The Ferial Office During Paschaltide

In the Dominican Breviary, the ferial office in Epiphany season is similar to that of the Roman Breviary, with slight differences.   Among the elements that are different include, the invitatory and hymn at Matins the hymn at Lauds, the Short Lesson at Prime, and the hymn at Vespers.

The ferial days in Paschaltide are IV Class, so when a III Class feast occurs on the calendar, no commemoration is made of the ferial office.

April and May are months par excellence in the traditional Dominican sanctorale.  April contains the feasts of St. Vincent Ferrer (April 5), Our Lord's Most Holy Crown of Thorns (April 24), St. Agnes of Montepulciano (April 20), St. Louis de Montfort (April 28), St. Peter Martyr (April 29) and St. Catherine of Siena (April 30).  May starts off with St. Pius V (May 5).  Then we have the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mediatrix of All Graces (May 8), St. Antonius (May 10) , Blessed Imelda (May 13), the Transfer of Our Holy Father St. Dominic (May 24), and finally Bl. William and his Companions (May 29).

Compline from Low Sunday to the Ascension

Continuing our series on the unique features of the Dominican Breviary at Compline, we now come to the period between Low Sunday and the Ascension. The changes began during the first week of Lent, and we have followed along as the hymns, and responsories, and antiphons have changed during Lent, Passion Tide, and now Paschaltide. These changes continue through the octave of the Trinity, after which Compline returns to its normal form.

Compline begins as usual. After the responsory, which is said with the Alleluia's as noted in the rubrics, the following hymn is said.

Jesu, nostra redémptio, Amor et desidérium, Deus Creátor ómnium, Homo in fine témporum: Quæ te vicit cleméntia, Ut ferres nostra crímina, Crudélem mortem pátiens, Ut nos a morte tólleres? Inférni claustra pénetrans, Tuos captívos rédimens, Victor triúmpho nóbili Ad dextram Patris résidens: Ipsa te cogat píetas Ut mala nostra súperes Parcéndo, et voti cómpotes Nos tuo vultu sáties.	Redemption, Jesus, all divine, Whom here we love, for whom we pine, God, working our creation’s plan, And, in the latter time, made man: What love of yours was that which led To take our woes upon your head, And pangs and cruel death to bear, To ransom us from death’s despair! You pierced the halls of Limbo bare, Gave freedom to your captives there; And now you sit in victor’s pride Triumphant at the Father’s side. Let very mercy force you still To spare us, conquering each ill; We pray you grant us our request, That seeing you we may be blest
From Low Sunday to the Ascension the last two versus are:
Quǽsiumus, Auctor óminum, In hoc pascháli gáudio, Ab omni mortis ímpetu Tuum defénde pópulum. Glória tibi, Dómine, Qui surrexísti a mórtuis, Cum Patre et Sancto Spíritu In sempitérna sǽcula.  Amen Ant. At Nunc Dimittis :  Allelúia.     Resurréxit Dóminus, allelúia,  sicut    dixit vobis, allelúia, allelúia.	Creator great, be you our guide In this the joy of Easter-tide; Whenever assaults of death impend, Your people strengthen and defend. All glory, Lord, to you we pay, Arisen from the dead, today; With Father and the Spirit be All glory yours eternally.  Amen. Ant. at Nunc Dimittis: Alleluia.  The Lord has risen, alleluia, as he told you, alleluia, alleluia.

The last two versus of the hymn change, during Ascension-tide and the octave of Pentecost.

Compline During Lent - Passion Sunday to Holy Thursday

 One of the unique features of the Dominican Rite of Office is the variability of much of the Office of Compline during during the seasons of Lent, Passiontide, Paschaltide, Ascensiontide, and through out the octave of Pentecost, when the hymn, Little Chapter, and responses change.

The Ferial Office During Paschaltide

In the Dominican Breviary, the ferial office in Paschaltide is similar to that of the Roman Breviary, with slight differences.   Among the elements that are different include, the invitatory and hymn at Matins the hymn at Lauds, the Short Lesson at Prime, and the hymn at Vespers.

The ferial days in Paschaltide are IV Class, so when a III Class feast occurs on the calendar, no commemoration is made of the ferial office.

We are approaching the months of April and May, which are months par excellence in the traditional Dominican sanctorale.  April contains the feasts of St. Vincent Ferrer (April 5), Our Lord's Most Holy Crown of Thorns (April 24), St. Agnes of Montepulciano (April 20), St. Louis de Montfort (April 28), St. Peter Martyr (April 29) and St. Catherine of Siena (April 30).  May starts off with St. Pius V (May 5).  Then we have the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mediatrix of All Graces (May 8), St. Antonius (May 10) , Blessed Imelda (May 13), the Transfer of Our Holy Father St. Dominic (May 24), and finally Bl. William and his Companions (May 29).

Compline During Lent - III Sunday of Lent to Passion Sunday

As we work out way gradually through the holy season of Lent, the Dominican Breviary refreshes us with a new Nunc dimittis antiphon beginning tonight at Compline.  We will use this antiphon up till the Saturday before Passion Sunday exclusive.

This time, the antiphon is the famous "Media vita", which is a humble acknowledgement of our utter helplessness against the power of sin and a somber plea for help from our "Holy God, holy Mighty One, holy and merciful Savior ."  This antiphon is actually an old responsory, and it is said that when chanting it, St. Thomas Aquinas was brought to tears.

This antiphon could easily be our mantra throughout the year and we can draw much spiritual fruit from meditating on it. May St. Thomas pray for us, that we be granted the grace to feel true sorrow for our sins, to repent for them, and for the grace to turn to God in our weakness and frailty.

St. Thomas Aquinas...pray for us.

March 7: St. Thomas Aquinas, C., D., O.P., I Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, Confessor March 7:  St. Thomas Aquinas, C., D., O.P., I Class, Doctor of the Church, of the Order of Preachers.  Piercing a hole straight through the somber, penitential season of Lent, the feast of the Angel of the Schools is I Class, so the festive office is prayed according to the rubrics.  A commemoration of  the ferial day of Lent is made  at Lauds, and a commemoration of the III Sunday of Lent is made at 2nd Vespers.  All is given in the Proper of the Saints.

At Pretiosa yesterday, we read from the Dominican Martyrology:

In the monastery of Fossa Nuova, near Terracina, St. Thomas Aquinas of the Order of Preachers, confessor and Doctor of the Church. He was most illustrious for nobility of birth, holiness of life, and knowledge of theology. He preserved until death the grace of virginity. On account of the extraordinary superiority of his learning, he rightly earned the title of "Angelic Doctor." His writings, remarkable for the solidity of doctrine and approved by our Lord Himself, marvelously illuminate as dazzling lights the Catholic Church and every school of the orthodox world. Leo XIII declared him to be the celestial patron of all Catholic schools.

The Dominican Office for this feast contains spiritually rich proper antiphons and hymns.  Some of my favorites include the super psalm antiphon at 1st Vespers:

The Blessed Thomas, Doctor of the Church, light of the world, glory of Italy, virgin shining with the bloom of chastity, rejoices in a twofold crown of glory.

Dominican Compline During Lent - 1st Sunday of Lent to the III Sunday of Lent

The most unique and distinguishing element of the Dominican Breviary, that sets it apart from the Roman, is the variability in the Office of Compline.  And no where is this rich variability more evident than during the seasons of Lent, Passiontide, Paschaltide, Ascensiontide, and throughout the octave of Pentecost, when the hymn, Little Chapter, and responses change substantially.