Gospel Canticle antiphon for memorials

[drforjc]

From the GILH:

1. The antiphons for the Canticles of Zechariah and of Mary are taken, during Ordinary Time, from the Proper of Seasons, if they are given there; if not, they are taken from the current week and day of the psalter. On solemnities and feasts they are taken from the proper if they are given there; if not, they are taken from the common. On memorials without proper antiphons the antiphon may be taken at will either from the common or from the current week.

Question:

In the one volume Christian Prayer, some memorials have antiphons listed for the Gospel Canticles that do not appear in the 4 volume set. An example would be Paul Miki and comp, 6 February, page 1089 in my CBP version of CP. For Lauds, it uses “Blessed are those who suffer persecution…” which perhaps not coincidentally is the one found in the Common of Several Martyrs. Vespers appears to be the same.

Vol 3 of the LOTH does not include this antiphon in the proper of saints.

Is the 4 vol set the “gold standard” as to whether the antiphon is proper or not? Are the ones in CP really just “suggestions” that we use the commons?

 

[FrDavid96]

From the GILH:

Question:

In the one volume Christian Prayer, some memorials have antiphons listed for the Gospel Canticles that do not appear in the 4 volume set. An example would be Paul Miki and comp, 6 February, page 1089 in my CBP version of CP. For Lauds, it uses “Blessed are those who suffer persecution…” which perhaps not coincidentally is the one found in the Common of Several Martyrs. Vespers appears to be the same.

Vol 3 of the LOTH does not include this antiphon in the proper of saints.

Is the 4 vol set the “gold standard” as to whether the antiphon is proper or not? Are the ones in CP really just “suggestions” that we use the commons?

It took a while to digest all that.

The answers are:

Yes, and yes.

(more to follow).

 

[FrDavid96]

…

Is the 4 vol set the “gold standard” as to whether the antiphon is proper or not? …

Piece by piece.

The answer is yes.

The 4-volume set is the most complete.

However,

1. most memorials simply do not have proper antiphons.
2. if a day (regardless of rank) does actually have proper antiphon(s), then it will still be printed in the 1-volume book.

 

[porthos11]

From the GILH:

Question:

In the one volume Christian Prayer, some memorials have antiphons listed for the Gospel Canticles that do not appear in the 4 volume set. An example would be Paul Miki and comp, 6 February, page 1089 in my CBP version of CP. For Lauds, it uses “Blessed are those who suffer persecution…” which perhaps not coincidentally is the one found in the Common of Several Martyrs. Vespers appears to be the same.

Vol 3 of the LOTH does not include this antiphon in the proper of saints.

Is the 4 vol set the “gold standard” as to whether the antiphon is proper or not? Are the ones in CP really just “suggestions” that we use the commons?

I would treat both editions as equally authoritative, and therefore, depending on which book I’m reading, that’s what I use (CP has longer MP and EP readings in many places, and the hymn options can differ in CP, which I like).

For Memorials, the Ordinary’s rubrics for volumes III and IV tell us to use the Commons if there are no proper antiphons for the Benedictus and Magnificat. However, the General Instruction and the accompanying instruction cards tell us that either the Commons or Weekday may be used if there is no Proper antiphon. Further, in volumes I and II, the Ordinary’s rubrics tell us, if there are no proper antiphons, to use those in the Proper of Seasons.

Personally, given the GILH, the instruction cards and the rubrics, I would say that generally, you have the option. But given the differences in the Ordinary, I tend to vary my practice.

In Ordinary Time, if there is no Proper antiphon, I take it from the Common.
During Advent, Lent and Easter, if there is no proper antiphon, I take it from the Proper of Seasons.

I would just consider both editions the “gold standard” and follow the principles according to the edition you hold, and consider all licit. Therefore, I would say, that if the book you hold has a Proper antiphon, be it one of the four volumes or CP, recite the proper antiphon, as per the rubrics even if the four-volume edition does not have it.

 

[FrDavid96]

… Are the ones in CP really just “suggestions” that we use the commons?

Yes. They’re just suggestions.

Those antiphons come from the commons. They also print an explanatory note to tell you which common the publisher chose. The reason for this is because sometimes there’s more than one option.

Example: February 3 is St Blase, bishop and martyr. One can choose the antiphons from either common (martyr or pastor).

Remember that on optional memorials, the antiphons of the week may also be used, so the printed antiphon really is just a suggestion. It might be better to think of it as just a helpful reference. I don’t think the publisher is trying to say “we suggest you use this, not the weekly” but simply printing it there to make it easier to find.

 

[drforjc]

The funny thing is the rubric given in the Ordinary differs even between volumes of the LOTH, and the online paragraph I cited in the GILH differs from the one printed at the beginning of my vol 1 of the LOTH. Maybe they are different editions, although I did purchase them all at the same time.

It looks to me like this has been revised multiple times. I’ve always understood there to be an option as given in GILH, but the printed Ordinaries in my 4 vol actually disagree with each other. Go figure!

 

[FrDavid96]

The funny thing is the rubric given in the Ordinary differs even between volumes of the LOTH, and the online paragraph I cited in the GILH differs from the one printed at the beginning of my vol 1 of the LOTH. Maybe they are different editions, although I did purchase them all at the same time.

It looks to me like this has been revised multiple times. I’ve always understood there to be an option as given in GILH, but the printed Ordinaries in my 4 vol actually disagree with each other. Go figure!

What exactly do they say? How do they differ?

 

[drforjc]

I’ll reply when I get a free moment-- gotta grab both volumes and transcribe them into this post.

 

[drforjc]

Alrighty then.

From the Ordinary of my LOTH Vol 1, p. 654 Morning Prayer:Gospel Canticle:

In the celebrations of saints, unless there is a proper antiphon, the antiphon is taken from the Commons; for the memorials, the antiphon is taken from the current weekday.

From the Ordinary of my LOTH Vol 3, p. 656 Morning Prayer: Gospel Canticle:

In the celebrations of saints, unless there is a proper antiphon, the antiphon is taken from the Commons.

(It does not differentiate “memorials” from “celebrations” as does vol. 1.

From the Ordinary of my CP, p. 691 Morning Prayer: Gospel Canticle:

In the celebrations of saints, unless there is a proper antiphon, the antiphon is taken from the Commons

From the online GILH I quoted earlier:

1. The antiphons for the Canticles of Zechariah and of Mary are taken, during Ordinary Time, from the Proper of Seasons, if they are given there; if not, they are taken from the current week and day of the psalter. On solemnities and feasts they are taken from the proper if they are given there; if not, they are taken from the common. On memorials without proper antiphons the antiphon may be taken at will either from the common or from the current week.

I may have slightly misspoken earlier, the GILH published at the front of my LOTH vol 1, p. 62 differs only very slightly from that, with a few slight wording changes;nothing substantive.

Nonetheless, it sure looks to me like the Ordinary conflicts with the GILH on whether there is a choice of the commons or weekday when there is no proper antiphon for a particular memorial.

 

[porthos11]

Alrighty then.

From the Ordinary of my LOTH Vol 1, p. 654 Morning Prayer:Gospel Canticle:

From the Ordinary of my LOTH Vol 3, p. 656 Morning Prayer: Gospel Canticle:

(It does not differentiate “memorials” from “celebrations” as does vol. 1.

From the Ordinary of my CP, p. 691 Morning Prayer: Gospel Canticle:

From the online GILH I quoted earlier:

I may have slightly misspoken earlier, the GILH published at the front of my LOTH vol 1, p. 62 differs only very slightly from that, with a few slight wording changes;nothing substantive.

Nonetheless, it sure looks to me like the Ordinary conflicts with the GILH on whether there is a choice of the commons or weekday when there is no proper antiphon for a particular memorial.

Don’t forget the rubric in CP that also reads, right before that:

“During the seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, the antiphon is taken from the Proper of Seasons.”

IF one reads that as to include memorials within those seasons, then the CP rubrics jive well with the four-volume.

However, personally, I do not consider the rubrics and the GILH as conflicting. Rather, what I think is that if it’s allowed by some place authoritative, be it GILH or rubrics, then it’s allowed. I believe that in where there is no proper antiphon, it can be taken from the weekday or Common according to the pray-er’s own choice year round. In practice, however, I tend to do what the Ordinary recommends: during Ordinary Time, I take any non-proper antiphons from the Common, and for Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, from the Proper of Seasons.

 

[drforjc]

It would be interesting to know why these aren’t more uniform,though. One set of comprehensive instructions would make things a lot less confusing.

 

[porthos11]

It would be interesting to know why these aren’t more uniform,though. One set of comprehensive instructions would make things a lot less confusing.

Because it’s Catholic liturgics, where inconsistency and vagueness thrive.

Fortunately, the principle is in place, generally speaking, wherein we follow the least burdensome interpretation of law.

We Westerners have a very different thought process with regards to law from that of the Romans.

I find it uniform enough, and if I use one book, I follow whatever the rubrics are in that book and consider them authoritative.

 

[FrDavid96]

It would be interesting to know why these aren’t more uniform,though. One set of comprehensive instructions would make things a lot less confusing.

It may have to do with the way the books are divided.

Volumes 3 and 4 are Ordinary Time. Volumes 1 and 2 are privileged seasons.

Each volume provides only the instructions applicable to the season that matches that particular book.

So, Volume 1 is saying “use the seasonal antiphons because if you’re using this book, it’s Advent” (because the weekday antiphon is going to be seasonal and that’s important)

Volume 3 is saying “use the antiphon from the common of a martyr because if you’re using this book, it’s Ordinary Time” (because the weekday antiphon is going to be too generic).

That might explain the difference in the explanations. At least that’s my theory.

On the other hand, Christian Prayer contains the whole year in a single volume, so it has to address the rubrics for the entire year all at once.

Thoughts?

 

[porthos11]

It may have to do with the way the books are divided.

Volumes 3 and 4 are Ordinary Time. Volumes 1 and 2 are privileged seasons.

Each volume provides only the instructions applicable to the season that matches that particular book.

So, Volume 1 is saying “use the seasonal antiphons because if you’re using this book, it’s Advent” (because the weekday antiphon is going to be seasonal and that’s important)

Volume 3 is saying “use the antiphon from the common of a martyr because if you’re using this book, it’s Ordinary Time” (because the weekday antiphon is going to be too generic).

That might explain the difference in the explanations. At least that’s my theory.

On the other hand, Christian Prayer contains the whole year in a single volume, so it has to address the rubrics for the entire year all at once.

Thoughts?

Jives with my thoughts too. It’s the seasons.

 

[drforjc]

Because it’s Catholic liturgics, where inconsistency and vagueness thrive.

Yes, there’s always that to take into consideration.

Yes, I think the GILH permission to choose between the Commons or weekday probably would be hard to argue against. I don’t have a set pattern; I’ve gone both ways.

 

[Evan]

Another thing to consider is that they may have been published in different years. More saints have been canonized, others have been elevated in particular regions, etc. So that may explain some of the differences also.

 

[porthos11]

Another thing to consider is that they may have been published in different years. More saints have been canonized, others have been elevated in particular regions, etc. So that may explain some of the differences also.

No, this is not what the OP is talking about. The four-volume and CP still bear the 1970’s publication date and do not account for saints canonized since then. Those are taken care of by the Supplement.