Cistercian Liturgy of the Hours?

[TimothyH]

Anyone know of a source for the Liturgy of the Hours as practiced by the Cistercians (Trappists)?

I’m not as much interested in the music as I am the readings, psalms and such but wouldn’t mind at all if the music were included.

Thanks and peace.

-Tim-

 

[Little_One0307]

If you cannot find anyone to answer this question, I am sure that a Trappist monastery will not mind you contacting them. New Melloray or Our Lady of Gethsemni come to mind.

I know a Trappist priest and I will ask him next time I see him.

God Bless.

 

[Bookcat]

I imagine that each Monastery does their own…or follow the Roman.

 

[stpetric]

These days it varies house to house. Most in the U.S. pray in English, using a wide range of musical styles.

There *was *formerly a standard Cistercian office, which was essentially that of the Rule of St Benedict, published jointly by the Strict Observance (Trappist) and Common Observance Cistercians. It was in both Breviary (text only) and Antiphonale (with chant notation) forms; those books are pretty hard to come by. Cistercian chant is somewhat simpler than conventional Gregorian chant, but recognizably of the same musical idiom.

As in many monastic houses, some Cistercian communities have pretty much assembled their own office books; some use something similar to the Liturgy of the Hours. The traditional Cistercian office differs from the traditional Benedictine office primarily in the hymns. The very earliest Cistercians wanted to abide by the literal text of the Rule, so where the Rule specifies an “Ambrosian” hymn, the Cistercians wanted to use only hymns that they understood to be clearly written by St Ambrose. Therefore, the Cistercian office has fewer hymns but uses some of them with much greater frequency than the Benedictine office.

In recent editions before the Second Vatican Council, the Cistercian office concluded with a commemoration of Mary: The “Sub tuum praesidium” every day at Lauds (except on Marian feast days); Salve Regina after Compline every day throughout the year; the conventional seasonal Marian antiphons at Vespers (Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina Caelorum, and Regina caeli); and “O holy Mary, help thou the suffering…” at Vespers during the rest of the year.

This question is close to my heart, as I have been an “office addict” for more than 30 years, and I spent eight months as a postulant in a Cistercian abbey!

 

[TimothyH]

These days it varies house to house. Most in the U.S. pray in English, using a wide range of musical styles.

There *was *formerly a standard Cistercian office, which was essentially that of the Rule of St Benedict, published jointly by the Strict Observance (Trappist) and Common Observance Cistercians. It was in both Breviary (text only) and Antiphonale (with chant notation) forms; those books are pretty hard to come by. Cistercian chant is somewhat simpler than conventional Gregorian chant, but recognizably of the same musical idiom.

As in many monastic houses, some Cistercian communities have pretty much assembled their own office books; some use something similar to the Liturgy of the Hours. The traditional Cistercian office differs from the traditional Benedictine office primarily in the hymns. The very earliest Cistercians wanted to abide by the literal text of the Rule, so where the Rule specifies an “Ambrosian” hymn, the Cistercians wanted to use only hymns that they understood to be clearly written by St Ambrose. Therefore, the Cistercian office has fewer hymns but uses some of them with much greater frequency than the Benedictine office.

In recent editions before the Second Vatican Council, the Cistercian office concluded with a commemoration of Mary: The “Sub tuum praesidium” every day at Lauds (except on Marian feast days); Salve Regina after Compline every day throughout the year; the conventional seasonal Marian antiphons at Vespers (Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina Caelorum, and Regina caeli); and “O holy Mary, help thou the suffering…” at Vespers during the rest of the year.

This question is close to my heart, as I have been an “office addict” for more than 30 years, and I spent eight months as a postulant in a Cistercian abbey!

stpetric

Thank you SO much for your reply. I spent a weekend at vocations retreat at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia and it was a deeply moving experience. I thought I was there to discern a call to the diaconate but wound up leaving part of my heart at the monastery. The whole environment was that of peace and it was a profound experience.

I’m not sure I understand all of your terms but the general gist of what you say makes sense. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit uses a two week cycle and combines midmorning, midday and afternoon prayer into one midday prayer. I do remember something having to do with Mary in the Office, perhapse it was on the Saturday, but cannot be specific about what it was.

What moved me was not the technical aspect of the prayers nor the specific style music, but the spiritual nature of it all, which quite frankly, I was not prepared for. That they don’t use the Glory Be but instead say “The God who is, who was, and who is to come at the end of the ages” kinda blew me away as did the unhurried nature of the Mass. I have “Now in the fading light of day” printed and hung in a frame above my bed and pray it every night before I close my eyes. God definitely brought me there for a reason, to see the spiritual side of our faith, something I wasn’t prepared to acknowledge, let alone embrace.

Anyway, thank you for your insight, and to everyone else. I’m 47 years old with elementary school children who I raise on my own. When I discussed the requirments for joining the Monastary, the vocations director said, “It aint gonna happen.” So I am considering becoming a lay associate.

The time spent singing the Office with the Brother’s was amazing. I will contact the house directly and see what they have to offer.

PAX

-Tim-

 

[Matthew_Holford]

You may find the attached document useful. It’s the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance’s (“Trappists”) Ritual for use in North America. It has a section of the Divine Office.