14 xiv 19 xiij xj X 20 21 23 ix Vigils. Thomas, Apostle, double 2 cl. 24 Vigils. 25 26 27 e V 29 [1 cl. Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, double Stephen, Proto-Martyr, d. 2 cl. Com. Oct. John, the Apostle and Evangelist, double 2 cl. with Comm. of Oct. S. S. Innocents, double 2 cl. Comm. Oct. The Office of the Sunday within the Oc- This Epact 19 never is in use, unless, when, in the same year, it concurs with the Golden number xix. See Chapter I., page 19, for an analysis of the feasts of the calendar. In this calendar is provided a saint suitable to every craft and profession, and to every variety of human character and taste, presenting in the circle of saints an exact counterpart to the Polytheism of Pagan Greece and Rome, which poets embellished in classical literature, and in which it was difficult for a god-fancier not to be suited to his mind. The Polytheism of Rome ecclesiastical could not miss, indeed, being purer and more elevated in its morals and examples of virtue than the gods of Greece; yet many of its saints are a strange corruption of the gospel. GENERAL RUBRICS OF THE MISSAL. THE mass is said daily, according to the order of the office,-double festival, or semi-double, or single, Sunday or holiday, or vigil, or octave, and not included in the order of the office, votive or for the dead. I.-Of Double Festivals. * Mass is said double on those days at which this mark is put in the calendar, double; and on moveable feasts, when the office is double. In double festivals only one prayer is said, unless some com 1 The word rubric is derived from the red letter generally used to distinguish it from the prayers, and consists of the numerous directions, both in the preface and throughout the Missal, given for the ordering of the service in all its parts. The Roman doctors maintain that the rubrics are not simple instructions or advices, which the priest is at liberty to take or leave at his pleasure, but "laws, which oblige, under pain of mortal sin." By way, however, of softening this formidable declaration, a convenient distinction is made into-1. Essentials, without which there can be no sacrifice; 2 "Integrals," or things pertaining to the integrity of the mass, but yet not essential to constitute it a sacrifice; and, 3. Accidentals, or things pertaining to the solemnity or adornment of the mass, as crossing, kneeling, &c. &c.-Cérémonial Romain, translated from the Italian of Jos. Baldeschi, Master of the Ceremonies at St Peter's, Rome, by Abbé Favrel, Master of the Ceremonies at the Cathedral of Longres, Dijon, 1847, p. 67. 2 Double, semi double, and single, are words, says the Roman Catholic Directory for Scotland 1851, which shew the different degrees of solemnity with which the offices are to be performed. The order of the festivals is-double of the first class, double of the second class, great double, double, semi-double, and single. A festival is called a double, when an entire anthem in the office is recited or sung before and after each psalm; semi-double, when only a word or two of the anthem are sung before the psalm, and the entire anthem after it, as is the case on Sundays. A single has only three lessons at matins. A feria is any day of the week for which no saint's office is appointed. The principal solemnities of the year are called doubles of the first class. Octave. Some of the greater solemnities have an octave; which, including the day of the feast, is a succession of eight days, on which the office and mass of the feast are said. But in some cases, when another festival occurs within the octave, the office and mass of that festival are said instead of those of the octave, with a commemoration of the octave. II. Of Semi-double and Simple. Mass is said semi-double when this word, semi-double, is put in the calendar; also on Sundays, and in days within the octaves. In semi-double feasts, as on Sundays and within octaves, more prayers are said, as is stated in the rubrics of the prayers. Within the octave mass is said, as on a feast-day, unless it shall have its own mass. On Sundays, as is set down in its own place. The mass is said simple, as well as semi-double, as is set down in their place. III.-Of Holidays and Vigils.1 1. Mass is said on a holiday, when a feast does not occur, or octave, or Sabbath, in which the office of the Blessed Virgin happens. In the holidays, however, of Quadragesima, Four Seasons, Rogation, and Vigils, also if a double or semi-double feast or octave occur, in cathedral and collegiate churches two masses are sung, one at the feast after Terce, and another at the holiday after the None. 2. But in the vigils and holidays of the Four Seasons, or second holiday of Rogation, which come within the octave, mass is said at vigil, or holidays above mentioned, with commemoration of octave; besides, within the octave of Corpus Christi, in which, in cathedral and collegiate churches, two masses are sung,one at the octave after Terce, another on the vigil after None; but in private masses, the mass of the octave is said with commemoration of the vigils. If, on the day of vigil or foresaid holidays, the office of some feast fall, then the mass of the feast is said with commemoration of the octave and vigil, or foresaid holidays. But if the vigil on the day of any feast of major of the first class, in the mass commemoration is not made of it, nor in the office. 3. If a feast having vigils is celebrated on the second holiday, the mass of the vigil is said on the Sabbath, as also the office of it,the vigils excepted of the Nativity of our Lord, and Epiphany. 4. The mass of the vigils occurring in 1 Holiday. A day set apart for the commemoration of some saint, or some incident in the life of Christ or his apostles,-so numerous in the Roman Church as seriously to interfere with the continuous industry of mankind, to impoverish the people, and destroy all regular habits. If our manufacturing interests have pressed too hard upon human industry, and exacted more than was righteous, Rome, in Spain, has illustrated the opposite extreme, and enervated the population. Of this Rome has shewn some consciousness, by her distinction between strict holidays and less strict, and by dispensations. It is a remarkable contrast to holiday-loving Rome, to find not one word about such days in the New Testament,-nay, such days spoken slightingly of in the only passage alluding to them, Gal. iv. 9-11. It is not less remarkable, as a matter of fact, that just as in Romish countries the worship of so many saints eclipses the worship of Christ, the King of saints, so the holidays of the Church almost extinguish the Christian Sabbath, wherever they are observed. Yet the Christian Sabbath is the one holiday of the Old and New Testament, the same in its essence from the beginning, which is one day after every six, given to a holy rest and works of piety and mercy, --the New Testament only changing the particular day on which it falls, and adding a new sanction to an old institution. Vigil literally means the same as wakes, from being observed during the usual hours of sleep. Advent is said with commemoration of the holiday of Advent, although the office is not used, the Vigils of the Nativity excepted. 5. If in Quadragesima and the Four Seasons Vigils occur, mass is said on the the holiday with commemoration of Vigils. 6. At Paschal time, mass is not said at Vigils, unless on Vigils of Ascension; which, however, is not a fast, nor is the Vigils of Epiphany. IV. Of Votive Masses to Holy Mary and others. 1 1. On Sabbaths, not hindered by double, semi-double, octave, vigils, feria of Quadragesima or of Four Seasons, or office of any Sunday which may remain, being transferred to the preceding Sabbath, the mass of St Mary is said according to the variety of the Season, as is set down at the end of the Missal. 2. But in Advent, although the office of St Mary does not fall on a Sabbath, yet the principal mass is said on it, with commemoration of Advent, unless the Four Seasons or Vigils should be as above. 3. On other days within the week, when the office of a holiday occurs, and the mass of the preceding Sunday is not to be resumed, being hindered, (the holidays of Advent, Quadragesima, Four Seasons, Rogation, and Vigils excepted,) some of the votive masses may be said, also in the principal mass, which is called conventual, according to the order of the days assigned at the end of the Missal, with commemoration of holiday for which the office was made. Which masses, however, and all other votives, may be said in private masses, at the discretion of the priest, on whatever day the office is not double or on a Sunday, with commemoration of that for which the office was made, and commemoration, also, of the simple feast. If it happen of any one on that day, that commemoration is made in the office. That, indeed, does not happen everywhere, nor without reasonable cause; and, as far as it can be done, the mass should agree with the office. V.-Of Masses for the Dead. 1. On the first day of each month, excluding Advent, Quadragesima, and Paschal time, a double and semi-double office not hindering, the principal mass is generally said for departed priests, benefactors, and others. If, indeed, the feast should be a simple or a holiday, which has its own mass, or the mass of the preceding Sunday should be resumed, having been hindered, and another day does not occur within the week on which it may be resumed, in cathedral and collegiate churches two masses are said,-one for the dead, another for the simple feast or foresaid holiday. But in churches not cathedral nor collegiate, the mass of the day is said with commemoration generally of the dead. 2. Also, on the second feria of each week in which the office of the feria falls, the principal mass may be said for the dead. But if the proper mass shall be that of a holiday or simple feast, or the mass of the preceding Sunday to be resumed as above, in the mass of the day commemoration is made for the dead, as has been mentioned. How 1 Votive Masses.-Masses offered at the instance of parties that have made a vow to offer one or more masses to a particular saint, often to the favourite or patron saint, on being successful or fortunate in some enterprize, or delivered from some impending danger. 2 Masses for the Dead.-It is the number of these that require so great a number of priests as are found in purely Romish countries,- -so numerous in Naples, that a late traveller tells us, every year the Pope makes a solemn declaration that so many are said that are left unsaid, and by this infallible declaration relieves the consciences of the overburdened priests. See Seymour's Pilg. to Rome, 1849. |