Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a happy and holy Christmas!

Fourth Sunday of Advent

This year Sunday and Monday is all we get of the fourth week of Advent, and then we are into the new season of Nativitytide, which lasts until 13 January.

For those saying the Office, note that Christmas has a Class II Octave, so unlike Easter, you actually do say the psalms of the particular day at Prime and the little hours unless displaced by one of the many feasts this season, viz:

Sunday 23 December – Fourth Sunday of Advent, Class I 

 Monday 24 December - Vigil of the Nativity, Class I

Tuesday 25 December – The Nativity of Our Lord, Class I with a II Class Octave

Wednesday 26 December – St Stephen, Protomartyr, Class II

Thursday 27 December – St John the Evangelist, Class II

Friday 28 December - Holy Innocents, Martyrs, Class II

Saturday 29 December – Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity, Class II [in some places, St Thomas Beckett, Class I]

May you have a happy and holy Christmas.

The Third Week of Advent: Gaudete!

This Sunday is rejoicing (or Gaudate) Sunday, marking the end of the first part of Advent, and the start of a new, more intensive period for the liturgy.

If you are saying the Office, you will need to keep your wits about you, as this is as complicated as it gets!  In particular, each day from Monday:

• the psalms have a set of antiphons for the day of the week (ie, Monday in the period December 17-23, Tuesday in the period December 17-23), etc;
• at Lauds, the Benedictus antiphon is generally for the day of Advent (so this year Monday etc in the third week of Advent), but with specific antiphons to be said on December 21 and the last day of Advent, December 23;
• at Vespers, the Magnificat antiphons are the great 'O Antiphons' which are set by the date (ie December 17, December 17, etc).

Wednesday and Saturday are the Ember Days of Advent, traditionally days of fasting and abstinence.

The only saint's feast celebrated this week is of the apostle St Thomas, on Friday.

The week in the Benedictine calendar

Sunday 16 December – Third Sunday in Advent, Class I (Gaudete Sunday)

Monday 17 December – Monday in the third week of Advent, Class II

Tuesday 18 December – Tuesday in the third week of Advent, Class II

Wednesday 19 December – Ember Wednesday of Advent, Class II

Thursday 20 December – Thursday in the third week of Advent, Class II

Friday 21 December – St Thomas, Apostle, Class II; commemoration of Ember Friday in Advent

Saturday 22 December – Ember Saturday in Advent, Class II

The second week of Advent...

Today (Saturday) Vespers are for the Immaculate Conception; this Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent.

The saints celebrated in the Office this week are:

Monday 10 December – in some places, Blessed Mark Barkworth, John Roberts and companions, martyrs

Mark Barkworth was a Catholic priest martyred in 1601. Born about 1572, he studied at Oxford and was received into the Church at Douai in 1593.  

Because of an outbreak of the plague he was sent to Rome in 1596, and from their to Spain where he entered the English College on 28 December 1596. On his way to Spain he is said to have had a vision of St Benedict, who told him he would die a martyr, in the Benedictine habit. 

Ordained priest at the English College some time before July 1599, he set out for the English Mission together with Father Thomas Garnet. On his way he stayed at the Benedictine Monastery of Hyrache in Navarre, where his wish to join the order was granted by his being made an Oblate with the privilege of making profession at the hour of death.

After having escaped from the hands of the Huguenots of La Rochelle, he was arrested on reaching England.  He was executed at Tyburn with Jesuit Roger Filcock and Anne Line, on 27 February 1601. He sang, on the way to Tyburn, the Paschal Anthem: "Hæc dies quam, fecit Dominus exultemus et lætemur in ea". On his arrival he kissed the robe of Line, who was already dead, saying: "Ah, sister, thou hast got the start of us, but we will follow thee as quickly as we may"; and told the people: "I am come here to die, being a Catholic, a priest, and a religious man, belonging to the Order of St Benedict; it was by this same order that England was converted."

Tuesday 11 December - St Damasus I, Pope

Pope St Damasus I (305-384) is most famous now for appointing St Jerome as his personal secretary and encouraging his Vulgate translation of the bible and presiding over the Council of Rome in 382, which set down the canon of scripture (the picture left is a letter of St Jerome to him).  

In two Roman synods (368 and 369) he condemned Apollinarianism and Macedonianism, and sent legates to the First Council of Constantinople that was convoked in 381 to address these heresies.  A fierce opponent of the Arians, he did much to promote veneration of the martyrs and enrich the churches and liturgy.

Wednesday 12 December – In some places, Our Lady of Guadeloupe

Thursday 13 December – St Lucy, Class III

Saint Lucy (283–304), was a Christian during the Diocletian persecution. 

According to her legend, her mother was cured dysentery by them praying together at Saint Agatha's tomb (pictured). She consecrated her virginity to God, refused to marry a pagan, and had her dowry distributed to the poor. Her would-be husband denounced her as a Christian to the governor of Syracuse, Sicily, who ordered her to burn a sacrifice to the emperor's image. Lucy replied that she had given all that she had: "I offer to Him myself, let Him do with His offering as it pleases Him." 

Sentenced to be defiled in a brothel, St Lucy asserted:

“ No one's body is polluted so as to endanger the soul if it has not pleased the mind. If you were to lift my hand to your idol and so make me offer against my will, I would still be guiltless in the sight of the true God, who judges according to the will and knows all things. If now, against my will, you cause me to be polluted, a twofold purity will be gloriously imputed to me. You cannot bend my will to your purpose; whatever you do to my body, that cannot happen to me.”

Friday 14 December – St John of the Cross (Ordinary Form only)

First Week of Advent

Advent starts this Saturday tonight, at first Vespers, and the Office during this period is at its most complex, so do take the time to prepare yourself in advance.

The Office up to December 16

There are basically two distinct periods in Advent so far as the Office is concerned, and here are some notes on the Office up to and including December 16.

If you are using the Farnborough Monastic Diurnal, the 'Ordinary' of the period is set out at pages at 8*-17*.

In general, Sundays in Advent are all first class, with their own proper antiphons and proper texts (chapter etc).  The Lauds antiphons are used from I Vespers of Saturday until II Vespers, using the normal principles (that is, the fourth antiphon is omitted at Vespers; the first antiphon is used at Prime, the second at Terce, etc, skipping the fourth as usual). These antiphons are then used for the minor hours throughout that week (MD 13* ff puts them together to make it easier to find the right antiphon for the relevant hour).

The ordinary days of Advent are of the third class. As usual, the collects are from the previous Sunday (with the exception of the Ember days in week three of Advent, which have their own particular collects).

On days when a feast is celebrated (such as the Immaculate Conception) a commemoration of Advent (canticle antiphon, versicle and collect, said after the collect of the feast) is always made at both Lauds and Vespers. 

Lauds and Vespers have canticle antiphons set for each day.  Note also that the chapter, hymn, responsory etc are from the Ordinary of Advent (MD 9*; 15*).

Prime to None have antiphons for each week of Advent, set out at MD 13* ff.  At Terce to None, the chapter and versicle are for the season, also set out in the psalter section of the Diurnal.

Compline: The Marian antiphon is Alma Redemptoris Mater.

File downloads

You can find a full Ordo with page references to the Farnborough Diurnal in the right sidebar (or download the PDF from the Ben Office Help yahoo group (which does not require any approval process to join) or tradben group (which is aimed at traditionalist Catholics in union with Rome).

There are also quick reference cards with page numbers for Advent in the files section of both those groups.

This week in the calendar...

Sat 1 Dec – Our Lady on Saturday

Sun 2 Dec – First Sunday of Advent, Class I

Mon 3 Dec – Monday in the first week of Advent, Class III; St Francis Xavier, memorial

[St Francis Xavier SJ, 1506-1552, was a missionary.  You can read more about him here.]

Tues 4 Dec – Tuesday in the first week of Advent, Class III

Wed 5 Dec – Wednesday in the first week of Advent, Class III

Thurs 6 Dec – Thursday in the first week of Advent, Class III; St Nicholas, memorial 

[St Nicolas (270–346) was Bishop of Myra (part of modern-day Turkey). He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus.]

Fri 7 December – St Ambrose, Class III

[Saint Ambrose (340-397), was bishop of Milan, and is a doctor of the Church.  You can read more about him here.]

Sat 8 Dec– The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Class I

(Note that Vespers are of the feast with a commemoration of the Sunday)

Chant from Le Barroux

I've been meaning to alert readers to a new site providing sound files of the Office from the french traditionalist monastery of Le Barroux.

Le Barroux provides live streaming of some of its Offices from its own site, but that isn't much help for those of us living in very different time zones!

Accordingly, an American group has set up a site called The Chant of Le Barroux  to help bridge the timezones.

So now you can compare and contrast the French/Solesmes style with the more robust Italo-American of Norcia!

Le Barroux's 2013 Ordo is also available on their website for Oblates of that monastery - note that it is in Latin only, and their calendar and rubrics differ somewhat from that specified in the 1962-3 Monastic Breviary (in particular, they have retained I Vespers for Second Class feasts and the Office of Our Lady on Saturday, and include a number of feasts from the EF and French calendars).

Ordo for April 2013

This calendar has been prepared in accordance with the calendar and rubrics provided in the Breviarium Monasticum summorm pontificum cura recognitum pro omnibus sub regula S. P. Benedicti militantibus, issued by the Abbot Primate at Rome on 1 January 1963.

It should be noted, however, that individual monasteries may observe their own Ordos and use rubrics that differ somewhat from those specified in the Monastic Breviary.

Moreover, in addition to the feasts specified in the calendar, it will be necessary to add in any local feasts particular to the monastery, parish, diocese and country. In particular, this should include (where they have been appointed) the:

• principal patron of the country, region or province as a Class I;

• principal patron of the diocese or territory;

• anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral of the diocese;

• patron of the town or city;

• anniversary of the dedication of the church;

• titular feast of the church;

• patron saint of the congregation or monastery;

• feast of the monasteries founder (if canonised or beatified); and

• saints specified in the calendar of the monastery's congregation.

It should be noted that while the Benedictine Calendar generally follows the structure of the 1962 Roman Extraordinary Form (EF) Calendar, the monastic calendar omits some feasts to be found in the Roman calendar and adds others.  In addition, feasts may be of different levels: many third class feasts in the 1962 Roman calendar for example, appear in the Benedictine as memorials only.  Cross-references to the Roman Extraordinary Form (EF) calendar have been included where the Mass of the day is likely to be different to that specified in the Benedictine calendar.

Page references labeled MD are to the Monastic Diurnal published by Farnborough Abbey in accordance with those rubrics.  Note that the Diurnal is not page numbered sequentially, but differentiates sections of the book by use of asterisks, square brackets and so forth. 

Matins is not included in the Diurnal, but occasional notes (generally where the hour does not follow the normal pattern) have been included here for the benefit of those who use other books to say that hour.

This Ordo is intended as an aid to those who wish to say the Benedictine Office using the order of the psalms and prayers as specified in St Benedict’s Rule and developed as part of the patrimony of the Order of St Benedict. Every effort has been made to make this Ordo as accurate as possible, but if any errors are identified, please advise the author at australiaincognita@gmail.com.

Octave of Easter

Throughout the Octave, all as for Easter Sunday including the psalms at the day hours, except that:

. Matins has two nocturns and readings for each day Matins (or note option of using ferial psalms with antiphon for the feast throughout the octave);

. Lauds and Vespers have Benedictus and Magnificat antiphons for each day; and

. the collect is of the day.

Monday 1 April - Monday in the Octave of Easter, Class I

Matins: Invitatory antiphon and hymn of Easter Sunday, antiphon of the day, ferial psalms, three readings

Lauds to Compline: All as for Easter Sunday including psalms, except for Benedictus and Magnificat antiphons and collect, MD 335*

Tuesday 2 April – Tuesday in Octave of Easter, Class I

Matins: Invitatory antiphon and hymn of Easter Sunday, antiphon of the day, ferial psalms, three readings

Lauds to Compline: All as for Easter Sunday including psalms, except for Benedictus and Magnificat antiphons and collect, MD 336*

Wednesday 3 April - Wednesday in the Octave of Easter, Class I

Matins: Invitatory antiphon and hymn of Easter Sunday, antiphon of the day, ferial psalms, three readings

Lauds to Compline: All as for Easter Sunday including psalms, Benedictus and Magnificat antiphons, and collect, MD 336*-337*

Thursday 4 April – Thursday in the Octave of Easter, Class I

Matins: Invitatory antiphon and hymn of Easter Sunday, antiphon of the day, ferial psalms, three readings

Lauds to Compline: All as for Easter Sunday including psalms, except for Benedictus and Magnificat antiphons and collect, MD 337*

Friday 5 April – Friday in the Octave of Easter, Class I

Matins: Invitatory antiphon and hymn of Easter Sunday, antiphon of the day, ferial psalms, three readings

Lauds to Compline: All as for Easter Sunday including psalms, except for Benedictus and Magnificat antiphons and collect, MD 337*-338*

Saturday 6 April – White Saturday in the Octave of Easter, Class I

Matins: Invitatory antiphon and hymn of Easter Sunday, antiphon of the day, ferial psalms, three readings

Lauds to Compline: All as for Easter Sunday including psalms, except for Benedictus and Magnificat antiphons and collect, MD 338*

SEASON OF EASTERTIDE

I Vespers of Low Sunday, MD 339* ff

Ordinary of Eastertide

The Ordinary for Eastertide is set out at MD 346* ff.

Note especially that at:

. Lauds and Vespers, chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle are of the season, from the temporale and are not included in the psalter section;

Lauds and Vespers canticles have proper antiphons for each day of the week.

Sunday 7 April - Low Sunday, Class I

Lauds: Three antiphons, MD 341* with festal psalms, ie Antiphon 1(Alleluia) – Ps 92, 99, 62 – Ant 1; Antiphon 2 (Surrexit) – Benedicite – Ant 2; Antiphon 3 – Laudate psalms – Antiphon 3; Rest from MD 342* ff

Prime to None: Antiphons etc MD 344* ff

Vespers: II Vespers of Low Sunday – psalms of Sunday under one antiphon; commemoration of the Annunciation, MD [101]-[102]

Monday 8 April - Feast of the Annunciation, Class I (transferred from 25 March)

Lauds: Festal psalms of Sunday with antiphons and rest of the feast, MD [102] ff

Prime to None: Antiphons from Lauds, proper texts MD [104] ff

Vespers: As for I Vespers, MD [100], Magnificat antiphon, MD [106]

Tuesday 9 April – Class IV

All as in Tuesday in the Psalter with the Ordinary of Eastertide (note especially hymns of the season for Lauds and Vespers).  At Lauds and Vespers, canticle antiphons, MD 352*; collect (of Low Sunday), MD 344*

Wednesday 10 April – Class IV

All as in Wednesday in the Psalter with the Ordinary of Eastertide (note especially hymns of the season for Lauds and Vespers).  At Lauds and Vespers, canticle antiphons MD 352*-253*; collect (of Low Sunday), MD 344*

Thursday 11 April – St Leo I, Class III

Lauds and Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the Thursday with the rest from the Common of a Confessor Bishop, MD (64), collect MD [108]

Terce to None: Chapter and versicle from the Common; collect, MD [108]

Friday 12 April – Class IV

All as for Friday in the Psalter with the Ordinary of Eastertide.  At Lauds and Vespers, canticle antiphons MD 353*; collect (of Low Sunday) MD 344*

Saturday 13 April – Saturday of Our Lady; St Justin, memorial [EF: St Hermenegild]

Matins to None: At Matins, reading for Saturday 2 of April. Lauds to None, MD (134) ff.  Note that the antiphons and versicles for Prime to None should have alleluias added to them.  For the commemoration at Lauds, MD [108]-[109]

I Vespers of Second Sunday after Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday), MD 354* ff

Sunday 14 April – Second Sunday after Easter, Class II; SS Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus, memorial

Lauds: (Three) Antiphons for Eastertide with festal psalms for Eastertide, rest from MD 356* ff; for the commemoration, MD [109]

Prime: Antiphons of Eastertide, rest as in the psalter for Sunday

Terce to None: Antiphons of Eastertide, Sunday psalms; chapter verse, versicle and collect from MD 358* ff

Vespers: Psalms of Sunday under one antiphon; rest from MD 359*-360*

Monday 15 April – Class IV

All as in the psalter for Monday in Eastertide; collect of Sunday MD 358*; canticle antiphons MD 360*

Tuesday 16 April – Class IV

All as in the psalter for Tuesday in Eastertide; collect of Sunday MD 358*; canticle antiphons, MD 360*

Wednesday 17 April – Class IV [EF: Commemoration of St Anicletus]

All as in the psalter for Wednesday in Eastertide; collect of Sunday MD 358*; canticle antiphons MD 361*-362*

Thursday 18 April – Class IV

All as in the psalter for Thursday in Eastertide; collect of Sunday MD 358*; canticle antiphons MD 361*

Friday 19 April - Class IV

All as in the psalter for Friday in Eastertide; collect of Sunday MD 358*; canticle antiphons, MD 361*-362*

Saturday 20 April - Saturday of Our Lady

Matins to None: At Matins, reading for Saturday 3 of April; Lauds to None, MD (134) ff.  Note that the antiphons and versicles for Prime to None should have alleluias added to them

I Vespers of the Third Sunday after Easter, MD 362* ff

Sunday 21 April - Third Sunday after Easter, Class II

Lauds: (Three) Antiphons for Eastertide with festal psalms; rest from MD 363*ff

Prime: Antiphons of Eastertide, rest as in the psalter for Sunday

Terce to None: antiphons of Eastertide, Sunday psalms; chapter verse, versicle and collect from MD 364* ff

Vespers: Psalms of Sunday under one antiphon; chapter of Lauds; responsory and hymn from MD 354*; Magnificat antiphon, MD 365*

Monday 22 April – Class IV [EF: SS Soter and Caius]

All as in the psalter for Monday in Eastertide; collect, MD 363*; canticle antiphons, MD 365*

Tuesday 23 April – Class IV; St George, memorial

All as in the psalter for Tuesday in Eastertide; collect, MD 363*; canticle antiphons, MD 365*; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [112]-[113]

Wednesday 24 April – Class IV [EF: St Fidelis of Sigmaringen]

All as in the psalter for Wednesday in Eastertide; collect, MD 363*; canticle antiphons, MD 366*

Thursday 25 April - Greater Litanies; St Mark, Class II [NB in Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day, St Mark is moved to Friday]

Matins: Three Nocturns (Common of Apostles with readings etc for the feast)

Laud to Vespers: All from the Common of Apostles except for the collect, MD [113]

Friday 26 April – Class IV; St Cletus, memorial [EF: and St Marcellinus]

All as in the psalter for Friday in Eastertide; collect, MD 363*; canticle antiphons, MD 366*; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [113]-[114]

Saturday 27 April – Saturday of Our Lady; St Peter Canisius, memorial

Matins to None: At Matins reading for Saturday 4&5 of April. Lauds to None, MD (134) ff.  Note that the antiphons and versicles for Prime to None should have alleluias added to them; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [114-5]

I Vespers of Fourth Sunday in Eastertide: MD 367*ff

Sunday 28 April – Fourth Sunday in Eastertide, Class II

Lauds: (Three) Antiphons for Eastertide with festal psalms for Eastertide, rest from MD 368* ff

Prime: Antiphon of Eastertide, rest as in the psalter for Sunday

Terce to None: Antiphons of Eastertide, Sunday psalms; chapter verse, versicle and collect from MD 368* ff

Vespers: Psalms of Sunday under one antiphon; chapter of Lauds; responsory and hymn from MD 354*; Magnificat antiphon, MD 370*

Monday 29 April – SS Odo, Majolus, Odilo and Hugh, Class III [EF: St Peter of Verona]

Lauds: Antiphons MD [115] with festal psalms, MD 44

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds

Terce to None: Antiphons etc from MD [117] ff

Vespers: Antiphons and proper texts, MD [119] ff with psalms from the Common of Apostles, MD (2)

Tuesday 30 April – Class IV; St Catherine of Siena, memorial

All as in the psalter for Tuesday in Eastertide; collect, MD 368*; canticle antiphons, MD 370*; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [121]

I Vespers of St Joseph the Worker

Twenty-sixth and last Sunday after Pentecost/Feast of Christ the King (November 25)

In the traditional calendar this Sunday is the last of the liturgical year - the texts are for the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost (and the fifth Sunday of November), although in fact this year there are 26 Sundays in this period this year.

The Gospel gives us a chilling reminder of the end times, with Our Lord's invocation of Daniel's apocalyptic vision from St Matthew 24.  It is a reminder of that we must focus on holiness, lest we be found wanting at the time of judgment.

The Ordinary Form calendar, as is its way, softens the message, closing the liturgical year with the promise of the kingdom to come without the emphasis on the accompanying chaos of the end times and coming judgment, in its recasting of the feast of Christ the King.

St John of the Cross, Memorial (November 24)

St John of Avila was declared a doctor of the Church earlier this year.

St Clement I (November 23)

From the martyrology:

"The birthday of Pope St. Clement, who held the sovereign Pontificate the third after the blessed Apostle Peter. In the persecution of Trajan, he was banished to Chersonesus, where, being precipitated into the sea with an anchor tied to his neck, he was crowned with martyrdom. His body was taken to Rome during the pontificate of Nicholas I, and placed with due honors in the church which had been previously built under his invocation."

Pope Benedict XVI gave a General Audience on St Clement in 2007:

"St Clement, Bishop of Rome in the last years of the first century, was the third Successor of Peter, after Linus and Anacletus. The most important testimony concerning his life comes from St Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons until 202. He attests that Clement "had seen the blessed Apostles", "had been conversant with them", and "might be said to have the preaching of the apostles still echoing [in his ears], and their traditions before his eyes" (Adversus Haer. 3, 3, 3).

Later testimonies which date back to between the fourth and sixth centuries attribute to Clement the title of martyr.

The authority and prestige of this Bishop of Rome were such that various writings were attributed to him, but the only one that is certainly his is the Letter to the Corinthians. Eusebius of Caesarea, the great "archivist" of Christian beginnings, presents it in these terms: "There is extant an Epistle of this Clement which is acknowledged to be genuine and is of considerable length and of remarkable merit. He wrote it in the name of the Church of Rome to the Church of Corinth, when a sedition had arisen in the latter Church. We know that this Epistle also has been publicly used in a great many Churches both in former times and in our own" (Hist. Eccl. 3, 16).

An almost canonical character was attributed to this Letter. At the beginning of this text - written in Greek - Clement expressed his regret that "the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to ourselves" (1, 1) had prevented him from intervening sooner. These "calamitous events" can be identified with Domitian's persecution: therefore, the Letter must have been written just after the Emperor's death and at the end of the persecution, that is, immediately after the year 96.

Clement's intervention - we are still in the first century - was prompted by the serious problems besetting the Church in Corinth: the elders of the community, in fact, had been deposed by some young contestants. The sorrowful event was recalled once again by St Irenaeus who wrote: "In the time of this Clement, no small dissension having occurred among the brethren in Corinth, the Church in Rome dispatched a most powerful Letter to the Corinthians exhorting them to peace, renewing their faith and declaring the tradition which it had lately received from the Apostles" (Adv. Haer. 3, 3, 3).

Thus, we could say that this Letter was a first exercise of the Roman primacy after St Peter's death. Clement's Letter touches on topics that were dear to St Paul, who had written two important Letters to the Corinthians, in particular the theological dialectic, perennially current, between the indicative of salvation and the imperative of moral commitment.

First of all came the joyful proclamation of saving grace. The Lord forewarns us and gives us his forgiveness, gives us his love and the grace to be Christians, his brothers and sisters.
It is a proclamation that fills our life with joy and gives certainty to our action: the Lord always forewarns us with his goodness and the Lord's goodness is always greater than all our sins.

However, we must commit ourselves in a way that is consistent with the gift received and respond to the proclamation of salvation with a generous and courageous journey of conversion.

In comparison with the Pauline model, the innovation is that Clement adds to the doctrinal and practical sections, found in all the Pauline Letters, a "great prayer" that virtually concludes the Letter.

The Letter's immediate circumstances provided the Bishop of Rome with ample room for an intervention on the Church's identity and mission. If there were abuses in Corinth, Clement observed, the reason should be sought in the weakening of charity and of the other indispensable Christian virtues.

He therefore calls the faithful to humility and fraternal love, two truly constitutive virtues of being in the Church: "Seeing, therefore, that we are the portion of the Holy One", he warned, "let us do all those things which pertain to holiness" (30, 1).

In particular, the Bishop of Rome recalls that the Lord himself, "has established where and by whom he wishes liturgical functions to be carried out, so that all may be devoutly performed in accordance with his wishes and in a manner acceptable to him.... For his own peculiar services are assigned to the high priest, and their own proper place is prescribed to the priests, and their own special ministries devolve on the Levites. The layman is bound by the laws that pertain to laymen" (40, 1-5: it can be noted that here, in this early first-century Letter, the Greek word "laikós" appears for the first time in Christian literature, meaning "a member of the laos", that is, "of the People of God").

In this way, referring to the liturgy of ancient Israel, Clement revealed his ideal Church. She was assembled by "the one Spirit of grace poured out upon us" which breathes on the various members of the Body of Christ, where all, united without any divisions, are "members of one another" (46, 6-7).

The clear distinction between the "lay person" and the hierarchy in no way signifies opposition, but only this organic connection of a body, an organism with its different functions. The Church, in fact, is not a place of confusion and anarchy where one can do what one likes all the time: each one in this organism, with an articulated structure, exercises his ministry in accordance with the vocation he has received.

With regard to community leaders, Clement clearly explains the doctrine of Apostolic Succession. The norms that regulate it derive ultimately from God himself. The Father sent Jesus Christ, who in turn sent the Apostles. They then sent the first heads of communities and established that they would be succeeded by other worthy men.

Everything, therefore, was made "in an orderly way, according to the will of God" (42). With these words, these sentences, St Clement underlined that the Church's structure was sacramental and not political.

The action of God who comes to meet us in the liturgy precedes our decisions and our ideas. The Church is above all a gift of God and not something we ourselves created; consequently, this sacramental structure does not only guarantee the common order but also this precedence of God's gift which we all need.

Finally, the "great prayer" confers a cosmic breath to the previous reasoning. Clement praises and thanks God for his marvellous providence of love that created the world and continues to save and sanctify it.

The prayer for rulers and governors acquires special importance. Subsequent to the New Testament texts, it is the oldest prayer extant for political institutions. Thus, in the period following their persecution, Christians, well aware that the persecutions would continue, never ceased to pray for the very authorities who had unjustly condemned them.

The reason is primarily Christological: it is necessary to pray for one's persecutors as Jesus did on the Cross.

But this prayer also contains a teaching that guides the attitude of Christians towards politics and the State down the centuries. In praying for the Authorities, Clement recognized the legitimacy of political institutions in the order established by God; at the same time, he expressed his concern that the Authorities would be docile to God, "devoutly in peace and meekness exercising the power given them by [God]" (61, 2).

Caesar is not everything. Another sovereignty emerges whose origins and essence are not of this world but of "the heavens above": it is that of Truth, which also claims a right to be heard by the State.

Thus, Clement's Letter addresses numerous themes of perennial timeliness. It is all the more meaningful since it represents, from the first century, the concern of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the other Churches.

In this same Spirit, let us make our own the invocations of the "great prayer" in which the Bishop of Rome makes himself the voice of the entire world: "Yes, O Lord, make your face to shine upon us for good in peace, that we may be shielded by your mighty hand... through the High Priest and Guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be glory and majesty to you both now and from generation to generation, for evermore" (60-61)."


Also today:

"At Rome, St. Felicitas, mother of seven sons, martyrs. After them she was beheaded for Christ, by order of the emperor Marcus Antoninus."

St Caecilia (November 22)

From the martyrology:


"At Rome, St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr, who brought to the faith of Christ her spouse Valerian and his brother Tiburtius, and encouraged them to martyrdom. After their death, being arrested by order of Almachius, prefect of the city, and exposed to the fire, from which she came out uninjured, she terminated her glorious sufferings by the sword, in the time of the emperor Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander."

Ordo for March 2013

This calendar has been prepared in accordance with the calendar and rubrics provided in the Breviarium Monasticum summorm pontificum cura recognitum pro omnibus sub regula S. P. Benedicti militantibus, issued by the Abbot Primate at Rome on 1 January 1963.

It should be noted, however, that individual monasteries may observe their own Ordos and use rubrics that differ somewhat from those specified in the Monastic Breviary.

Moreover, in addition to the feasts specified in the calendar, it will be necessary to add in any local feasts particular to the monastery, parish, diocese and country. In particular, this should include (where they have been appointed) the:

• principal patron of the country, region or province as a Class I;

• principal patron of the diocese or territory;

• anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral of the diocese;

• patron of the town or city;

• anniversary of the dedication of the church;

• titular feast of the church;

• patron saint of the congregation or monastery;

• feast of the monasteries founder (if canonised or beatified); and

• saints specified in the calendar of the monastery's congregation.

It should be noted that while the Benedictine Calendar generally follows the structure of the 1962 Roman Extraordinary Form (EF) Calendar, the monastic calendar omits some feasts to be found in the Roman calendar and adds others.  In addition, feasts may be of different levels: many third class feasts in the 1962 Roman calendar for example, appear in the Benedictine as memorials only.  Cross-references to the Roman Extraordinary Form (EF) calendar have been included where the Mass of the day is likely to be different to that specified in the Benedictine calendar.

Page references labeled MD are to the Monastic Diurnal published by Farnborough Abbey in accordance with those rubrics.  Note that the Diurnal is not page numbered sequentially, but differentiates sections of the book by use of asterisks, square brackets and so forth. 

Matins is not included in the Diurnal, but occasional notes (generally where the hour does not follow the normal pattern) have been included here for the benefit of those who use other books to say that hour.

This Ordo is intended as an aid to those who wish to say the Benedictine Office using the order of the psalms and prayers as specified in St Benedict’s Rule and developed as part of the patrimony of the Order of St Benedict. Every effort has been made to make this Ordo as accurate as possible, but if any errors are identified, please advise the author at australiaincognita@gmail.com.

Friday 1 March – Friday in the second week of Lent, Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 209*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphons, chapters and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 193*-195*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 209*-210*

Saturday 2 March – Saturday in the second week of Lent, Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 210*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

I Vespers of the Third Sunday of Lent, MD 210* ff: antiphons and psalms of Saturday, rest from MD 210* ff

Sunday 3 March – Third Sunday of Lent, Class I

Lauds: Antiphons, MD 212* ff with psalm scheme 1 (Ps 50, 117, 62); chapter etc for the Sunday

Prime to None: Antiphons etc, MD 215*

Vespers: Psalms and antiphons of Sunday; chapter etc as per I Vespers; versicle and Magnificat antiphon, MD 216*

Monday 4 March – Monday in the third week of Lent, Class III [EF: St Casimir]

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 217*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 193*-195*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 217*

Tuesday 5 March – Tuesday in the third week of Lent, Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 217*-218*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 193*-195*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 218*

Wednesday 6 March - Wednesday in the third week of Lent, Class III; SS Perpetua and Felicitas, memorial

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 218*; for the commemoration, MD [74]

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 193*-195*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 218*-219*

Thursday 7 March – Thursday in the third week of Lent, Class III; St Thomas Aquinas, memorial

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 219*; for the commemoration, MD [75]

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 193*-195*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 219*-220*

Friday 8 March – Friday in the third week of Lent, Class III [EF: St John of God]

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 220*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 193*-195*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 220*

Saturday 9 March – Saturday in the third week of Lent, Class III; St Frances of Rome, Memorial

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 220*-221*; for the commemoration, MD [75-76]

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapters and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: I Vespers of the Fourth Sunday of Lent: Antiphons and psalms of Saturday, rest from MD 221* ff

Sunday 10 March – Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday), Class I

Lauds: Antiphons etc, MD 223* ff with psalm scheme 1 (Ps 50, 117, 62)

Prime to None: Antiphons (and chapter verses etc), MD 226*-227*

Vespers: Psalms and antiphons of Sunday; chapter, hymn as per I Vespers; versicle and Magnificat antiphon MD 227*

Monday 11 March - Monday in the fourth week of Lent, Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 227*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 193*-195*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 228*

Tuesday 12 March – St Gregory the Great OSB, Class II

Lauds: Festal psalms of Sunday with antiphons and proper texts of the feast, MD [77] ff; commemoration of the feria, MD 217*

Prime to None: Antiphons etc of the feast

Vespers: Psalms of II Vespers of a Confessor Bishop, MD (68) with antiphons of Lauds, rest from MD [81] ff; commemoration of the feria, MD 217*:

Wednesday 13 March – Wednesday in the fourth week of Lent, Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 229*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 193*-195*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 229*-230*

Thursday 14 March – Thursday in the fourth week of Lent Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 230*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 193*-195*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 230*

Friday 15 March – Friday in the fourth week of Lent, Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 230*-231*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192-193*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 193*-195*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 231*

Saturday 16 March – Saturday in the fourth week of Lent, Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 190*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 231*-232*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Vivo ego), noted in the psalter and MD 192*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 192*-193*; collect of Lauds.

PASSIONTIDE

The Ordinary of the Office during Passiontide

The Ordinary of the Passiontide ferial Office, used from the Monday after First Passion Sunday, is set out in the Farnborough edition of the Monastic Diurnal at MD 240* ff.

For those saying Matins (not in the Diurnal): the invitatory antiphon is for the season (Hodie si vocem Domini audieritis); the hymn is for the season of Lent and is the same each day (Pange lingua); the readings during the week are usually patristic sermons, relating to the Gospel of the Mass set for that day; and the chapter verse for Nocturn II is for the season (Jer 11:18-19).

At Prime to None: the antiphons, chapters and versicles are of the season of Passiontide, and can be found in the psalter section; the collect for Terce to None is the same as for Lauds of that day.

At Lauds and Vespers: chapters, hymns, etc of the season replace those in the psalter section; the responsories omit the Gloria Patri, instead repeating the opening verse; the canticle antiphons are proper for each day. They generally reflect the (EF) Gospel for the day; and there is a specific collect for both Lauds and Vespers each day.

It is also important to be aware that when a feast displaces the Lent texts, a commemoration of the day is made at both Lauds and Vespers using the respective collects, canticle antiphon and versicle that occurs before the relevant canticle at that hour.

I Vespers of Sunday, MD 232*: Psalms and antiphons of Saturday, rest from MD 232* ff

Sunday 17 March – First Passion Sunday, Class I

Lauds: Antiphons for the day, MD 234* ff with psalm scheme 1 (Ps 50, 117, 62); rest from MD 234* ff

Prime to None: Antiphons and chapter verses, MD 238*-239*

Vespers: Psalms and antiphons of Sunday; chapter etc as per I Vespers, MD 234* ff; versicle and Magnificat antiphon MD 239* [NB Where St Patrick is Class I, make a commemoration of St Patrick]

Monday 18 March – Monday in first Passion Week, Class III; St Cyril, Memorial [***in some places, St Patrick, Class I]

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for Passiontide, MD 240* ff; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 246*; for the commemoration, MD [83]

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Libera me), noted in the psalter and MD 242*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 242*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: I Vespers of St Josph or II Vespers of St patrick (where Class I)

For St Patrick, see MD 22**

Tuesday 19 March – St Joseph, Class I

Lauds: Festal psalms with antiphons etc of the feast, MD [87] ff, with a commemoration of the feria, MD 247*-248*

Prime to None: Antiphons etc of the feast

Vespers: Antiphons of Lauds; psalms from I Vespers of Apostles, MD (2); chapter etc from I Vespers of the feast, MD [84]; Magnificat antiphon, MD [91]; commemoration of the feria, MD 247*-248*

Wednesday 20 March – Wednesday in first Passion Week, Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for Passiontide, MD 240* ff; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 246*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Libera me), noted in the psalter and MD 242*

Terce to None: antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 242*; collect of Lauds

I Vespers of St Benedict, MD [91] ff, with a commemoration of the feria, MD 248*

Thursday 21 March – St Benedict, Class I

Lauds: Festal psalms of Sunday with antiphons and texts of the feast; MD [91] ff; commemoration of the feria, MD 249*-250*

Prime to None: Antiphon etc of the feast

Vespers: As for I Vespers, MD [91]; Magnificat antiphon, MD [99]; commemoration of the feria, MD 249*-250*

Friday 22 March – Friday in first Passion Week, Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for Passiontide, MD 240*ff; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 250*-251*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Libera me), noted in the psalter and MD 242*

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 242*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for the season, MD 244*; Magnificat antiphon and collect, MD 251*

Saturday 23 March – Saturday in first Passion Week, Class III

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle for Passiontide, MD 240* ff; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 252*

Prime: Antiphon for the season (Libera me), noted in the psalter and MD 242*

Terce to None: antiphon, chapter and versicle for the season, noted in the psalter and MD 242*; collect of Lauds.

HOLY WEEK

I Vespers of Palm Sunday: Antiphons and psalms of Saturday with chapter and rest from MD 252* ff

Sunday 24 March – Second Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday, Class I

Lauds: Antiphons for the day, MD 255* with psalm scheme 1 (Ps 50, 117, 62); chapter etc for the day

Prime to None: Antiphons and chapter verses, MD 258*-260*

Vespers: Psalms and antiphons of Sunday; chapter etc as per I Vespers; Magnificat antiphon, MD 260*

The Office in Holy Week to Wednesday

The first days of Holy Week are all first class days:

For those who say it, Matins each day has two nocturns/three readings, with the invitatory antiphon and hymn of Passiontide.

Lauds to None have proper antiphons for each day, with other texts from the ordinary of Passiontide.

Vespers uses the usual antiphons from the psalter, with a proper canticle and collect.

Monday 25 March – Monday in Holy Week, Class I

Lauds: Antiphons MD 260*-261* with psalms of Monday; chapter, responsory and hymn of Passiontide, MD 240*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 261*

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds (MD 260*) with psalms etc of Monday

Terce to None: Antiphons 2, 3 and 5 of Lauds respectively, MD 260-1*; chapter and versicle for Passiontide, MD 242*-244*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory and hymn for the season, MD 244*-246*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 261*-262*

Tuesday 26 March - Tuesday in Holy Week, Class I

Lauds: Antiphons MD 262* with psalms of Tuesday; chapter, responsory and hymn for the season, MD 240*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 263*

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds (MD 262*) with psalms etc of Tuesday

Terce to None: antiphons 2, 3 and 5 of Lauds respectively, MD 262*; chapter and versicle for Passiontide, MD 242*-244*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory and hymn for the season, MD 244*-246*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 263*

Wednesday 27 March – Wednesday in Holy Week, Class I

Lauds: Antiphons MD 263*-264* with psalms of Wednesday; chapter, responsory and hymn for the season, MD 240*; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 264*

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds (MD 263*) with psalms etc of Wednesday

Terce to None: antiphons 2, 3 and 5 of Lauds respectively, MD 264*; chapter and versicle for Passiontide, MD 242*-244*; collect of Lauds

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter; chapter, responsory and hymn for the season, MD 244*-246*; Magnificat antiphon and collect of the day, MD 265*

THE SACRED TRIDUUM

The Office during the Triduum

The Office during the Triduum does not follow the normal form as set out in the psalter.  In addition, some of the Holy Week ceremonies include parts of the Office so that those who attend them do not need to sing or say those particular hours separately.

Matins and Lauds: The Office of Tenebrae, or Matins and Lauds, is a special feature of the Triduum. It is said in darkness, and a candle is extinguished as each of the psalms is said, and the Roman (EF) and Benedictine forms of this Office are identical.

The 1962 rubrics specify that Tenebrae is not be anticipated, or said the night before. As this generally makes public recitation of the Office impractical outside a monastery, it is generally ignored. Thus the normal practice is to perform Tenebrae for Maundy Thursday on Wednesday night, and so forth. Note that the Diurnal does not contain the Matins psalms for Tenebrae, so you will need to obtain these from elsewhere should you wish to say it in full.

If Tenebrae is sung in the evening, Compline should be said beforehand.

Prime to None: The psalms for Prime, Terce, Sext and None during the Triduum are set out on MD 279* ff. No introductory prayer or hymns are said, and the Gloria Patri is not said at the end of each psalm. Each hour closes the antiphon ‘Christus factus est’ – each day of the Triduum, an additional phrase of the antiphon is added, as set out on MD 282*.

Vespers: Vespers (if said) is often said quite early, in order to make room for Tenebrae/the Easter Vigil. The antiphons and psalms for Vespers can be found on MD 296* ff.

Note that there are no introductory prayers; as for the other hours, the Gloria Patri is not said at the end of each psalm; the first psalm on Holy Saturday is on MD 298*; antiphons for the Magnificat each day are on MD 303*; on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the antiphon Christus factus est is said; and on the concluding prayers for Holy Saturday, see MD 305*.

Compline: The rubrics for Compline from Maundy Thursday to Holy Saturday are set out on MD 305* ff. Note the addition of the Nunc Dimittis.

Thursday 28 March – Maundy Thursday, Class I

Note that:

• There are no opening prayers
• The Gloria Patri is not said at the end of each psalm
• The psalms and antiphons to be used are set out at MD 265* ff

 Vespers are not said by those who attend the evening mass.

Compline is said according to the rubrics at MD 305* after the denudation of the altar, with extinguished candles and no chant.

Friday 29 March – Good Friday, Class I

See MD 309*-318*.  Note that:

• There are no opening prayers
• The Gloria Patri is not said at the end of each psalm
• The psalms etc for Prime to None are set out at MD 279* ff
• ‘Mortem autem crucis’ is added to the antiphon Christus factus est, MD 282*; and
• Compline as for Maundy Thursday, MD 305*

 Vespers is not said by those who attend the afternoon liturgy; if it is said, see MD 296*

Saturday 30 March – Holy Saturday, Class I

See MD 318*-326*.  Note that:

• There are no opening prayers
• The Gloria Patri is not said at the end of each psalm
• The psalms and antiphons to be used are set out at MD 279* ff
• ‘Propter quod…’ is added to the antiphon Christus factus est, MD 282*

Vespers:  As per Maundy Thursday, MD 296* except for the first antiphon and Magnificat antiphon, MD 325*.  It may said any time after noon.

Compline: MD 325*

Sunday 31 March – Easter Sunday, Class I with a Class I Octave

See MD 328*-335*
Matins and Lauds are included in the Vigil, so do not need to be said by those who attended it. If Lauds is said, note Psalm scheme 2 (92, etc).

Compline: Marian Antiphon, Regina Caeli.

Presentation of the BVM (November 21)

It is also today the memorial of St Columba:


"In the monastery of Bobio, the departure from this life of St. Columban, abbot, who founded many convents and governed a large number of monks. He died at an advanced age, celebrated for many virtues."

Ordo for September 2013

This calendar has been prepared in accordance with the calendar and rubrics provided in the Breviarium Monasticum summorm pontificum cura recognitum pro omnibus sub regula S. P. Benedicti militantibus, issued by the Abbot Primate at Rome on 1 January 1963.

Individual monasteries may, however, observe their own Ordos and use rubrics that differ somewhat from those specified in the Monastic Breviary. 

In addition to the feasts specified in the calendar, it will be necessary to add in any local feasts particular to the monastery, parish, diocese and country. In particular, this should include (where they have been appointed) the:

• principal patron of the country, region or province as a Class I;

• principal patron of the diocese or territory;

• anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral of the diocese;

• patron of the town or city;

• anniversary of the dedication of the church;

• titular feast of the church;

• patron saint of the congregation or monastery;

• feast of the monasteries founder (if canonised or beatified); and

• saints specified in the calendar of the monastery's congregation.

While the Benedictine Calendar generally follows the structure of the 1962 Roman Extraordinary Form (EF) Calendar, the monastic calendar omits some feasts to be found in the Roman calendar and adds others. 

In addition, feasts may be of different levels: many third class feasts in the 1962 Roman calendar for example, appear in the Benedictine as memorials only.  Cross-references to the Roman Extraordinary Form (EF) calendar have been included where the Mass of the day is likely to be different to that specified in the Benedictine calendar.

Page references labeled MD are to the Monastic Diurnal published by Farnborough Abbey in accordance with those rubrics.  Note that the Diurnal is not page numbered sequentially, but differentiates sections of the book by use of asterisks, square brackets and so forth. 

Matins is not included in the Diurnal, but occasional notes (generally where the hour does not follow the normal pattern) have been included here for the benefit of those who use other books to say that hour.

This Ordo is intended as an aid to those who wish to say the Benedictine Office using the order of the psalms and prayers as specified in St Benedict’s Rule and developed as part of the patrimony of the Order of St Benedict. Every effort has been made to make this Ordo as accurate as possible, but if any errors are identified, please advise the author at australiaincognita@gmail.com.

SEPTEMBER 2013

Sunday 1 September - Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Class II [***In some places, St Vibiana]

Matins: Readings for the First Sunday in September

Lauds: Psalm schema 1 (50, 117, 62); hymn Ecce iam lucis; canticle antiphon and collect, MD 474*-475*

Vespers: Canticle antiphon and collect, MD 474*-475*

**For St Vibiana: MD 43**

Monday 2 September – Class IV [EF: St Stephen]

All as for Monday in the psalter; collect, MD 474*-475*

Tuesday 3 September - St Pius X, Class III [***In some places St Seraphia]

Lauds and Vespers: Psalms and antiphons of Tuesday, with the rest from the Common of a Confessor Bishop, MD (64)

Terce to None: Chapter and versicle from the Common; collect, MD [258]

**For St Seraphia, MD 43**

Wednesday 4 September – Class IV

All as for Wednesday in the psalter; collect, MD 474*-475*

Thursday 5 September – Class IV [EF: St Laurence Justinian]

All as for Thursday in the psalter; collect, MD 474*-475*

Friday 6 September – Class IV

All as for Friday in the psalter; collect, MD 474*-475*

Saturday 7 September – Saturday of Our Lady [**In some places, St Cloud, Confessor, Class I]

Matins to None: At Matins, reading of Saturday 1; Lauds to None, MD (129) ff 

**For St Cloud, MD [258]

I Vespers of the Second Saturday of September, MD 453*/Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, MD 475*

Sunday 8 September - Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Class II; Commemoration of the Nativity of the BVM

Matins: Second Sunday of September

Lauds: Psalm schema 1 (50, 117, 62); hymn, Ecce iam lucis; canticle antiphon and collect, MD 475*-476*; commemoration of the Nativity of the BVM, MD [261]

Vespers: Canticle antiphon and collect, MD 475*-476*

Monday 9 September – Class IV; St Gorgonius, memorial

All as for Monday in the psalter; collect, MD 475*; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [264]-[265]

Tuesday 10 September – Class IV [EF: St Nicholas of Tolentino]

All as for Tuesday in the psalter; collect, MD 475*

Wednesday 11 September – Class IV; SS Protus and Hyacinth, memorial

All as for Wednesday in the psalter; collect, MD 475*; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [265]

Thursday 12 September – Class IV [EF: Most Holy Name of Mary]

All as for Thursday in the psalter; collect, MD 475*

Friday 13 September – Class IV

All as for Friday in the psalter; collect, MD 475*

Saturday 14 September – Exaltation of Holy Cross, Class II

Lauds: Festal psalms (of Sunday) with antiphons and proper texts, MD [266] ff

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter, versicle and collect of the feast, MD [269] ff

Vespers: Antiphons of Lauds (omit fourth); psalms of Sunday, MD 203 ff; rest from MD [270] ff; commemoration of Third Sunday of September, MD 453*-454*, collect, MD 476*

[Start of monastic Lent]

Sunday 15 September - Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Class II

Matins: Third Sunday of September

Lauds: Psalm schema 1 (50, 117, 62); hymn Aeterne Reum Conditor; canticle antiphon and collect, MD 476*-477*

Vespers: Canticle antiphon and collect, MD 476*-477*

Monday 16 September – Class IV; SS Cornelius and Cyprian, memorials

All as for Monday in the psalter; collect, MD 476*; for the commemorations at Lauds, MD [278]

Tuesday 17 September – Class IV; St Hildegard, memorial [EF: Commemoration of the Imprinting of the Stigmata of St Francis; OF: St Hildegard, Solemnity]

All as for Tuesday in the psalter; collect, MD 475*; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [278]-[279]

Wednesday 18 September - Ember Wednesday, Class II

All as for Wednesday in the psalter except for the canticle antiphons at Lauds and Vespers, and collect, MD 454*; the closing prayers are said kneeling

Thursday 19 September – Class IV [EF: St Januarius and companions]

All as for Thursday in the psalter; collect, MD 475*

Friday 20 September - Ember Friday, Class II

All as in the psalter for Friday except for the canticle antiphons at Lauds and Vespers and collect, MD 455*

Saturday 21 September - St Matthew, Class II; Commemoration of Ember Saturday

Lauds to Vespers: All from the Common of Apostles, MD (9); collect, MD [279]; at Lauds, commemoration of Ember Saturday, MD 456*; at Vespers, commemoration of the Sunday, MD 456*/MD 477*

Sunday 22 September – Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Class II; St Maurice and Companions, memorial

Matins: Fourth Sunday of September

Lauds: Psalm schema 1 (50, 117, 62); hymn Aeterne Reum Conditor; canticle antiphon, MD 477*; for the commemoration, MD [280]

Prime to None: All as for Sunday in the psalter, with collect MD 477*

Vespers: Canticle antiphon and collect, MD 477*

Monday 23 September - Class IV; St Linus I, memorial

All as for Monday in the psalter; collect, MD 477*; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [280-1]

Tuesday 24 September – Class IV [EF: Commemoration of Our Lady of Ransom]

All as for Tuesday in the psalter; collect, MD 477*

Wednesday 25 September – Class IV

All as for Wednesday in the psalter; collect MD 477*

Thursday 26 September – Class IV [EF: Commemoration of SS Cyprian and Justina]

All as for Thursday in the psalter; collect, MD 477*

Friday 27 September – Class IV; SS Cosmas and Damian, memorial

All as for Friday in the psalter; collect, MD 477*; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [281]

Saturday 28 September – Saturday of Our Lady [EF: S Wenceslaus]

Matins to None: At Matins, reading of Saturday 4; Lauds to None, MD (129) ff 

I Vespers of St Michael, MD [282]: Antiphons and proper texts of the feast with psalms of Sunday, with a commemoration of the Sunday, MD 457*/MD 478*

Sunday 29 September - Dedication of St Michael the Archangel, Class I

Lauds: Antiphons and proper texts of the feast, MD [284] ff with festal psalms; commemoration of the Sunday, MD 478*

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds

Terce to None: Antiphons of Lauds, chapter versicles and collect, MD [287] ff

Vespers: All as for I Vespers except the fourth psalm and Magnificat antiphon, see MD [289] ff; commemoration of the Sunday, MD 478*

Monday 30 September – St Jerome, Class III

Lauds and Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of Monday; chapter etc from Common of a Confessor Bishop, MD (78), at Vespers, canticle antiphon of a doctor; collect, MD [290]

Terce to None: Chapter and versicle from the Common; collect, MD [290]