rules are the same as in Paschaltide. Only the texts are different:
• Ascension Thursday: (1” class)
V It is Thursday after the 5th Sunday after Easter (the 40th day).
V It is preceded by a Vigil (2nd class vigil, up to None - everything as
during Paschaltide).
V it Vespers on Wednesday evening (the vigil ends after None)
V All is proper to that feast.
V Festive psalms at Lauds; each psalm, except of course Psalm 66, has
its own Antiphon (but 148-149-150 are under one Antiphon, as usual).
• Ascensiontide (from Friday after the Ascension, to the Vigil of Pentecost):

V This Season has only 10 days. It thus has only one Sunday.
V As already said, all the rules are the same as in Paschaltide. Only the
texts are proper to Ascensiontide (Cf. Cf. Ordinary of the Penal Office in
Ascensiontide, inserted right after Ascension Thursday).
V In particular, everyday, the Antiphons at Benedictus & at Magn/icat
are those of Ascension Thursday.
• Sunday after the Ascension: all is written in the proper of that Sunday. (At
Laud, in particular, the three first psalms are said under one Antiphon only,
and at Vespers all the psalms are said under one Antiphon only, as in
Paschaltidr’t.

• The Vigil of Pentecost


V It is a ia Class vigil; It gives way to no feast.
V It ends after None,
V Everything is as during the preceding days.
V The mass of this day should be celebrated after None, before Vespers,
for it is the true beginning of Pentecost (that is why its colour is red).
V The colour of the day itself, up to None, is white.
- Pentecost (red):
• Pentecost goes from Pentecost Sunday (1st Vespers on Saturday
evening), to Saturday within the Octave of Pentecost: one week.
• The rules are the same as in Paschaltide. Only the texts are different.
• All is 1St Class.
• Pentecost Sunday: all is proper (and at Lauds, use the festive psalms).
• Pentecost Monday to Saturday:
V All is as on Pentecost Sunday, except the Antiphons for Benedictus
-25-
(Lauds), for Masrnficat (Vespers), and the prayer, which are proper
every day.
V Even the psalms are those of Sunday daily.
V Pentecost Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are Ember days:
• These are thus days of fast and abstinence, in spite of their
being within Paschaltide.
+ Nothing changes in the Office.
V The Octave ends on Pentecost Saturday after None (for the vespers of
this Saturday are the iu Vespers of the Most Holy Trinity).
- The Season after Pentecost (green):
• It begins on the 15t Sunday after Pentecost.
• The rules of Paschaltide are no longer followed.
• In the Proper of the Season, right after the 11th Sunday after
Pentecost, are inserted all the Saturday Antiphons for Magnificat for the
months of August to November. After these, then is resumed the series
of the Sundays after Pentecost (12th to 24th) with their proper Antiphons

(for Benedictus and Magmficai) and prayers: > Thus, from August to
November, at Vespers on Saturday only, the proper Antiphons for
Magmjlcat are found in this special list (inserted after 11th Sunday),
whereas its proper prayers (borrowed from the Sunday) is found in the
proper of each Sunday (placed after the Saturdays Antiphons’ list).
• Special feasts or days that in the Diurnal, are placed in the Season after
Pentecost and not in the Proper of the Saintr
““The Most Holy Trinity: Cf. fr Sundqy after Pentecost.
V Corpus Christi: Thursday within the week after the i! Sunday after
Pentecost: 1st class, and all is proper.
V The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Friday within the week after
the 2 Sunday after Pentecost: 1st class, and all is proper. It is a day of
Genera/Absolution for the Oblates, either privately in the Confessional, or
publidyin ameeting(Cf. Statutes of the Oblates).
V Ember days: The Week that follows the 14th September (Holy Cross):
Inserted in the 3rd week of September in the Proper of the Season.
• Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are 2nd class (but if on one of
these days there is a 2 class feast in the universal calendar [not the
OSB one, orthe local one], then that Ember Day is altogether omitted).
+ Days of fast and abstinence for the Oblates (CE Statutes of the Oh/ales).
• There arepioper Antiphons forB au&Mfai4& aproperprayet V Christ the
King: Cf. List Sundqy of October.
-26-
• Sundays after Pentecost:
V 1” Sunday after PentecosL This Sunday is replaced by the feast of the
Most Holy Trinity:
• i’ class, with 1t Vespers on Pentecost Ember Saturday evening.
+ All is proper.
• At Lauds: Usual festive psalms (66 alone, then 9,22, 62,
Canticle of the three young men, 148-149-150).
• At Prime: After the last psalm (before repeating the Antiphon), the
Symbol of St Athanasius is added in honour of the Holy Trinity.
+ Nothing remains of the Office of the 1st Sunday, except the Mass
and the proper prayer (both said only on the following ferial days)

V Other Sundays:
• Each Sunday, the only proper texts are the Antiphons for Benedictus &
Mcmficat (even at i’ Vespers on Saturday), & the prqyer.
• All the other texts are in the Psalter itself.
if The proper prayer of each Sunday is also used at 1st Vespers on Saturday,
and at the Office of every ferial day of that week.
+ At Lauds: Psalm 66 alone (without Antiphon, as usual), then Psalms Jfl,
and 62 (these last three psalms are said under one anliphon only: Allehsia,*
Allelseia. — don’t forget the Glona Pates each time), Canticle of the three
young men (with the Antiphon Trespueri*...), Psalms 148-149-150 (these
last three psalms are said under one Antiphon only as usual: Alkluia,*
Allelseia, Alkluia. — there is only one Gloria Patri, after the last Psalm).
V Last Sunday of October: Feast of Christ the King:
+ 1t class, with 1st Vespers on Saturday evening.
+ All is proper.
+ At Lauds: Usual festive psalms (66 alone, then 2,..22, 62,
Canticle of the three young men, then 148-149-150).
+ Nothing remains of the Office of that Sunday, except the mass
and the proper prayer (both said only on the following ferial days)
V 23rd and following Sundays:
+ According to the date of Easter (which changes every year), all
the Sundays after the Epiphany that had to be omitted (there can
be up to five of them) are postponed to the end of the Sea.con after
Pentecost (thus there can be up to five added Sundays after Pentecost).
+ So, there can be from 23 to 28 Sundays after Pentecost
+ They are placed after the 23rd Sunday.
+ To be sure, ask a priest how many Sundays they are.
• The last Sunday is always the one inscribed as the 24th. Thus:
-27-
If there are only 23 Sundays: the 23n is omitted, and the 24th
is said in its place.
If there are 24 Sundays: the 24th is said after the 23n.
If there are 25 Sundays: after the 23’, the 656 S. remaining after
Epphanj is said, then the 24th.

If there are 26 Sundays: after the 23, the 5°° Soendqy esmainin.g after the
Epipha?!y is said, then the 6th..., then the 24th. If there are 27 Sundays:
after the 23°’, the 4th Sunday rem E,tiphanj is said, then the 5th, thenthe
6g.. .,then the 24° If there are 28 Sundays: after the 23n, the 356 Sundqy
remainIng after the Epzthanj is said, then the 4th, then the 5th, then the 6th.
. ., then the 24th.
+ Practically, it will matter only with regards to the Sunday Antiphons for
Benedictus and Megnflcat (and not even the 1st Vespers ones, since these
are connected to the nth and not the Sunday nume, as already explained)
and the prayer.
Ferial days after Pentecost
V These are 4th Class feisas,
V All is in the Psalter.
V The prayer is always that of the preceding Sunday.
V On Saturdayswhenthere isno feast Office ofOurLadyonSaturday
‘if It is 4th class, but follows the rules of 3rd class feasts.
• The Office ends after None (Vespers are the 1’ ones of Sunday).
• After the Saturday Antiphons & psalms, borrow the rest from the
Office of the B. V.M on Satuiriaji (inserted after the Common
Feo4s1LbeV.M
• These follow the normal 1st, or 3rd class rules.
4. Some Feasts in Particular:
-30 November, St. Andrew, Apostle: 2e1 clas&
• The Feasts oftheApostbshaet abuqys been cekbnzted with rer,y great
solemnity in the Cheercb,for
these are the columns &pillars of the Cstbohc Chuirb.
• On a normal Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (since it is only 2”
dass
On a Sunday of Advent it is totally omitted (forAdventSundays ate leclass).

• All is proper.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Apostles.
-28-
• Lesser Hours: Penal psalms and Antiphons.
• In Advent Commemoration of the fenia at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.

-3 December, St Fr-Xewer. Co-priacxos! Patron of the Missions (with Sl


Theresa of the CllildJesus): t dass in NZ &Australia, & nil Missions.
• A/lu ephinedat the end ofthis book/e4 in theAppenthxflrNZ Azothsth
-8 December, the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady: P class.
• Day of ‘General Absolution” for the Oblates of Bellaigue, either prirate/y
in the Confessional, orpubfzctv in a meeting (Cf Statutes of the Oblates).
• If it falls on a Sunday, it is still celebrated, with only the
Commemoration of the Sunday (at 1” & 2nd Vespers, at Lauds & mass)
• All is proper.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms —Vespers: Psalms of Our Lidj.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms (but Antiphons are from Lauds).
• On week clays, commemoration of the feria at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.
-10 December. the Dedication ofPalmerston-North Cathedral: 1”cL in P.-N.
• Allir ncphined attic end ofthic booklet, in theAppenthcfrNZ ô’AuchoAz
-21 December, St. Thomas, Apostle: 27d class.
• The Church has chosen the thte qftheyar that has the thonert dy4ght
(Northern Homispbm)
frSt Thomas badfrst onmainedin tlarknes rrfiedngto beheve that Cheist had
risen.
• If it falls on a Sunday, it is totally omitted (for Advent Sundays are i”
Class).
• Only the prayer is proper. The rest is in the Common of an Apostle.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Apostles.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• On weekdays, commemoration of the fern at Lauds, Vespers Mass.
-21 January, St. Agnes, Virgin & Martyr 3”° clas&
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (since it is only 3’ class).
• Nearly all is proper. The rest is in the Common of a Vingin&Maryr.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms are
special (Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Those indicated in the
Proper).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-25 January, the Conversion of St. Pauk 3” class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (since it is only 3 class).
• Allis proper.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms are
-29-
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• Commemoration of Saint Peter at Lauds & Vespers (this is a very special
one: Before the conclusion of Saint Paul’s prayer (Per Dominum...), add
Saint Peter’s prayer (without Oonmus), then add the conclusion of Saint
Peter’s prayer (Quo mess...). This sort of commemoration of the other
Apostle is done at each feast of one of the Apostles Peter or Paul.
aFebnauy. the Presentation of O.Lord& Puification of O.Lady: 2K’ci
• Tod4y is a 4peaalfeast for the Oblates (Cf Statutes of the Oblatar).
• It is a dqy of ‘teneralAbsolution”for the Oblates, either praete/y in the
Confessional, or
pubbcjy in a meeting (Cf Statutes of the Oblates).
• It is considered a feast of Our Lord: so if it falls on a normal 2nd class
Sunday, it is still celebrated (without any Commemoration of the Sunday
(for Sundays are feasts of Our Lord also).
• On a Sunday, it has 1St Vespers, although it is only a 2d class feast
• Allis proper.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of Our Laij.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons (but on Sundays: Sunday
psalms and Antiphons).
• After Compline on the 2nd February (not on the le February, even if there
has been 1’ Vespers): Antiphon Ave Rigina Calorum, until Holy
Wednesday.
5_February, St Agatha, Virgin and Martyr )“ clss&
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (for it is only 3rd class).
• On a week day in Lent, it is only commemorated.
• Nearly all is proper. The rest is in the Common of a Virgin&Maiyr.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms are
special (Lauds: Sunday festive ones — Vespers: Those indicated in the
Proper).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-10 Februasy, St Scholastica, OSB Virgin. Sister of St Benedict: 2” ci
• This is one of the main OSB properfeasts. Oblates should celebrete it
nsith much devotion
(Cf Statutes of the Oblates).
• On a normal 2nd class Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (it is only
2d
class). But on Sundays of Lent, it is totally omitted (Sundays of Lent are 1°
cl).
• All is proper.
-30-

Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of a Virgin.


Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
In Lent: Commemoration of the Feria at Lauds, Vespers and Mass.
There is a beautiful proper OSB Mass, with Sequence.
-22 February, the Chair of St Peter, Apostle: M’ clas&
• Thisfeast, which is the true feast of the Papal Primag, i.e found in the
Roman calendar since
the jear 354. Si Peter established his SeefirstinAntioch (but on/y
tetaporaoi/y), then in Rome.
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (for it is only 3 class).
• On a week day in Lent, it is only commemorated.
• Only some texts are pioper. The rest is in the Common of an
ConfessorBichop.
• At all the canonical Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• Commemoration of Saint Paul at Lands & Vespers (this is avety special
onc:
before the conclusion of St Peter’s prayer (Qw mw..), add Saint Paul’s
prayer
(without Ommn), then skid the Conclusion of Saint Pail’s prayer
(PerDoninum..).
• In Lent: Commemoration of the Feria at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.
-24 (25 in Leap Year) February, St. Mathias, Apostle: 2nd class.
• On a normal 2’’ class Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (2nd ci).
But on Sundays of Lent, it is totally omitted (Sundays of Lent are l ci).
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Apostles.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-9 March, St Frances of Rome, Widow, 0S13 Regular Oblate,
Female Patroness of the Oblates: Memori4
• This is a ferial day in Bellaigue, so also for the Oblates.
• Plenary Indulgence, on the usual conditions (Cf. Statutes of the Oblate4
• Commemoration of St Frances of Rome at Lauds and Low Mass.
• On a Sunday, this Commemoration is totally omitted.
-12 March, St Gregory the Great5 OSB, Pope: 2” class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (it is 2rrd class only). But
on Sundays of Lent, it is totally omitted (Sundays of Lent are 1st class).
-31-

• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms —Vespers: Psalms of a ConfessorBishop.


• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• Commemoration of the Lenten Feria at Lauds, Vespers and Mass.
17 March: St Patrick. Bishop: I”’ class in Ireland. NZ & Australia.
• Al/U acphinedattbe end of tbis bookk4 in the AppendbcjlrNZ &AntiozAr
49March: St Joseph, Spouse of Our Lady: 1’ class,
• Dqy of ‘CenenilAbso/setion”fr the Oh/ate, either piizate in the
COPfeeiOThs orpubl% in a
meeting (Cf SoftheOblatec,t
• If it falls on a Sunday, it is then transferred to the Monday (Sunday
evening, 2nd Vespers of the Sunday of Lent, with commemoration of
1t Vespers of Saint Joseph), or the next free day.
• All is proper.
• Lauda: Sunday festive psalms —Vespers: Psalms of a Confessor
notaBishop.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms (but Antiphons borrowed from Lauds).
• In Lent Commemoration of the Lenten Peru at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.
41 March, the Passing of our Father Saint Benedict: class.
• If it falls on a Sunday, it is then transferred to the Monday (Sunday
evening, 2 Vespers of the Sunday of Lent, with commemoration of 1st
Vespers of Saint Benedict), or the next free day
• All is proper.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms —Vespers: Psalms of a Confessor
notaBishop.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms (but Antiphons borrowed from Lauds).
• In Lent Commemoration of the Lenten Feria at Lauda, Vespers & Mass.
• There is a proper OSB Mass, with a beautiful Sequence and Preface.
• If it falls on a Friday, Oblates are dispensed from the law of Abstinence.
45 March, the Annunciation of Our Lady: 15t class.
• If it falls on a Sunday, it is then transferred to the Monday (Sunday
evening, 2d Vespers of the Sunday of Lent, with commemoration of the
1st Vespers of the Annunciation), or the next free day.
• All is r,roner.
-32-
• Sursiay festive psalms atLauds,psalms of thef ftheB.VM at Vespers.
• Ferial Psalms at the Lesser Hours (but Antiphons borrowed from Lauds).
• At Vespers: kneel down during the 1’ stanza of the hymn Ave mans
Stella (after the intonation).
• In Lent Commemoration of the Lenten Feria at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.
-25 April, St Mark, Evangelist: 2nd class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (for itis only 2° class). But
on Easter Sunday & its Octave, his totally omitted (for these are i class).
• All is taken from the Common ofApostlè in Paschaltide, except the prayet

• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Apostles.


• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• TODAYis ala the doj tf the GREATER LITANIES (non ftbefazrt
ofSamtMan€ u
omittadtbatyar lsevese of the Sunázj,t PubkPn,cession of Penance (at
diethog the Reothonl alltbaoe
ovbo en boundto raite t1se Qffi st th LITANY OF THE SAIN7Y dth itilj
tbydo not attendthepubbpivcesciorn Obletes are not obbged
batenencenawedto dosa
49 April, Ss. Odo,Maohno, Odik & Hugh, 0S13 Abbots of Clua 3d cL
• These are tbefrstfourAbbots of the greatAbby of Cluy in the 9d Century.
• On a Sunday, and during the Octave of Easter, it is totally omitted.
• Nearly all is proper.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms
are special (Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of a
Confessor not a Bishop).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial Psalms and Antiphons.
• There is a proper OSB Mass.
May. StJoseph the Worker: P’ class.
• This feast is not celebrated in Bellague. In its steac4 according to the
permission granted to
Benedictine monasteries bj Pius XII, the monasterjF still celebrates the
Solemnity of Saint Jo.çth.
on the Wednesday in the second week qfler the Qctaro of Easter (3”
Wednesdqy after EastØ
Cf the Proper of the Eastenidl.
• Oblatefrom Bellaigue do not celebrate this feast either, but the Solemnity
of Sz Jospb.
-11 May, Ss. Philip & James, Apostles: 2lcelclass.
• The Antiphons for the psalms, the Megn9cat& the Benediaes ate propet
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms —Vespers: Psalms of the Common of the
-33-
Apostles (in or out of Paichaltide eventual/y).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-24 May. the Blessed Virgin Mary. Help of Christians.
• Allis hinedatthe end of this bookk4 in theAppendixforNZ &Auotmboa
Principal Patenness of NZ & ofAustralia: 1” dass in NZ & Australia. • All
phsinedattheendofthicbookk4 eAppencbuforNZ&Aseshu&z LJune. St
Anthony of Padua. Titular and Principal Patron of Sr Anthonfs Parish in
Wangswui: fr’dass in Wanganui StA.nthony’s Parish.
23 June, the Vigil of St John the Baptist, Violet: 2nd class.
• This is s daj of Fast andAbstinence for the Oblates (Cf Statutes of the
Oblates)
• On a Sunday, this vigil is totally omitted (there is no vigil on a Sunday).
• The office is that of the Feria, with only a proper prayer (& Mass).
• The Vigil ends after None (Vespers are the 1” ones of St. John the
Baptist).
24 June, the Nativity of St John the Baptist: 1 class.
• St John the Baptist is the on/y Saint of whom the Church celebrates not
only the death (29 August) but also the birtbdqy, for be alone was punjied
in the womb. And “there bath not tisen among them that #n born of women
agreaterthan John the Baptist” Matthew, XI, ii,).
• Hisfeact takesplace 6 months before Christ’s birthdaj exactly (according
to the Gaqel), on the Summer Solstice, when the Sun (then Image of St
John) begins to decrease in the sky: ‘He must increase, but I must
decrease” (John, III, so,L This is wbj bonfires are traditional/y lit on the
Vegil of Saint John the Baptist (although nowaslajs this is quite tees
unfortunately). Then, from the W’interSolstice, at Christmas, the son (then
image of Christ) will begin to increase again.
• Thisisa dsj of ‘GenemlAbsobotion”forthe Qbhtes eitherpthootely in the
Confeintmal orpubkcJl in a meetieg (Cf Statutes of the Oblatec).
• All is proper.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms —Vespers: Psalms of a Confessor
notaBislep.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms (but the anliphons are borrowed from Lauds).

• On a Sunday Commemoration of the Sunday at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.


-28 June, the Vigil of Ss. Peter & Paul, Apostles, Violet: 2’class.
• On a Sunday, this vigil is totally omitted (there is no vigil on a Sunday).
• The whole office is that of the Feria, with aproperprayer (and Mass).
• The Vigil ends after None (for Vespers are the 1” ones of Ss. P. & P.).
-29 June, Ss. Peter & Paul, Apostles: in class.
• Thiczca daj fGenemlAhsohthenfortbe Obhtec eitherpiizate in the
Confe.rciena orpubk in
-34-
ameth, (Cf Stabites of the Obhztç
• Nearly all is proper. The rest is borrowed from the Common ofApo.ctks.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms -Vespers Psalms of the Common of4partler
• Lesser Hours: Ferialpsalms (but the Antiphons are borrowed from Lauds).

• On a Sunday Commemoration of the Sunday at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.


-30 June, the Commemoration of St. Paul, Apostle: 3 class.
• Sincejesterdqy e#ibbasis was do facto laid on St Peter (in the ktseogical
texts), the Cburth
instituted the Commemoration of today to honour the Apostle of the
Gentilesproperty.
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is a 3’ class feast only).
• This feasts ends after None, because Vespers are the 1” ones of the
Precious Blood (i’t class, next day).
• Nearly all is proper. The rest is borrowed from the Common ofApostles.
• Since there are proper Antiphons atLauds, these have Sunday festive
psalms.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• Commemoration of Saint Peter at Lauds & Vespers. This is a very special
one: before the Conclusion of Saint Paul’s prayer (Per Domimem. . .), add
Saint Peter’s
prayer (without Oremas), then add the Conclusion of Saint Peter’s prayer
(Qui runt...).
-i July, the Most Precious Blood of Our Lor& 1” class.
• If it falls on a Sunday, it is still celebrated (it is 1st class), and there is
Commemoration of the Sunday at all (for this feast is a feast of Our Lord).
• All is proper.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Swidaypsalms.
• Lesser Hours: Ferialpsalms (but the Antiphons are borrowed from Lauds).
-2 July, the Visitation of Our Lady: 2” class.
• On a Sunday. this feast is commemorated only (it is only 2 clasal.

• SometextsarepropetTherestisintheCommenthefeactcofdsB.VM
• Laudz Sunday festive Psalms -Vespere Psalms of thefeactsftheB.VM
• Lesser Hours: Penal Psalms and Antiphons.
• At Vespers: Kneel down during the 1st stanza of the hymn Ave ma,is
Ste//a (after the intonation).
-lijuly, theTranslation of die Relics of our Hojy Father Benedict 1cL
• Beware: In the Eph.st Versions of the OSB dread, thisfiastu on’y a
2chzcsfeac4 and it is
-35-
titled Solemnity of O.H.F. Benedict, and not Translation of the Relics of
O.H.F.
Benedict The tsason is that those who made this venion of the diurnal do
not bebein that the Relict
of Our Father StBenethct are in the monacter) of
“StBenoitsarLoivo”inFkuy (France,L 77Jisis
piEyjealn1fnr ecdoriactic hsidition (as we/las monastic hictorj) bears
irrecucable witness to thicfacti
So, in manjpbces, and in Belhtigue intxirticuler, thisfeact is named The
Translation of the
Rdics of Our HolyFather Benedict, and isa P’ dassfeacL
• This is one of the main OSB proper-feasts. Oblates should celebrate it
with much dowlion
(Cf Statutes of the Oblates).
• All is proper.
• The prayer, and some other texts, are not those which are inscribed in
the English OSB Diurnal (which does not make mention of the
Translation obviously). But if you do not have the genuine ones, recite
those which are in your Diurnal (but as a 1st class).
• Lauds Sunday festive psalms -Vespers: Psalms ofaConfiecornotaBiclnp.
• Lesser Hours: Feiialpsalms (but Antiphons borrowed from Lauds).
• There is a proper OSB Mass, with a beautiful Sequence and Preface.
• On a Fdday Oblates ate dispensed fromAbstinence (Cf Statutes ofthe
Obhtrtc)
-l5Jzdv. St. Henry. Emperor. Male Patron of the Oblates.
• Thisfiast is not in the OSB Calenchvr, & thus it is not bturgicaly
celebrated 4v the Oblates.
However, according to the Statues of the Oblates, thfy will celebrate
itpiritugJy with develion.
• Pkmeylnd4ence, on the usual conditions (Cf Statutes if the Obhutec).
22 July, St. Mary Magdalen, Penitent: 3 class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is only a 3rd class feast).
• There are preper hymns, Antiphons forBendistict&Msn&pnayet
• The rest is in the Common of Women not Virgins.

-25 July, St. James, Apostle: 2°elass.


• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (it is only 21d class).
• All is in the Common ofAposll.es (except the prayer, which is proper).
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Apostles.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-26Ju1y, Ss. Joachim & Anne, Parents of Our Blessed Lady: 3” cl.
• In the OSB Calendar, the feasts of both SsJoachi,n &Anne have been
-36-
associated, whereas
in the Roman calendar they are soparated
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is only a 3rd class feast).
• All is proper.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Sunday psalms.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• There is a proper OSB mass.
-2AzysaIcu.ioftheAnianofO.LadyoftheAns(4ssikMuncriaL
• Thisfeast is celebrated on/y in the Order of Saint Fmnrar
• However, flvmjesterdry i” August (noon) to this 2” August (midnight), all
the Paithflul
maj obtain a Plenarj Indidgence, on the usual conditions,plus the visit of a
church (in which tby
recite a Pater &a Credo).
-5AausdDmofdseBasiliaofOurIyofdxSnoMemoii1
• This is actual/y the true name of Saint Mary Major, in Rome. This is the
greater Church dedicated to Our Ladj (Major), built after a miraculous
vision, and dedicated bj Pope Libenus about the jear 350. The mosaics of
the triumphal arch were made in 432 to solemnuy the Council of Epbeaes
which proclaimed Mary Theotokos (Mother of God). In it is €pt the Relic
of the Crib. Together with Saint John Lateran’s, Saint Peter’s, Saint Paul’s
and Saint Lawrence’s, it is one of the five Patriarchal Ba.cilicas of Rome
(in which on/p the pope maj celebrate on the main afrarJ
Thisiswyitisakbmtediuthewhokthuirh.
• The Office is the ferial one, with a commemoration at Lauds & low
Masses. But on a Sunday, this commemoration is totally omitted.
• If it falls on a Saturday: Since on all Saturdays we recite the Office of the
Blessed Virgin Marj on Saturday, consequently today we just recite the
Office as usual, without the commemoration.

• On a Sunday, this feast is still celebrated (though it is only 2 class) and


there is no commemoration of the Sunday, since it is a feast of Our Lord.
• All is proper. • Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Sunday psalms.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons. -9 August, the Vigil of Saint
Lawrence, Martyr, Violet: 3” class.
• On a Sunday, this vigil is totally omitted (there in no vigil on a Sunday).
• The whole office is that of the Feria, with a proper prayer only.
-37-
• The Vigilends with Compline, for St Lawrence has no 1 Vespers (2class).
..lAA.ui..stt L fl.5,.,55s R nd
• Saint Lawrence’s is one of the five PatdarchalBasibcas of Rome (in which
onEv the pope muj
celebrate on the mama/tar). SantLawroncecBodj icrrnde’rthe main a/tar.
• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (2’ class).
• Nearly all is propet The rest is borrowed from the Common of one
Mactyr.
• Lands: Sunday finlivepsalins—Vespeis Psalms of the Cotmmnqf one
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-14 August, Vigil of the Assumption of Our Lady Violet 2’’class
• Day of Fast andAbstinencefrr the Oh/cites (Cf Statutes).
• On a Sunday, this vigil is totally omitted (there is no vigil on a Sunday).
• The whole office is that of the Feria, with aproperprayer (& Mass).
• The Vigil ends after None (for Vespers are the 1” ones of the
Assumption).
45 August, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 1t class.
• This isMar-yc most ancientfeast, celebrated at least since the 6th Century.
• A procession has ahvqys been part of this feast from time inzmemoiial Eg.
In Js’nesalem, in
Constantinople, in Rome (in Rome, from the 7” to the 16” Century the
papal procession would go
fives St John Lateran’s [atthepapa/palace], to St Marj Meor, in which Mass
sent cekbmt4..
• Since Our Lady Assumed into Heaven is the Principal Patroness of Our
Lady of Beliaigzie’s Monastery, Bellaigue’i Oblates should celebrate it
with much deintion
(Cf Statutes of the Oblates).
• Obhtec ass obimn aPlenarjlnd4ence, on theusua/conthticmr (Cf
Shthetecofthe Obiotes).

• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the B. V.M


• Lesser Hours Penal psalms (but the ani]phons are borrowed from Lauds).
• At 2” Vespers: kneel down during the 1t stanza of the hymn Ave
Math Stelho (after the hymn has been intoned).
• On a Sunday Commemoration of the Sunday at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.
-20 August St. Bernard, Confessor & Doctor: 3 class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is a 3 class feast only).
• There are proper hymns and a proper Antiphon for Benedictus; and
the anliphon for Magnficat is that of a Doctor (0 Doctor Optime...). The
rest is in the Common of a Confessor not a Bishop.
-38-
• At all the canonical Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• -24 August St. Bartholomew, Apostle: 2deiass.
• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (it is only 2nd class).
• All is borrowed from the Common ofApostles (except the prayer).
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Apostles.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-29 August, The Beheading of St. John the Baptist: 3°° class.
• Thu anniversarj is sokmnired (y the Church on the dày when Saint John’s
venerable bead
wasfoundin Emesa (Syda) in 453 AD.
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is only a 31 class feast).
• Many texts are proper. The rest is in the Common of one Maryr
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms are
special (Lauds: the Sunday festive ones — Vespers: from the Common of
one Matyr.).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-8 September, the Nativity of Our Lady: 2nd class.
• This feast was already so/emnited on the 7:0 Century
• The 8th September was chosen as a refeonnce to fitc that of the feast of
the Immaculate
Conception, nine months before.
• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (it is 2d class only).

• Many texts are proper. The rest is borrowed from the Common of
the fea.cts oftheB. VM
• Laudx Sunday festive psalms -Vespere Psalms ofthefiactcçftheB.VM
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• At 2ndVespers: kneel down during the 1t stanza of the hymn Ave
Math Stella (after the hymn has been intoned).
-14 September the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: 2” class.
• On the 14 September 335, the Basibca of the Hoy Sepulchre, (built bj
order of Constantine inJeewsakm upon Calzurj) was declicate4 in which
-39-
agreat portion of the Tewe Cross wasp/aced
with great honour. This is the origin of the feast of the Exaltation of the
Ho/y Cross. Thisfeast became even morefamous by reason of the miracle
which took place in 629, when the Cress, which
bad been stolen y the Persian, was replaced in the Basibca k Emperor
Herachus.
• Thirisa elzj of ‘GeneralAbsohitian”forthe Obhtes eitherpthtztey in the
Confetionar orpubh%
in a meeting (Cf Statietecoftte Obhrtes,L
• On a Sunday: it is still celebrated, has 1 Vespers on Saturday evening
and there is no commemoration of the Sunday (for it is a feast of Our
Lord).
• All is proper.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vesper jlttL,j Psalms.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• At both Vespers: kneel down during the stanza 0 Crux Ave... of the
hymn Vedlla Rogis.
-15 September, the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady: 3” class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is only a 3rd class feast).
• Allis proper.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms are
special (Lsuds: Sunday festive psalms —Vespers: Psalms from thefeasts
oftheliV.M.).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-21 September, St. Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist: 2nd class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (it is only a 2nd class
feast).
• All is borrowed from the Common ofApostles (except the prayer).
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Apostles.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial Psalms and Antiphons.
-3” Wee/eof September. Ember Wednesday, Fridav&Saw,dss2” ct
• SeptemberEmberdays are inserted during the 3rd Week of September in

-29 Sepwmber, Dedication of St Michael the Archangel’s Basilica: latci


• 29 September was frrmer/y dedicated to all the Angels, wherefore Pope
Bomface II, about
530 A.D., chose this verj dij to dedicate a church in the great circus, in
Rome, to SL Michael
(the man composedfor this occasion has since been appointed to the 18°
Sundqy after Pentecost).
Nowadajs, 29 September is the feast of Saint Michael bimse (the present
mass was composed
-40-
more recent/y).
• All is proper.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: gsy psalms, except the
last, which is proper (Psalm 137, because of its verse mentioning Angels).
• Lesser Hours: Feiial psalms (but the Antiphons are borrowed from
Lauds).
• On a Sunday Commemoration of the Sunday at Laucis, Vespers & Mass.
-2 October, the Holy Guardian Angels: 3” class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (for it is only a 3 class feast).
• All is proper.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms are
special: Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: jgg psalms, except the
last, which is proper (Psalm 137, because of its verse mentioningAngels).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-3 October. St Theresa of the Child Jesus. Co-principal Patroness of the
Missions (with St. Fr.-Xavier); P’class in NZ. Australia. & Missions.
• Allisecphinedatthe end of this lsokk4 in theAppendsicforNZ &Austeuha
-5 October, Ss. Maurus & Placid, Confessors, & Disciples of our
Holy Father Benedict: 3” class.
• This is one of the main proper OSB feasts. Oblates should celebrate it
with much devotion
(Cf Statutes of the Oblates).
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is only a 3r class feast).
• All is proper.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms are
special (Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Sundqy psalms).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-7 October, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosasy: 3”’ class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (for it is only a 3rd class feast).

• All is proper.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms are
special (Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: psalms of dreV.M.).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial Psalms and Antiphons.
-18 October, St. Lukç, Evangeisc 2”class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (for it is only 2 class).
• AU is borrowed from the Common ofApostles (except the prayer).
• Lauds: Sunday festive Psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Apostles.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial Psalms and Antiphons,
-Last Sunday of Octoben Christ the King, 1St class:
• This feast is inserted right after the 2l’ October (St. Hilarion).
-41-
• All is proper.
• At all the canonical Hours, all the psalms are the usual Sunday ones.
• There is no commemoration of the Sunday, since it is a feast of Our Lord.
-28 October, Ss. Simon & JudeApostles: 2” class.
• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (for it is only 2nd class).
• All is borrowed from the Common ofApostles (except the prayer).
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Apostles.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-30 November. Vigil of All the Saints1
• This is no longer a liturgical day: there is neither Office nor Mass for it
• However, itis a day of Fast and Psbslinence for the Oblates (Cf. Statutes)
-1 November, All the Saints: 1t class.
• From the 10 to the 8°-h Nourmbor: One Plenary Indulgence ezsry4y, on
the usual conditions
(t.dus the visit of a cemetety in which prqyeris made, ems f on/y
mental/y,fortbe dead).
• Allis proper.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — 1st Vespers: iondgi psalms — 2nd
Vespers: Psalms from the Common ofMan,’ Martjrc.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial Psalms (but the Antiphons are borrowed from
Lauds).

-2 November, All Souls’ Day, Biacki 1” class


• This Commemoration is a Benedictine legafy to the Universal Church: it
wasfirst instituted
in 998 AD. Iy .fL Odilo, 4° Abbot of C/ury, for Clue!, and all the
monastuies dpenckng
from it, and aflenvards was extended to the Universal Church.
• Plenarj Ind4ence applicable to the Ho/v Souls on/y. on the usual
conditions (and the vosit of
a chuerh, in which a Pater &anAve are recited).
• If it falls on a Sunday, it is transferred to Monday 3nd November.
• This Office begins with Matins (there are no 1” Vespers).
-42-
• Nearly all is said according to the Office of the Dead (which is
inserted right after the Offia? oftheBk.csed ViiginMarj on Saturdqy):
V’ Evesy single Hour begins strait with the 1” Antiphon (Lauds & Vespers),
or the 1’ psalm (LesserHours).
V’ There are no Deuc in a4iets’thmz.., Gloria Pt#ei,,, hymns, Gloria Pairi
after the psalms, short responsories, little chapters, Benedisamus Domino...
‘ After each psalm, the Gloria Patri, is replaced by the two verses:
Requiem erternam * dana ei.c, Domine. Et luxpeipetua * luceat ei.c.
V After the last psalm (and its Antiphon, if it has one), everything is
omitted (except the verse, the Benedictus & Magmficat at Lauds &
Vespers, and the Nunc Dimitti.c at Compline).
Then, the final prayers (special) are said (kneeling).
V Lauds, Vespers:
• Begin strait with the 1t Antiphon.
• Recite the psalms & their Antiphons (cf. the Office of the Dears).
• After the last psalm & Antiphon have been said, carry on strait with
the verse, then with the Antiphon for Benedisiuc or Magnoficat (from the
normal Office of the Dears). Then stand up and recite the Benediatus or
Magmficat (sign of the Cross). Afterwhich, sit down and repeat the
Antiphon.
• Then kneel down for the Conclusion (proper to this 2 November). “ &irn
(Not in the Office of the Dea4 but proper to this day):
• Begin strait with the 1st psalm (of the current Feria)
+ As usual, recite the three psalms (of the current Feria).
+ After the three psalms, kneel down immediately for the
conclusion (Proper to this 2nd November).
• Then, the Chapter prayers are special to this 2nd November
(if you do not have any Martyrolot, then just read what is written then).
Terce, Sext, None (Not in the Office of the Dea4 butproper to this day):
• Begin strait with the i’psalm (of the current Feisa)
• As usual, recite the three Psalms (of the current Feria).
• After the three psalms, kneel down immediately for the
conclusion (Proper to this 2”' November).
V Compline (Not in the Office of the Deaa but proper to this day):
• Begin strait with your Examination of Conscience (standing), then
say Confiteor, Misereatur& Induigentiam as usual.
+ Then carry on strait with the usual daily three psalms.
• After the third psalm has been said, stand up and carry on strait
with the Canticle NuncDimittis (Sign of the Cross in the beginning).
• 11nkrsaldownimxrrdiatelyfortIm Co on (ptopernthis2Ibvember)
9 November, Dedication of the Arcbbasilica of the Most Holy Savioun 2”'”
class.
-43-
• The Most Holy Saviour sat thef#rtnasnezzen lyPope St Symonster in 324,
a/the osracion of its detheztion, to the Cathethul of Rome, the Head of all
the churches of the City and of the world’ frarption on thefisntpillarc It was
gasn Saint John the P4/act eta second name by Pope Liimosll in the 1k””
Con/my (ltic thucumaLy ailledSi John Latemn eceriinc tince ituin
thefnmerdeei,g of the Latencnafan4 of whom the at of Empeivr Cons/an//ne
belonged tç). This church is Rome’s thethu and one ofthefive
Patoia,rbalBo.ci&as of Rome (on which onJy the pope may celebmte on
the mien altar,t This is why ilthdieth.on is celebrated in the Un/ursa/Church,
eta 2”chwfiaci
• On a Sunday, this feast is still celebrated (though it is only 2”’ class), and
there is no commemoration of the Sunday, since the Dedication of a
Church is always considered as a feast of Our Lord.
• If it falls on a Sunday, it has 1” Vespers on Saturday evening.
• All is taken from the Common of the Dedication of a Church.
• The prayer is the Anniversary one (Deus, ,Qui nobis...) and not the
actual Dedication one (Deus, .Qui invisibi/iter...).
• Lauds: Sunday festive Psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Dedication..
• Lesser Hours: Ferial Psalms and Antiphons.
-11 November, St. Martin, Bishop of Tours in Gaul: 2”' class.
• St. Martin is the first Saint not a marty honoured by the Church. The
Li/mgy gave him a
rank similar’ to that of the Apostles, since be was the pnncipal Apostle of
Gaul He was one of
the most popular Saints inpast ages.
• The hymn Iste Confessor (nowadays used in the Common of a
Confessor), was originally
written forSaint Martin.

• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (it is only 2” class).


• Nearly all is proper.
• Lands: Sunday festive psalms -Vespere Psalms of a CofworBichp.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial Psalms and Antiphons.
-13 November, All the Saints of the Benedictine Order: 2nd class.
• This is one of the main OSB properfeast.t Oblates should ce/a/ante it with
much doretion
(Cf Statutes of the Oblates).
• Itis a dqy of ‘GenemlAbsokthon”forthe Ob/atus eicherJnizuts in the
Confeaionai orpuh4y in
-44-
a meeting (Cf Stautes of the Oblatu9.
• On a Sunday, this feast is commemorated only (it is only 2Itd class).
• All propet
• Lands: ayfestivepsalms-Vespers Psalms of the C(Me#Mox
• Lesser Hours: Ferial Psalms and Antiphons
-14 November, All the Souls of the Benedictine Order, Black: 2°’ ci
• If it falls on a Sunday, it is transferred to Monday 15th November.
• All is as on All Souls’ Day, except the beginning of the Martyrology,
and the prayer itself (which is proper and changes at each hour).
47 November, St Gertrude, Virgin: 3r class.
• St Gertrude entereda Cistorcian monasterj in 1261 at the age offive as an
Oh/ate. She then
became agreat Cistnnian Nun, Confident of the Sacred Heart ofJesus. She
is cal/ed the Great
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is only a 3” class feast).
• All is proper.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms are
special (Lands: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of a Virgin).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
• There is a beautiful proper OSB Mass.
-18 November, Dedication of Ss. Peter & Paul’s Basilicas: 3 class.
• St Petes’s Basilica in the Vatican, isthe Mausoleum
ofthePeinceoftheApostkc, andthePope’s dwte” church tince his coming
luck from Asvgnon in the 14th Cenbe’y (Stunt John Lateran is his
ofuialp4a/chuirh,L St Pail’s Basilica, on the Via Ostiet*frect iwtdek Rome,
is the Mausoleum of theApostk of the Genii/at Ss Peter &Paul’s are 2 of the
5PahiarcbalBasilica of Rome n which on!y the pope maj uk/auto on the
main afrar) Allthis it why their ikehcation, which asic mack on the same
ciaj 1yPqpe St Sjhestor about 324AD., iscekbmtedin the Uniomcal Church,
asa 3thcizccfnct

• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (3rt class).


• All is taken from the Common of the Dedication of a Church.
• The prayer is the Anniversary one (Deus, .Qui nobi.c...) and not the
actual Dedication one (Deus, ,Qui invisibiliter...).
• At all the canonical Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-21 November, Presentation of Our Lady: 3sf class.
• Todisj is the 058 Oblates’ mainfeast (f Statutes of the Oblates):
i Thy thus renew their Oblation (cf Statutes of the Oblates): nun on Sumlaj.
‘ Pknarjlne*efrce, on the usual conditions (f Statxtecofthe O1J1atOt eeen
on Sund
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is only a 3” class feast).
-45-
• All is taken from the Common of the feasts of Our Lvy, except the
Antiphon for Magn/icat and the prayer, which are proper.
• Lands: Sunday festive psalms -Vespers: Psalms of thefeaste oftheB. VM
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.
-22 November, St. Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr: 3” class.
• Si Cedlo,, afameurRoman Virgin Ô’MIar, ii momtonedin the Canon oftie
Man
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is only a 3rd class feast).
• Nearly all is proper. The rest it taken from the Common of a Viegin.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lands & Vespers, the psalms are
special
(Laudn Sunday festive psalms -Vespers: Psalms of t/n Cismuon ofa Virgin).

• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.


..vember, St. Clement, Pope & Martyn 3”’ class.
• Si Clemen4 thbdsucceccorofSi Peter (afierSs. Linus &Cktus), is
mentioned in the Canon of the
Mats His thu,rb in Romeis one of the mast ansient anoni and ifs
a,rbitectureis a thikisg e,caok of the
Roman LJfrarj ran it was (and shouhi) be celebnated
• On a Sunday, this feast is totally omitted (it is only a 3rd class feast).
• Nearly all is proper. The rest it taken from the Common of a Maiyr.
• Since there are proper Antiphons at Lauds & Vespers, the psalms are
special (Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Common
of
aMasyi).
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms and Antiphons.

5. Some Feasts
Proper to New Zealand and/or Australia!
5.1. At different dates, according to the local calendar.
- The Country’s Principal Patron Saint: 1’ class in the whole Country.
• Follow the t class rules.
- The (cavil or Ecclestss*ical) Regions Piinapa! Patron St: l”cL in thea4sole
regton.
• Follow the 1” class rules.
- The Diocese’s Cathedral’s Dedication: 1” class in the diocese.
• In ezny dams, the cathedi’aI is the motberchuish, since in it icthe serj See
of the bishop. This is whj
-46-
its dedication is ce/ebnated in tbe whok diocemasa 10 chzssfeasfl exactly
szcfitses ooer earn th,#rb.
• If it falls on a Sunday, there is no commemoration of the Sunday, since
the
Dedication of a Church is always considered as a feast ofOurLord.
• All is taken from the Common of the Dedication of a Church.
• The prayer is the Anniversary one (Doss, .Qoei nobis...) and not the actual

Dedication one (Doss, Qui invisibititer. .


• Do not fo,et the i Vespers.
• Lauds: Sunday festive Psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the Dedication...
• Lesser Hours: Ferial Psalms (but the Antiphons are taken from Lauds).
- The City’s Principal Patron Saint: 1” class inthe city.
• Follow the 1’ class rules.
- The Parish’s Princioal Patron Saint: 1” class in the Parish.
• Follow the 1” class rules.
• Follow the 1st class rules.
-The Parish Church’s Dedication (if it was dedicated): l’class in the Parish,
• All as for the Dedication of the Cathedral Church (cf. the 3sdentry in this
chapter).
- Other 1’ classes in the Country. regon. City. Parish. ... : F” class.
• Follow the i class rules

52. Some Proper Feasts in Pardcularin NZ & Australia.


-3 December. aanr rrancis-Xavier. Co-princzpulPatron ... ......sions ( Saint
Theresa of the Childjesus): 1’ class in NZ and Australia (and in all places
depending from the Congregation of the Missions). • The prayer is proper.
The rest is in the Common of a Confe.tcor notal3rsbop. • If it falls on a
Sunday, it is transferred to the next free day, usually Monday (Advent
Sundays are itt class): Thus, for example, Sunday evening, 2” Vespers of
the Sunday of Advent, with Commemoration of itt Vespers of S. F-X.
• Commemoration of Advent at Lauds, Vespers and Mass
thewhole diocese of Palmerston-North (and thus in Wanganui).
• All is explained in the entry labeled ‘4ta date whith is diffliunt in aid
thocece: Dedication of the Cathednil church of the Diocese 1 cla.csin the
whole diouse”in this very chapter.
-17 March, St. Patrick. Bishop; 1’ class in Ireland NZ & Australia.
• This feast isn’t celebrated outside Ireland, NZ, Australia (& some other
places)
• This feast is found in the Supplement at the end of the Latin-English
Diurnal.
• The prayer is proper (if you do not have it, use that from the Common).
-47-
The rest
is in the Common of a ConfessorBisbop.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of a ConfessorBisbop.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms (but the Antiphons are borrowed from the
Lauds of
the Common of a Confessor J3isbop).
• If it falls on a Sunday, it is then transferred to the next free day, usually a
Monday (eg. Sunday evening, 2td Vespers of the Sunday of Lent, with
commemoration of the 1st Vespers of St. Patrick).
• In Lent: Commemoration of the Lenten Feria at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.
Oceania: 1’ class in Oceania.
• This feast isn’t celebrated outside Oceania (and some other places).
• If you can find the proper of this feast, follow it they’ve got it in the
Wanganui
SSPX Pnory. But to make it monastic:
i At Lauds, borrow the short responsory from the Roman Terce. V’ At
Terce, Sext, &None, do not recite the short responsories At Vespers, drop
the Roman Vespers Antiphon (the Roman Office has psalms at Vespers).
At Vespers, borrow the short responsory from the Roman Sext
• If you can’t find the Proper of this feast, then use the Common of one or
Many
Mar(yrs in Pascbaltide.
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms -. Vespers: Psalms of the Common of one
or Many
Mailys in Pascbaltide.
• LesserHours: Ferial psalms (but the Antiphons are borrowed from Lauds).

• If it falls on a lt class feast (e.g. during the Octave of Easter, on Ascension

Thursday...), it is then transferred to the next free day and it has no ia


Vespers
(but ust a commemoration of them, for the day before would be a i’ class
also.
-24 May. the Blessed Virgin Mary. Help of Christians. Princip4
Patroness of NZ & Australia: 1” class in NZ & Australia
• This feast is not celebrated outside NZ, Australia (and some rare other
places)
• This feast is found in the Supplement at the end of the Latin-English
Diurnal.
• All is taken from the Common of tbe Feasts of the B. V.M except for the
hymns
(Lauds & both Vespers), the Antiphons for Beneththss (Lauds) & Magnifrat
-48-
(both Vespers),
and the prayer, which are proper (if you don’t have them,use the Common
ones).
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of the B.V.M.
• Lesser Hours: Fenal Psalms (but the Antiphons are borrowed from
Lauds).
• At 2nd Vespers, if you sio not have the proper hymns and thus recite the
hy11
Ave mails Stella, then kneel down during its stanza (after it has been
intoned).
• On a Sunday: Commemoration of the Sunday at Lards, Vespers & Mass.
-l3June, St Anthony of Padua. Titular of the Church & Principal Patron of
St
Anthony’s Parish in Wanganui: I” class in St Anthony’s Parish (Wanganui).
• Everywhere else it is only a Memorial (at Lauds & low mass)
• All is taken from the Common of a Confessor not a Bishop (except the
prayer)
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms of a Confessor not a
Bishop.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms (but the Antiphons are borrowed from the
Lauds of
the Common of a Confessor not a Bishop).
• On a Sunday: Commemoration of the Sunday at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.
-3 October. Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, Co-principal Patronç
of the Missions (with Saint Francis-Xavier): 1” class in NZ &
Australia (& all places depending from the Congregation of the Missiong),
• The prayer is proper (from the roftlessants). The rest is in the Common of
a V#gia
• Lauds: Sunday festive psalms — Vespers: Psalms from the Common of a
Virgin.
• Lesser Hours: Ferial psalms (but the Antiphons are borrowed from the
Lauds of
the Common of a Virgin).
• On a Sunday: Commemoration of the Sunday at Lauds, Vespers & Mass.
- DO NOT CELEBRATE IN A SPECIAL WAY feasts ibich are proper to
other orders (SSPX, OP...): St. Pius X (Patron of the SSPX), k Edmund
Campion (titular of the SSPX Prioryin Wanganui), St. Dorninic(Founder of
our Wanganui OP Sisters), Sr. Catherine of Sienna (Patroness of our
Wanganui OP Sisters).
6. Rules 4bout Indulgences.
• Only one Plenary Indulgence a day may be gained. Partial Indulgences
aren’t limited.
-49-
• Conditions in order to obtain a Plenary Indulgence:
V The “Usual Conditions”:
(1) Confession (eight days before or after)
(2) Communion (on the very day).
(3) Prayer for the (official) intentions of the Pope (Eg. One Pater &Ave).
V The Visit of a Church (in which one Pater& one Credo are recited). V
Theoarticular induienced action or prayer: Eg. the visit of a cemetey\f

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