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.

The Ferial Office During Lent

This year, during the season of Lent, we will pray the ferial office 18 times.  In the Dominican Breviary, the ferial office in Epiphany season is similar to that of the Roman Breviary, with slight differences.  The hymn at Matins is different, as are some of the Little Chapters.

The ferial days in Lent (Quadragesima) are III Class, and take precedence over III Class feasts of saints and blesseds.  So when the III Class feast of a saint or blessed occurs on the calendar, a commemoration is made of that feast.

February and March are wonderful months in the Dominican sanctorale, even in the 1962 calendar.  The month starts off with the Anniversary of our Mothers and Fathers on February 6.  Then, we have a wonderful grouping of St. Catherine de Ricci, Bl. Jordan of Saxony, and Bl. Henry Suso.  February finishes out with Bl. Reginald, one of St. Dominic's close companions.

And though March is a sparse month in the sanctorale, it does contain the feast of the Angelic Doctor on March 7.  This feast, which temporarily lightens the heaviness of the penitential season of Lent is 1st Class in the Dominican Rite.  It takes precedence over the ferial days of Lent, so we only make a commemoration of the ferial office (error alert on my calendar!!) at Lauds and Vespers.  

February 17: Blessed Reginald, C., O.P., Commemoration

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we commemorate the feast of Blessed Reginald, confessor of the Order of Preachers.  The ferial office of Quinquagesima is prayed (Psalm scheme II, preces, proper antiphon at Bened. and Magnif., and prayer from preceding Sunday), and the commemoration is made at Lauds and Vespers with the propers given in the Proper of the Saints.

From the Martyrology:

At Paris, Blessed Reginald, confessor. He was dean of the Church of St. Aignan in Orleans. While at Rome, he received from the hands of our holy Father Dominic, the Dominican habit which the glorious Virgin Mary had shown him a short time before when he was dangerously ill.

February 14: Blessed Jordan of Saxony, C., O.P., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of Blessed Jordan of Saxony, confessor and 2^nd Master General of the Order of Preachers.  The feast is III Class, and the Ordinary Office is prayed, with propers taken from the Proper of the Saints.  At Lauds and Vespers a commemoration of St. Valentine, Martyr is made.

February 13: St. Catherine de Ricci, V., O.P., III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of St. Catherine de Rici, virgin of the Order of Preachers.  The feast is III Class, so the Ordinary Office is prayed.  Like many II Class feast in the Breviary, her office contains the full propers as if the feast were II Class.  At Lauds, the Psalms of Sunday are prayed.

From the Martyrology yesterday:

At Prato in Etruria, St. Catherine de'Ricci of Florence, virgin, of the Order of Preachers. She was remarkable for the abundance of her divine gifts, and was canonized by the Sovereign Pontiff, Benedict XIV. She died rich in virtues and merit on February 2, but her feast is celebrated today.

At Pretiosa today, we remember the obit of Fr. Aniceto Fernandez, 82nd Master General of the Order, who died on this day in 1981.  He gave his approval to the 1967 English translation of the Dominican Breviary, and his name appears on the title sheet.

From “Short Lives of the Dominican Saints” (London, Kegan Paul, Trench, and Trübner & Co., Ltd., 1901):

February 6: Anniversary Of Our Deceased Parents

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we commemorate the Anniversary of the Deceased Parents of the members of our Order.  The ferial office is prayed, with a commemoration of Ss. Vedast and Amand.  At Pretiosa, the Anniversary is announced as follows:

The anniversary of our Fathers and Mothers;

At Pretiosa, Psalm 129 is prayed, as it always is on the day of an Anniversary.  Afterwards, the Prayer for the Anniversary is prayed:

O God, Lord of mercies, give to the souls of your servants, whose anniversary we keep, the home of refreshment, the blessedness of peace and the brightness of light.  Through Christ our Lord.

February 1: Septuagesima Sunday

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite calendar, we celebrate Septuagesima Sunday. This Sunday is II Class, and the Sunday office is prayed.  At Lauds, the second Psalm scheme (Sunday at Lauds II) is used

This Sunday marks the beginning of the countdown to Quadragesima...or Lent, the great penitential season that prepares us for the commemoration of our redemption, at the price of our Lord's bitter passion and death.