Exception:  Sunday Psalms on the excepted Feasts.

In applying the general rule to Sundays and week days, it will be seen that the Psalter contains two sets of Psalms for Lauds.  The use of the two sets is as follows:—­

Sundays: 
   (i) Throughout the year:  first set of Psalms.

  (ii) Sundays from Septuagesima to Easter:  second set of Psalms.

Ferias:  The first set of Psalms is to be used on:—­

   (i) Ferias throughout the year, not including those in Advent,
       Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima weeks.

  (ii) Ferias in Paschal time.

 (iii) Feasts at any season of the year.

  (iv) Vigils of Christmas and Epiphany.

The second set of Psalms is to be used on:—­

   (i) Ferias of Advent.

  (ii) Ferias from Septuagesima to Wednesday in Holy Week, inclusive.

 (iii) Vigils (common) outside Paschal time, when the Office of Vigil
       is said (New Psalter and Its Uses, p. 188).

On Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the Psalms of the Feria are to be said.  But the Canticle of Moses (Deut, 33) is not said on Holy Saturday.

Antiphons.  As a general rule antiphons of the current day of the week are to be said.

Exceptions. (1) On excepted Feasts, (2) non-excepted Feasts which have proper antiphons, (3) Holy Week has special antiphons, (4) Six ferias before Christmas have special antiphons.

In Paschal time, all psalms and the canticles are recited under one antiphon.

Antiphon of Benedictus (1) Sunday antiphons are proper. (2) Ferias throughout the year have antiphons of current feria.  But Ferias in Advent, and in Lent, in Passiontide, Paschal time and September Ember days have proper antiphons. (3) Feasts have antiphons from proper or from common.

Capitulum (Title XXIX.). Etymology, meaning and synonyms.

The word capitulum comes from the Latin, and means a little chapter, a heading, a beginning, an abridgment, because this little chapter is a little lesson, a brief extract from Sacred Scripture, the head or the beginning of the Epistle of the Mass of the Feast (Gavantus, Bona).  It is found in every Hour, except Matins.  It is known by other names, the summarium, collectio, collatio, lectio brevis, epistoletto, lectiuncula, Versiculus brevis.

Antiquity.  Some authors hold that this usage of reading a brief extract from Sacred Scripture is of Jewish origin.  For, the Jews were accustomed to interpose brief readings from Scripture prose in their psalm chanting service.  The capitulum is found in Christian services of the fourth century; and St. Ambrose (340-397) is said to have instituted the capitula of Terce, Sext and None.  This new practice spread quickly and several councils recommended or ordered the usage—­e.g., the Council of Agde In 506 A.D.