Office Hours?

[diggerdomer]

The basic structure of the monastic office evolved from the structure found in St Benedict’s Rule.

In some ways, yes, but the monastic form existed before Benedict. The form that became legislated for the Benedictine communities endured. But, the monastic form was alive and well before Benedict.

 

[Bbigam]

Because of the way I listed things it gave the appearance that the Invitatory was a separate office. I know it isn’t. If my understanding is correct it replaces the ‘Introduction to the Hour’ of the office with which it’s used.

Clearly, I’ve misunderstood GILH. I thought Invitatory was mandatory if you say Readings first but optional if you say Lauds first. I’m wondering if I’ve read this into it because in the ‘old’ Divine Office that issue wouldn’t have arisen, would it? Matins was always the first office and began with the Invitatory (???)

You are correct. From the GILH:

1. The invitatory is placed at the beginning of the whole sequence of the day’s prayer, that is, it precedes either morning prayer or the office of readings, whichever of these liturgical rites begins the day. The invitatory psalm with its antiphon may be omitted, however, when the invitatory is the prelude to morning prayer.

I prefer however to ignore the option to omit the Invitatory psalm. I also ignore a lot of the other options to leave things out or change things around, like the option to leave out the Responsory or replace it with a song, or to use different psalms and readings on feria.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

You are correct. From the GILH:

I prefer however to ignore the option to omit the Invitatory psalm. I also ignore a lot of the other options to leave things out or change things around, like the option to leave out the Responsory or replace it with a song, or to use different psalms and readings on feria.

Thanks. I guess I didn’t finish reading the section to see this option.

 

[OraLabora]

You are correct. From the GILH:

I prefer however to ignore the option to omit the Invitatory psalm. I also ignore a lot of the other options to leave things out or change things around, like the option to leave out the Responsory or replace it with a song, or to use different psalms and readings on feria.

I often leave out the responsory, and replace it with a time of silence because, in private recitation, a verse-and-response format makes little sense. I do chant the office; I suppose I could chant it straight through but it doesn’t sound right, musically the response is needed to join the verse and the Gloria Patri. So I am inclined to observe silence instead, meditating on the word.