Sunday Nomenclature

by Gary D. Penkala

My entry into church service began as an altar boy with the 1962 Missal. I didn't develop a keen interest in liturgy and church music until high school. I had a Lutheran friend, with whose church there were many ecumenical endeavors throughout my high school and college years. It was actually from the red Service Book and Hymnal (Lutheran) that I came to understand the naming of the Sundays of Lent and Eastertide, although similar nomenclature is often used in the Extraordinary Form and in Anglicanism

We're fairly familiar with the term Gaudete to describe the rose-colored Third Sunday of Advent and Lætare to describe the similar Fourth Sunday of Lent. Did you know, however, that the other Sundays of Lent, and the Sundays of Eastertide, are given corresponding names?

These names are derived from the Latin text of the Proper Introits for the Sundays. Here's a list of those names and the Introit texts that are their source:

Lent

1. Invocabit Sunday
   Invocabit me, et ego exaudiam eum: eripiam eum, et glorificabo eum: longitudine dierum adimplebo eum. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   When he calls to me, I will answer him: I will rescue him and honor him; with long life I will satisfy him. [ Proper sung in English ]
    
2. Reminiscere Sunday
   Reminiscere miserationum tuarum, Domine, et misericordiæ tuæ, quæ a sæculo sunt: ne unquam dominentur nobis inimici nostri: libera nos Deus Israel ex omnibus angustiis nostris. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   Remember your mercies, Lord, and your love which is from all eternity. Do not let our enemies triumph over us: deliver us, O God of Israel, from all our tribulations. [ Proper sung in English ]
    
3. Oculi Sunday
   Oculi mei semper ad Dominum, quia ipse evellet de laqueo pedes meos: respice in me, et miserere mei, quoniam unicus et pauper ego. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   My eyes are forever turned towards the Lord; for he shall release my feet from the snare; look upon me and have mercy on me, for I am abandoned and destitute. [ Proper sung in English ]
    
4. Lætare Sunday
   Lætare Ierusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum lætitia, qui in tristitia fuitis: ut exultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestræ. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   Rejoice, O Jerusalem; and gather round, all you who love her; rejoice in gladness, after having been in sorrow; exult and be replenished with the consolation flowing from her motherly bosom. [ Proper sung in English ]
    
5. Judica Sunday [Passion Sunday]
   Iudica me Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo et doloso eripe me: quiq tu es Deus meus, et fortitudo mea. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly nation; from wicked and deceitful men deliver me, for you are my God and my strength. [ Proper sung in English ]

Eastertide

1. [Easter] Resurrexi Sunday
   Resurrexi, et adhuc tecum sum, alleluia: posuisti super me manum tuam, alleluia: mirabilis facta est scientia tua, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   I am risen, and I am always with you, alleluia: you have placed your hand upon me, alleluia; your wisdom has been shown to be most wonderful, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in English ]
    
2. Quasi modo geniti Sunday
   Quasi modo geniti infantes, alleluia; rationabiles, sine dolo lac concupiscite, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   As newborn babes, alleluia, long for pure spiritual milk, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in English ]
    
3. Jubilate Sunday
   Iubilate Deo omnis terra, alleluia: psalmum dicite nomini eius, alleluia: date gloriam laudi eius, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, alleluia; sing a psalm to his name, alleluia; praise him with magnificence, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in English ]
    
4. Misericordia Sunday
   Misericordia Domini plena est terra, alleluia: verbo Dei cæli firmati sunt, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord, alleluia; by the word of the Lord the heavens were established, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in English ]
    
5. Cantate Sunday
   Cantate Domino canticum novum, alleluia: quia mirabilia fecit Dominus, alleluia: ante conspectum gentium revelavit iustitiam suam, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   Sing to the Lord a new song, alleluia; for the Lord has accomplished wondrous deeds, alleluia; he has reveled his justice in the sight of the Gentiles, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in English ]
    
6. Rogate Sunday*
     *named not for the current Introit, but for the Rogation Days which precede Ascension Thursday
   Vocem iucunditatis annuntiate, et audiatur, alleluia: nuntiate usque ad extremum terræ: liberavit Dominus populum suum, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   Spread the news with a voice of joy; let it be heard, alleluia; speak it out to the very ends of the earth; the Lord has liberated his people, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in English ]
    
7. Exaudi Sunday
   Exaudi, Domine, vocem meam, qua clamavit as te, alleluia: tibi dixit cor meum, quæsivi vultum tuum, vultum tuum Domine requiram: ne avertas faciem tuam a me, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in Latin ]
   Hearken, O Lord, unto my voice which has called out to you, alleluia; my heart declared to you: "Your countenance have I sought; I shall ever seek you r countenenace, O Lord,; do not turn your face from me, alleluia, alleluia. [ Proper sung in English ]

Article written 01 March 2015