Common of Saints

Common of Saints. The Common of Saints is not organized by the Calendar of feast days but by a hierarchical classification of importance, beginning with the Feast for One or More Apostles, followed by the Common of Martyrs, Confessors, Virgin Martyrs, Virgins, and Holy women, with various subdivisions in each category. The first leaf displayed here from the Llangattock Breviary represents the Common of Saints for One Martyr, at Matins. The full office for Matins is divided into three Nocturnes of three lessons each, numbered consecutively 1-9. The lessons here number 1-6, representing the readings for the First and Second Nocturne.