Office for the Dead on All Souls' Day?

[Magnum_V8]

Does anyone here pray the traditional or even LOTH Office for the Dead on All Souls’ Day?

I was thinking about printing out Vespers from www.breviary.net for me and my family to pray before 7pm Mass on All Soul’s Day.

I don’t know too much about the Divine Office. Any tips are helpful.

 

[markadm]

The Office there is the pre-Vatican II Breviarum Romanum, so you may want to consider using something like universalis, which provides the post-Vatican II Liturgy of the Hours.

Either way, the practice is commendable, and the Office of the Dead is the Office “proper” to November 2nd. You will also find from using a website such as either of the two that you don’t have to do any page-flicking, because the website “builds” the Office for you.

I love the Divine Office, and know a bit about both forms. I wouldn’t be averse to any of your questions, either in this thread, or by PM.

 

[AJV]

The Office of the Dead is the prescribed Office of the Day this year in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary form. Before St. Pius X, it used to not be so and was only prayed at the Major Hours, but he provided the minor hours and made it the sole Office of the day (Vespers to None).

Before John XXIII, Vespers of the Dead had to be prayed on the evening of All Saints but now it should be prayed on the evening of All Souls

All those who are required to pray the Divine Office (priests and religious) will be praying the Office of the Dead and it is great if you do so too.

You might even like to even make a regular habit of it- I pray the Traditional Office of the Dead weekly for various people (family, all souls) and I’ve found it to be a spiritually enriching practice.

Out of curiosity, which language were you planning to pray the Office in?

 

[Magnum_V8]

markadm,

You said that I should consider using the post-Vatican II version. But I thought Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio allowed use of both the pre-Vatican II liturgy and office. Thoughts?

 

[Magnum_V8]

AJV,

You regularly pray the Office that is the same as that found on www.breviary.net?

If I do decide to do it (probably will), I will pray the Psalms and collects in English and the antiphons, Paters, Aves and other things in Latin. I find it easier to concentrate on the Psalms when done in the vernacular.

Do you pray Vespers, Matins and Lauds? Give me a little insight into your routine.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Note that the LOTH for Fridays and Sundays, and for the dead, is available free on www.ebreviary.com It requires subscription for other days.

Note that the hours there are complete. Universalis lacks the antiphons, psalm prayers etc that are copyright by USCCB.

 

[AJV]

AJV,

You regularly pray the Office that is the same as that found on www.breviary.net?

If I do decide to do it (probably will), I will pray the Psalms and collects in English and the antiphons, Paters, Aves and other things in Latin. I find it easier to concentrate on the Psalms when done in the vernacular.

Do you pray Vespers, Matins and Lauds? Give me a little insight into your routine.

Not the same translation but yes the same Office. In order to pray the Office as public prayer, the 1961 Offices should be prayed in Latin, I think. As private prayer, the vernacular suffices.

(and you have a new pm)

 

[Marsha_Adams]

There is a partial indulgence for praying the Office of the Dead, there are also indulgences attached to praying for the dead while visiting a cemetary during November.

 

[markadm]

markadm,

You said that I should consider using the post-Vatican II version. But I thought Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio allowed use of both the pre-Vatican II liturgy and office. Thoughts?

the only reason I said that is because although there is, of course, now no restriction on using the older liturgical books, to my mind the newer ones may be a more realistic expression of what is now “the prayer of the Church”. This is hard to explain, so bear with me…

The Liturgy of the Hours itself is naturally the prayer of the Church, and just as with Mass the Holy Father has said there is only one rite and two forms, I should think then that there is but one Divine Office but many forms. So, my argument falls down… but then I just think of the numbers of people using either and I think about praying the newer one.

All of that notwithstanding, if I actually had time I would pray the older one. It is more beautiful, but more demanding.

I’m not sure I’ve explained myself well; sorry!