Matins in Latin

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AndreM73

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A question for those who pray Matins according to the 1962 Roman Breviary; how long does it generally take? I plan on easing into the Breviary through the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and when I do I would like to plan accordingly.
Thank you!
Pax
 
AndreM73 said:
A question for those who pray Matins according to the 1962 Roman Breviary; how long does it generally take? I plan on easing into the Breviary through the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and when I do I would like to plan accordingly.
Thank you!
Pax
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Never done the 1962 Breviary (9 psalms). However I have done the traditional Monastic (12 psalms and 2 long readings), and that can take up to an hour assuming you chant or pray the psalms rather than speed read them. In a monastery it takes around an hour on regular days, an hour and a half on Sundays and feasts, and if everything is sung, on solemnities, up to 2 hours :eek:

I use a post-Vatican II monastic breviary which is 6 psalms per day and two long readings, or an option of 5 psalms per day on a 2-week cycle (leaving out one long psalm per day). Using that one, chanted recto-tono, it takes me half an hour on regular days. The 1962 would probably be about the same, maybe a bit more, more psalms, less readings. In summer, St. Benedict allows for shorter readings and that shaves about 5-10 minutes.

At least as a choral Office, Matins was always the longest Office of the day and at least an hour long in monasteries. At the abbey I’m associated with it can be quite beautiful. At some times of the year it starts in a dark church and by the end, the sun is just starting to come up over the altar (which faces east).
 
You say you plan on beginning with the Little Office of the BVM; if that is true I think you’ll find that Matins takes about 30 minutes if you use the latin and pray it reverently. Prime can be about the same. The little hours are shorter. Vespers can be 30 minutes too.

I use the 1904 version of the Little Office. I just like it better. Only minor differences from the 1962 version.

God Bless
 
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