The
Ranums'
Panat Times
Volume 1, redone Dec. 2014
Notes on the Ceremoniale of the Order of the Mercy and Redemption of Captives
Circa 1995, I spent a hectic day in the Municipal Library of Provins, reading through the Ceremonial of the Order of Notre Dame de la Mercy, and typing out at top speed as much as I could that might possibly shed light on Mlle de Guise's worship at the Mercy (and, of course, the pieces Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed for her, 1674-1687).
The Ceremonial is catalogued as: L. 367, Ceremonial des R.P.
de la Mercy, 1614, 2 vols en un.
The first volume is the general
rules of the order, its constitutions, the life of the monks, etc. the
history of the order, its leading members/généraux.
There is another booklet that starts renumbering, called "Instructio
officiorum ordinis BMM....", re the provinces, the convents, etc. On p.
136 there is a table of contents for that volume...
Then comes the
item I had gone to Provins to consult: Ceremoniale sacri ordinis
Beatae Mariae de Mercede Redemptionis Captivorum,.... (Valence,
1614)
Of special interest to me were these chapters, from many of which I had time to type excerpts:
4: Choro, p. 13
14: psalmody and chant, p. 69
15: cantors and
their work, p. 80
16: use of organ, p. 85
20: the feasts they
celebrate solemnly, p. 106
21: solemn vespers and complines, p. 111
22: solemn matins, p. 116
24: the hours at which the 7 hours of
day are said, p. 124
25: the antiphons of Virgin and when sung, p.
130
28, office of dead, p. 144
book 2:
2: the lay part of
church and its ornamentation, p. 156
3: lesser chapels, p. 162
4: private masses, p. 164
5: on giving mass to laymen, p. 168
6:
major chapels and ornamentation, p. 171
7: altars and ornaments, p.
173
14: processions (ordinary), p. 204
15: antiphons for Salut,
sung every Saturday, p. 209
16: blessing of candles at Purification,
p. 211
27: solemn masses with a bishop, p. 274
31, mass for dead
and absolution, p. 294
The following are my notes, typed hurriedly and therefore, I am sure, full of faulty latinisms (on that cranky laptop, a dragging finger sufficed to insert a letter that has no business there, and I am sure that letters sometimes were omitted). I have corrected the obvious mistakes, but I don't dare do much surgery here a decade later. I hope the gist of the ceremony described will be sufficiently clear, despite this bad typing ― clear enough to suggest whether a scholar should take the trouble to go to Provins and consult the book. I have kept my boldfacing, which highlights passages that seemed to offer important clues to worship at the Mercy Convent of the rue du Chaume.
Volume 1, chap. 14, on psalmody and chant:
p. 69: be sure to make the proper pauses. Ubi vero propeter paucitatem fratrum horae omnes cantari non potuerunt, saltim non omittant cantare Vesperas, Completorium, Primam, Tertiam & Missam. In vigilia Natalis Domini, & in die Resurectionis, summo mane ante deliculum matutinae solemniter in Ordine nostro cantari consueurunt. Matutinae Nativitatis Domini ab hora decima ante mediam noctem. Feria quinta, sexta, & Sabato majoris hebdomadae, hora teria post meridiem dicantur. item in festo Corporis Christi, à primis Vesperis festi per totam octavam, & in die Patroni,.... Horas canonicas cantari decet.
Chap 15, cantors and their work, p. 80:
There are two cantors who, sometimes singly, sometimes together, stand in the middle of the choir and intone...depending on the level of the feast and mass... Two of them do the antiphons for the Virgin.
Chap. 16, p. 85, on use of the organ:
In omnibus dominicis, & omnibus festis per annum occurrentibus, in quibus populi à servilibus operibus abstinere solent, decet in Ecclesia organum adhiberi ; inter eas non connumerantur Dominicae Adventus, Septuagesime, Sexagesimae, Quinquagesimae, & Quadragesimae, excepta Dominica tertia Adventus, quae dicitur Gaudete, & quarta Quadragesimae qui dicitur Laetare. [In rough translation: Every Sunday and every feast day of the year that the populace does not work, use of the organ is appropriate in the church; among these is not included, however, the Sundays of Advent, of Septuagesima, of Sexagesima, of Quinquagesima and of Quatragesima, except the third Sunday of Advent, when the gaudete is said, and the fourth Sunday in Quadregesima, when the Laetare is said.] Item in festis & feriis infra Adventum, aut Quadragesimam occurrentibus, quae cum solemnitate ab Ecclesia celebrantur, ut in die Annunciationis, feria quinta in coena Domini, Sabbato sancto, & similibus, et quandocunque occurreret celebrare solemniter, & cum laetitia pro aliqua re gravi, organo utimur. [The same is true for the feasts that occur during Advent and Quadregesima and which are solemnly celebrated in the Church, and for the Day of the Annunciation, the fifth day of the Lord's supper, holy Saturday, and so forth, and whenever they are celebrated, be they joyful or grave, the organ is used.] Ad Vesperas, quae solemniter celebrantur, in fine cuius libet psalmi pulsatur organum; [When solemn vespers are celebrated, the organ can, if desired, by played at the psalms] & si qui effet [esset?], qui cum organo cantare vellet [and if someone wants to chant with the organ], nihil aliud cantet, quam versum, vel versus de Psalmo [he can merely sing alternately a verse of the Psalm] Item pulsari solet organum alternatim in versiculis Hymni, & cantici Magnificat, [In like manner the organ can only play alternate verses of hymns and of the Magnificat] incipientibus cantoribus primum versum, & choro finiente [the first verse begun by the cantor....] Regulare tamen est, sive in Vesperis, sive in Matutinis, sive in missa, ut primus versus canticorum, & Hymnorum & pariter versus Hymnorum, in quibus genuflectendum est, qualis est versiculus, Te ergo quaesumus, &c, & versiculus Tantum ergo Sacramentus, &c. quando ipsum Sacramentum est super altari, & similes; cantentur à choro in tono intelligibili, non autem ab organo [the monks are to sing in chorus, intelligibly, and not with the organ]; sic etiam versiculus Gloria patri, &c. etiam si versiculus immediate praecedens fuerit à choro pariter decantatus. Idem servetur in ultimis versibus Hymnorum; in Matutinis quoque solemnibus; in festis majoribus possunt pulsari organa ab Hymno Te Deum laudamus, &c. pro ut Vesperis [the organ can be used for solemn matins, for the Te Deum, and for vespers]; & in Matutinis Nativitatis Domini etiam à principio ipsarum organum pulsari poterit. [And on Christmas even the organ can play.] [At other times, no organ.]
p. 86: In Missa solemni pulsatur alternatim cum dicitur Kyrie eleison, & Gloria in excelcis, etc...etc...and for Sanctus, Offertorium, [For a solemn mass, the organ plays alternately as the Kyrie and Gloria are sung, and for the Sanctus and the Offertoire.] Item dum elevatur Sanctissimum Sacramentum, graviori & dulciori sono, usque ad Pater noster. [The same is true for the Elevation, when it should sound serious and sweet, and until the Pater Noster. ] But the words must always be intelligible and should not mask the officiant's chant.... In Officiis & Missis defunctorum, nec organo, nec musica (quam figuratam vocant) utimur, sed cantu firmo... [No organ or musical instrument (or figured singing) is used for masses or service for the dead ] Note that, per this sentence, "musica" and "'figuratam vocant" are treated as synonyms or equal to "organum"] Cavendum autem ne sonus organi sit lasciuus, aut impurus, & ne cum eo profeorantur cantus, qui ad Officium quo agitur non spectent, [You must be careful not to make the organ sound lascivious or impure, ...] ne dum prophani [nor lay events] aut ludicri [any plays], nec alia instrumenta musicalia [or musical instruments], qui in usu non sunt in celebratione divinorum Oficiorum. [that are not used during the divine services.]
p. 87: quod si quis ex voto, hec, vel alia officia facere celebrare velit, pro libito Praelatorum organum adhiberi poterit, juxta Ecclesiarum nostrarum consuetudinem, quae pro secularium devotione observari poterit. [Adlib organ preludes can be played, for people who attend our church and participate in secular devotions.] Caeterum in festis solemnibus, quae fiunt per annum in ecclesiis nostris, ubi viget consuetudo, in Vesperis & Matutinus celebrandis, dum psalmi, & cantica Magnificat, & Benedictus dicuntur, ut possumus cantu figurato [the same is true [And, also, in solemn feasts, which occur during our ecclesiastical year, where vespers and matins customarily are sung, for the psalms, Magnificat and Benedictus we can sing them in figured music]; ita tamen, ut eius cantores dicant unum versum psalmi, vel cantici, & chorus alterum; vel si organum adhibeatur, tertius semper versus psalmi, vel cantici cantetur a choro, ut fratres, ut in praecipuis festis participes esse debent officii divini, ab eo omnino non excludantur. [in such a way, however, that the cantors say one verse of the psalm of hymn and the chorus the other; and if the organ participates, it is always does the third verse of the psalm or hymn that is sung in chorus, so that the brothers, or principal participants in the mass of the fete will not be excluded.]
In omnibus dominicis, & omnibus festis per annum occurrentibus, in quibus populi à servilibus operibus abstinere solent, decet in Ecclesia organum adhiberi ; inter eas non connumerantur Dominicae Adventus, Septuagesime, Sexagesimae, Quinquagesimae, & Quadragesimae, excepta Dominica tertia Adventus, quae dicitur Gaudete, & quarta Quadragesimae qui dicitur Laetare. Item in festis & feriis infra Adventum, aut Quadragesimam occurrentibus, quae cum solemnitate ab Ecclesia celebrantur, ut in die Annunciationis, feria quinta in coena Domini, Sabbato sancto, & similibus, et quandocunque occurreret celebrare solemniter, & cum laetitia pro aliqua re gravi, organo utimur.
Ad Vesperas, quae solemniter celebrantur, in fine cuius libet psalmi pulsatur organum; & si qui effet [esset?], qui cum organo cantare vellet, nihil aliud cantet, quam versum, vel versus de Psalmo. Item pulsari solet organum alternatim in versiculis Hymni, & cantici Magnificat, incipientibus cantoribus primum versum, & choro finiente. Regulare tamen est, sive in Vesperis, sive in Matutinis, sive in missa, ut primus versus canticorum, & Hymnorum & pariter versus Hymnorum, in quibus genuflectendum est, qualis est versiculus, Te ergo quaesumus, &c, & versiculus Tantum ergo Sacramentus, &c. quando ipsum Sacramentum est super altari, & similes; cantentur à choro in tono intelligibili, non autem ab organo; sic etiam versiculus Gloria patri, &c. etiam si versiculus immediate praecedens fuerit à choro pariter decantatus. Idem servetur in ultimis versibus Hymnorum; in Matutinis quoque solemnibus; in festis majoribus possunt pulsari organa ab Hymno Te Deum laudamus, &c. pro ut Vesperis; & in Matutinis Nativitatis Domini etiam à principio ipsarum organum pulsari poterit. [you can play the organ at those times; but at other times, no organ.]
p. 86: In Missa solemni pulsatur alternatim cum dicitur Kyrie eleison, & Gloria in excelcis, etc...etc...and for Sanctus, Offertorium, Item dum elevatur Sanctissimum Sacramentum, graviori & dulciori sono, usque ad Pater noster. But the words must always be intelligible and should not mask the officiant's chant.
in Officiis & Missis defunctorum, nec organo, nec musica (quam figuratam vocant) utimur, sed cantu firmo... Cavendum autem ne sonus organi sit lasciuus, aut impurus, & ne cum eo profeorantur cantus, qui ad Officium quo agitur non spectent, ne dum prophani, aut ludicri, nec alia instrumenta musicalia, qui in usu non sunt in celebratione divino rum Officiorum.
p. 87: quod si quis ex voto, hec, vel alia officia facere celebrare velit, pro libito Praelatorum organum adhiberi poterit, juxta Ecclesiarum nostrarum consuetudinem, quae pro secularium devotione observari poterit. Caeterum in festis solemnibus, quae fiunt per annum in ecclesiis nostris, ubi viget consuetudo, in Vesperis & Matutinus celebrandis, dum psalmi, & cantica Magnificat, & Benedictus dicuntur, ut possumus cantu figurato; ita tamen, ut eius cantores dicant unum versum psalmi, vel cantici, & chorus alterum; vel si organum adhibeatur, tertius semper versus psalmi, vel cantici cantetur a choro, ut fratres, ut in praecipuis festis participes esse debent officii divini, ab eo omnino non excludantur.
Chap. 21, on Solemn vespers:
p. 111, The priest "tenens sinistram manu infra pectus, dextera aperta facit sibi Crucis signum....cantans intelligibili voce, & in in canto competenti, Deus in adjutorium meum intende...Then they all sing the Antiphon, psalms, etc. .... Not much helpful information here.
Chap. 24, on the seven canonical hours:
p. 124-25: Vespers: regulariter hora pomeridiana secunda; Complins, hora quinta post meridiem celebrari debet, feriis Quadragesimae exceptis, in quibius vesperae post missam, vel saltim post Nonam immediate dicuntur, quando sola una missa dicitur in festo post Tertiam, vel nisi urgeat generalis processio post vesperas facienda, tun enim Vespere, & Completorium, juxta discretionem praelati poterunt praeveniri, vel retardari. p. 125: Excipiuntur quoque omnes Sabbati, in quibus tardius solito dicitur Completorium propter antiphonam Salve Regina, quae, ubi est numerus competens fratrum, in Ecclesia exteriori à fratribus nostris processsionaliter ordinatis, & cereis in manibus portantibus, solemniter cantari debet. Matins, vero cum laudibus regulariter dicitur hora noctis media. But... that is not always the case and it's very complex and probably makes no difference to me. Matins for Tenebrae: 3 hour after noon; Noel, hora noctis decima incipiantur.
Chap. 25, p. 130-31, Antiphons of Virgin and when sung:
Antiphonae Betae Mariae posite in fine psalterii semper dicuntur post Completorium, praeterquam quinta, & sexta feria ante pascha; post alias autem horas, quando officium terminatur. Nam si una hora post aliam sequatur, in fine ultimae horae dicitur; nisi Missa post ultimaam Horam fuerit dicenda, vel officium defunctorum, septem psalmi, vel Litanie; nam tun ommittuntur; et nisi quando post Horas diei sequuntur Horae officii parvi Beatae Mariae recitandae, tun enim debent deci in fine ultima horae officii parvi eiusdem, ut in rubricis Breviarii Romani continetur. ... p. 131; ....statim dicitur Antiphona, Alma Redemptoris Mater à Vesperis Sabbati ante Dominicam primam Adventus, usque ad Purificationem inclusive.... [and so on, as in the offices for Blessed Virgin Mary] ...et a primis Vesperis festi Trinitatis, usque ad nonam Sabbati ante Adventum, dicitur Salve Regina que antiphona cum in ecclesia processionaliter, & solemniter cantatur in Sabbatis per annum, illius versum dicunt Acolythi, qui albis induti hinc inde tenent crucem mediam ad gradus presbyterii, seu ante cancello capellae majoris, pro dispositione loci, etiam per habdomadam cum cntatur antiphona illius temporis post Completorium in choro Acolythi unus vel duo pro differentia officii versum dicat. Antiphonae vero supradictae dicuntur in choro flexis genibus, nisi a vesperis Sabbati cuiuslibet hebdomadae per annum, usque ad Completorium sequentis diei Dominicae inclusive, quo tempore non flectimus genua, sed dicimus illas stantes, excepta quoque antiphona Regina coeli, quae dicitur toto tempore paschali à fratribus stantibus ob memoriam Ressurrectionis Domini.
Part 2, chap. 2, p. 156-57, On the laypersons' part of the church and its ornaments:
Post viros, inquit, sedebunt humi mulieres, quarum locus tempore hyemis sternatur sparteis stragulis, ob frigoris incommoditatem. Ambon, seu pulpitum in medio ad parietem constituetur, ad habendas ad populum conciones. Quod in praecipuis festis consentaneum erit (ubi fieri potest) pannis stericis eiusdem coloris, cuius sunt cetera paramenta, exornari; ita tamen, ut locus ille Evangelicae concionis pulcrius apparetur. Ludi theatrales non siant in ecclesia, neque larvati in eam ingrediantur, aut in ea representationes fiant, quibus profana miscentur. [Are oratorios "theater"?]
Circa ornatum Ecclesia festivitatum ratio habenda est. Si igitur festivitas erit praecipua, & de solemnioribus alcuius nostrae Ecclesiae, primum à parte exteriori ornandae erunt valua ipsius floribus, ramis, & frondibus virientibus, bracteolis, aut faciis diversi coloris appensis, vel colligatis, quo splendidius pro locorum consuetudine, ac temporum qualitate fieri poterit; supra vero portae superliminare imago sancti, vel sanctorum, quorum dies festus agitur pariter ornata, & sub ea insignia summi Pontificis, Ordinis nostri, Episcopi, Principis, au civitatis, pro libito ponentur, servando in eorum positione ordinem dignitatum; inferioris vero ordinem dignittum: inferioris vero ordinis hominum maxime liacorum insignia, non sunt apponenda. Si Ecclesia habebit porticum, congruum erit, ut illam pannis, aliis pulcris ex serico, sive ex corio, ex aliave honesta materia confectis, seu elaboratis, pro ut haberi poterunt exornari. In quibus tamen picturae intextae, seu pictae non sint profanae, vel indecentes, quod estin aliis pannis, in apparatu interiori, & exteriori Ecclesiae observandum, & maxime, ut non ponantur ibidem ullae effigies, nisi sanctorum, vel summorum Pontificum. Intus quoque, si fieri poterit, parietes Ecclesiae, auleis, aut his pannis, qui inveniri poterunt, pretiosis ornentur.
p. 157: for major feasts, Noel, Easter pentecost and Fete Dieiu and its octave,... eadem erunt servanda, nisi quo valuae, & porticus Ecclesiae non ornantur regulariter; sed si in aliquibus ecclesiis nostris consuetudo effet, tunc quoque ornandi, retnenda erit, cum circa majorem ornatum semper sit laudibilis. Ac praecipue maxima cura adhiberi convenit, ad plura evitanda scandala, quae noctu oriri solent, ut portae Ecclesiae ante diluculum non aperiantur, & ante salutationem Angelicam, que in crepusculo noctis pulsatur, claudantur, & obserentur; nisi nocte Nativitatis Domini, in qua Matutinum & Missa, Solemniter celebrantur, & nocte ante diem Parasceves, in qua fidelis monumenta constructa, ubi affervatur [asservatur?] Sanctissimum Sacrementum, devote inuisere solent, & nocte diem resurrectionis Deomini praecedente in qua dicitur Matutine ante diluculum, & si que sunt Eccleiae ordinis nostri, in quibus ob populi devotionem vigilae celebrari consueverunt. His temporibus Ecclesiae ianuae poterunt nocte aperiri; ita tamen ut Ecclesia tota lampadibius illustretur, & in ea neque angulum obscurum remaneat, quo decentur, & devota omnia, ut decet, in Ecclesia fiant.
Chap. 3, p. 162-63, on lesser chapels:
p. 162: Capellae Minores, quae Ecclesiae ambitu continentur, Sanctorum imagines depictas, & altaria in ipsorum honorem erecta habere debent, ut picturis inspectis, illorum virtutes recolentes, ac admirantes, imitemur; & oblatis in eis Sacrificiis, Sanctorum intercessionibus populus Christianus adjuvetur. Saepe enim iratus Deus, Beatissime Virginis Mariae precibus, & aliorum Sanctorum placatus, propitius fit peccatis nostris; .... for such images incite our hearts to devotion. Quamobroem ad devotionem populi Christiani magis, magisque excitandam plurimum convenit, ut huiusmodi capelli semper nitidae appareant, praesertim hae, in quibus missae privatae dicuntur, quae ligneis, aut ferreis cancellis claudantur, ne compressus a multitudine celebrans, & minister, à functonibus, que ab eis exercentur, impediantur, & ut loco sacro debita reverentia servetur. Pendebit etiam ante imaginem Sancti, cujus capella est titulus, lampas, quae saltim diebus solemnioribus per annum occurrentibus, ad utrasque Vesperas, & Missam; & similiter quo die occurrerit festum ejusdem tituli, à primis Vesperis, usque ad Completorium inclusive diei festi accendatur. Quo die altare, floribus, vel ramusculis, pro temporibus opportuniate ornabitur, appensis quoque pannis sericis [fericis?], aut laneis discoloribus depictis, seu intextis imaginibus Sanctorum veteris, vel novi testamenti, ad parietum capellae decorem: tum etiam altarevestietur pallio coloris competentis, expansis desuper mapis mundis; duo saltim in eo collocabuntur candelabra cum cereis accensis ad Vesperas, & Missam; ac altare majori thurificto, thurificatibur altare capellae cujus est titulus; alias nunquam minora altaria thurificabuntur.
Chap. 4, p. 164-65, on private masses:
Solent Missae privatae, in minoribus capellis regulariter celebrati. Quamobrem sacrista summo mane, antequam fores Ecclesiae aperiat, pulverem de altaribus diligenter excutiat; explicabitque super ea munda linteamina, salttim duo, & desuper duo candelabra locabit cum cereis albis, vel cerae communis pro diversitate Officii. Praeparabit preterea in Sacristia missalia.....[instructions for the priest...] Nothing about special fetes, etc.
Chap. 6, p. 171-72, on the appearance of major chapels:
Major capella, quae sanctum sanctorum est, cancellis ferreis, aut ligneis (ubi commode fieri potest) ab ecclesia liacorum dividatur, ne pateat laicis aditus illuc intrandi, dum saltim divina officia celebrantur, ni si fuerit persona aliqua perillustris de Ordina nostro benemerita, in quo ecclesiarum nostrarum consuetudo observetur. Lampades quoque ardentes in ea appendantur numero impari, que tum ad cultum, & ornatum, tum ad mysticum sensum, ut & multa alia pertinet.
Chap. 7, , p. 173-74, the altar and ornaments:
The high altar, for solemn feasts, quo splendidius poterit pro temporum tamen varietate, & exigientia ornabitur. Apponetur tamen à parte anterori, pallium aureum, vel argenteu, aut sericum, quo pulcrius, ac pretiosius haberi possit coloris festiviitati congruentis, .... Tum superne lineae mapae mundae tres saltem explicentur, quae totam altaris planitiem, & latera contegant, pro quarum coronide apponi poterunt fasciae ex auro, vel serico laborate, ac variegatae, quibus ipsa altaris facies ap te redimita orniato appareat. .. p. 174: silver candlesticks if they have them, sin minus ex auricalco, aut cupro aurato pulchre fabricata... and white wax candles [like the ones Mlle de Guise gave them]. Seven candalabrae on altar when bishops officiate .....Gradus quoque altaris, omnes operiantur, aliquo amplo, & pulcro tapete, ut sint magis conspicui, & ornati....In caeteris minoribus capellis per ecclesiam altaria pariter palliis concoloribus, decentibusque ornentur. ....Dominicis diebus, & aliis festis, quibus populi ab opere cessant, in ornatu altarium, & aaliorum eadem... they are decorated appropriately... For tenebrae, there are six candlesticks with common wax, not white (p. 175), which are gradually extinguished. No images or other ornaments.
chap. 14, p. 204-5, on ordinary processions:
Regulare est, processiones solemniores per annum immediate post Tertiam celebrari. in full regalia. First the thurifere with incense, and various stations and two acolytes with candles. Stations either inside or outside church. ...not helpful
Chap. 15, p. 209, on "Antiphona Salve, omni Sabbato solemniter in Ecclesia cantanda":
Omni Sabbato, & in vigiliis solemnitatum Christi principalium, & Beatae Mariae circa finem Completrii sit signum, ut fratres qui à completorio remanserunt, veniant ad processionem Antiphonae Salve Regina, nisi propter paucitatem fratrum, praedicta Antiphona cantetur in choro. Cum autem processionaliter exeundum erit ad Ecclesiam, ubi est chorus superior, prius recitari debet antiphona submisse ab omnibus in choro, cum versiculo oratione, Pater noster, Ave Marie, & Credo in Deum. Interim dum Completorium dicitur, duo Acolythi, & cruciferarius venientes ad sacristiam, albis, vel rochetis induuntur, ac finito Completorio, venientibus fratribus, & simul congragatis, ad Ecclesiam processionaliter et egredientur, praecedente cruciferario cum cruce, medio inter duos Acolythos, cereos accensos deferentes , qui ad ostium extrinsecus capellae majoris collocantur versis vultibus ad altare, fratres omnes crucem praetereuntes, conversi ad eum inclinant. Omnibus in suis locis collocatis, duo cantores in medio Ecclesiae versis vultibus ad altare intonant antiphonam Salve, quam prosequitur chorus. Dum autem cantatur antiphona, aspergatur aqua benedicta ab hebdomadario, fratribus, cum asperguntur, capita inclinantibus, fratre, qui dicit Responsoria horarum, .... Finita Antiphona Acollythi dicunt versiculum, Ora pro nobis, addentes tempore Paschali Alleluia; qui versus dicitur eo modo.... [and by heart ]... and then Oremus. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui gloriosae virginis, etc.... Cantores in medio Ecclesiae intonant Antiphonam Conceptio tua et cantantes antiphonam veniunt ad capela in qua est imago aliqua Beatae Mariae, ubi stantes antiphonam praedictam absoluunt, & dicto ab Acolythis versu, Conceptio tuo, etc., subjungit Hebdomarius, Deus qui immaculatam, etc. Postea à choro dicitur alternatim psalmus De profundis, cum Requiem aeternam, Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, etc, ut cap. de Antiphonis Beatae Mariae dictum est.
Chap. 16, p. 211-12, on the blessing of candles for Purification:
Multa disiderantur in missali declaranda circa candelarum benedictionem, & processionem festivittis Purificationis Beatissimae Virginis Mariae, quae modo ex Caeremoniali Romano recensenda veniunt. White wax candle is prepared in sacristy, for the number of fratri, necnon & pro laicis, quibus juxta consuetudinem distribui soleant. And the candles are blessed, I recognize none of the antiphons.
Chap. 20, p. 106-7, their solemn feasts:
See the breviary of their order.
Purification, Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation, Conception and Assumption. Also, p. 107, the feast of the Mercy, Sunday closest to kalends of August [for which Marc-Antoine Charpentier wrote an Antiphon.] cuius Oficium à me, indigno servo suo compositum.....[Philip à Guimeran, ....] and approved in 1587. There are also a couple of days, such as the Expectationis BMV, Dec. 18, St. Nom de Jesus, 14 Jan;, St. Antoine abbé, 17 Jan; and beati Augustini regula data, sub qua fratres nostri profiterentur.
Chap. 27, p. 274-75, on solemn masses with a bishop officiating:
it's pretty much exclusive of outside music, is what they say here, back in 1614.
Chap. 30, p. 291-92, Corpus Christi mass, and Saturday morning mass:
Quoniam ex nostro instituto, Captivorum Redemptionem profitemur, & ex vinculo professionis, pro ipsorum redemptione sanguinis effusioni, ac denique morti.... which are also devoted to the blood Christ shed... From the octave of Epiphany to Septuagesima, and from the Sunday after Easter to the Sunday before Ascension, and the Sunday of Trinity to Advent, "dicitur missa de corpore Christi, nisi in festis simplicibus, & supra, & in octavis solemnibus quando tali die occurrerint." They say mass and, p. 292, genuflect, "Sacramentum adorant" and with incensing and sprinkling. They continue to "thurificante Sacramentum, ..." Ad haec omni Sabbto per annum, praeter sabbatum majoris hebadomdae.... missa matutinalis de Beata Virgine, solemniter celebrari debet post Primam, ... in recommenationem ordinis Beatae Virgini Mariae, ex antiqua consuetudine. Et cum primo dicitur in introitu Misse Salve sancta parens, genuflectimus.... and then they chant it.
Chap. 31, p. 294-5, on the dead:
It too includes processions....
At the end are some pages of texts to recite, which follows
immediately the chapter about the "Redemptorum missione ad
redimendum Captivos," that is, the rather unique masses and showy
processions connected with the monks' mission of redeeming captives of
the Saracens. The first is 'litania pro missione redemptorum ad
terram Sarracenorum...." and has nothing to do with anything I have
ever seen before. Then the Ave Maria; then Psalm 136, Super
Flumina Babylonis.... It doesn't say WHY this one psalm is singled
out, but it seems to be part of that service. The mass, per p. 357, is a
mass of the Virgin...with all the appropriate hymns and antiphons for
her.
The rest of the book provides material for the life of the
brothers.