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regression
Guest
If I understand the liturgy of the hours correctly, most, if not all, religious say them. Is this correct? So would a parish priest simply read through them (not necessarily singing the hymns) each day by himself?
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Matthew_Holford
Guest
All priests, secular and religious, not just parish priests, are bound by the Liturgy of the Hours. They must recite them as part of the public prayer of the Church. They must at least form the words with their lips perhaps praying sotto voce. However, they cannot just merely recite the words in their heads, as one would when reading a book.
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TheMc
Guest
Yes, most priests would simply pray the LOTH by themselves, only praying with the whole universal church.
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Batfink
Guest
Yes, that is what most individuals praying on their own would do. As Matthew said, one must at least voice the words (think of how people used to read books, or how young children read now, maybe without the finger following along - although you never know 
). So it is acceptable to say rather than sing the hymn, it is not permitted to leave it out altogther.
). So it is acceptable to say rather than sing the hymn, it is not permitted to leave it out altogther.
K
Kevin812
Guest
Where is this verbal requirement stated at?
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Friar_David_O.Carm
Guest
I wonder this also, as I pray it out loud privately except for the readings in the Office of Readings.
I have been taught that the hymns are optional and not required. Some of our communities sing a hymn to begin, some do not.Yes, that is what most individuals praying on their own would do. As Matthew said, one must at least voice the words (think of how people used to read books, or how young children read now, maybe without the finger following along - although you never know
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Kevin812
Guest
If I am not in community, I usually read the Hour. Occasionally and in private, I might sing the psalms (I freely admit I can’t carry a tune
)I have also been told the same about the hymns.
Peace
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Matthew_Holford
Guest
It would appear from a comment you’ve made that you may be a member of a religious community. This would imply you have the knowledge as to whether my statement is correct or wrong. In that case it would be more conducive to the discussion if you could avail us of your knowledge rather than posing an oblique question.
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puzzleannie
Guest
he should pray the liturgy of the hours, not just read through it
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regression
Guest
Thanks to all for the responses. Puzzleannie, rereading what I wrote, I didn’t mean it like “just reading through it” as though it is casual reading. Hopefully what I wrote didn’t come out disrespectful.
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hazcompat
Guest
Hence, “that the day may be truly sanctified and the hours themselves recited with spiritual advantage, it is best that each of them be prayed at a time most closely corresponding to the true time of each canonical hour.” [58]
ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwgilh.htm#Ch I-IV
recited=spoken
peace
ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwgilh.htm#Ch I-IV
recited=spoken
peace
H
hazcompat
Guest
Chapter V-II. Singing in the Office
peace
- In the rubrics and norms of this Instruction, the words “say … … recite,” etc., are to be understood to refer to either singing or recitation, in the light of the principles that follow
peace
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Kevin812
Guest
I would not have asked the question if I had known the answer. (Nor would I have googled it
)(and by read, of course I meant prayer… )
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agnes_therese
Guest
I don’t see anything “implied,” I see a question about where to find that requirement. How can he “avail us of your knowledge” when he’s the one asking for the information?
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Kevin812
Guest
One thing I wonder is how binding are General Instructions? Also remember that this would not necessary apply to various Orders, Congregations, etc.
267 – is found under the section entitled, “Rites for Celebration in Common.” This is rather self explanatory and does not refer to private use.
“Hence, that the day may be truly sanctified and the hours themselves recited with spiritual advantage, it is best that each of them be prayed at a time most closely corresponding to the true time of each canonical hour." [58] – is found under #11 (note 58: See SC art. 88. What does this refer to?)
This is as much as I can contribute and is the sum of what I have discovered. If I get a chance, (very bad storms tonight) I’ll inbox a person who knows by far better than I, and see if he can contribute to this thread.
Peace.
267 – is found under the section entitled, “Rites for Celebration in Common.” This is rather self explanatory and does not refer to private use.
“Hence, that the day may be truly sanctified and the hours themselves recited with spiritual advantage, it is best that each of them be prayed at a time most closely corresponding to the true time of each canonical hour." [58] – is found under #11 (note 58: See SC art. 88. What does this refer to?)
This is as much as I can contribute and is the sum of what I have discovered. If I get a chance, (very bad storms tonight) I’ll inbox a person who knows by far better than I, and see if he can contribute to this thread.
Peace.
J
JReducation
Guest
The rules for the Liturgy of the Hours are going to differ according to various elements:
Whether you’re using the Roman Breviary (Christian Prayer) or one of the other breviaries such as the Oriental or those that are specific to some religious orders. There are religious orders that have our own breviary with our own rubrics.
Recitation does not necessarily mean to sub vocalize. If a person is praying alone, he or she need not sub vocalize. Recitation means “to say” not “to articulate”. In most religious communities the minor hours are not prayed in common. Each religious prays them alone. He or she does not sub vocalize them, however, he is reciting. Think of how one would pray the rosary or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. You’re hearing it in hour head. It is important to pay attention to the words, not just go through them as if one were reading the newspaper.
As to who is bound to pray the LOTH there are two groups that are bound under penalty of sin.
Ordained men are bound to pray the major hours under pain of sin, regardless of whether they are regular or secular. In the USA, secular priests and bishops are asked to pray the entire cycle. Secular deacons pray the Major Hours.
All religious in solemn vows are bound to pray at least the major hours under pain of sin.
Religious in simple vows are not bound to pray the Hours, unless the constitution of their religious institute requires it. The Church does not require it of them.
Religious in simple vows come into two wrappers.
Those who belong to a religious order, but are in temporary vows. Temporary vows are always simple.
Those who belong to a religious congregation. Religious in congregations make perpetual vows, but their vows are simple, not solemn.
Only the member of religious orders can make solemn vows. Therefore, sisters are never in solemn vows, because sisters may never belong to a religious order. Most male religious do not belong to religious orders either. For example the following are not religious orders: Redemptorists, Passionists, Salesian, Vincentians, Holy Cross, Marists, Marianists, any community of sisters.
Religious orders are the following families of men or cloistered nuns:
Benedictine (includes Cistercians, Trappists, Camaldolese),
Franciscan (includes 121 obediences of men),
Augustinian (includes the Dominicans, Norbertines, Presontarians, Trinitarians),
Carmelites, (includes only the O’Carm and the Discalced Carmelites, not the Carmelite Monks).
Carthusians,
Basilians, (exist only in the East)
Society of Jesus
All of these folks are bound to pray the Hours, because we are religious orders that make solemn vows. Even those members in temporary simple vows, must pray the Hours. It’s mandated by the constitutions.
Religious communities, secular orders, secular institutes and societies of apostolic life have different rules about the Hours.
The Orders require communal celebration of the Hours. This may be some of the hours or all of them. In any case, the religious must pray them. The Major Hours are prayed in common.
In some religious communities, the hours must be chanted. Some religious communities may chant them, but are not bound to do so. Franciscans may never chant the hours, unless they obtain an indult. St. Francis of Assisi banned chanting and wrote it into the rule and then had the rule sealed by Pope Honorius. It has never been changed since 1223.
The hymns is optional. It is not universally mandated. However, this does not mean that it is to be habitually omitted. Music has always played an important role in liturgy. When the Hours are prayed with the faithful or by a religious community, the hymn should be sung. It need not be the hymn suggested by the breviary. It can be another appropriate hymn, because there are hymns that we don’t always know. Whoever put together the hymnal for the current breviary picked some hymns that some of us have never seen.
Finally, remember that if you belong to a parish that is run by religious, you must follow the liturgical calendar of that religious community when praying in common with your parish. Regardless of whatever the diocese is celebrating, you celebrate with the religious community in your parish.
We must always be very gentle in matters of rubrics, because there is an exception for many of them that we may not know about. I taught Spanish at the WTU where there are many religious communities studying theology. It was very funny, because every time I was invited to visit a religious community outside of the Franciscan family, I felt like little boy. I would keep an eye on everyone else to see what they were doing. The Carmelites have more bowing than anyone I know. Franciscans are the most informal of the religious communities. The LOTH is very simple. It’s deliberately kept simple so that all the friars can pray it, regardless of their level of education. We place a great deal of stress on the praying fraternity. We do whatever it takes to include the entire fraternity. In some communities, they had the Fathers pray together and the Brothers pray together. We and other communities never had that distinction. Most communities have had the brothers pray together, regardless of their clerical status: cleric or non cleric.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
Whether you’re using the Roman Breviary (Christian Prayer) or one of the other breviaries such as the Oriental or those that are specific to some religious orders. There are religious orders that have our own breviary with our own rubrics.
Recitation does not necessarily mean to sub vocalize. If a person is praying alone, he or she need not sub vocalize. Recitation means “to say” not “to articulate”. In most religious communities the minor hours are not prayed in common. Each religious prays them alone. He or she does not sub vocalize them, however, he is reciting. Think of how one would pray the rosary or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. You’re hearing it in hour head. It is important to pay attention to the words, not just go through them as if one were reading the newspaper.
As to who is bound to pray the LOTH there are two groups that are bound under penalty of sin.
Ordained men are bound to pray the major hours under pain of sin, regardless of whether they are regular or secular. In the USA, secular priests and bishops are asked to pray the entire cycle. Secular deacons pray the Major Hours.
All religious in solemn vows are bound to pray at least the major hours under pain of sin.
Religious in simple vows are not bound to pray the Hours, unless the constitution of their religious institute requires it. The Church does not require it of them.
Religious in simple vows come into two wrappers
.Those who belong to a religious order, but are in temporary vows. Temporary vows are always simple.
Those who belong to a religious congregation. Religious in congregations make perpetual vows, but their vows are simple, not solemn.
Only the member of religious orders can make solemn vows. Therefore, sisters are never in solemn vows, because sisters may never belong to a religious order. Most male religious do not belong to religious orders either. For example the following are not religious orders: Redemptorists, Passionists, Salesian, Vincentians, Holy Cross, Marists, Marianists, any community of sisters.
Religious orders are the following families of men or cloistered nuns:
Benedictine (includes Cistercians, Trappists, Camaldolese),
Franciscan (includes 121 obediences of men),
Augustinian (includes the Dominicans, Norbertines, Presontarians, Trinitarians),
Carmelites, (includes only the O’Carm and the Discalced Carmelites, not the Carmelite Monks).
Carthusians,
Basilians, (exist only in the East)
Society of Jesus
All of these folks are bound to pray the Hours, because we are religious orders that make solemn vows. Even those members in temporary simple vows, must pray the Hours. It’s mandated by the constitutions.
Religious communities, secular orders, secular institutes and societies of apostolic life have different rules about the Hours.
The Orders require communal celebration of the Hours. This may be some of the hours or all of them. In any case, the religious must pray them. The Major Hours are prayed in common.
In some religious communities, the hours must be chanted. Some religious communities may chant them, but are not bound to do so. Franciscans may never chant the hours, unless they obtain an indult. St. Francis of Assisi banned chanting and wrote it into the rule and then had the rule sealed by Pope Honorius. It has never been changed since 1223.
The hymns is optional. It is not universally mandated. However, this does not mean that it is to be habitually omitted. Music has always played an important role in liturgy. When the Hours are prayed with the faithful or by a religious community, the hymn should be sung. It need not be the hymn suggested by the breviary. It can be another appropriate hymn, because there are hymns that we don’t always know. Whoever put together the hymnal for the current breviary picked some hymns that some of us have never seen.
Finally, remember that if you belong to a parish that is run by religious, you must follow the liturgical calendar of that religious community when praying in common with your parish. Regardless of whatever the diocese is celebrating, you celebrate with the religious community in your parish.
We must always be very gentle in matters of rubrics, because there is an exception for many of them that we may not know about. I taught Spanish at the WTU where there are many religious communities studying theology. It was very funny, because every time I was invited to visit a religious community outside of the Franciscan family, I felt like little boy. I would keep an eye on everyone else to see what they were doing. The Carmelites have more bowing than anyone I know.
Franciscans are the most informal of the religious communities. The LOTH is very simple. It’s deliberately kept simple so that all the friars can pray it, regardless of their level of education. We place a great deal of stress on the praying fraternity. We do whatever it takes to include the entire fraternity. In some communities, they had the Fathers pray together and the Brothers pray together. We and other communities never had that distinction. Most communities have had the brothers pray together, regardless of their clerical status: cleric or non cleric.Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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