The Ferial Office During Paschaltide

This year, during the season of the Paschaltide  (April 5 through May 13), we will pray the ferial office 10 times.  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).

There are no genuflections or preces at any of the Hours. Matins

Inv.  Alleluia, alleluia, * alleluia.

Hymn:  Dawn’s shining light bedecks the sky…(Auróra lucis rútilat…) Three psalms and antiphon from the weekday with the ℣. of Paschaltide as in the Psalter.  The three psalms are chosen accoding to the sequence of weeks indicated later.  The Te Deum is not said.

Lauds

Before Lauds ℣.  At your resurrection, Christ, alleluia.  ℟.  Let heaven and earth rejoice, alleluia. Psalms from the weekday with the antiphon from Paschaltide as in the Psalter.

Little Chapter (Rom. 6):  Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  For the death that he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.

Hymn:  With gentle voice the angel gave… (Sermóne blando Angelus…)

℣.  The disciples were glad, alleluia.  ℟.  When they saw the Lord, alleluia. The Benedictus antiphon to be said during the week is indicated in its proper place. (Except on the vigil of the Ascension.) The prayer of the preceding Sunday is said, except on the vigil of the Ascension.

Let us bless the Lord, alleluia. At Pretiosa, the Rule is read. At the Hours psalms are from the weekday, with the antiphon from Paschaltide as in the Psalter.

Prime

Ant.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Little Chapter:  (Zach 8):  Love ye truth and peace, thus says the Lord almighty. ℟.  Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, * Alleluia, alleluia.  Jesus Christ.   ℣. Who has risen from the dead.  Glory.  Jesus Christ. ℟.  Arise, O Christ, and help us.  ℟. And deliver us for Thy name’s sake. Prayer O Lord God almighty, as in the Psalter.

Terce

Ant.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Little Chapter as in Lauds

℟.  The Lord has risen, * alleluia, alleluia.  – The Lord has risen.  ℣.  As he told you. – Alleluia. – Glory. – The Lord has risen. ℣.  The Lord has risen indeed, alleluia.  ℟.  And has appeared to Simon, alleluia. Prayer of the preceding Sunday, exception the vigil of the Ascension.

Sext

Ant.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Little Chapter (Col. 3):  If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not things that are on earth.

℟. The Lord has risen, indeed, * alleluia, alleluia.  – The Lord.  ℣.  And has appeared to Simon.  – Alleluia. – Glory. – The Lord. ℣. The Lord has risen from the tomb, alleluia.  ℟.  Who hung upon the cross for us, alleluia. Prayer of the preceding Sunday, exception the vigil of the Ascension.

None

Ant.  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Little Chapter (Col. 3):  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

℟.  The Lord has risen from the tomb, * alleluia, alleluia. – The Lord.  ℣.  Who hung upon the cross for us. – Alleluia. – Glory. – The Lord. ℣.  The disciples were glad, alleluia.  ℟. When they saw the Lord, alleluia. Prayer of the preceding Sunday, exception the vigil of the Ascension.

Vespers

Psalms and antiphons as in the Psalter, at Paschaltide. Little Chapter (Rom. 6):  Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  For the death that he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.

Hymn:  The Lamb’s high banquet… (Ad cenam Agni próvidi…)

℣.  Stay with us Lord, alleluia.  ℟.  For it is toward evening, alleluia. The Magnificat antiphon to be said during the week is indicated in its proper place. Prayer of the preceding Sunday. Let us bless the Lord, alleluia.

Compline

Psalms from the weekday with antiphon of Paschaltide.  Remainder as in the Ordinary, with the variations there noted for Paschaltide. During the whole of Paschaltide, on all feasts and ferias when weekday psalms are said at Matins, three psalms of the current weekday, with the antiphon Alleluia and the versicle of Easter or Ascensiontide, are said according to the following arrangement: during the first week after the octave of Easter the first three psalms of the current weekday (I) are said, during the second week, the second group of psalms (II) and during the third week the last three psalms (III). During the fourth week the first thre psalms are taken once again, the middle group during the fifth week, and the last three psalms during the week following the Sunday after the Ascension.