Liturgy of the Hours question

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Would be ok to substitute a song based on a psalm instead of reciing it or singing it as it is written in the breviary?
 
bluealtec said:
Would be ok to substitute a song based on a psalm instead of reciing it or singing it as it is written in the breviary?
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Since the Liturgy of the Hours is - with the Mass - the official prayer of the whole Church, substituting one’s own preferred version would be a break, however well-intentioned, in the unity the Liturgy fosters in the faithful.
 
I am inclined to agree with the PP above me. While the “Liturgy of the Hours” police won’t come get you, it wouldn’t be the same prayer of the Church.
 
bluealtec said:
Would be ok to substitute a song based on a psalm instead of reciing it or singing it as it is written in the breviary?
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My humble opinion on this is that you may do whatever you want so long as it is done in private.
The LOH is part of the public prayer of the Church and when prayed in public,
it should be done “by the book”.
I would also say that if one is obligated(as most priests/deacons/religious are) to pray the office, one should follow the rubrics.

So, if this is something that you do because you want to, and you find it more conducive to your prayer experience to sing something, I say* “go for it”***! 👍

Remember, it’s not how you pray that is important, it’s*** that ***you pray!! 😃
 
bluealtec said:
Would be ok to substitute a song based on a psalm instead of reciing it or singing it as it is written in the breviary?
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While you may pray whatever you want in private, the LOTH is the public prayer of the church (even when it is prayed in private).

While you could substitute a song for a psalm, why not sing that song during the beginning, for the hymn.

Our prayers are so much more powerful when we unite it with that of the whole church, and following the breviary is how we unite ourselves with that prayer.

The church recommends the laity to pray the liturgy of the hours. But if you sung that song, it would cease to be LOTH.

So…

It’s not that you can’t do it. The question is: after knowing all this, why would you want to?

I hope this is helpful to you.

PS: I don’t mean to come off as stern and harsh. Sorry if I do! I just sometimes find it hard to get these good questions out there without sounding like a jerk, so sometimes I have to put this little disclaimer at the bottom! 😃

*PPS: Have you ever thought about singing the psalm(s) to psalm tones? It’s the official way to sing the psalms in the LOTH. I can PM you some resources if you want. *
 
TheMc said:
While you may pray whatever you want in private, the LOTH is the public prayer of the church (even when it is prayed in private).

While you could substitute a song for a psalm, why not sing that song during the beginning, for the hymn.

Our prayers are so much more powerful when we unite it with that of the whole church, and following the breviary is how we unite ourselves with that prayer.

The church recommends the laity to pray the liturgy of the hours. But if you sung that song, it would cease to be LOTH.

So…

It’s not that you can’t do it. The question is: after knowing all this, why would you want to?

I hope this is helpful to you.

PS: I don’t mean to come off as stern and harsh. Sorry if I do! I just sometimes find it hard to get these good questions out there without sounding like a jerk, so sometimes I have to put this little disclaimer at the bottom! 😃

*PPS: Have you ever thought about singing the psalm(s) to psalm tones? It’s the official way to sing the psalms in the LOTH. I can PM you some resources if you want. *
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I’m not the OP, obviously, but I’d love to see the resources you mention. I want to be able to better sing the LOTH even when I’m praying in private. Thanks in advance!
 
Yes pls pm me. I have been trying to search it in the net and i am having a difficult time. Thanks
 
bluealtec said:
Would be ok to substitute a song based on a psalm instead of reciing it or singing it as it is written in the breviary?
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There are a limited number of substitutions allowed. Those substitutions are clearly identified in the Ordinary, the Psalmody, or the applicable Common or Proper.

(For example, Ps 95 has a number of alternates identified for the Inviatory)

Otherwise, it is what it is.
 
If you are using the bound editions of the Liturgy of the Hours, in the 1st book in the front you will find that it has been approved according to the Roman Rite.
You will also find the “Apostolic Constitution Promulgation” from Pope Paul VI.

This promulgation includes -
"This prayer takes its unity from the heart of Christ, for our Redeemer desired “taht the life be had entered upon in his mortal body with suppliocations and with his sacrifice whould continue without interruption through the ages in his mystical body, which is the Church…
We must recognize, therefor, as we celebrate the Office, our own voices echoing in Christ, his voice echoing in ours”. (pg 17)

There is also (pg 21) several pages of General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours.

People have referred to it as ‘public prayer’ and ‘common prayer’ - which it is. When you pray it as it is written you will be praying with others all over the world at the same time.

If you are one of us Laity, in private certainly your prayers are up to you. While praying the LOTH, I’d recommend praying what is printed.

But why bypass the opportunity of being party of praying with others all over the world ?

divineoffice.org/
 
In private, I pray the printed Intercessions, and add my own. I assume that this is OK?:o
 
bluealtec said:
Would be ok to substitute a song based on a psalm instead of reciing it or singing it as it is written in the breviary?
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If you do, then it’s not the LOTH per se, as people above have said.

The laity though are not required to pray the LOTH, and so may do devotions based on or inspired by the LOTH. Universalis is one that is commonly mentioned, which is essentially the LOTH, but not an approved translation of it from the Latin (so if you think about it, it’s essentially like the missals people used before VII. They are essentially the Mass, although not approved). Magnificat is another publication that does daily prayed inspired by the LOTH (in the same style I believe, but a little different).

Both of those are fine to use for laity. If you want to create a devotion based on the LOTH, then you can. But, it would be best if you didn’t think of that devotion as the LOTH, but as something based on or inspired by the LOTH. The LOTH is a specific prayer with specific rubrics like the Mass.

The second question you have is about singing the Psalms (I think). That is where you have some latitude. There is an “included” way to sing (or rather chant) the Psalms, which is in Psalm tones. That is just a suggestion really (although, it can be a good one). If you want to use a style which is more “freeform”, then you are free to do so (as long as your keeping the words to the Psalm as written) and it is still the LOTH. If you want to have an accompaniment like the piano or guitar, then you are also free to do so.
Luigi_Daniele said:
In private, I pray the printed Intercessions, and add my own. I assume that this is OK?:o
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GILOTH 188:
  1. It is permissible, however, to include particular intentions at both morning prayer and evening prayer.
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At evening prayer though, the last intention is always for the dead (GILOTH 186).
 
Ok. So due to overwhelming demand, I guess I go public with my little psalm tone explanation.

Here’s a few simple psalm tones for you to start using:
4 Easy Psalm Tones (Open this up in another window)

Don’t know how to read gregorian chant notation? Got a piano nearby? Just meander on over to my tutorial.

So you have a simple knowledge on how to read neumes? So… in your head, here’s what you do to sing the psalms:

For Psalms with lines in groups of 2, 4, (or 6, or 8…):

Whenever a psalm is split up in an even number of lines, you always take it by sets of two. Here’s the first two lines:
O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.

So let’s use tone 2 on my sheet, one of my favorites.

With psalm tones that start out on the reciting tone (a note without the center filled), such as tones 1, 2, and 4, you just start singing the line to that pitch. With the first half of tone 2, you sing on the reciting tone until you get to the last two syllables, then when you get to the last two syllables, then you get “off” the reciting tone, and “move on” in the music.

Then you go to the next line in the psalm, go to the second half of the psalm tone, and sing to the reciting tone until the point when you “get off” (for the second half of Psalm Tone 2, it’s three syllables). Then you continue with the rest of the psalm tone.

Skip to the next line in the Psalm, and repeat.

For Psalms with an Odd number of lines:
If your psalm verse has an odd number of lines, simply sing one of the lines to the reciting tone, but don’t change at the end of the line. For example:
(Sing to the first half of the psalm tone)The Lord’s revelation to my Master:
(Sing to the reciting tone of the second half of the psalm tone)“Sit on my right:
(Sing to the second half of the psalm tone)your foes I will put beneath your feet.”

After you’ve “made up” the extra line, then continue as normal.
​

Does that make any sense?
 
Thank you so much, TheMC!! I really appreciate you taking the time to put that together for us. 🙂
 
So what about those of us who use the LOTH in Latin, as does the FSSP. The newer english translations are not very faithful to the Latin.
 
corsair said:
So what about those of us who use the LOTH in Latin, as does the FSSP. The newer english translations are not very faithful to the Latin.
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What is your question? It’s perfectly appropriate to pray it in Latin as do thousands of others I’m sure.
 
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