Invitatory

[yaycatholic]

If you’re going to pray the Office of Readings the night before (after Compline), do you say the invitatory or do you leave it until Lauds the next day?

 

[codefro]

If you’re going to pray the Office of Readings the night before (after Compline), do you say the invitatory or do you leave it until Lauds the next day?

You can. At that point you’re not praying the set hours designated by the Church. It’s up to you, depending what you want.

 

[Bergon]

If you’re going to pray the Office of Readings the night before (after Compline), do you say the invitatory or do you leave it until Lauds the next day?

Leave it until Lauds the next day. The Invitatory is said in place of the Introduction to the Hour before the first Office of the day.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaycatholic

Since you are saying the Office of Readings after Compline, I assume that it is the Office of Readings for the next day. It is then the first Office of the next day and should be preceded by the Invitatory.

 

[Bergon]

Since you are saying the Office of Readings after Compline, I assume that it is the Office of Readings for the next day. It is then the first Office of the next day and should be preceded by the Invitatory.

It’s my understanding that the Invitatory is recited in the place of the Introduction to the Hour of the first Office on the day itself. If we were to follow the reasoning you gave we should begin Vespers with the Invitatory on Sundays and Solemnities because first Vespers on the previous evening is the first Office of that day. However, we know that this does not happen.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It’s my understanding that the Invitatory is recited in the place of the Introduction to the Hour of the first Office on the day itself. If we were to follow the reasoning you gave we should begin Vespers with the Invitatory on Sundays and Solemnities because first Vespers on the previous evening is the first Office of that day. However, we know that this does not happen.

Note that Night Prayer after Evening Prayer I closed the day Saturday, as does Night Prayer each day. Anything after Night Prayer is the next day.

 

[OraLabora]

No. You only say the invitatory before the Office of Readings, of Lauds, whichever is the first office of the day. It’s in the General Instructions.

 

[Bergon]

Note that Night Prayer after Evening Prayer I closed the day Saturday, as does Night Prayer each day. Anything after Night Prayer is the next day.

“Anything after Night Prayer is the next day” applies to Sundays/Solemnities (Night Prayer II) or to weekdays: Monday to Friday, excluding the eves of solemnities. It doesn’t apply to Saturday.

Sundays, Solemnities, and Feasts of the Lord in the General Roman Calendar celebrated on Sundays begin on the Saturday evening or the evening of the previous day. They begin with Evening Prayer I not after Compline I. We start celebrating Sunday on Saturday evening; solemnities on the evening of the previous day.

The Invitatory is recited at the start of the Office of Readings or Lauds. If the Office of Readings is said on the day itself and it’s the first Office of the day, it begins with the Invitatory. If the Office of Readings is said on the day itself but not as the first Office, Lauds on that day begins with the Invitatory. If the Office of Readings of a particular day is anticipated on the evening of the previous day it does not begin with the Invitatory.

This can be found in The General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours and/or any good guide to reciting the Divine Office.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

**GENERAL INSTRUCTION OF THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS ** Congregation for Divine Worship …
Chapter II: Sanctification of the Day: The Different Liturgical Hours

Chapter II-I. Introduction to the Whole Office
…
35. 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.

…
59. Without prejudice to the regulations just given, the office of readings may be recited at any hour of the day, even during the night hours of the previous day, after evening prayer has been said.
60. If the office of readings is said before morning prayer, the invitatory precedes it, as noted (nos. 34-36). Otherwise it begins with the verse, God, come to my assistance with the Glory to the Father, As it was in the beginning, and the Alleluia (omitted in Lent).

 

[OraLabora]

The liturgical day begins at midnight. Night prayer closes the liturgical action of the day, and either the Office of Readings or Lauds begins the liturgy of the new day. However if the OOR is said after Compline but before midnight, it is being said in anticipation and it is thus not preceded by the invitatory, the invitatory is said before Lauds. If it is said after midnight then it the invitatory precedes it.

If the invitatory precedes the OOR then it includes the invitatory psalm. If it is said before Lauds, the invitatory psalm is optional.

 

[yaycatholic]

Thank you for all the replies!

 

[Bergon]

Quotes from GILH

A selection of quotes from the GILH taken out of context.

The Office of Readings can be said at any time of the twenty-four hour day, from 12 midnight to 11:59 PM. If it is the first Office the Invitatory in said in place of the Office’s opening verse and response. If it is not said as the first Office the Invitatory is used at Morning Prayer instead.

The Office of Readings of a particular day may be recited on the evening of the previous day. When this is done it is said to be anticipated. When it is anticipated it never begins with the Invitatory.

Example: if I recite the Office of Readings of St Vincent de Paul (Friday 27th September 2013) on the evening of Thursday 26th September 2013 at 11PM after reciting Night Prayer of Thursdays I do not begin the Office of Readings with the Invitatory. On the morning of Friday 27th September 2013, I will begin Morning Prayer of St Vincent de Paul with the Invitatory.

Please do not accept my word; however, please note that OraLabora is saying the same. From other posts I have seen posted by him, and the response of other members of CAF to his posts, it is clear he is well versed in Opus Dei.