General Rubrics

The general rubrics which follow apply to the Office and the Mass. Exceptions may be made, however, by specific rubrics which occur at certain places in the Office or Mass texts which have been edited according to these rubrics.

 The Liturgical Day  Precedence of Days
 Sundays  Occurrence of Days
 Ferias  Concurrence of Days
 Vigils  Conclusion of Collects
 Feasts  Liturgical Colors
 Octaves  Liturgical Vestments
 Commemorations  The Altar and its Ornaments
 Liturgical Seasons  

The Liturgical Day

The liturgical day begins with Matins and ends after Compline. Feasts of the first class, because they are celebrated more solemnly, begin with First Vespers on the preceding day.

While most feasts are given the full celebration of an Office or Mass, others are only commemorated in the Office and Mass of the current day.

Each day the celebration is of a Sunday, of a Feast, of a Feria, of a Vigil, or of an Octave; according to the calendar and the precedence of liturgical days.

The precedence among the different liturgical days is determined solely according to established rules.

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Sundays

Sunday is the Lord's Day, the first day of the week. Sundays are either Privileged, Semi-privileged, or Non-privileged.

Privileged Sundays exclude the celebration of any festival whatsoever, nor may an occurring festival be commemorated.

Privileged Sundays are these:

  1. The First Sunday of Advent;
  2. The Four Sundays in Lent;
  3. The Sunday of the Passion;
  4. Palm Sunday;
  5. Easter Sunday;
  6. Low Sunday;
  7. Pentecost Sunday; and,
  8. Trinity Sunday.

Semi-privileged Sundays yield only to feasts of the first class. If they are impeded, they are not to be commemorated.

Semi-privileged Sundays are these:

  1. The three Sundays remaining of Advent;
  2. Septuagesima Sunday;
  3. Sexagesima Sunday; and,
  4. Quinquagesima Sunday.

Non-privileged Sundays yield to feasts of the second class, but are preferred to feasts of the third class. If they are impeded, they are to be commemorated.

Non-privileged Sundays are all remaining Sundays of the year.

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Ferias

Ferias are all days of the week other than Sunday. Ferias may be of the first, second, third, or fourth class.

Ferias of the first class are:

  1. Ash Wednesday; and,
  2. all ferias of Holy Week.

These days are preferred to any feast whatsoever, and admit no commemoration.

Ferias of the second class are:

  1. the ferias of Advent from December 17 to 23; and,
  2. the Ember Days of Advent, Lent, and September.

These ferias yield to universal feasts of the second class, but are preferred to particular feasts of the second class. If impeded, they are to be commemorated.

Ferias of the third class are;

  1. ferias of Lent and Passiontide, other than those mentioned above, which are preferred to feasts of the third class; and,
  2. ferias of Advent to December 16, inclusive, which yield to feasts of the third class.

If these ferias are impeded, they are to be commemorated.

Ferias of the fourth class are all ferias not mentioned above. If they are impeded, they are not commemorated.

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Vigils

A Vigil is a liturgical day which precedes a feast, and which is observed in preparation for the feast. Vigils are of the first, second, or third class.

Vigils of the first class are;

  1. the Vigil of Christmas, which, if it occurs on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, takes the place of that Sunday; and,
  2. the Vigil of Pentecost.

These vigils are preferred to any feast whatsoever, and they admit no commemoration.

Vigils of the second class are:

  1. the Vigil of the Ascension;
  2. the Vigil of St. Mary the Virgin (August 14);
  3. the Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 23); and,
  4. the Vigil of Ss. Peter and Paul, Apostles (June 28);

These vigils yield to feasts of the second class. If impeded, they are to be commemorated.

Vigils of the third class are:

  1. vigils of Apostle's days; and,
  2. the vigil of St. Lawrence, Martyr (August 9).

These vigils yield to feasts of the third class. If impeded, they are to be commemorated.

A vigil of the second or third class is omitted altogether if it occurs on any Sunday, or on a feast of the first class; or if the feast to which it is prefixed is transferred or reduced to a commemoration.

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Feasts

Feasts are those liturgical days on which the Church's public worship celebrates, in a particular way, the mysteries of our Lord, or the lives of the Saints. Feasts are of the first, second, or third class.

The Office of a first class feast begins with First Vespers on the preceding day. A second class feast of our Lord acquires a First Vespers when it takes the place of an occurring Sunday.

Feasts are either universal or particular. Universal feasts are those which are celebrated by the entire Church. Particular feasts are those which are celebrated only in a particular nation, region, or congregation.

Universal feasts of the first class are:

  1. the Nativity of our Lord;
  2. the Epiphany of our Lord;
  3. the Resurrection of our Lord;
  4. the Ascension of our Lord;
  5. the Feast of Pentecost;
  6. the Feast of the Holy Trinity;
  7. the Body and Blood of our Lord;
  8. the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin;
  9. the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin (the Dormition);
  10. St. Michael and All Angles;
  11. the Nativity of St. John the Baptist;
  12. the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul, Apostles;
  13. the Feast of All Saints; and,
  14. the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed (All Souls).

Particular feasts of the first class are:

  1. the anniversary of the dedication of a church; and,
  2. the titular feast of a church.

Universal feasts of the second class are:

  1. the Circumcision of our Lord;
  2. the Baptism of our Lord;
  3. the Transfiguration of our Lord;
  4. the Exultation of the Holy Cross;
  5. the Presentation of our Lord and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin;
  6. the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin;
  7. the Feasts of Apostles and Evangelists;
  8. the Feast of St. Stephen, Protomartyr;
  9. the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist;
  10. the Feast of the Holy Innocents;
  11. the Feast of St. Lawrence, Martyr; and,
  12. the Conversion of St. Paul.

Feasts of the third class are all other feasts, whether in the universal or particular calendars.

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Octaves

The celebration of certain feasts may be continued for eight days (an octave). Octaves are of three types:

  1. Privileged Octave: All days within the octave are of the first class, and are preferred to any feast whatsoever. The octaves of Easter and Pentecost are privileged octaves.
  2. Common Octave: All days within the octave are of the second class, but yield to feasts of the second class. If impeded, they are commemorated.
  3. Simple Octave: Only the octave day itself is celebrated. If impeded, it is to be commemorated.

The octave days of all feasts are celebrated with the same rank at the feast itself.

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Commemorations

Commemorations are either privileged or ordinary.

Privileged commemorations are:

  1. of a Sunday;
  2. of a feast of the first class;
  3. of days within the Octave of Christmas;
  4. of the Ember Days in September; and,
  5. of the ferias of Advent, Lent, and Passiontide.

All other commemorations are ordinary.

In an Office or Mass of St. Peter, there is always a commemoration of St. Paul. In an Office or Mass of St. Paul, there is always a commemoration of St. Peter. These commemorations are said to be inseparable. The collect of the other is added to the collect of the day under a single conclusion.

At Lauds and Vespers, a commemoration is made by adding the Versicle (at Lauds) or the Magnificat antiphon (at Vespers), and the collect proper to the feast being commemorated, directly after the collect for the current day.

At Mass, the collect proper to the commemorated feast is said, with its own conclusion, following the collect of the day.

Commemorations are admitted in this manner:

  1. On a privileged Sunday or on a first class feast or feria, no commemoration whatsoever is admitted.
  2. On a Semi-privileged Sunday, or on a second class feast or feria, only one privileged or one ordinary commemoration is admitted.
  3. On a Non-privileged Sunday, on a third class feast, or on a third or fourth class feria, two commemorations are admitted.

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Liturgical Seasons

Advent

The season of Advent runs from First Vespers of Advent Sunday to None of the Vigil of Christmas, inclusive. Advent Sunday if the Sunday nearest, whether before or after, to St. Andrew's Day (November 30).

Christmas

The Christmas season runs from First Vespers of Christmas to None of January 5, inclusive.

Epiphany

The season of Epiphany runs from First Vespers of the Epiphany to None of the Saturday before Septuagesima Sunday, inclusive.

Pre-Lent

The season of pre-Lent runs from First Vespers of Septuagesima Sunday through Compline of Tuesday in Quinquagesima week.

Lent

The season of Lent runs from Matins of Ash Wednesday up to, but not including, the Mass of the Easter Vigil. Traditionally, the Lenten season is subdivided even further.

Lent runs from Matins of Ash Wednesday through None of Saturday before the First Sunday of the Passion (Judica, Lent V).

Passiontide runs from First Vespers of the First Sunday of the Passion up to, but not including, the Mass of the Easter vigil. The week following the Second Sunday of the Passion, or Palm Sunday, is called Holy Week; the last three days of which are called the Sacred Triduum.

Paschaltide

Paschaltide runs from the beginning of the Mass of the Easter vigil through None of the Saturday within the Octave of Pentecost. Within this time are included:

a) the Easter season, which runs from the beginning of the Mass of the Easter vigil through None of the vigil of the Ascension or our Lord;

b) Ascensiontide, which runs from First Vespers of the Ascension through None of the vigil of Pentecost;

c) the Octave of Pentecost, which runs from the Mass of the vigil of Pentecost through None of the following Saturday.

Post-Pentecost

The post-Pentecost season (Trinitytide) runs from First Vespers of the Feast of the Holy Trinity through None of the Saturday before the First Sunday of Advent, inclusive.

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The Precedence of Liturgical Days

Based upon the rubrics indicated above, the following order of precedence is specified:

  1. Privileged Sunday;
  2. Privileged Octave;
  3. First Class Feast or Feria;
  4. Semi-privileged Sunday;
  5. Second Class Feast;
  6. Non-privileged Sunday;
  7. Day within a Common Octave;
  8. Second Class Feria;
  9. Third Class Feast;
  10. Third Class Feria;
  11. Fourth Class Feria;

Octave days, since they are of the same rank as the feast itself, fit easily into the above order.

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The Occurrence of Liturgical Days

Occurrence means that two or more observances fall on the same day. Occurrence is called accidental when a movable day and a fixed day occur together only at certain intervals of years. It is called perpetual when the two days occur together every year.

When such occurrences take place, the Office of lower rank yields to that of higher rank. This may be done by the omission of the lower Office, or by its commemoration, or by its transference, or by its reassignment, as indicated in the following chapter.

A commemoration established on a fixed day is not transferred or reassigned together with the feast that is being moved; but is made on its own day or omitted, according to the rubric.

Accidental Occurrence of Liturgical Days and Their Transfer

Only feasts of the first class have the right of transference to another day by reason of their accidental occurrence with a day that ranks higher in the order of precedence. Other feasts accidentally impeded by an Office of higher rank are either commemorated or omitted altogether in that year.

A feast of the first class which had been impeded by an Office of higher rank is transferred to the next day following which is not of the first or second class. However:

  1. When the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is transferred because it occurs in Holy Week or in the Easter Octave, it is transferred to the Monday after Low Sunday as its rightful place.
  2. When the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed occurs on a Sunday, it is transferred to the following Monday as its rightful place.

If several first class feasts fall on the same day, the one of highest rank is celebrated, and the others are transferred according to the rubric.

Should several feasts of the first class, occurring on successive days, be transferred; that which was impeded first is celebrated first.

Transferred feasts hold the same rank as they have in their rightful place.

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The Concurrence of Liturgical Days

Concurrence is the meeting of Vespers of the current day with First Vespers of the following day.

In concurrence, Vespers of the day of higher rank are preferred, and the others are commemorated or not, according to the rubric.

Should Vespers of two days of equal rank concur; second Vespers of the current day are said, and there is a commemoration of the following, according to the rubric.

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The Conclusion of Collects

Collects in both the Office and Mass are concluded as follows:

  1. If the prayer is addressed to the Father, it is concluded: Through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
  2. If the prayer is addressed to the Father, but mention is made of the Son in the beginning, it is concluded: Through the same Jesus Christ, etc., as above.
  3. If the prayer is addressed to the Father, but mention is made of the Son at the end, it is concluded: Who livest and reignest with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
  4. If the prayer is addressed to the Son, it is concluded: Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
  5. If mention has been made of the Holy Ghost in the end of the prayer, it is concluded: Through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who livest and reignest with thee, in the unity of the same Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

Other special conclusions, noted at various places in the Office and Mass, are to be observed.

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Liturgical Colors

White

White is to be used in the Office and Mass of the Season:

  1. from First Vespers of Christmas to January 13, inclusive;
  2. from the Mass of the Easter Vigil up to, but not including, the Mass of the Vigil of Pentecost;

White is used in the Office and Mass of Feasts:

  1. of the Lord, except feasts of the mysteries and instruments of the Passion;
  2. of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also in the blessing of candles and procession on February 2;
  3. of the Holy Angels;
  4. of All Saints (November 1);
  5. of Saints who are not Martyrs;
  6. of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist (December 27);
  7. of the Chair of St. Peter (January 18);
  8. of the Conversion of St. Paul (January 25);
  9. of St. John Before the Latin Gate (May 6);
  10. of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24);

White is also required for votive Masses:

  1. corresponding to the feasts listed above;
  2. of our Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest;
  3. for the Bride and Groom.

Finally, white is used on Thursday of Holy Week: also by the deacon for the singing of the Exultet; and by the celebrant, for the renewal of baptismal vows, in the Easter Vigil.

Red

Red is to be used in the Office and Mass of the Season from the Mass of the Vigil of Pentecost to None of the following Saturday.

Likewise, red is used in the Office and Mass of Feasts:

  1. of the mysteries and instruments of the Lord's Passion;
  2. of the Apostles and Evangelists, except St. John;
  3. of the Commemoration of St. Paul, Apostle (June 30);
  4. of all Holy Martyrs;

Red is required for votive Masses:

  1. of the Lord's Passion;
  2. of the Holy Spirit;
  3. of the mysteries and Saints listed above;
  4. for the election of a Bishop.

Green

Green is used in the Office and Mass of the Season:

  1. from January 14 to the Saturday before;
  2. from Monday after the First Sunday after Pentecost to the Saturday before Advent.

Exceptions are the Ember Days of September, and second and third class vigils outside of Paschaltide.

Violet

Violet is used in the Office and Mass of the Season:

  1. from the First Sunday of Advent to the Vigil of Christmas, inclusive;
  2. from Septuagesima Sunday to the Easter Vigil, except: at the blessing of branches and procession on Palm Sunday; at Mass on Thursday of Holy Week; at the singing of the Exultet and the renewal of baptismal vows in the Easter Vigil;
  3. on the Ember Days of September;
  4. on vigils of the second or third class outside of Paschaltide.

Votive Masses requiring violet are:

  1. for the Propagation of the Faith;
  2. for the Defense of the Church;
  3. for the Unity of the Church;
  4. in Time of War;
  5. for Peace;
  6. for the Remission of Sins;
  7. for the Sick;
  8. for the Grace of a Good Death;
  9. for Any Necessity.

Violet is also used at the procession and Mass of the Rogation Days.

Rose colored vestments may be used on the Third Sunday of Advent and the Fourth Sunday in Lent, but only in the Office and Mass of the Sunday.

Black

Black is to be used at the Good Friday liturgy, and in Offices and Masses of the dead.

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Vestments

It is assumed that the traditional Eucharistic vestments (Chasuble, Dalmatic, Tunicle) of the Western Rite will be worn by the sacred ministers. Where their use is wanting, they ought to be restored, since their use has been retained by the Evangelical Confessions.

A cope is used:

  1. at the choir Offices, when they are said solemnly;
  2. in blessings which are done at the altar;
  3. in processions;
  4. at the absolution over the body at funerals;
  5. at the solemn prayers in the Good Friday liturgy;
  6. in the Easter Vigil.

When the celebrant wears the cope, he never wears a maniple. If no cope is available, in blessings done at the altar, only the alb is worn, without chasuble or maniple.

The deacon and sub-deacon wear dalmatic and tunicle when they minister with the celebrant:

  1. at Mass;
  2. in blessings at the altar;
  3. in processions.

When the celebrant has no cope, the ministers likewise leave off the dalmatic and tunicle.

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Concerning the Altar and its Ornaments

The altar may be built either of wood or of stone. If it is built of wood, it ought to have a stone mensa. If the mensa is also of wood, tradition dictates that a stone insert be located in the midst. This insert should be large enough to allow the sacred vessels to rest upon it during the celebration of Mass. At the very least, it should be large enough to accommodate the chalice and paten.

The altar ought always to be vested with frontal, super-frontal, and fair linen. The frontal carries the color of the Office or Mass being celebrated.

A crucifix (or some other fitting representation of our Lord's Sacrifice) is to be placed above the midst of the altar in such a manner as to permit it to be seen by the celebrant and the people during Mass.

The tradition of the Augustana Rite is to have two candlesticks on the altar during Mass. Even so, there can be no objection to the placing of six lights (commonly called office lights) on the altar in addition to, or instead of, these two lights. Custom allows for two, four, six, or even seven lights to be used according to the solemnity of the feast and the dignity of the celebrant.

In place of a missal stand, it is desirable that a missal cushion in the color of the day be used to support the service book.

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