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| Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337), Cappella Scrovegni a Padova, Judas Receiving Payment for his Betrayal |
The Gospel today is the Passion according to St Luke, 22:39-71; 23:1-53.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
April 20: Wednesday in Holy Week, Class I
The Gospel today is the Passion according to St Luke, 22:39-71; 23:1-53.
Monday, April 18, 2011
April 19: Tuesday in Holy Week, Class I
The Gospel today is Mark 14:32-72; 15:1-46 – The Passion according to St Mark.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
April 18: Monday in Holy Week
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| Heures d'Étienne Chevalier by Jean Fouquet 1452-1460 |
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Laz'arus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Laz'arus was one of those at table with him.
Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Laz'arus, whom he had raised from the dead."
Saturday, April 16, 2011
April 17: Palm Sunday in Holy Week, Class I
The Gospel today is the Passion according to St Matthew.
The Gospel today is the Passion according to St Matthew.
The Office in Holy Week
The Office in Holy Week, or more particularly the Triduum, is quite different in form to the rest of the year, so it is important to pay close attention to the rubrics as set out in your Diurnal or Breviary, and follow the Ordo closely.
This post provides something of an overview, but should be read in conjunction with the Ordo.
Psalm Sunday to Holy Week Wednesday
The first days of Holy Week are all first class days:
From Holy Thursday, follow the Office as set out in the Diurnal, ignoring the psalter section of the book. There are a number of special features of the Triduum that are worth taking note of.
It is worth noting that the Benedictine Office is, for all purposes and intents, identical to the traditional Roman Office during this period. So if you have the opportunity to attend Tenebrae or other Offices sung publicly, take them! You may also wish to listen to the monks of Norcia, who broadcast many of these Offices each year.
The other key point to note is that some of the Holy Week ceremonies include parts of the Office - so those who attend them do not need to sing or say those particular hours separately (see the Ordo).
Tenebrae (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.
The 1962 rubrics specify that Tenebrae not be anticipated, or said the night before. As this generally makes public recitation of the Office impractical outside a monastery, it is generally ignored. Thus the normal practice is to perform Tenebrae for Maundy Thursday on Wednesday night, and so forth. Note that the Diurnal does not contain the Matins psalms for Tenebrae, so you will need to obtain these from elsewhere should you wish to say it in full.
Prime to None from Maundy Thursday to None on Holy Saturday
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:
The rubrics for Compline from Maundy Thursday to Holy Saturday are set out on MD 305*ff. Note the addition of the Nunc Dimittis.
This post provides something of an overview, but should be read in conjunction with the Ordo.
Psalm Sunday to Holy Week Wednesday
The first days of Holy Week are all first class days:
- For those who say it, Matins each day has two nocturns/three readings, with the invitatory antiphon and hymn of passiontide;
- Lauds to None have proper antiphons for each day, with other texts from the ordinary of passiontide;
- Vespers uses the antiphons from the psalter, with a proper canticle and collect each for the Magnificat.
From Holy Thursday, follow the Office as set out in the Diurnal, ignoring the psalter section of the book. There are a number of special features of the Triduum that are worth taking note of.
It is worth noting that the Benedictine Office is, for all purposes and intents, identical to the traditional Roman Office during this period. So if you have the opportunity to attend Tenebrae or other Offices sung publicly, take them! You may also wish to listen to the monks of Norcia, who broadcast many of these Offices each year.
The other key point to note is that some of the Holy Week ceremonies include parts of the Office - so those who attend them do not need to sing or say those particular hours separately (see the Ordo).
Tenebrae (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.
The 1962 rubrics specify that Tenebrae not be anticipated, or said the night before. As this generally makes public recitation of the Office impractical outside a monastery, it is generally ignored. Thus the normal practice is to perform Tenebrae for Maundy Thursday on Wednesday night, and so forth. Note that the Diurnal does not contain the Matins psalms for Tenebrae, so you will need to obtain these from elsewhere should you wish to say it in full.
Prime to None from Maundy Thursday to None on Holy Saturday
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;
- On the concluding prayers for Holy Saturday, see MD 305*.
The rubrics for Compline from Maundy Thursday to Holy Saturday are set out on MD 305*ff. Note the addition of the Nunc Dimittis.
Friday, April 15, 2011
April 16: Saturday in Passion Week
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| Giotto, 1266-1337 |
Today's Gospel is John 12: 10-36, the entry into Jerusalem:
"So the chief priests planned to put Laz'arus also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"
And Jesus found a young ass and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on an ass's colt!"
His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him.
The crowd that had been with him when he called Laz'arus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness.The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.
The Pharisees then said to one another, "You see that you can do nothing; look, the world has gone after him."
Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks.
So these came to Philip, who was from Beth-sa'ida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.
"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? `Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify thy name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."
The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."
Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.
Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
He said this to show by what death he was to die.
The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?"
Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."
When Jesus had said this, he departed and hid himself from them."
Thursday, April 14, 2011
April 15: Friday in Passion Week
_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpg) |
| James Tissot, 1836-1902 |
"So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council, and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.
If we let him go on thus, every one will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation."
But one of them, Ca'iaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all; you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."
He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they took counsel how to put him to death.
Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but went from there to the country near the wilderness, to a town called E'phraim; and there he stayed with the disciples."
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