Is it normal for LOTH to repeat psalms

[crai7]

Is it normal to repeat the same psalm across contiguous LOTHS? So for example, if the noon prayer uses a psalm, is it normal for the mid afternoon to repeat it again. I just ask, as I noticed the Divine Office website does this, and I was wonder if it was an error or software bug as this makes it fairly tedious?

 

[Mary_Estelle]

Generally it is not, but on Saturdays eves. And Sundays often the same plasms are repeated. And yes, it can get tedious.

 

[Della]

If we remember that Saturday Vespers is Sunday, then it makes sense that the same Psalms are used. It may seem tedious, but since it’s the same day, liturgically speaking, it makes sense.

Likewise, the Daily Mass Readings for Mondays often echo/have one of the same readings as the Sunday before. It’s to keep the theme of Sunday flowing into the week of that Sunday. Knowing this can help us draw more spiritual nourishment from the texts–to help us meditate more fully on them, if we see that as the intention.

 

[Todd977]

Is it normal to repeat the same psalm across contiguous LOTHS? So for example, if the noon prayer uses a psalm, is it normal for the mid afternoon to repeat it again. I just ask, as I noticed the Divine Office website does this, and I was wonder if it was an error or software bug as this makes it fairly tedious?

As I understand it, usually only one Daytime Prayer is said each day, either at mid-afternoon, noon or mid-afternoon. The ordinary parts (the hymn, reading and prayer) are determined by the time of day that the Daytime Prayer is said but the psalmody is the same whenever the Daytime Prayer is said.

 

[edward_george]

As I understand it, usually only one Daytime Prayer is said each day, either at mid-afternoon, noon or mid-afternoon. The ordinary parts (the hymn, reading and prayer) are determined by the time of day that the Daytime Prayer is said but the psalmody is the same whenever the Daytime Prayer is said.

Actually, one can utilize the Complementary Psalmody, found in the back of the breviary, to fill in the other hours. There is a rubric for Daytime prayer each day instructing this, and as well instructing if you are to use certain of the Complementary Psalms on a particular day. For example if Psalm 120 occurs in one of the other hours appointed for the day, one takes Midmorning Prayer from the day and uses the Complementary Psalms series II and III for the other two Daytime hours.

-ACEGC

 

[drforjc]

From the Ordinary:

Two psalmodies are given in the Psalter: the one is current; the other is complementary.

The current psalmody is comprised of three psalms or three selections from psalms taken from the cycle of the Psalter.

The complementary psalmody is made up of invariable psalms, chosen from those which are called gradual psalms.

Those who say only one of the three hours use the current psalmody even on feasts.
Those who say several hours use the current psalmody for one hour; in the other hours they use the complementary psalmody.

For solemnities, the psalms are taken from the complementary psalmody for each of the three hours. If, however, a solemnity occurs on Sunday, the psalms are taken from Sunday, Week I.

Thus, if you are saying all three daytime hours, you’d repeat the complementary psalms.

 

[Todd977]

Actually, one can utilize the Complementary Psalmody, found in the back of the breviary, to fill in the other hours. There is a rubric for Daytime prayer each day instructing this, and as well instructing if you are to use certain of the Complementary Psalms on a particular day. For example if Psalm 120 occurs in one of the other hours appointed for the day, one takes Midmorning Prayer from the day and uses the Complementary Psalms series II and III for the other two Daytime hours.

-ACEGC

Thank you for correcting my misunderstanding.

 

[OraLabora]

From the Ordinary:

Thus, if you are saying all three daytime hours, you’d repeat the complementary psalms.

Not on the same day. The 9 complementary psalms are 119, 120, 121 (Terce); 122, 123, 124 (Sexte); 125, 126, 127 (None).

Thus if you pray all three hours, and say mid-day prayer at noon (Sexte), you’d pray 119, 120, 121 at Terce and 125, 126 and 127 at None. If you do mid-day prayer at either Terce or None, you’d use 122, 123 and 124 for Sexte. But this pattern would repeat every day.

If one of the complementary psalms is already included at Mid-day prayer or Vespers (Evening Prayer) then you have two options:

-Move mid-day prayer to one of the other hours (e.g. from Sexte to Terce or None) to avoid repetition,

or

-use psalms 128 or 130 as substitutes for the repeated psalms.

I usually pray mid-day prayer at noon (1 pm on Sundays due to travel to Mass and back), and when I’m at home, I pray the other two hours using the complementary psalter, except during the summer. I personally prefer using ps. 128 or 130 (note: I use the Vulgate numbering) as substitutes.

Also if I have to be away all day and unable to pray mid-day prayer (as during long bike rides), I will do mid-day at around 9 am (Terce) and not do the other hours, which are in any case not compulsory. The beauty of the LOTH is its flexibility which makes it particularly adaptable to lay life.

 

[Belshazzar]

You also have the option of using the psalter without having to repeat the gradual psalms in the complimentary psalter over and over if it gets too repetitive for you. Here’s how you would go about it…

Today is Tuesday, Week II. If you use the psalter by itself, you have three options.

1. Go forward for two weeks, praying the Daytime prayer for Tuesday, Week III, and Tuesday, Week IV, for the midmorning and midafternoon prayer.
2. Go backwards for two weeks, praying the Daytime prayer for Tuesday, Week I, and Daytime for Tuesday, Week IV, for the midmorning and midafternoon prayer.
3. Go backward one week for Tuesday, Week I, for one of the minor offices (midmorning or midafternoon), and then go forward one week to use the Daytime prayer for Tuesday, Week III for the other minor office (midmorning or midafternoon).

For the midday prayer it’s pretty straightforward from the current day in your brieviary.

One more thing. If you choose this way, it wouldn’t hurt to buy a few extra ribbons to mark your place.

 

[Todd977]

In my LOTH books, apparently to avoid such “tedious” repetitions, I’ve noticed that in those instances where one of the psalms in the complementary psalmody (Psalms 120-128) is used in the current psalmody for an office that day, restrictions are placed on which series in the complementary psalmody may be used that day. Complementary psalmody series I consists of Psalms 120-122; series II, Psalms 123-125; series III, Psalms 126-128. The Divine Office website (divineoffice.org) does not seem to include these restrictions in its daily listings.

Below is at least a partial listing of the restrictions I am talking about:

On Friday of Week 2, because Psalm 121 (part of series I of the complementary psalmody) is said in the current psalmody for the evening office that day, the rubric after the current psalmody for the daytime office says, “At the other [daytime] hours, the complementary psalmody from series II and III is used.”

On Monday of Week 3, because Psalm 123 (part of series II) is said in the evening office that day, the rubric says, “At the other hours, the complementary psalmody from series I and III is used.”

On Tuesday of Week 3, because Psalm 125 (part of series II) is said in the evening office that day, the rubric says, “At the other hours, the complementary psalmody from series I and III is used.”

On Wednesday of Week 3, because Psalms 126 and 127 (part of series III) are said in the evening office, the rubric says, “At the other hours, the complementary psalmody from series I and II is used.”

On Saturday of Week 3, because Psalm 122 (part of series I) is said in the evening office that day, the rubric says, “At the other hours, the complementary psalmody from series II and III is used.”

On Monday of Week 4, because Psalm 120 (part of series I) is in the current psalmody for the daytime office, the rubric says, “At the other hours, the complementary psalmody from series II and III is used.”

On Thursday of Week 4, because Psalm 128 (part of series III) is in the current psalmody for the daytime office, the rubric says, “At the other hours, the complementary psalmody from series I and II is used.”

Ordinarily, the rubric after the current psalmody for the daytime office simply says, “At the other hours, the complementary psalmody is used.”

 

[drforjc]

Not on the same day. The 9 complementary psalms are 119, 120, 121 (Terce); 122, 123, 124 (Sexte); 125, 126, 127 (None).

Thus if you pray all three hours, and say mid-day prayer at noon (Sexte), you’d pray 119, 120, 121 at Terce and 125, 126 and 127 at None. If you do mid-day prayer at either Terce or None, you’d use 122, 123 and 124 for Sexte. But this pattern would repeat every day.

If one of the complementary psalms is already included at Mid-day prayer or Vespers (Evening Prayer) then you have two options:

-Move mid-day prayer to one of the other hours (e.g. from Sexte to Terce or None) to avoid repetition,

or

-use psalms 128 or 130 as substitutes for the repeated psalms.

I usually pray mid-day prayer at noon (1 pm on Sundays due to travel to Mass and back), and when I’m at home, I pray the other two hours using the complementary psalter, except during the summer. I personally prefer using ps. 128 or 130 (note: I use the Vulgate numbering) as substitutes.

Also if I have to be away all day and unable to pray mid-day prayer (as during long bike rides), I will do mid-day at around 9 am (Terce) and not do the other hours, which are in any case not compulsory. The beauty of the LOTH is its flexibility which makes it particularly adaptable to lay life.

Right… I should have said you’d use the complentary psalmody twice, not the exact same psalms.

 

[crai7]

Thank you all for your comprehensive responses.