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Perhaps you've heard of the Mercedarian Salve?
Fr,
Very interesting, and reminds me of the Dominicans in Melbourne who, though not processing, at least sang these antiphons with gusto - but after Vespers, not Compline, since the people were present for the former not the latter; Mass followed about 10 minutes later.
You may know the origin of the custom I observed there and elsewhere among the O.P.'s in Australia: that of kneeling to say the O sacrum convivium, with versicle and collect, before any Hour of the Office (if in church). Is this local and modern, or some ancient custom? No one seemed to know.
Yes, Joashua, the Proprium of 1982 provides for the transfer of these antiphons (and other elements of Compilne) to Vespers when Compline is not sung, and "especially when the laity are present."
The recitation of the O Sacrum Convivium when the Blessed Sacrament is present in the Tabernacle is a devotion that uses one of St. Thomas' antiphons from the Office of Corpus Christi and is late medieval in origin. It was in the old Libellus Precum of the Order. Any houses, if not most, still recite it.
This "borrowing" was done in a version of "O Quam Suavis Est" as found in the St. Gregory Hymnal as well.
BMP
Does this mean that the Dominicans do not sing Regina Coeli?
Where can the Dominican Proprium be bought?
I believe similar processions to the Rosary and St. Dominic altars are done with a considerable amount of solemnity at Vespers (or maybe it was compline) at the actual tomb of St. Dominic in Bologna, or at least when I visited a few years back.
Perish the thought that it should happen again, but 'tis said that many ages back, in a time of some laxity among the Friars Preachers, the brethren at Bologna had just finished singing the O lumen, or perhaps the O spem miram, invoking Holy Father Dominic - and a voice was heard from the tomb: I am not your father, and you are not my sons.
John,
In the new Liturgy of the Hours Compline the Regina Coeli is an option in Easter time (I think I said that in the post, right?) and in the old rite it replaced the Inviolata during Easter time at the Litany on Saturday (I think I said that in the post, right?). The 1982 Dominican Proper can be purchased from the Santa Sabina bookstore in Rome. Here is the address: Libraria Santa Sabina; Piazza Pietro d'Illiria, 1; 00153 Roma, Italy. Phone (direct from US) is 011-36-579-405.55, but be prepared to speak Italian, you will get the switchboard and have to be transferred. The bookstore brother however also speaks Spanish It is probably easier to write. No, I do not know the price.
Dear Matthew,
I not been to Bologna lately, but I did live there on two separate occasions for a total of more than 2 years. Yes, the Salve Procession went from the chapter room (where Compline was) to the chapel of the Rosary in the church for the Salve and then across the church to the tomb of Dominic for the O Lumen. The collects were always used. They did not do the procession with the Litany on Saturdays, but that may have changed.
Joshua, sorry but that story concerns Francis and the Franciscans.
Saturday Salve in Honor of Our Holy Mother
"Every Saturday, except Holy Saturday, at the most appropriate time, as decided by each local community, the "Salve" in honor of the Virgin Mary is sung in all the houses of the Order with the participation of all the religious of the community.
"When the rite is solemnly celebrated, the religious gather in the sacristy or some other suitable place to process up the center of the church or chapel to the altar, according to custom. The religious enter two by two, carrying lighted candles as is suitable; the Superior, or the Hebdomadarian, closes the procession accompanied by two religious carrying the aspergil, the aspensory, and the Ritual. During the procession, the "Salutate Mariam", or the "Tota Pulchara" or some other Marian canticle is sung."
"The rite may also take the place within the context of the celebration of Holy Mass. When this occurs, the celebrant, after the entrance procession and upon reverencing the altar, begins the Mass with the greeting and then after the Introductory rite, invites the people to the penitential rite, during which the "Salve" is sung while the celebrant sprinkles the congregation with holy water. After the "Lademus Virum" has been sung and appropriate prayer offered, the Holy Mass resumes with the Gloria(if a feast or soleminity) and then the collect of the mass."
"In all circumstances the aspersion rite may be replaced by the incensing of the Virgin Mary first, followed my the religious and or congregation."
From the Ritual of the Order, promulgated May 13th, 1989
Fr. Stevens,
Interesting. What Order is this legislation for?
Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy
The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, given papal approval 17th of Jan., 1235, by Pope Gregory IX. orderofmercy.org.
Ah, the Mercedarians. Of course. Lovely habit by the way. St. Peter Nolesco, pray for us.
Thanks for the article; it brings back some memories. I, too, witnessed a Salve procession in Bologna, but at the time I didn't know that that's where it all began. Thanks also for clearing up the origins of the tune. I'd wondered about that and heard different theories.
In 1960 or so, it was decreed for the nuns that we were no longer allowed to hold the Salve Procession in CHOIR because of our custom of Expostion of the Blessed Sacrament. They used to process up to the grille, stay there and then go back. It really wasn't a procession. So, since most of the US monasteries have this custom (unlike in Europe) most stopped the Salve Procession. However, over time it was picked up again in various ways. Some monasteries process into Choir BEFORE Compline, other process OUT of Choir to a designated shrine of Our Lady making sure someone stays in Choir while the rest go out. They then return singing the O Lumen.
Due to the fact that we have 4 older sisters who can't process and would then miss the Salve we only do the Procession Saturday nights. The Litany BVM is done on the 1st Sat of the month.
Fr. A, I don't know if we were doing this when last you came but we usually don't do the procession if a friar is visiting.
Dear Sister,
No, during my visits, I do not remember a procession. What you say is very interesting. The nature of cloister makes it hard in any case to adapt the original procession (to the people's church) for nuns' use. Perpetual adoration makes it even more complex.
I would very much appreciate it, when you ever found time, if were you to put together a summary of the history of the Salve and rituals connected among the nuns. I am sure readers here would enjoy it, or, perhaps more, at Dominican Liturgy.
Email me about his if you are interested. Also, if you want a copy of the Compline booklet with corrections (incl. a missing line of the O Lumen!).
I heard (or read) somewhere the rather delightful story that the habit of kneeling at the Eia Ergo was introduced because Our Lady was seen kneeling at those words before God.
Aren't there also antiphons to other saints sung at the end of compline? I have heard of one to St. Hyacinth sung (apparently) in Poland, I am not sure whether with or without a procession.
Dear Kiran,
Yes, there are a number of legends about the introduction of various rites during the Salve, and that is one of them.
Yes, there a good number of Processional chants for various Dominican saints, including St. Hyacinth. You can see these at "Dominican Liturgy" ("homepage" after my name below) in the Processional. It can be consulted in PDF and downloaded on the left side bar under Dominican Liturgical Resources.
Fr. Augustine, how does the procession end? It seems pretty awkward suddenly ending it after the O Lumen procession at our parish.
L,
It ends with the friars back in their stalls in choir for the verses and collect. The prior (or hedom) then says the "Animae fidelium" and office ends. C'est toute.
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