LOST TRADITION: The "Modus Terminandi Horas"

As I plumb the depths of my new 1909 Breviarium S.O.P. I find that there is much in it to post about. But where to begin? A good place to start is a set of prayers that I found, at the end of the Psalter.  Unlike my 1962 Breviarium S.O.P., the the special “Laudate” psalms that are used at 1st Vespers on 1st Class feasts are not found at the end of the breviary, in a special section (pp. [1] - [2]), in the 1909 Breviarium they are placed at the end of the Psalter.  After that, comes something called “Modus Terminandi Horas”, or the method of ending the hours.   And then after this comes the entire office of Compline.

The rubrics for this Modus Terminandi Horas state that these versicles, responses, and prayers are to be said after each hour, if another hour, conventual Mass, or Office of the Dead does not immediately follow. The only exception of course, is Compline…which has its own special set of prayers at the end.

The prayers are as follows:

May 24: Translation of Our Holy Father St. Dominic, III Class

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of the Translation of the Relics of Our Holy Father St. Dominic.  The feast is III Class and the ordinary office is prayed according to the rubrics.  This is one of the three (3) traditional feast days in the Dominican calendar that were dedicated to our holy Father St. Dominic.  The other two being his feast day (August 4) and the miraculous appearance of a painting attributed to him at the Convent of San Domenico in Soriano Calabria in 1530 (feast day September 15 in the 1909 calendar, and September 25 in later calendars).

This feast was the last of the “translation” feasts which used to glorify the liturgical calendar of the Order.   In years past, the calendar included feasts for the translation of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Peter Martyr.  

Over To Volume II

With the arrival of the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, we officially close Volume I of the Dominican Breviary and open Volume II.  We opened Volume I in late November, to start the holy and penitential season of Advent.  From there, we went through the seasons Christmas, Epiphany, Septuagesima, Lent, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost.  Now, we open Volume II and settle in for the season of Time after Pentecost.  This season is marked by some wonderful feasts, such as Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart, the Nativity of John the Baptist and Ss. Peter and Paul, and of course the Assumption.

The Dominican Breviary has always been divided into two (2) volumes.  The oldest known editions, from the middle of the 13th Century, are in two (2) volumes.  So we bid farewell to Volume I, and begin the second half of the liturgical year.  When we pick up Volume I again, it will be to prepare for the season of Advent, when the liturgical year begins anew.

Compline from Pentecost to Trinity Sunday

We have finally arrived at the end of the period, in the liturgical year, where the office of Compline takes on a specific character that is proper to the seasons we have just passed through.  Beginning with the 1st Sunday of Lent, all the way through Passion-tide, Eastertide, Ascension-tide, it finally comes to an end after the week of Pentecost.

Compline begins as usual.  After the responsory, which is said with the Alleluia's as noted in the rubrics, the following hymn is said.  This is the same hymn that was prayed during Paschaltide, with the exception of the last two (2) stanza's, which change during Ascensiontide.

Codex of Humbert de Romans Online!

I you haven't already seen this at New Liturgical Movement or on Dominican Liturgy Blogspot, Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P. has posted a link to a full color, downloadable copy of the prototype Dominican liturgical books that were produced under the direction of Master General Humbert de Romans.  As Fr. Thompson explains it:

"This manuscript was compiled by the Master of the Order Humbert of Romans in accord with the commission of the Dominican General Chapter of  Buda in 1254 and approved by the General Chapter of Paris in 1256.  Except for additional feasts and the Psalter Reform of St. Pius X, the texts of this document were authoritative as the prototype for our liturgical books.  This copy was carried by masters of the Order during visitations to correct the books of our houses.

Those who would like copies of the images for each of the parts may download them as zip files on the left sidebar under the heading "Dominican Chant Books--Downloadable."  I have divided the files so that they are not excessively large (they total 2.8 gigabytes).   Even, so some of these files, especially those with lots of music, like the Graduale and the Antiphonarium are very large.  So do be patient as they download.

Before the listing of the files, there is also a link to download the typescript index prepared by Fr. William Bonniwell in the 1950s.  It will make it much easier to find particular texts or music."

Thank you Fr. Thompson!

May 13: Blessed Imelda, V., O.P., Comm.

Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of Blessed Imelda Lambertini, virgin, of the Order of Preachers.  The ferial office of Ascension-tide is prayed, with minor changes as noted in the Proper of the Seasons.  A commemoration is made of Blessed Imelda at Lauds only.

LOST FEAST: May 12: Octave of St. Pius V

Prior to the revision of the Breviary instituted by Pope St. Pius X, the Octave of St. Pius V would be celebrated today.  This is one of the many octaves of the Dominican saints that were casualties of the revision of St. Pius X.  Not all of the Dominican saints had octaves after their feast day, but the major ones like St. Peter Martyr did.

In the 1909 Breviarium S.O.P., the feast had the rank of "simplex", which would be considered a commemoration according to the rubrics of the 1962 Office.  At Vespers and Lauds, an antiphon, versicle/response and collect pray are given in the Proper of the Saints.  They are the same as those from the saints feast day on May 5.

The collect prayer, which is taken from his feast day, recalls the role he played in the historic defense of Christendom from Muslim invaders in the 16th Century.  Given the plight of so many Christians today, this time in the Middle East, but elsewhere as well, who are suffering such gruesome persecution, I will be making these commemorations and asking St. Pius' intercession on their behalf.