Invitatory Psalm

[jcunningham352]

I understand that the Invitatory Psalm in LOH is supposed to be prayed before the first hour prayed. Does that mean that if you miss morning prayer but pray at a later hour (i.e. midday or evening) that you pray the Invitatory psalm first?

 

[OraLabora]

I personally don’t. I either pray it at Vigils (Office of Readings) or if I miss that, Lauds.

I rarely, however, miss both those offices on the same day but it can happen. I believe the requirement is to place it before the first office you customarily pray during the day and leave it there. In a monastery if a monk misses vigils he won’t recite it if he’s present for Lauds.

 

[NewsTheMan]

I understand that the Invitatory Psalm in LOH is supposed to be prayed before the first hour prayed. Does that mean that if you miss morning prayer but pray at a later hour (i.e. midday or evening) that you pray the Invitatory psalm first?

Yes. If the first hour you pray is Evening Prayer, you pray the Invitatory prayer beforehand.

 

[BVM_1221]

I understand that the Invitatory Psalm in LOH is supposed to be prayed before the first hour prayed. Does that mean that if you miss morning prayer but pray at a later hour (i.e. midday or evening) that you pray the Invitatory psalm first?

Yes:yup:

Even if the only prayer you do is Night Prayer, strat with the Invitatory Psalm.

And remember you have a choice of four psalms for the Invitatory; 24, 67, 95, and 100. The default seems to be 95, but I prefer and use Psalm 100:extrahappy:

 

[puzzleannie]

I understand that the Invitatory Psalm in LOH is supposed to be prayed before the first hour prayed. Does that mean that if you miss morning prayer but pray at a later hour (i.e. midday or evening) that you pray the Invitatory psalm first?

like vigils, it can be prayed anytime, but generally before the first office you pray each day, so yes if you miss morning prayer, at the next time you pray.

 

[OraLabora]

Yes:yup:

Even if the only prayer you do is Night Prayer, strat with the Invitatory Psalm.

And remember you have a choice of four psalms for the Invitatory; 24, 67, 95, and 100. The default seems to be 95, but I prefer and use Psalm 100:extrahappy:

No, this is incorrect. From the General Instructions of the Liturgy of the Hours, chapter II para. 35:

1. The Invitatory us placed at the beginning of the whole sequence of the day’s prayer, that is it precedes either morning prayer or the office of readings, whichever of these rites begins the day. The Invitatory psalm with its antiphon may be omitted, however, when the Invitatory is the prelude to morning prayer.

It is most certainly never said prior to any other office. If the OOR is said first, it is mandatory otherwise the psalm may be omitted though you would still start with “Lord open my lips…” prior to morning prayer if it was first. But not the minor hours, Vespers or Compline!

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I understand that the Invitatory Psalm in LOH is supposed to be prayed before the first hour prayed. Does that mean that if you miss morning prayer but pray at a later hour (i.e. midday or evening) that you pray the Invitatory psalm first?

The Invitatory must be used before the Office of Readings if that is the first Office of the day. If Morning Prayer (Lauds) is the first Office of the day the Invitatory may be used; it is optional. If any other Office (Prayer during the Day, Evening Prayer, Night Prayer) is your first Office of the day you do not used the Invitatory. Cf. The General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours #35.

 

[OraLabora]

The Invitatory must be used before the Office of Readings if that is the first Office of the day. If Morning Prayer (Lauds) is the first Office of the day the Invitatory may be used; it is optional. If any other Office (Prayer during the Day, Evening Prayer, Night Prayer) is your first Office of the day you do not used the Invitatory. Cf. The General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours #35.

I am going to seem like I am splitting hairs here, but the Invitatory consists of two parts: the verse “Lord open my lips…”, and the invitatory psalm with its antiphon.

The invitatory is always said in full (verse, antiphon and psalm), if it precedes the Office of Readings (or Vigils in communities that still celebrate that Office).

If the first prayer of the day is Lauds (morning prayer) the invitatory is always said, but the psalm and antiphon are not mandatory. That is, you would use the first part of the invitatory (“Lord open my lips…”) but you may at your discretion omit the psalm and its antiphon.

But you are still saying the invitatory, just an abridged version.

So to summarize: if the Office of Readings is first, you say the invitatory with its psalm. If Lauds is first, you say the invitatory, with or without the invitatory psalm. And if you miss both Lauds and the OOR, you never say the invitatory.

Here are the relevant sections from the General Instructions (my bolding):

1. The whole office begins as a rule with an invitatory. This consists in the verse, Lord, open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim your praise, and Ps 95. This psalm invites the faithful each day to sing God’s praise and to listen to his voice and draws them to hope for “the Lord’s rest.” [1]

In place of Ps 95, Ps 100, Ps 67, or Ps 24 may be used as circumstances may suggest.

It is preferable to recite the invitatory psalm responsorially as it is set out in the text, that is, with the antiphon recited at the beginning, then repeated, and repeated again after each strophe.

1. The invitatory is placed at the beginning of the whole sequence of the day’s prayer, that is, it precedes either morning prayer or the office of readings, whichever of these liturgical rites begins the day. The invitatory psalm with its antiphon may be omitted, however, when the invitatory is the prelude to morning prayer.

1. The variation of the invitatory antiphon, to suit the different liturgical days, is indicated at its place of occurrence.

Hope this clears up the confusion and misunderstandings.

 

[TheMc]

It would appear the rubric assumes you are celebrating all the hours.

Personally, I rarely do office of readings, and I tend to skip it due to preference when I do morning prayer, so I don’t do the invitatory very much.