Green Vestments!
On this, the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, for the first time since January 24th (The Third Sunday after Epiphany), we see the priest wearing green vestments.
The color of the vestments that a priest wears on a given day is (strictly) determined by the Liturgy, specifically, by the Mass he will say.
There are 18 Gregorian Masses (plus the Requiem). Each of these consists of a Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and Ite Missa Est. Taken together, these are referred to as the Commons, or as a Kyriale. The choice of which Kyriale we will use is influenced (not always strictly determined) by the Mass the priest says on that day. Some broad generalizations:
- Black is used at the Requiem Mass, and so the Commons would come directly from the Requiem Mass.
- Violet is used throughout Advent and Lent and that normally means Mass XVII (designated Sundays of Advent and Lent).
- White is used for feasts, and that usually means Mass IV or Mass VIII (each of these is designated For Ordinary Feasts).
- Some feasts have greater solemnity. Gold is used as a substitute for white on solemn feasts, and that calls for Mass II (designated For Solemn Feasts).
- Rose is only used twice, once during Advent and once during Lent, and that means Mass XVII.
- Green is used for the long stretch of Sundays after Pentecost, fully half of the year, unless the Sunday also happens to be a feast. Thus, when you see the priest wearing green, you should expect to hear Mass XI (designated For Sundays throughout the Year).
Two noteworthy exceptions:
- For Marian feasts, at which the priest will wear white or gold, we will sing Mass IX (designated For Feasts of the Blessed Virgin).
- During Eastertide, the priest will wear white or gold and we will sing Mass I (designated In Paschal Time).
There are 6 Gregorian Credos, the selection of which is fairly arbitrary.
And so, on the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, with the priest wearing green, we did, indeed, sing Mass XI. And we sang Credo I, which goes well musically with Mass XI.
There are several different Prefaces, and which one Father will sing is likewise strictly determined by the Liturgy. The Preface of the Holy Trinity is designated For Sundays throughout the Year, and so, in general, if the priest is wearing green, you will hear him sing that particular Preface.
June is the month of the Sacred Heart, and thus, we sang the Processional, To Christ the Prince of Peace, and the Communion, Cor Arca, in honor of the Sacred Heart.
July will be the Month of the Precious Blood, and in anticipation of that, we sang Glory be to Jesus for the Recessional, which is also quite fitting for the Sacred Heart.
And of course, we sang Stella Coeli Extirpavit at the Offertory. Please God, soon enough, we will drop that from the repertoire.