What are the sollemnitatibus maioribus?
  • ARC_Jols
    Posts: 29
    The Antiphonale Romanum II (2009) has some tones for I and II Vespers "In sollemnitatibus maioribus" and says in parentheses (Nativitatas Domini, Epiphania, Ascensio). Are those the only major solemnities? Are there more? Which are they?

    Thank you all for your help.
  • smvanroodesmvanroode
    Posts: 967
    I think the sollemnitatibus maioribus are Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension and Pentecost, the solemnities that are the back bone of the liturgical year. Then there are the solemnities of the Lord (Trinity, Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart and Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe), and all other solemnities. A more detailed hierarchy of liturgical celebrations is given in the liturgical calendar.

    The reason Easter and Pentecost are not mentioned in AR II is because the section you are referring to is about the tones for the optional Benedicamus Domino as dimissio (p. 763). But Easter and Pentecost have an obligatory dimissio with double alleluia (p. 762).
    Thanked by 4CHGiffen GerardH Andrew_Malton sdtalley3
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