Divine Office this week

[Drake_Tungsten]

During this time of mourning for the Pope, should we be praying the Office for the Dead for the repose of his soul? If so, for the full nine days of mourning?
I suspect that this is likely to be a personal decision, and if so, what others who pray the Office are doing.

I prayed the Office for the Dead yesterday (superceding the Office for the Octave of Easter) - just seemed like the right thing to do. But this morning, I went with the Office for the Annunciation, per the calendar. I’m thinking about praying the Office for the Dead on all of the “open” days during the nine days of mourning, but am open to being corrected.

Thanks!

 

[Benedictus]

Normally the Office of the Dead is said in addition to the regular Office and not instead of it.

 

[Brendan]

The USCCB guidlines for Liturgies during a Time without a Pope state

Liturgy of the Hours
It should also be kept in mind that either Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer of the Office of the
Dead (paragraphs 348 - 395 of the Order of Christian Funerals) may be appropriately celebrated
for the deceased Pope using the prayers mentioned above. Following the reading, a brief homily
may be given. After the concluding prayer and before the dismissal, the Diocesan Bishop may
speak in remembrance of the deceased Pope.

It would seem that the Office of the Dead might appropriatly be celebrated on any open day, in place of the regular Morning or Evening Office.

In our parish, we said the the Office of the Dead on Sunday evening, and will do so again on the day of the Pope’s funeral (both Morning and Evening )

 

[Benedictus]

Brendan:

It would seem that the Office of the Dead might appropriatly be celebrated on any open day, in place of the regular Morning or Evening Office.

I did check the USCCB’s liturgical notes, but I don’t think that it indicates that the Office of the Dead should be celebrated instead of the Office of the day. Unless one is bound by an obligation to recite the Office (e.g., clerics and religious), one is certainly free to just use the Office of the Dead.

I don’t really see this issue addressed in the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, except maybe in Chapter III, but it’s still not clear to me. The traditional practice has been to recite the Office of the Dead in addition to the Office of the day.

 

[cwakelee]

At what other times is the office of the dead allowed?