It rained gently on and off through the night...

And has continued since I've been awake. Dawn is hidden behind the clouds, alas, although I quite like the rainy morning. Have been listening to Holy Mass of the Most Sacred Heart since finishing with Lauds at about half past four. 

Canon Guelfucci is doing announcements, and then Fr de Labarre will homilize. In fact, Mons N. homilized; my first reaction was that, well, Canon G. has finally been sacked. But since Confirmation is celebrated today, perhaps Mons N. has been prosing on about that and so forth. 

A lovely hymn at the entrance of the clerics, the Cor, arca legem cóntinens, written by 'the Piarist Filippo Bruni (†1771) for the Office of the Sacred Heart decreed by Clément XIII in 1765'. The more often I hear the Alleluia-- the Tollite iugum meum that the Neumz writer damned with faint praise on Friday, the feast itself-- the more I appreciate it, whether this is because I reflexively dismiss nonsense coming from the perspective of the holy and glorious Pauline Rite, over-reacting, or because of the tone of righteous superiority adopted by the Neumz author (who is, doubtless, an expert in the chant, so far as that goes) or, perhaps, because I really do simply like the Tollite iugum meum, who knows. The sequence Fas sit, Christe, mystéria, from the Proper of Paris, eh-- it is wonderful that it is sung of course. And I've gotten used to the Schola and M. Ratovondrahety at the organ alternating strophes. I do wish, however, that whoever recites the text during the strophes of the organ would stop that. It looks as if M. Sebastien Robles, the lutenist/guitarist, whose name alas I cannot recall at the moment, was to have performed the Oremus of Francisco Tárrega; this didn't happen... perhaps that program note was meant for next Sunday when the 6th anniversary as pastor of Canon Guelfucci is celebrated and the 20th anniversary of the Schola Sainte-Cécile. And the 'simple versions' of the Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei from Charpentier's Messe à quatre choeurs were trialed again this Sunday. The Benedictus seems to be a bit tricky. 

Post Tertiam. Am listening to half an hour of Szczepan Kończal's recital of Mozart and Chopin-- these Sunday programs are usually made from the Chopin birthplace at Żelazowa Wola but this is from the 'Chopin Museum'. Don't know if that is also on the Żelazowa Wola estate or is in Warsaw, eh. I could ask in the chat but, again, eh. Vespers in 15 minutes but am guessing that with Confirmations earlier the start time will be delayed-- on ordinary Sundays delays are frequent enough.

The hymns of the Office were re-arranged, presumably when the new Mass texts were imposed in the reign of Pius XI. Originally, the order was Auctor beate saeculi (First and Second Vespers), En ut superba criminum (Matins), and Cor, arca legem continens (Lauds). In the Divino afflatu Office, we are given En ut superba criminum (both Vespers), Auctor beate saeculi (Matins), and Cor, arca legem continens (Lauds). All three hymns were composed by Father Bruni.

Ante Vesperas. Another period of gentle rain, steadily falling, began twenty minutes ago; all day thus far, on and off. If it is going to be grey and damp, then I prefer grey and rain falling rather than grey and damp only. I've already had two naps and I could easily have extended both the length and number. And it is warm, much closer to 70 degrees than to 50, not chilly at all: the entire day a warm bath. I remember the hot tub at the public pool: its heat would send me to sleep in three minutes, if I allowed it to do so, but I have no doubt that I'd simmer to the point of death in that. 

It is also the feast of Saint Felicola of Rome (4th century), of Saint Eulogius of Alexandria (7th century), and of Saint Fandila of Cordoba (9th century).

V. Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum. R. Deo grátias.

LDVM