How ... if at all ... should those who follow the Old Rite liturgically celebrate S Patrick?
The LMS ORDO, the obvious guide for those who use the 1962 Missal or Breviary, envisages S Patrick having only a Commemoration at Lauds and Low Masses today (I am talking about England, Wales, and Scotland).
I think it is clear that this is wrong ... at least, for those who in celebrating the Old Rite accept the evolutions in local calendars which occurred under Roman direction up to the imposition of the Pauline Rite and the de facto disappearance of the old calendars.
In the 1940s, the English, Welsh, and Scottish dioceses had differed greatly, some hardly noticing S Patrick, while a dozen or so classed him as a Greater Double just like S Gregory on the 12th. In the changes which came in with the 1960s, one would expect the 'Grd' to convert into a '2 Class'. And I have a 1969 ORDO, from the very eve of the disappearance of the old Calendars, in which S Patrick is a '2 cl' in the whole of Great Britain (1cl in Ireland, Commemoration "outside the British Isles").
I floated this question three years ago, and the erudite Rubricarius ... how could he fail to ... provided the answer. You will find it in his comment attached to this post. I remain grateful to him for this elucidation; and for a very great deal of liturgical information over the years.
The conclusion, which is I think beyond doubt, is that S Patrick should be observed as a Class II feast in England, Wales, and Scotland. Vespers, according to the 1962 conventions, will this year 2018 be of the Sunday following without any commemoration.
(In the older 1940s Calendars, there seems no rhyme or reason about which British dioceses noticed S Patrick: Liverpool, for example, despite its Irish diaspora, failed to do so! Incidentally, "All dioceses in Scotland" used a rather attractive Mass Egredere [cf Genesis 12:1-2]. And, before the 1950s, the Gospel of the Lenten Feria did duty as the Last Gospel. What a very edifying custom that was.)
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6 comments:
I have had a quick perusal of the excellent 'Tablet' archives. From 1969 going backwards St. Patrick is clearly 'II Class' - as the new-speak goes. His feast is there in preference to the feria except in 1962 when Ember Saturday takes precedence. Likewise he was not transferred in 1963 when the 17th was Lent 3. (Interestingly, in 1967 St. Joseph was anticipated on Saturday 18th.) The apparent 'II Cl' status goes back to 1960 as for 1959 St. Patrick is listed in the same type face as St. Cyril.
I suggest that there must have been a submission to Rome c. 1959 about raising the rank of St. Patrick (and possibly others) when the effects of RI were considered.
As a youngster in the choir in early 1960s (must have been 1963), I distinctly recall the priest coming into the sacristy just before the Sung Mass and saying the Bishop was allowing 1 Mass of St Patrick that Sunday. The purple frontal etc was quickly changed for white and we sang Cyril Vaughan's Mass of St Patrick - a lovely setting. This was St Cuthbert's, Chester-le-street in the H and N Diocese.
As a youngster in the choir in early 1960s (must have been 1963), I distinctly recall the priest coming into the sacristy just before the Sung Mass and saying the Bishop was allowing 1 Mass of St Patrick that Sunday. The purple frontal etc was quickly changed for white and we sang Cyril Vaughan's Mass of St Patrick - a lovely setting. This was St Cuthbert's, Chester-le-street in the H and N Diocese.
Adding a layer of complexity, what about the many dioceses throughout the world that have St. Patrick as their patron?
My Stanbrook Abbey Breviary from 1931 has the feast of St. Patrick listed as a Double. That is what I prayed this morning.
My 1924 Missal has the Mass "Statuit". It's listed as a Double
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