LOTH Question

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Don’t shoot me! I can’t find the answer anywhere (and I have looked, to the best of my ability). Apologies then for *another *thread on the LOTH. It’s quick, I promise.

When praying the LOTH alone - does one have to sing the hymns? What if I don’t know the tune?

I use DivineOffice.org and pray from there. I’ll be entering a monastery soon and so for the past few months have been praying the LOTH in preparation but have always skipped the hymn because I am praying alone. Suddenly I realized that perhaps that is not good.

Thank you for your time 🙂
 
NewsTheMan said:
When praying the LOTH alone - does one have to sing the hymns? What if I don’t know the tune?
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you can simply recite the lyrics of the hymn
you can try and see if a common hymn tune fits the lyrics
you can omit it when you are on your own since you have no obligation in this regard
 
As far as I am aware to fully say the hour you have to say an apropriate hymn (or approved poem) either the one specified or another allowed for that particuler time.

Though it is wonderful to sing or chant the hymn there is never a requiremnt to sing any part of the office and it can be all recited. 🙂

Hope that helps

Yours in christ
Dominic
 
I would just use a hymn you enjoy or know by heart, a verse or two. Also, there is nothing wrong with reciting a hymn.
 
If you omit the hymn, you get no credit and the prayer is meaningless.

Just kidding. 😛 😉 😃

I don’t know that there’s any hard-and-fast rule in this regard. I have no problem skipping the hymn when by myself. Maybe I’m approaching it wrong, but since the hymn isn’t really assigned to the day in the same way as the Psalms, Canticles, readings, antiphons, and other prayers are so assigned, I have always figured it isn’t as essential a component.

Congrats on entering a monastery, by the way! 👍 That’s awesome!
 
Joe_5859 said:
If you omit the hymn, you get no credit and the prayer is meaningless.

Just kidding. 😛 😉 😃

I don’t know that there’s any hard-and-fast rule in this regard. I have no problem skipping the hymn when by myself. Maybe I’m approaching it wrong, but since the hymn isn’t really assigned to the day in the same way as the Psalms, Canticles, readings, antiphons, and other prayers are so assigned, I have always figured it isn’t as essential a component.

Congrats on entering a monastery, by the way! 👍 That’s awesome!
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The hymn is integral to the office and may not be omitted. They may be recited, however.

And yes, even if you are not obligated to say the office, if you intend to pray the Office as the Office and just private prayer based thereon, then it must be prayed according to the rubrics. The General Instruction is clear as to the purpose of the hymn and nowhere is there allowance for its omission, only its substitution.

For those who are not obligated to the Office, one of course may omit stuff as desired, but then it would no longer be the Office, but private prayer and there is no sin. For those who are bound, such omissions are sinful, and if significant, mortally so.
 
Thanks for the responses. I will start reciting the Hymn since the rubrics call for it.

Not wishing to create a new thread… what postures am I to take? I remember reading that in private recitation one can take any posture and it is still praying with the Church. I’m not so sure about that, though. I want to pray the Office as the Office and thus, join my prayers with the Church, which means I must obey the rubrics for postures.

Am I right in saying that they would be as follows:

Stand (a) during the introduction to the Office and the introductory verses of each hour; (b) during the hymn; (c) during the Gospel Canticle; (d) during the intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer, and the concluding prayer.

Sit to listen to the readings.

Either sit or stand during the psalms and canticles.
 
porthos11 said:
The hymn is integral to the office and may not be omitted. They may be recited, however.

And yes, even if you are not obligated to say the office, if you intend to pray the Office as the Office and just private prayer based thereon, then it must be prayed according to the rubrics. The General Instruction is clear as to the purpose of the hymn and nowhere is there allowance for its omission, only its substitution.

For those who are not obligated to the Office, one of course may omit stuff as desired, but then it would no longer be the Office, but private prayer and there is no sin. For those who are bound, such omissions are sinful, and if significant, mortally so.
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Well, how about that. There’s also a General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours. I learn something new everyday! 👍

You may want to check that out, News.

Here’s what it says about sitting and standing:
  1. All taking part stand during:
a. the introduction to the office and the introductory verses of each hour;

b. the hymn;

c. the gospel canticle;

d. the intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer, and the concluding prayer.
  1. All sit to listen to the readings, except the gospel.
  2. The assembly either sits or stands, depending on custom, while the psalms and other canticles (with their antiphons) are being said.
That looks like exactly what you said, so maybe you already found this document. :o
 
There is no requirement to change posture in private recitation of the LOTH
 
OraLabora said:
There is no requirement to change posture in private recitation of the LOTH
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Ah. So even if I want to pray the Office as the Office and join in the prayers of the Church, I don’t need to change posture?

Thanks for the information 🙂
 
NewsTheMan said:
Ah. So even if I want to pray the Office as the Office and join in the prayers of the Church, I don’t need to change posture?

Thanks for the information 🙂
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Correct the postures are “Rites for Celebration in Common” and don’t apply in private recitation. Of course it isn’t forbidden to use the postures in private recitation if you prefer. Just not required.
 
Hymns are optional; they can be omitted.
Or, you can always try substituting a tune you know and see if it will “fit” the text of the hymn.
The “Old One Hundreth” tune (Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow) seems to fit with a lot of them.
 
I always recite the lyrics if I don’t know the tune. I can’t read music, so obviously can’t sing it. Sung, it’s a hymn; recited, it’s a poem 🙂
 
Actual the whole LOTH is to be sung not just the hymn. I can’t sing so I recite the Office including the hymn when I’m saying the Office by myself.

I wish the Church would have a hymnal with the song for the LOTH. It would be even nicer if the music was available. Monks sing the LOTH all the time so why can’t they record the hymns. Maybe they could earn a little money.
 
porthos11 said:
No, they are not and may not. Sing or recite, but always include.
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I was instructed personally by two Discalced Carmelite friars that, yes, if one does not know the tune to the hymn the hymn may be omitted altogether or an alternate tune may be supplied if it works with the text.
 
anonymous_in_fl said:
I was instructed personally by two Discalced Carmelite friars that, yes, if one does not know the tune to the hymn the hymn may be omitted altogether or an alternate tune may be supplied if it works with the text.
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Now I’m confused :confused:
 
anonymous_in_fl said:
I was instructed personally by two Discalced Carmelite friars that, yes, if one does not know the tune to the hymn the hymn may be omitted altogether or an alternate tune may be supplied if it works with the text.
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But they have no basis for their statements. My basis is the rubric that says:

“Then the appropriate hymn is said.”

And the General Instruction that not only commands the hymn but explains why it’s there. Nowhwere is it made an option. Sing or recite the hymn but never omit. If something is optional, the rubrics always say so clearly. This is not so for the hymn.
 
I was told by several priests that essentially where they learned the LOTH will depend on how they recite it, right or wrong. Their is much variation. When I was an aspirant for the diaconate we did not sit and stand - but we did alternatethe verses of the psalms between groups. Now when I read the LOTH on the subway I do not think people would want me to sit and stand and sing aloud. I occasionally get people who ask what I am reading as it is.
 
OraLabora said:
Correct the postures are “Rites for Celebration in Common” and don’t apply in private recitation. Of course it isn’t forbidden to use the postures in private recitation if you prefer. Just not required.
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hmm what is “public recitation”?

if I pray with one good friend of mine, is that “public”?" how about 2? 10?

This is a dead serious question. I actually often pray with others in varrying group sizes. i’m not sure theyd fall under public, but private doesnt really fit either.

is there a hard and fast rule here?
 
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