[The following is a general explanation of the rubrics. Many of the following points are indicated in the Office itself. —Ed.]
To be observed in reciting the Office of the Blessed Virgin.
1. THE Little Office of the Blessed Virgin is essentially the same throughout the year. However, as Advent and Christmas have portions proper to themselves, the year may be divided ito three parts:
(I.) The First Office, which is said from the Purification till Advent, begins at Matins on the day after February 2 (the Purification).
(II.) The Second, that of Advent, begins at the Vespers of the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent.
(III.) The Third, that of Christmas, begins at the Vespers said on the vigil of that Feast, and continues till the Vespers of February 2 (the Purification) inclusively.
The First Office (I.) is sometimes called the Office BEFORE ADVENT.
The Second Office (II.) may be called the ADVENT Office.
The Third Office (III.) is also termed the Office AFTER ADVENT.
2. The Ave Maria is said before each Hour, except Lauds, when they are said immediately after Matins.
3. When the Office is said in private, the Anthem of the Blessed Virgin is said after Lauds and Complin only, unless the Little Hours (Prime, Terce, Sext, and None) follow immediately after Lauds; then the Anthem is said after the Hour by which the Office terminates. The Little Hours end with a Pater when they are said separately from Lauds or from one another. Vespers are also terminated by a Pater when they are separated from Complin.
When the Office is said in public, and discontinued after the recital of one of the Hours, the Anthem of the Blessed Virgin is always said.
4. The Anthem of the Blessed Virgin is said standing during Paschal time, and from the Vespers of Saturday till after the Complin of Sunday. At all other times it is said kneeling.
5. If one or more of the Little Hours be said immediately after Lauds, the Pater and the Versicle which follow Fidelium animæ, etc., are said only after the last Hour.
(It is customary to make the Sign of the Cross in the ordinary way (1) whilst saying, Deus in adjutorium; (2) at the beginning of the Canticles Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc Dimittis; and (3) at the end of Complin in saying, Benedicat et custodiat, etc. The Sign of the Cross is made with the thumb on the lips whilst saying Domine, labia, etc., and on the heart when saying Converte nos, at the beginning of Complin. It is made with the thumb on the mouth and heart whilst saying the prayer Aperi, Domine.)
The Te Deum may be said from Christmas to Septuagesima Sunday, and from Easter to Advent. During the remainder of the year it is said only on the Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, among which are comprised all authorized Feasts, such as the Translation of the House of Loretto, December 10; the Expectation, December 18; the Feast of the Seven Dolours, the Friday in Passion Week; etc.
7. On the Feast of the Annunciation the Office of Advent is said with the Te Deum. During Lent the Alleluia is omitted.
8. When the Feast of the Purification occurs after Septuagesima Sunday the Te Deum may be said. If this Feast is transferred, the alteration in the Office is not transferred with it. From the Complin of February 2 the anthem Ave Regina is said instead of the Alma Redemptoris.
9. During Passion time the Gloria Patri is nowhere omitted. During the last three days of Holy Week the Little Office is not recited publicly.
10. During Paschal time the Alleluia is not said after the Invitatory, Anthems, Versicles, and Responses.
11. From Septuagesima Sunday until Vespers of Holy Saturday, after the Deus in adjutorium, etc., Laus tibi Domine, etc., is said instead of Alleluia.
12. The anthem Regina Cœli is said for the first time at the Nunc dimittis on Holy Saturday, and for the last at Lauds of the Saturday before Trinity Sunday.
