Friday, March 7, 2025 - Friday after Ash Wednesday (First Friday)

III class, Violet

Commemoration of St. Thomas Aquinas, Confessor and Doctor of the Church

General info: The First Friday votive Masses may be said: “two Masses of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, on the first Friday of each month, in churches and oratories in which special devotions are held on that day in honor of the Sacred Heart” (Rubricæ generales, 385b)

Mass:

Sacred Heart votive: (White) Mass of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Gloria, Gradual and Tract, commemoration of the feria and of St. Thomas Aquinas, no Credo, proper preface

OR

Mass of Friday after Ash Wednesday; no Gloria; commemoration added; no Credo; Preface for Lent; Prayer over the people

Breviary:

Matins: Invitatorium and Hymn per annum as given in the psalter; 3 lessons proper (homilia in Evangelium diei); no Te Deum

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the feria of the 2nd scheme; remainder per annum as given in the psalter, except proper antiphon at Benedictus and proper oration; commemoration added; preces are said

Hours: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder per annum as given in the psalter

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder per annum as given in the psalter, except proper antiphon at Magnificat and proper oration; preces are said

Compline: Of the feria

Thursday, March 6, 2025 - Thursday after Ash Wednesday (First Thursday)

III class, Violet

Commemoration of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs

General info: The First Thursday votive Mass may be said: “one Mass of our Lord Jesus Christ, eternal High Priest, on the first Thursday or the first Saturday of each monthin churches and oratories in which special devotions are held on that day for the sanctification of the clergy” (Rubricæ generales, 385a)

Mass:

First Thursday votive: (White) Mass of our Lord Jesus Christ, eternal High Priest, Gloria, commemoration of the feria and of the saints, Gradual and Tract, no Credo, common Preface

OR

Mass of Thursday after Ash Wednesday; no Gloria; commemoration added; no Credo; Preface for Lent; Prayer over the people

Breviary:

Matins: Invitatorium and Hymn per annum as given in the psalter; 3 lessons proper (homilia in Evangelium diei); no Te Deum

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the feria of the 2nd scheme; remainder per annum as given in the psalter, except proper antiphon at Benedictus and proper oration; commemoration added

Hours: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder per annum as given in the psalter

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder per annum as given in the psalter, except proper antiphon at Magnificat and proper oration

Compline: Of the feria

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 - Ash Wednesday

I class, Violet

Fast and Abstinence de iure

General info: The ashes are blessed and imposed before Mass. If the main Mass with the blessing of the ashes takes place late in the morning, the ashes may be blessed without chant early in the morning so that they may be imposed on the faithful at the earlier Masses. If there is a well-attended Mass in the evening, the blessing of the ashes may be done also at that Mass for the benefit of the faithful, although it is not necessary that the blessing be repeated.

Mass:

The Blessing and Imposition of Ashes:

– The ashes are placed on the Epistle side of the altar. The celebrant, wearing violet stole and cope, ascends the altar, kisses it, then stands at the Epistle side facing the altar for the blessing. He reads or sings the antiphon Exaudi nos, then Dominus vobiscum (facing the altar and with hands joined). The four prayers of the blessing of ashes, as given in the Missal, are each closed with the short conclusions. The celebrant sings or says them with joined hands (even at Oremus, although he bows to the cross). He imposes incense there at the Epistle corner, sprinkles the ashes thrice (center, left, and right) while saying in a subdued voice the entire Asperges antiphon but without its psalm. When the celebrant makes the sign of the cross over the ashes during the blessings and when he sprinkles them, the deacon or server should hold back the right side of the cope. The celebrant then incenses the ashes with three simple swings (center, left, right), saying nothing.

– For the distribution of the ashes, the antiphon Immutemur and the responsory Emundemus are sung by the choir, or in a Low Mass the priest will read them. Then he will receive the ashes from another priest, or in the absence of another priest he will impose them upon himself on the crown of the head, facing the altar and bowing, saying nothing (ashes are received by clerics not on the forehead but on the place of the tonsure). He will impose ashes on ministers and the servers, who kneel at the footpace, and afterwards he will impose them upon the faithful, who kneel at the altar rail; he takes the customary route used for distributing Holy Communion.

– The formula is Meménto, homo, quia pulvis es, et in púlverem revertéris.

– After the distribution, he washes his hands at the Epistle side in plano (employing the acolytes with ewer and basin, who should also have some soap), then ascends the altar to chant the remaining prayer, after which he descends to the sedilia to change into the chasuble.

– A sacristan or server should be assigned to wipe off the altar rail after the distribution, as some ashes will have fallen there and may soil the rail.

– The rubrics say that in the Mass following the solemn blessing of the ashes, the prayers at the foot of the altar are omitted and that the celebrant ascends the altar directly, kisses it, and begins the Introit. The rest of the Mass follows as usual.

The Mass: Proper Mass, no Gloria, no Credo, preface of Lent, oratio super populum after Postcommunion

Breviary: Until the I Sunday of Lent, the Office continues as per annum.

Matins: Invitatorium, Hymn, antiphons and psalms per annum as given in the psalter; at last three psalms use 2nd scheme; 3 lessons proper (homilia in Evangelium diei), no Te Deum

Lauds: Wednesday antiphons and psalms of the 2nd place; remainder per annum as given in the psalter except proper antiphon at Benedictus Cum ieiunatis and proper oration; preces are said.

Hours: Wednesday antiphons and psalms; remainder per annum as given in the psalter

Vespers: Wednesday antiphons and psalms; remainder per annum as given in the psalter except proper antiphon at Magnificat Thesaurizate vobis and proper oration; preces are said.

Compline: Of Wednesday

Reminder: – Ashes which were blessed on Ash Wednesday may be imposed on the faithful on Sunday either before or after Mass for the benefit of those who were unable to to come to the Ash Wednesday Mass, which is not of obligation. For this, the priest wears surplice and violet stole. During this period of time, the ashes may also be taken by a priest to the sick and imposed upon them, such as in the context of his scheduled sick calls.

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - St. Casimir

Confessor

III class, White

Commemoration of St. Lucius I, Pope and Martyr

Mass: Mass of the feast, Gloria, commemoration added, no Credo, common preface

Breviary: Ordinary Office of the feast

Matins: Invitatorium and Hymn from the Common; psalms and antiphons of the feria; first two lessons of the occurring Scripture (second and third joined); lesson 3 of the feast; Te Deum

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the feria (first schema), remainder from the Common; oration proper; commemoration added

Hours: Antiphons and psalms of the feria, remainder from the Common; oration proper

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the feria, remainder from the Common; oration proper

Compline: Of the feria

Monday, March 3, 2025 - Feria

IV class, Violet

Mass: Mass of preceding Sunday (Violet), no Gloria, omit Tract, no Credo, common preface

Breviary:

Matins: Invitatorium and Hymn per annum as given in the psalter; lessons from occurring scripture, no Te Deum

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the feria (second schema); remainder per annum as given in the psalter; oration of the preceding Sunday

Hours: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder per annum as given in the psalter; oration of the preceding Sunday

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder per annum as given in the psalter; oration of the preceding Sunday

Compline: Of the feria

Sunday, March 2, 2025 - Quinquagesima Sunday

II class, Violet

Mass: Mass of Quinquagesima Sunday; Gloria is omitted; Credo; preface of the Holy Trinity

Breviary: Office of Sunday per annum

Matins: Invitatorium Praeoccupemus; Hymn Primo die; 9 antiphons and 9 psalms of Sunday; 3 lessons of feast; no Te Deum

Lauds: Proper antiphons, with Sunday psalms of the 2nd scheme; remainder proper

Prime: Psalm 53 replaces psalm 117; short lesson Dominus autem

Hours: Sunday psalms with antiphons from Lauds

II Vespers: Psalms of Sunday; remainder proper

Compline: Of Sunday

Reminder: Lent begins later this week on Ash Wednesday. Review the Lenten liturgical regulations by clicking on the Season icon at the bottom of the page and opening the Season of Lent heading. Announce the Ash Wednesday Mass schedule. Announce the Lenten fasting regulations, with particular emphasis on Ash Wednesday as a day of fast and abstinence.

Saturday, March 1, 2025 - B. V. M. on Saturday (First Saturday)

IV class, White

General info: The First Saturday votive Mass may be said: “one Mass of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the first Saturday of each month, in churches and oratories in which special devotions are held on that day in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” (Rubricæ generales, 385c)

Mass: Mass of the B.V.M. on Saturday: Salve sancta parens (White), Gloria, Gradual and Tract, no Credo, preface of the B.V.M. with Et te in veneratione

OR

First Saturday votive: (White) Mass of August 22, Gloria, Gradual and Tract, no Credo, preface of the BVM with Et te in veneratione

Breviary:

Matins: Invitatorium and Hymn from BVM on Saturday; first two lessons from occurring scripture; third lesson of BVM on Saturday, Te Deum

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the feria (first schema); remainder of BVM on Saturday; commemoration added

Hours: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder of BVM on Saturday; in Prime responsory Qui natus es

I Vespers: Of the following Sunday; antiphons and psalms of Saturday; remainder per annum as given in the psalter; proper Magnificat antiphon and oration

Compline: Of Saturday

Friday, February 28, 2025 - Feria

IV class, Violet

Mass: Mass of preceding Sunday (Violet), no Gloria, omit Tract, no Credo, common preface

Breviary:

Matins: Invitatorium and Hymn per annum as given in the psalter; lessons from occurring scripture, no Te Deum

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the feria (second schema); remainder per annum as given in the psalter; oration of the preceding Sunday

Hours: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder per annum as given in the psalter; oration of the preceding Sunday

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder per annum as given in the psalter; oration of the preceding Sunday

Compline: Of the feria

Thursday, February 27, 2025 - St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

Confessor

III class, White

Mass: Mass of the feast, Gloria, Gradual and Tract, no Credo, common preface

Breviary: Ordinary Office of the feast

Matins: Invitatorium and Hymn from the Common; psalms and antiphons of the feria; first two lessons of the occurring Scripture (second and third joined); lesson 3 of the feast; Te Deum

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the feria (first schema), remainder from the Common; oration proper

Hours: Antiphons and psalms of the feria, remainder from the Common; oration proper

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the feria, remainder from the Common; oration proper

Compline: Of the feria

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - Feria

IV class, Violet

Mass: Mass of preceding Sunday (Violet), no Gloria, omit Tract, no Credo, common preface

Breviary:

Matins: Invitatorium and Hymn per annum as given in the psalter; lessons from occurring scripture, no Te Deum

Lauds: Antiphons and psalms of the feria (second schema); remainder per annum as given in the psalter; oration of the preceding Sunday

Hours: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder per annum as given in the psalter; oration of the preceding Sunday

Vespers: Antiphons and psalms of the feria; remainder per annum as given in the psalter; oration of the preceding Sunday

Compline: Of the feria