This year, during the season of Advent, we will pray the ferial office 13 time. In the Dominican Breviary, the ferial office in Advent draws heavily from the Book of Jeremiah for the Little Chapter (Lauds, Terce, Sext, and Vespers). The versicle before Lauds is from Isiah 6. Each one builds upon the Old Testament Prophets' anticipation of the coming of the Messiah, just as the Church now does during Advent.
The ferial days in Advent is III Class, until December 17. During these days, when a III Class feast is celebrated, a commemoration is made of the ferial day at Lauds and Vespers. From December 17 through December 23, the ferial days are II Class. During this period, when a III Class feast occurs, the ferial office is prayed and a commemoration of the III Class feast is made at Lauds and Vespers.
December is a lite month for Dominican saints. The month starts off with a commemoration of Bl. John of Vercelli, O.P. on December 1. And of course on December 22, there is a commemoration of the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which marks the anniversary of the founding of the Order on December 22, 1216.
The Advent ferial office is prayed as follows:
Matins
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Inv. The Lord, the king who is to come, come let
us adore him.
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Hymn: Proceeding forth, O Word sublime…(Verbum supérnum pródiens…)
Psalms and antiphons from the weekday. The versicle is from the Advent season as
in the Psalter. Te Deum is not
said.
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Lauds
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Before Lauds ℣. Send forth, Lord, the Lamb, the ruler of
the earth. ℟. From Petra of the desert
to the mountain of the daughter of Sion.
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Psalms are ferial from the II scheme, until December 16 inclusive,
with the antiphons as in the Psalter.
There are, however, special antiphons to be said from December 17 to
23.
Little Chapter (Jer. 23): Behold,
the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a
righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall
execute justice and righteousness in the land.
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Hymn: Behold, the voice, so clear, proclaims… (Vox clara ecce íntonat…)
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℣.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness. ℟. Prepare the way of the Lord.
The Benedictus antiphon is
proper. Preces are said. Except in Qurter Tense, the prayer is from
the preceding Sunday. At Pretiosa, the Rule is read. At the Hours, the
psalms are ferial with antiphons from Advent Season as in the Psalter.
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Prime
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Ant. Come and deliver
us, our God. ℟. Jesus Christ. ℣. Thou who art about to come into the world.
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This verse is said daily, even on feasts of Saints, unless
otherwise noted.
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Terce
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Ant. Come, Lord, and do not delay; free your
people Israel from their wrong-doing.
Little Chapter as in Lauds
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℟. Come and set us free,* Lord
God of hosts. – Come. ℣. Let your face shine
on us, and we shall be saved. – Lord God. – Glory. – Come and set us free.
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℣.
The nations shall fear the name of the Lord. ℟. And all the earth’s kings your glory.
Preces are said. They prayer is from the preceding Sunday.
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Sext
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Ant. Rouse up your might, Lord, and come to save
us.
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Little
Chapter (Jer. 23): In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel
will dwell securely. And this is the
name by which he will be called: The
Lord is or righteousness.”
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℟.
Let us see, O Lord, * your mercy. – Let
us. ℣. And give us your saving help. – Your mercy.
– Glory. Let us.
℣.
O Lord, remember me, out of the love you have for your people. ℟. Come to me, Lord, with your help.
Preces are said. Prayer from the preceding Sunday.
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None
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Ant. At your coming, Lord, deliver us.
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Little
Chapter (Is. 2): It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the
highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the
nations shall flow to it.
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℟.
Upon you, Jerusalem, * the Lord will
arise. – Upon. ℣. And his glory will
be seen upon you. – The Lord. – Glory.
Upon.
℣.
God of hosts, bring us back. ℟. Let yourface shin
on us and we shall be saved.
Preces are said. Prayer from the preceding Sunday.
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Vespers
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Psalms and antiphons as in the psalter.
Little
Chapter (Jer. 23): Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king
and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
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Hymn: Creator of the starry height…(Cónditor alme
síderum…)
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℣.
Shower, O heavens, from above and let the skies rain down
righteousness. ℟. Let the earth
open, that salvation may sprout forth.
The Magnificat antiphon is proper. Preces are said except on those days in
which the O antiphons
occur. The prayer is from the
preceding Sunday, except in Quarter Tense.
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