Ordo 21: Second week after (the octave of) Easter

The liturgical season is currently that of Eastertide, and the Ordinary texts for the season can be found from page 346* onwards in the Monastic Diurnal.  Note that the default collect for the hours other than Prime and Compline is of the Sunday, and that there are canticle antiphons for each day of the second week after the Easter Octave provided in the 'of time' section of your Office book. 

Sunday 18 April – Second Sunday after (the Octave of) Easter, Class II

 Matins: Invitatory (Surrexit Dominus), hymn (Rex sempiterne), Gospel, readings and responsories of the Second Sunday after Easter. 

Lauds: Festal psalms with antiphons of Eastertide; chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Benedictus antiphon and collect, MD 356*/AM 481 ff. 

Prime: Antiphon of Eastertide (as noted in the psalter). 

Terce to None: Antiphons of Eastertide with chapter, versicle and collect of the Sunday, MD 359*/AM 482. 

Vespers: One antiphon (of Eastertide) with chapter, responsory and hymn of 1 Vespers, MD 354*/AM 481 ff; Magnificat antiphon MD 459-60*/AM 483; collect, MD 356*/AM 481 ff. 

Monday 19 April – Class IV 

Ordinary of Eastertide, MD 346*/AM 466 ff; canticle antiphons for Lauds and Vespers, MD 360*/AM 483-4; collect (of Sunday), MD 358*/AM 483. 

Tuesday 20 April – Class IV 

Canticle antiphons for Lauds and Vespers, MD 360*. 

Wednesday 21 April –– St Anselm, Class III 

Matins: Two nocturns with invitatory antiphon (with alleluia added), hymn, chapter and versicle (with alleluia) of a confessor bishop; reading, responsory and collect of the feast. 

Lauds: Chapter, responsory (with alleluia), hymn, versicle (with alleluia) and Benedictus antiphon (with alleluia) of the Common of a confessor bishop, MD (64)/AM 659 ff; collect of the feast, MD [110]/AM 870. 

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds of the Common (with alleluia), MD (64)/AM 657. 

Terce to None: Antiphon (with alleluia), chapter and versicle (with alleluia) of the Common, MD (67-8)/AM 662-3; collect of the feast, MD [110]/AM 870. 

Vespers: Chapter, responsory (with alleluia), hymn, versicle (with alleluia) of the Common of a confessor bishop, MD (62)/AM 654 ff; Magnificat antiphon of a doctor, MD (74)/AM 665-6; collect of the feast, MD [110]/AM 870. 

Thursday 22 April – Class IV 

 Canticle antiphons for Lauds and Vespers, MD 361*. 

Friday 23 April – Class IV; St George, Memorial 

Canticle antiphons for Lauds and Vespers, MD 361*. 

Saturday 24 April – Class IV; Saturday of Our Lady 

Matins: Invitatory antiphon, hymn, versicles, absolution, blessings, responsory; chapter and collect for the Office of Our Lady in Eastertide; reading for Saturday 4&5 of April. 

Lauds: Chapter, hymn and collect of the Office of Our Lady, MD (130-1)/AM 714; responsory, versicle and Benedictus antiphon of the Office of Our Lady in Eastertide, MD (135)/AM 718-9. 

Prime: Antiphon of the Office of Our Lady (with alleluia added to end), MD (131)/AM 715. 

Terce to None: Antiphon (with alleluia added to end), chapter, versicle and collect of the Office of Our Lady, MD (132-3) /AM 715-6. 

1 Vespers of Third Sunday in Eastertide: One antiphon of Eastertide, with chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Magnificat antiphon (as for Sunday Lauds) and collect, MD 362*/AM 487 ff.

 

Ordo 21: First week after the Octave of Easter (April 11 - 17)

This week is the first after the Octave of Easter in the 1962 Benedictine Office, so the season of Eastertide. 

Eastertide has its own Ordinary texts, including hymns for Matins, Lauds and Vespers, which can be found at MB 615/MD 346*/AM 466 ff. 

During Eastertide the invitatory antiphons, antiphons, responsory verse and versicles (at the end of each Nocturn in Matins; associated with the chapters at Prime to None and Compline; and with the canticles at Lauds and Vespers) have the word alleluia added to them if one is not already included in the text. 

Note that at Matins, each Nocturn has only one antiphon, and the single short reading is the same each day; at Lauds Psalm 50 and the two variable psalms of the day are said under one antiphon; and at Vespers the psalms are all said under one antiphon. At Sunday Lauds, Psalms 92 and 99 are said instead of Psalm 50&117. At Lauds and Vespers there are canticle antiphons for each day of the Eastertide week. 

Note that you can purchase a more detailed version of the notes below via Lulu!

The Ordo

Sunday 11 April – White/Low Sunday (Octave Day of Easter), Class I 

Matins: Invitatory, hymn, antiphons, Gospel, readings and responsories for the Sunday. 

Lauds: Festal psalms with (three) antiphons of Eastertide, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Benedictus antiphon and collect for Low Sunday, MD 341*/AM 474 ff. 

Prime: Antiphon, MD 344* (AM: As noted in the psalter). 

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter, versicle and collect of the Sunday, MD 344-5*/AM 476. 

2 Vespers of Low Sunday: Psalms of Sunday under one antiphon (AM 476); chapter, responsory, hymn of 1 Vespers, MD 339*/AM 473 ff; versicle and Magnificat antiphon, MD 345*/AM 477.

Monday 12 April – Class

Matins: Ordinary of Eastertide: Invitatory, Alleluia..., hymn, Rex sempiterne, one antiphon per Nocturn (alleluia...), versicles and chapter of Eastertide, short lesson and responsory; collect of White Sunday.

 Lauds to Vespers: Ordinary of Eastertide, MD 346*/AM 466 ff; canticle antiphons for Lauds and Vespers, MD 352*/AM 477-8; collect (of White Sunday), MD 344*/AM 475. 

Tuesday 13 April – Class IV; St Justin, Memorial 

 Canticle antiphons for Lauds and Vespers, MD 352*; collect (of White Sunday), MD 344*; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [108-9]/AM 869. 

Wednesday 14 April – Class IV; SS Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus, Memorial 

Canticle antiphons, MD 352-3*/AM 479; collect (of White Sunday), MD 344*/AM 475; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [109-10]/AM 870. 

Thursday 15 April – Class IV

Friday 16 April – Class IV 

Saturday 17 April – Class IV; Saturday of Our Lady 

Matins: Invitatory antiphon, hymn, versicles, absolution, blessings, responsory; chapter and collect for the Office of Our Lady in Eastertide; reading for Saturday 3 of April. 

Lauds: Chapter, hymn and collect of the Office of Our Lady, MD (130-1)/AM 714; responsory, versicle and Benedictus antiphon of the Office of Our Lady in Eastertide, MD (135)/AM 718-9. 

Prime: Antiphon of the Office of Our Lady (with alleluia added to end), MD (131)/AM 715. 

Terce to None: Antiphon (with alleluia added to end), chapter, versicle and collect of the Office of Our Lady, MD (132-3) /AM 715-6. 

1 Vespers of the Second Sunday after Easter: Psalms (of Saturday) said under one antiphon of Eastertide, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Magnificat antiphon (as for Sunday Lauds) and collect, MD 354* ff/AM 481.

Ordo 21: Easter and its Octave

This week in the 1962 Benedictine office we celebrate the Easter Octave, which brings us back to the recurring issue of what psalms, exactly, do the rubrics intend us to use, those of the Sunday only (Matins aside), or those of the day of the week?

Use of the Sunday psalms?

In the Roman Office, those of the Sunday are used throughout the week, except at Matins (where a special three psalm Matins is used) effectively reverting the week to the pre-1911 version of the Office.

Up until 1962, however, the Benedictine office (a few days of Matins aside) reverted to the normal ferial psalter during this period for Prime to None, with the rubrics explicitly stating that the only time of the year when the ferial or festal psalms of a feast are used was during the Triduum.

The 1962 rubrics, however, removed this provision and instead inserted a new rubric (166 in the General Rubrics) saying that within the octaves of Pentecost and Easter, all is done as noted in the breviary.

And in the temporale section of the breviary on Easter Monday (after the texts for Matins) it instructs: Ad Laudes et per Horas usque ad Nonam sabbati in albis omnia dicuntur ut supra in Dominica Resurrectionis praeter ant. ad Benedictus et ad Magnificat, et orationem (at Lauds and the hours up until None of White Saturday, all is said as above on Easter Sunday, except for the antiphons for the Benedictus and Magnificat and the collect.'

The rubric is ambiguous I think, but I was long ago told by an authoritative source that it did indeed mean using the Sunday psalms throughout the week, Matins aside. Certainly the rubric itself makes no distinction between Lauds and Vespers (which previously did continue to use the Sunday psalms throughout the week) and the other hours.

I assume the intention was to bring the Benedictine Office into line with the Roman practice (notwithstanding that in the Roman, the whole of Psalm 118 is said on Sundays, whereas in the Benedictine only part of it is), perhaps to reflect what is known of early practice in Roman (Benedictine) monasteries. Quite why, if this is the case, the change did not also apply to Matins is unclear, particularly as Benedictines in Rome were early on ordered to conform to the Roman practice for this period, with the Liber Pontificalis noting that Honorius I (625-638) ordered that 'the monks' should recite three lessons and three psalms like the Roman church, and should perform their office in the Roman manner during all of those two weeks at Easter and Pentecost', as 'the people were displeased'. And, as with a number of other '1962isms', though, not all monasteries still follow this revised rubric.

The Ordo

Sunday 4 April –– Easter Sunday, Class I with a Class I Octave Note: Matins and Lauds are included in the Vigil, so do not need to be said by those who attended it. 

Matins (if said): Three Nocturns, all of the feast, for the chants, LR 82 ff. 

Lauds (if said): Festal psalms with antiphons, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Benedictus antiphon and collect of the feast, MD 328*/AM 453 ff. 

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds, MD 328*/AM 453. 

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter, versicle and collect of the feast, MD 331*/AM 457 ff. 

Vespers: Antiphons of Lauds (omitting the fourth) with chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Magnificat antiphon and collect of the feast, MD 331*/AM 458 ff. 

Compline: Marian Antiphon, Regina Caeli, MD 267-8/AM 176 or 179-80, henceforward. 

Monday 5 April – Monday in the Octave of Easter, Class I 

Matins: Two nocturns with Invitatory antiphon and hymn of Easter Sunday; either psalms and antiphons for Nocturns I&II of the feast, or one antiphon for each Nocturn (Iesum qui crucifixus est/Venite et videte) with psalms of the day of the week; versicles, three readings and responsories of the day; chapter 2 Cor 5:14-15 with versicle Surrexit Dominus; collect of the day. 

Lauds to Compline: All as for Easter Sunday using Sunday psalms at all hours, except for the canticle antiphons and collect, MD 335*/AM 460-1. 

Tuesday 6 April – Tuesday in Octave of Easter, Class I 

Matins: Two nocturns with Invitatory antiphon and hymn of Easter Sunday; either psalms and antiphons for Nocturns I&II of the feast, or one antiphon for each Nocturn (Iesum qui crucifixus est/Venite et videte) with psalms of the day of the week; versicles, three readings and responsories of the day; chapter 2 Cor 5: 14-15 with versicle Surrexit Dominus; collect of the day. 

Lauds to Compline: All as for Easter Sunday, except for the canticle antiphons and collect, MD 336*/AM 462. 

Wednesday 7 April – Wednesday in the Octave of Easter, Class I 

Matins: Two nocturns with Invitatory antiphon and hymn of Easter Sunday; one antiphon for each Nocturn (Iesum qui crucifixus est/Venite et videte) with psalms of the day of the week; versicles, three readings and responsories of the day; chapter 2 Cor 5: 14-15 with versicle Surrexit Dominus; collect of the day. 

Lauds to Compline: All as for Easter Sunday including psalms, except for the canticle antiphons, and collect, MD 336-7*/AM 462-3. 

Thursday 8 April – Thursday in the Octave of Easter, Class I riday 9 Aril – Friday in the Octave of Easter, Class I 

Saturday 10 April – White Saturday in the Octave of Easter, Class I 

Matins: Two nocturns with Invitatory antiphon and hymn of Easter Sunday; one antiphon for each Nocturn (Iesum qui crucifixus est/Venite et videte) with psalms of the day of the week; versicles, three readings and responsories of the day; chapter 2 Cor 5: 14-15 with versicle Surrexit Dominus; collect of the day. 

Lauds to None: All as for Easter Sunday including psalms, except for the Benedictus antiphon and collect, MD 338*/AM 465. 

1 Vespers of Low Sunday: Psalms of Saturday under one antiphon (Alleluia); chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Magnificat antiphon and collect, MD 339*/AM 473 ff.

Ordo 21: Holy Week

The 1962 Benedictine Office this week is of the season of Passiontide, up to and including Wednesday, and then follows the form of the Roman Office for the Triduum. Note that the day hours have proper antiphons from Monday to Wednesday.

The Office during the Triduum

The Office during the Triduum does not follow the normal form as set out in the psalter. In addition, some of the Holy Week ceremonies include parts of the Office so that those who attend them do not need to sing or say those particular hours separately. 

Matins and Lauds: The Office of Tenebrae, or Matins and Lauds, is a special feature of the Triduum. It is said in darkness, and a candle is extinguished as each of the psalms is said, and the Roman (EF) and Benedictine forms of this Office are identical. 

Outside a monastery, the custom is to perform Tenebrae the evening before the day in question (so for Maundy Thursday, on Wednesday night, etc). Note that the Diurnal does not contain the Matins psalms for Tenebrae. If Tenebrae is sung in the evening, Compline should be said beforehand. 

And if you are looking for a booklet that sets out all the texts and chants, along with translations, you can download one from here.

Prime to None: The psalms for Prime, Terce, Sext and None during the Triduum are set out on MD 279* ff. No introductory prayer or hymns are said, and the Gloria Patri is not said at the end of each psalm. Each hour closes the antiphon ‘Christus factus est’ – each day of the Triduum, an additional phrase of the antiphon is added, as set out on MD 282*. 

Vespers: Vespers (if said) is often said quite early, in order to make room for Tenebrae/the Easter Vigil. The antiphons and psalms for Vespers can be found on MD 296* ff. 

Note that there are no introductory prayers; as for the other hours, the Gloria Patri is not said at the end of each psalm; the first psalm on Holy Saturday is on MD 298*; antiphons for the Magnificat each day are on MD 303*; on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the antiphon Christus factus est is said; and on the concluding prayers for Holy Saturday, see MD 305*. 

Compline: The rubrics for Compline from Maundy Thursday to Holy Saturday are set out on MD 305* ff. Note the addition of the Nunc Dimittis.

The Ordo

Sunday 28 March – Second Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday, Class I

 Matins: Invitatory (Hodie si vocem, note that the Gloria Patri is not said, instead the antiphon is repeated in full at the end), hymn (Pange lingua) and versicles of Passiontide; Nocturn III antiphon of the Sunday with canticles of Lent (and Passiontide); readings, responsories (omitting the Gloria Patri from the last responsory of each Nocturn) and collect of Palm Sunday. 

Lauds: Antiphons, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Benedictus antiphon and collect, MD 255*/AM 399 ff. 

Prime: Antiphon of Palm Sunday, MD 258*/AM 402 (Note: The antiphons of Prime to None are not those of Lauds). 

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter, versicle and collect of Palm Sunday, MD 258*/AM 402 ff. 

Vespers: Chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle and collect of 1 Vespers, MD 252*/AM 399 ff; Magnificat antiphon, MD 260*/AM 403-4. 

Monday 29 March – Monday in Holy Week, Class I 

Matins: Ordinary of Passiontide: Invitatory (Hodie si vocem; the Gloria Patri is not said, instead the antiphon is repeated in full at the end), hymn (Pange lingua), chapter and versicles of Passiontide; three readings and responsories of the day. 

Lauds: Antiphons of Monday in Holy Week (with psalms of Monday), MD 260*/AM 404 ff; chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle of the Ordinary of Passiontide, MD 240*/AM 385 ff; Benedictus antiphon and collect of Monday in Holy Week, MD 261*/AM 406. 

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds, MD 260-1*/AM 404. 

Terce to None: Antiphons 2, 3 and 5 of Lauds respectively, MD 260-1*/AM 404-6; chapter and versicle of Passiontide (in the psalter); collect of Lauds, MD 261*/AM 406. 

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the psalter for Monday; Chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle of the Ordinary of Passiontide, MD 244*/AM 382 ff; Magnificat antiphon and collect, MD 261-2*/AM 407. 

Tuesday 30 March – Tuesday in Holy Week, Class I 

Matins: Ordinary of Passiontide; three readings and responsories of the day. 

Lauds to None: Antiphons, Benedictus antiphon and collect of Tuesday in Holy Week, MD 262*/AM 407 ff; Ordinary of Passiontide, MD 240*/AM 384 ff. 

Vespers: Ordinary of Passiontide, MD 244*/AM 382 ff; Magnificat antiphon and collect, MD 263*/AM 409. 

Wednesday 31 March – Wednesday in Holy Week, Class I 

Matins: Ordinary of Passiontide; three readings of the day. 

Lauds to None: Antiphons, Benedictus antiphon and collect of Wednesday in Holy Week, MD 263*/AM 409 ff; Ordinary of Passiontide, MD 240*/AM 384 ff. 

Vespers: Ordinary of Passiontide, MD 244*/AM 382 ff; Magnificat antiphon and collect, MD 265*/AM 411-2. 

THE SACRED TRIDUUM 1 

Thursday 1 April – Maundy Thursday, Class I 

Note: No introductory prayer or hymns are said, and the Gloria Patri is not said at the end of each psalm.

Matins and Lauds: As for the Roman Office of Tenebrae, nine psalms and readings: for Lauds, MD 265*/AM 413 ff. 

Prime to None: All as set out at MD 279*/AM 421 ff. 

Vespers: All as set out at MD 296*/AM 429 ff, Magnificat antiphon of Maundy Thursday, MD 308*/AM 434. [Note: Not said by those who attend the evening Mass.] 

Compline: All as set out at MD 305*/AM 436-7. 

Friday 2 April – Good Friday, Class I 

Note: No introductory prayer or hymns are said, and the Gloria Patri is not said at the end of each psalm. 

Matins and Lauds: As for the Roman Office of Tenebrae. 

Prime to Compline: All as for Maundy Thursday, MD 279*/AM 421 ff; Magnificat antiphon at Vespers, AM 444. 

Saturday 3 April – Holy Saturday, Class I 

 Matins and Lauds: As for the Roman Office of Tenebrae. 

Prime to Compline: All as for Maundy Thursday. [Note: Compline is not said by those who attend the Vigil.] 

START OF SEASON OF EASTER (EASTERTIDE)

 

Ordo 21: First Passion Week

This week in the 1962 Benedictine Office marks the start of the season of Passiontide, (the period up to and including Wednesday of Holy Week), and which has its own Ordinary, which can be found in the 'of time' section of your office book.

The season of Passiontide

During this period: The invitatory antiphon each day is for the season (Hodie si vocem Domini audieritis), and is said without doxology; The hymn is for the season and is the same each day (Pange lingua); The readings during the week are usually patristic sermons, relating to the Gospel of the Mass set for that day; The responsories omit the doxology, instead simply repeating the response; and The chapter verse for Nocturn II is for the season (Jer 11:18-19).  At Prime to None: The antiphons, chapters and versicles are of the season of Passiontide, and can be found in the psalter section; and The collect for Terce to None is the same as for Lauds of that day.  At Lauds and Vespers: Chapters, hymns, responsories and versicles of the season replace those in the psalter section; The responsories (but not the psalms) omit the Gloria Patri, instead repeating the opening verse; The canticle antiphons are proper for each day. They generally reflect the (EF) Gospel for the day; and There is a specific collect for both Lauds and Vespers each day. Feasts this week The main feasts this week are that of St Benedict, which is transferred to the Monday this year, and the Annunciation. The Ordo

Sunday 21 March – (First) Passion Sunday, Class I

Matins: Invitatory (Hodie si vocem, note that the Gloria Patri is not said, instead the antiphon is repeated in full at the end), hymn (Pange lingua) and versicles of Passiontide; Nocturn III antiphon of the Sunday with canticles of Lent (and Passiontide); readings, responsories (omitting the Gloria Patri from the last responsory of each Nocturn) and collect of First Passion Sunday. 

Lauds: Antiphons, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Benedictus antiphon and collect, MD 234*/AM 388 ff. 

Prime: Antiphon of the Sunday, MD 238*/AM 391 (Note: The antiphons of Prime to None are not those of Lauds). 

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter, versicle and collect, MD 238-9*/AM 391. 

Vespers: Chapter, responsory, hymn and collect of 1 Vespers, MD 232*/AM 387 ff; versicle and Magnificat antiphon, MD 239-40*/AM 393; commemoration of St Benedict, Magnificat antiphon, versicle and collect of the feast, MD [93-4]/AM 849-50. 

Monday 22 March – St Benedict, Class I (transferred) 

Matins: Three Nocturns all of the feast, LR 317. 

Lauds: Festal psalms with antiphons, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Benedictus antiphon and collect of the feast, MD [94]/AM 851 ff; commemoration of the Passiontide day, Benedictus antiphon, versicle and collect, MD 246-7*/AM 393. 

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds, MD [94]/AM 851. 

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter, versicle and collect of the feast, MD [97] ff/AM 856. 

2 Vespers: Psalms of Sunday (Ps 109 -112) with antiphons, chapter, responsory, hymn and collect of 1 Vespers, MD [91]/AM 847 ff; versicle and Magnificat antiphon of 2 Vespers, MD [99]/AM 857; commemoration of the Passiontide day, Magnificat antiphon, versicle and collect, MD 247*/AM 394. 

Tuesday 23 March – Tuesday in Passion Week, Class III 

Matins: Ordinary of Passiontide: Invitatory (Hodie si vocem; the Gloria Patri is not said; instead the antiphon is repeated in full at the end), hymn (Pange lingua), chapter and versicles of Passiontide; three readings and responsories of the day. 

Lauds: Ordinary of Passiontide: Chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle, MD 240*/AM 385 ff; Benedictus antiphon and collect of the day, MD 247-8*/AM 394. 

Prime: Antiphon of Passiontide (Libera me Domine) as noted in the psalter. 

Terce to None: Ordinary of Passiontide: Antiphon, chapter and versicle as noted in the psalter; collect of Lauds, MD 247-8*/AM 393. 

Vespers: Ordinary of Passiontide: Chapter, responsory, hymn and versicle, MD 244*/AM 382 ff; Magnificat antiphon and collect, MD 248*/AM 394-5. 

Wednesday 24 March – Wednesday in Passion Week, Class III 

Matins to None: Ordinary of Passiontide, MD 240*/AM 382 ff; canticle antiphon and collect, MD 248-9*/AM 395.

1 Vespers of the Annunciation: Psalms of the Common of the BVM (Ps 109, 112, 121 & 126); antiphon, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Magnificat antiphon and collect of the feast MD [100]/AM 858 ff with a commemoration of the Lent day, Magnificat antiphon, versicle and collect, MD 249*/AM 395-6.

Thursday 25 March – Annunciation of the BVM, Class I 

Matins: Invitatory (Ave Maria, LR 435), hymn, psalms and antiphons of the Common of the BVM; readings, responsories and collect of the feast. 

Lauds: Festal psalms with antiphons, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Benedictus antiphon and collect of the feast, MD [102]/AM 861 ff; for the commemoration of the Lent day, Benedictus antiphon, versicle and collect, MD 248-9*/AM 396. 

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds, MD [102]/AM 861. 

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter, versicle and collect of the feast, MD [104] ff/AM 865. 

2 Vespers: Antiphons, psalms, chapter, responsory, hymn and collect of the feast as for 1 Vespers, MD [100]/AM 859, versicle and Magnificat antiphon of 2 Vespers, MD [106]/AM 866; for the commemoration of the Lent day, Magnificat antiphon, versicle and collect, MD 249*/AM 396-7.

Friday 26 March – Friday in Passion Week, Class III 

 Saturday 27 March – Saturday in Passion Week, Class III; St John Damascene, Memorial

 Matins to None: Ordinary of Passiontide, MD 240*/AM 382 ff; canticle antiphons and collects, MD 252*/AM 398; for the commemoration, MD [106-7]/AM 866.

 HOLY WEEK

 1 Vespers of Palm Sunday: Antiphons and psalms of Saturday; chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Magnificat antiphon and collect, MD 252* ff/AM 399.

Ordo 21: Fourth week of Lent

 This week is the fourth and last of lent proper, before we move into the season of Passiontide.

It features the first of a series of Class I days that provide a break from the obligation to penance during the season, with the feast of St Joseph (and in some places, St Patrick). 

Sunday 14 March – Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday), Class I

Matins: Invitatory (Non sit vobis), hymn (Ex more, LH 52-3), versicles and canticles of Lent Sundays; Nocturn III antiphon, readings, responsories and collect of the Fourth Sunday of Lent. 

Lauds to Vespers: Antiphons and other proper texts, MD 223*/AM 371 ff. 

Monday 15 March – Monday in the fourth week of Lent, Class III 

Ordinary of Lent with readings, canticle antiphons and collects of the day, MD 227-8*/AM 376. 

Tuesday March 16 – Tuesday in the fourth week of Lent, Class III 

In some places: 1 Vespers of St Patrick with a commemoration of the Lent day, MD 22**. 

Wednesday 17 March – Wednesday in the fourth week of Lent, Class III [**In Australia and NZ; Ireland and many US dioceses, St Patrick, Class I] 

Ordinary of Lent; canticle antiphons and collects, MD 229-30*/AM 378-9.

Thursday 18 March – Thursday in the fourth week of Lent, Class III; St Cyril, Memorial

 Matins to None: Ordinary of Lent; canticle antiphons and collects, MD 230*/AM 379-80; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [83]/AM 835. 

1 Vespers of St Joseph: Sunday Psalms (Ps 109-112) with antiphons, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Magnificat antiphon and collect of the feast, MD [84]/AM 836 ff; commemoration of the Lent day, versicle, antiphon and collect, MD 230*/AM 380. 

Friday 19 March – St Joseph, Class I

 Matins: Three nocturns all of the feast, LR 301. 

Lauds: Festal psalms with antiphons, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Benedictus antiphon and collect of the feast, MD [87]/AM 841 ff, with a commemoration of the Lent day, Benedictus antiphon, versicle and collect, MD 230-1*&192*/AM 380-1. 

Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds, MD [87]/AM 841. 

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter, versicle and collect, MD [89] ff/AM 845. 

Vespers: Antiphons of Lauds (omitting the fourth) with Sunday psalms; chapter, responsory, hymn and collect as for 1 Vespers of the feast, MD [84]/AM 836 ff; versicle and Magnificat antiphon, MD [91]/AM 846; commemoration of the Lent day, Magnificat antiphon, versicle and collect, MD 231*&195*/AM 380-1. 

Saturday 20 March – Saturday in the fourth week of Lent, Class III 

Matins to None: Ordinary of Lent; Benedictus antiphon and collects, MD 231-2*/AM 381.

 PASSIONTIDE 

1 Vespers of First Passion Sunday: Antiphons and psalms of Saturday; chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Magnificat antiphon and collect, MD 232*/AM 387 ff.

Ordo 21: Third week of Lent

 This week is the third of Lent in the 1962 Benedictine calendar.

The key feasts this week from a Benedictine perspective are of St Frances of Rome, a widow who founded a monastery of oblates, and St Gregory the Great, the author of one of the founding planks of the charism, the Life of St Benedict (Dialogues Book II). 

Sunday 7 March – Third Sunday of Lent, Class I

Matins: Invitatory (Non sit vobis), hymn (Ex more, LH 52-3), versicles and canticles of Lent Sundays; Nocturn III antiphon, readings, responsories and collect of the Third Sunday of Lent.

 Lauds: Antiphons, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Benedictus antiphon and collect, MD 212*/AM 361 ff.

 Prime: Antiphon of the Sunday, MD 215*/AM 363.

 Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter, versicle and collect, MD 215*/AM 363 ff.

 2 Vespers of Sunday: Chapter, responsory, hymn and collect of 1 Vespers, MD 210*/AM 360 ff; versicle and Magnificat antiphon of 2 Vespers, MD 216*/AM 365. 

Monday 8 March – Monday in the third week of Lent, Class III 

 Ordinary of Lent with readings, canticle antiphons and collects of the Lent day, MD 217*/AM 366.

Tuesday 9 March – Tuesday in the third week of Lent, Class III; St Frances of Rome, Memorial/Optional Class III 

To celebrate as Class III: At Matins, Lauds and Vespers, psalms and antiphons of the feria, one reading of the feast at Matins, with rest from Common of a  Holy Woman (invitatory antiphon, hymn, responsory and chapter at Matins); one reading collect of the feast.

As a memorial: Ordinary of Lent; canticle antiphons and collects, MD 217-8*/AM 366-7; for the commemoration at Lauds, MD [75-6]/AM 830.

 Wednesday 10 March – Wednesday in the third week of Lent, Class III; The Forty Martyrs, Memorial

 For the commemoration at Lauds, MD [76]/AM 830. 

Thursday 11 March – Thursday in the third week of Lent, Class III 

Friday 12 March – St Gregory the Great OSB, Class II

 Note: There are two options for this Office: Scheme 1 uses the Common of a confessor pope with some texts specific to the feast; Scheme 2 uses the Common of a doctor. The notes below are based on Scheme 1.

Matins: Three Nocturns: Invitatory, antiphons and psalms of a confessor pope; hymn (LR 434), readings, responsories and collect of the feast.

Lauds: Festal psalms with antiphons, chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Benedictus antiphon and collect of the feast, MD [77]/AM 832 ff; for the commemoration of the Lent day, Benedictus antiphon, versicle and collect, MD 220*&192*/AM 369-70.

 Prime: Antiphon 1 of Lauds, MD [77]/AM 832. 

Terce to None: Antiphon, chapter, versicle and collect of the feast, MD [79]/AM 834 ff. 

Vespers: Antiphons of Lauds (omitting the fourth); psalms of 2 Vespers of the Common of a confessor bishop (Ps 109, 111, 112, 131), MD (68) ff; chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Magnificat antiphon and collect of the feast, MD [81] ff/AM 835; for the commemoration of the Lent day, Magnificat antiphon, versicle and collect, MD 220*&195*/AM 370. 

Saturday 13 March – Saturday in the third week of Lent, Class III 

Matins to None: Ordinary of Lent; canticle antiphons and collects, MD 220-1*/AM 370-1. 

1 Vespers of the Fourth Sunday of Lent: Chapter, responsory, hymn, versicle, Magnificat antiphon and collect, MD 221*/AM 371 ff.