Help me to learn to pray the LOTH

[maryj]

If you’re using the same edition of Christian Prayer that I’ve been using, the Canticle of Mary is on page 696 (under “The soul rejoices in the Lord”), and the Canticle of Zechariah is on page 691 (under “The Messiah and his forerunner”).

maryj, when I bought my copy of Christian Prayer it came with a folded sheet of paper that says “Common Texts” and includes both canticles, plus Psalm 95, the Doxology (Glory Be) and the Te Deum Hymn. Is your copy missing this? If so then write out both canticles on a sheet of paper, fold it, and use it as a bookmark as you follow the 4 week cycle. You’ll need the Canticle of Zechariah for Morning Prayer and the Canticle of Mary for Evening Prayer every day. This will come very handy untill maybe one day you learn them by heart.

It might be a good idea to read the section “Ordinary” (page 686 in my edition) and the section “General Principles” (page 34 in my edition), as well as all the great advice on this thread .

O.K. we’re using the same book. There is no sheet, the book was a gift to someone else who gave it to me.My first ribbon is marking Sundays in ordinary time pg 624, I know that is for tomorrow. My second ribbon is on pg 691 the Messiah and His forerunner, I see the Canticle of Mary is on page 696. Next ribbon is on page 916. So we start with Lord open my lips.then the ant(in red letters) which is said then repeated with the Inviatory psalm (is it always psalm 95?) which is located on page 688. If correct then what is next? Thank you all for the help, I’m feeling STUPID right now, but I’m sure I’ll get this.

 

[Philothea53]

AJV suggested I post the page numbers for Evening Prayer for today, Saturday. If this is your first time praying today the beginning would be slightly different but that can be tackled at another time. I hope this isn’t too much information And I am open to correction if any errors are found.

WEEK IV SUNDAY Evening Prayer I

STAND
Begins with sign of the cross and *God come… ***Psalter ** Page 921
(see Ordinary page 694 for full wording)

Hymn according to the Psalter Page 921
#39 page 1522 or #182 page 1586

SIT
Continue with Psalms Psalter page 921, 922
each Psalm follows this order:
Antiphon
Psalm or Canticle
Doxology (Glory to the Father…(with profound bow)
Psalm Prayer
Antiphon

Canticle (follows format as above) Psalter page 923

Reading Psalter page 924

*Responsory *Psalter page 924

STAND
Canticle of Mary antiphon **Proper **page 624

Canticle of Mary with sign of the cross at beginning Ordinary page 696
-the Canticle of Mary is also called the Gospel Canticle or Magnificat.
(follows Antiphon, Canticle, Doxology, Psalm Prayer Antiphon format)

Intercessions Psalter page 925

*Our Father *Psalter page 925

Closing prayer Proper page 625

Conclusion (Dismissal) with sign of the cross Ordinary page 698
May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Two excellent resources:
ewtn.com/expert/answers/breviary.htm
chastitysf.com/loh.htm

 

[Philothea53]

Today (Saturday) is an optional memorial, however I will give the page numbers for Morning Prayer as though it is not. It’s easier while learning to stick with the basics. After a week or so or when you feel comfortable, then you can add in and substitute the prayers for Solemnities, Memorials and Feasts.

WEEK III SATURDAY Morning Prayer

STAND
Begins with sign of the cross and Invitatory Psalter Page 916
(see Ordinary page 686 for full wording and below for explanation)

Hymn according to the Psalter Page 916
#8 page 1510 or #12 page 1512

SIT
Continue with Psalm Psalter page 916
follow this order:
Antiphon
Psalm or Canticle
Doxology (Glory to the Father…(with profound bow)
Psalm Prayer
Antiphon

Canticle (follows format as above) Psalter page 917

Psalm Psalter page 918

Reading Psalter page 919

Responsory Psalter page 919

STAND
Canticle of Zechariah antiphon Psalter page 919

Canticle of Zechariah with sign of the cross at beginning Ordinary page 691-the Canticle of Zechariah is also called the Gospel Canticle or Benedictus
(follows Antiphon, Canticle, Doxology, Psalm Prayer, Antiphon format)

Intercessions Psalter page 919

Our Father Psalter page 920

Closing prayer Psalter page 920

*Conclusion (Dismissal) *with sign of the cross Ordinary page 698
May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

---

*The Invitatory is the start of your prayer day. If you do Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, Morning Prayer is preceded by the Invitatory. If you only do Evening Prayer, *it * is preceded by the Invitatory.

The Invitatoy consists of:
*Lord, open my lips……*B]Ordinary page 686

*Psalm Antiphon *Psalter page 916 (Come, let us worship God who holds….)

Psalm 95 Ordinary page 688 (note: you may at your discretion substitute Psalm 100 (page 763), 67 (page 820), or 24 (page 728). Although if any of these occur in this day’s prayer you always revert to Psalm 95

Glory to the Father with profound bow

Psalm Antiphon Psalter page 916 repeated (The psalm antiphon is to be repeated after each strophe but that is usually not done when praying alone. It is done more when praying as part of a group.)

• When you start your prayer day with the Invitatory, you skip God, come to my assistance…

 

[Tepeyac]

So we start with Lord open my lips.then the ant(in red letters) which is said then repeated with the Inviatory psalm (is it always psalm 95?) which is located on page 688. If correct then what is next? Thank you all for the help, I’m feeling STUPID right now, but I’m sure I’ll get this.

Hi maryj, Philothea posted the order for Week III Saturday Morning Prayer just above, with page numbers. As she wrote, the Invitatory doesn’t always have to be Psalm 95. It can be Ps. 100(p. 763), Ps. 67 (p. 820), or Ps. 24 (p. 728). However…

I really think you should stick to Psalm 95 at least for a while until you get the hang of this. Since you’ll be praying it everyday I’d also write it on the sheet of paper together with the Canticles of Mary and Zechariah as I suggested above, or if there isn’t enough space on a seperate sheet to keep folded in the book.

I think it would be a really good idea if you ordered the St. Joseph Guide for Christian Prayer 2007, which you can get from here:

catholicbookpublishing.com/ShowProduct.aspx?ProductID=311&DepartmentID=11

Basically, it does what Philothea did, laying out the page numbers for each day. Just read the introduction so you can understand the abbreviations. Don’t worry if this seems like a crutch. It’s very helpful, will keep you on track, and get you started right away.

Give yourself time, seperate from prayer, to just explore the Christian Prayer book. Browse through it so you can become familiar and comfortable with it. Then it won’t seem as intimidating as it did before .

 

[maryj]

I THINK I may get this. I will follow your great instructions and make myself a cheat sheet. I’ve read through the morning prayers for a regular week day with Philotheas list. It took me a couple of times but I think I’ve got it. THINK being the optional word here. I will give mornings a try at first before I try to add evenings. I WILL be back with more questions I’m sure of that. Thank you all for your time in this matter.

 

[Philothea53]

I am still hoping someone can help me with the four volume prayers, specifically on Memorials. It seems like those are the most confusing when you are given options of Proper of Saints or Commons. For instance, St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe on August 14 was especially frustrating for me. St. Dominic on August 8 and on August 9 we had the option of Ordinary Time OR St. Teresa Benedicata of the Cross.

If someone would be so kind as to lay out page numbers as I did for maryj with the one volume Christian Prayer, I sure would appreciate it, especially for one where there are choices that can be made.

[SIGN]Help??[/SIGN]

 

[AJV]

I am still hoping someone can help me with the four volume prayers, specifically on Memorials. It seems like those are the most confusing when you are given options of Proper of Saints or Commons. For instance, St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe on August 14 was especially frustrating for me. St. Dominic on August 8 and on August 9 we had the option of Ordinary Time OR St. Teresa Benedicata of the Cross.

If someone would be so kind as to lay out page numbers as I did for maryj with the one volume Christian Prayer, I sure would appreciate it, especially for one where there are choices that can be made.

[SIGN]Help??[/SIGN]

I don’t mind- do you want them for tomorrow?

The problem with some of the newer saints is that the Second Reading and Responsory have not been translated into English. Even worse is when there are specific days like Holy Name of Jesus- for which there is no Common. Spoils the whole thing

The way the OoR works is:

The psalms are usually always from the weekday except for Solemnities and Feasts.

Likewise the First Reading is usually always taken from the Proper of Seasons (Xday in the X Week of Ordinary Time) except for Solemnities and Feasts when it is either Proper or from the Common…

The hymn is taken from the weekday on weekdays and for saints from the Common *

The Second Reading is taken from the Proper of Seasons (Xday in the X Week of Ordinary Time) on feriae (no saint observed). It is taken from the Proper of Saints on saints days.

Optional Memorials are exactly what they are: optional. If you observe it, you follow the rules as you would for a saint. If you don’t, you follow the rules as on a feria

• for memorias you can also take it from weekdays but I prefer to follow one rule only.
  .

 

[Philothea53]

I don’t mind- do you want them for tomorrow?

The problem with some of the newer saints is that the Second Reading and Responsory have not been translated into English. Even worse is when there are specific days like Holy Name of Jesus- for which there is no Common. Spoils the whole thing.

That would be great! Thank you! And for such a QUICK response

May I also ask a question? How would you pray this Saturday, the 25th? I get so confused where there are choices listed like that.

 

[AJV]

That would be great! Thank you! And for such a QUICK response

May I also ask a question? How would you pray this Saturday, the 25th? I get so confused where there are choices listed like that.

Tomorrow is St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor.

There are two choices for the Common: Doctors of the Church or Holy Men: religious. Pick one. Since we don’t have so many Doctors of the Church, I like to pick that Common when it comes.

So:
St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor.
Common is Doctors of the Church.
Psalm Week 4
20th Week in Ordinary Time

Introduction- God, come… or the Invitatory.
If the Invitatory, the antiphon is from the **Common **- page 1777 - Come let us worship the Lord, fount of all wisdom.

Then the hymn. A saint, so from the Common, turn to page 1777. The note under Office of Readings says “Hymn as in EP II, 1784”. So flip to 1784, and you can choose either “Iste Confessor” or “Faith of our fathers”.

Now the psalms. It’s not a feast or a solemnity. So the psalms will come from the weekday. In this case, Monday in psalm week 4, page 1108 -1110.

The **versicle **is always taken from the **weekday **except on feasts and solemnities. ** So turn to page 1110 - To savour your words, etc.

The** First Reading and its responsory**. Not a solemnity or a feast, so from the Proper of Seasons, Monday in the 20th Week of Ordinary Time. Page 123, Is 3:1-15.

For the Second Reading and its responsory. It is a saint’s day, so turn to the Proper of Saints, page 1333, St. Bernard. Read the Second Reading from there, and the responsory.

Concluding Prayer. It is a saint, so the prayer is connected with that. The prayer from the Proper of Saints under St. Bernard, page 1335.

** In Advent, Lent and Easter, there is a special versicle for each day in the Proper of Seasons

I hope this is clearer than mud.

 

[AJV]

May I also ask a question? How would you pray this Saturday, the 25th? I get so confused where there are choices listed like that.

For Saturday, you have 4 choices:

Feria
St. Louis
St. Joseph
Blessed Virgin Mary *

*In accordance with GILH number 240 “On ordinary Saturdays on which optional memorias are permitted, an optional memoria of the Blessed Virgin Mary with its proper reading may be celebrated in the same way”

You choose one, and then pretend that it was the only thing mandated and the other choices didn’t exist at all. And then proceed as you would normally for that option.

So, option (1)for the feria, like a normal Saturday.

Hymn from the weekday - pg 1214
Psalms from the weekday -pg 1215
Versicle from the weekday - pg 1217
First Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 145
Second Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 148
Closing Prayer - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 149

option (2) St. Louis
Common of Holy Men
Memorial

Hymn from the Common of holy men- pg 1818
Psalms from the weekday -pg 1215
Versicle from the weekday - pg 1217
First Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 145
Second Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Saints- pg 1347
Closing Prayer - from the Proper of Saints- pg 1349

option (3) St. Joseph Calasanz
Common of Pastors
Memorial

Hymn from the Common of Pastors- pg 1748
Psalms from the weekday -pg 1215
Versicle from the weekday - pg 1217
First Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 145
Second Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Saints- pg 1350
Closing Prayer - from the Proper of Saints- pg 1351

option (4) Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Special texts provided at the end of the Common of the BVM
Memorial

Hymn from page 1656- redirects to pg 1628
Psalms from the weekday -pg 1215
Versicle from the weekday - pg 1217
First Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 145
Second Reading and Resp. - from the special texts - pg 1656-1664. Choose 1.
Closing Prayer - from the special texts- pg 1668-1669. Choose 1.

 

[bjacob100]

I am presently useing Christian Prayer. I have trouble understanding when to use the Psalter for the day and useing the psalter for major feast.

Bob

 

[Gray_Sparrow]

www.universalis.com

 

[AJV]

I am presently useing Christian Prayer. I have trouble understanding when to use the Psalter for the day and useing the psalter for major feast.

Bob

For the Office of Readings, Lauds and Vespers, the psalter of the weekdays is usually used on feriae (no saints observed) and memorials of saints.

The psalms from the Common are used on feasts and solemnities.

 

[Philothea53]

For Saturday, you have 4 choices:

Feria
St. Louis
St. Joseph
Blessed Virgin Mary *

*In accordance with GILH number 240 “On ordinary Saturdays on which optional memorias are permitted, an optional memoria of the Blessed Virgin Mary with its proper reading may be celebrated in the same way”

You choose one, and then pretend that it was the only thing mandated and the other choices didn’t exist at all. And then proceed as you would normally for that option.

So, option (1)for the feria, like a normal Saturday.

Hymn from the weekday - pg 1214
Psalms from the weekday -pg 1215
Versicle from the weekday - pg 1217
First Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 145
Second Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 148
Closing Prayer - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 149

option (2) St. Louis
Common of Holy Men
Memorial

Hymn from the Common of holy men- pg 1818
Psalms from the weekday -pg 1215
Versicle from the weekday - pg 1217
First Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 145
Second Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Saints- pg 1347
Closing Prayer - from the Proper of Saints- pg 1349

option (3) St. Joseph Calasanz
Common of Pastors
Memorial

Hymn from the Common of Pastors- pg 1748
Psalms from the weekday -pg 1215
Versicle from the weekday - pg 1217
First Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 145
Second Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Saints- pg 1350
Closing Prayer - from the Proper of Saints- pg 1351

option (4) Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Special texts provided at the end of the Common of the BVM
Memorial

Hymn from page 1656- redirects to pg 1628
Psalms from the weekday -pg 1215
Versicle from the weekday - pg 1217
First Reading and Resp. - from the Proper of Seasons - pg 145
Second Reading and Resp. - from the special texts - pg 1656-1664. Choose 1.
Closing Prayer - from the special texts- pg 1668-1669. Choose 1.

You absolutely rock! Thank you so very much! I have to go out today so I’ll be back with a progress report tonight

 

[mercygate]

Yes but the difference between the old and the new is that with the new you can read the instructions at the front (bypassing all the explanation and going straight to chapter 4) and learn it (that’s how I did it). With the old system (before 1961) you read the rubrics and go “Huh!” and then you have to go and reread them again SLOWLY. And even then it’s difficult. You really NEEDED a Ordo to keep up with all the translations and commemorations and resumed lessons and whatnot. Whereas with the new one I find I can comfortably say the Office without the assistance of any Ordo most of the time. I daresay most people once they get the hang of it, could do so too.

The only thing I use the Ordo for now is to figure out where to re-enlist for Ordinary Time after Lent. The formula is in the calendar at the front of the volume, but I still scratch my head for that. I don’t buy the Ordo; I go to the St. Francis de Sales web site, which publishes it for the current week.

 

[mercygate]

I am presently useing Christian Prayer. I have trouble understanding when to use the Psalter for the day and useing the psalter for major feast.

Bob

Use the Psalter of the weekday EXCEPT for FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES. The instructions are in the Proper of Saints.

 

[dank]

I am a bit confused about what was written here about the psalms being from the weekday for Memorials. Today I prayed Lauds for St Bernard, and IIRC the proper directs us partly to Common of Doctors of the Church, which in turn partially redirects to Common of Pastors, which includes the rubric “Psalms and Canticle from Sunday Week I.” So that’s what I did, but the instructions in this thread say that we’re supposed to use the weekday for the psalms and canticle?

I’m using the single volume Christian Prayer right now.

The other thing I was wondering was: if there is a proper prayer for the day, do we say that prayer at all hours (e.g., for Daytime Prayer, or Compline) even if there is no specific direction to do that in the Ordo or Breviary?

 

[AJV]

I am a bit confused about what was written here about the psalms being from the weekday for Memorials. Today I prayed Lauds for St Bernard, and IIRC the proper directs us partly to Common of Doctors of the Church, which in turn partially redirects to Common of Pastors, which includes the rubric “Psalms and Canticle from Sunday Week I.” So that’s what I did, but the instructions in this thread say that we’re supposed to use the weekday for the psalms and canticle?

I’m using the single volume Christian Prayer right now.

For memorials, the direction “From the Common of X” means for the non-psalm parts. Hymn, Scripture Reading, Responsory Intercessions, Canticle of Zach.Antiphon.

Of course, if any of these were Proper (as happened to be the case today for the Canticle of Zach Ant. of St. Bernard) then you would use them instead of the Common.

The other thing I was wondering was: if there is a proper prayer for the day, do we say that prayer at all hours (e.g., for Daytime Prayer, or Compline) even if there is no specific direction to do that in the Ordo or Breviary?

By proper prayer for the day, do you mean for example, a prayer of the saint of the day?

 

[AJV]

The GILH says it much better than me:

1. ARRANGEMENT OF THE OFFICE FOR MEMORIALS

1. In the arrangement of the office there is no difference between obligatory and optional memorials, except in the case of optional memorials falling during privileged seasons.

Memorials During Ordinary Time

1. In the office of readings, at morning prayer, and at evening prayer:

a. the psalms and their antiphons are taken from the current week and day, unless there are proper antiphons or proper psalms, which is indicated as the case occurs;***

b. the antiphon at the invitatory, the hymn, the short reading, the antiphons at the Canticles of Zechariah and of Mary, and the intercessions must be those of the saint if these are given in the proper; otherwise, they are taken either from the common or from the current week and day;

c. the concluding prayer from the office of the saint is to be said;

d. in the office of readings, the Scripture reading with its responsory is from the current cycle. The second reading is about the saint, with a proper responsory or one taken from the common; if there is no proper reading, the patristic reading for the day is used. The Te Deum is not said.

1. At daytime prayer and night prayer, all is from the weekday and nothing is from the office of the saint.

*** Note by me: for an example of this, see October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary. This is *very *infrequent.

ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwgilh.htm#Ch%20IV-II

 

[dank]

AJV - Thanks for your reply. It is very helpful.

Too bad I’ve been doing the wrong thing on Memorials though!