Question about LOTH

[Devo]

Hello,

I am new here and was wondering if any of you could help me out. I am praying the Liturgy of the Hours daily and was wondering about how much leeway we have in when we recite the hours.

For example I have heard different things about lauds.

Some say it has to be with in 2 hours of 6AM and others have said that just as long as you recite it before noon it is okay.

Could someone clarify the time range which we have to celebrate the hours?

Thanks,
Devo

 

[Marauder]

Actually the answer is it depends.

If you are a lay person you are not obligated to say the Liturgy of the Hours, it is up to you when you say the prayers.

It is preferrable that if you say Morning it be said in the morning, Evening in the evening, afternoon at the appropriate time and Office whenever you want.

If you are a member of a religious order, then you say it at the time detailed in your order.

If you are a priest or deacon,  then they should be said at the appropriate time, of course with leeway.

29. Hence bishops, priests, and other sacred ministers, who have received from the Church the mandate to celebrate the liturgy of the hours (see no. 17), should recite the full sequence of hours each day, observing as far as possible the true time of day.

      They should, first and foremost, attach due importance to those hours that are, so to speak, the two hinges of the liturgy of the hours, that is, morning prayer and evening prayer, which should not be omitted except for a serious reason.

1. Other religious communities and their individual members are advised to celebrate some parts of the liturgy of the hours, in accordance with their own situation, for it is the prayer of the Church and makes the whole Church, scattered throughout the world, one in heart and mind. [119] This recommendation applies also to laypersons. [120]

 

[frdave20]

I recite the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I find that sometimes I see no connection between the Antiphon and the corresponding Psalm. Is there supposed to be a connection? For example, the Antiphon may be referring to the INcarnation, but the Psalm is the De Profundis.

 

[Hesychios]

Devo:

rs have said that just as long as you recite it before noon it is okay.

Could someone clarify the time range which we have to celebrate the hours?

Thanks,
Devo

Marauder answered your question pretty well. The church wants the prayer to be accessable to you. Use your best judgment.

It’s incredible how so many people have taken liberties with the hours. Monasteries, both East and West, oftentimes would bunch them up into sets just so they could have some time to get something done during the day. Many hours were said in anticipation. This went on for hundreds of years!

One rule that was impressed upon me was this: never try to make up for missed hours. Go on to the next one and forget it, the idea is to sanctify time so if it’s time for night prayer, say night prayer and forget about the fact that you missed evening prayer!

I would also suggest that you call a local monastery and ask them when they say their hours, and try to match up with them.

You could start a prayer and reading group in the neighborhood and agree all together on the best times.

 

[Marauder]

frdave20:

I recite the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I find that sometimes I see no connection between the Antiphon and the corresponding Psalm. Is there supposed to be a connection? For example, the Antiphon may be referring to the INcarnation, but the Psalm is the De Profundis.

I can’t answer the question other then saying that from what I can tell the Antiphons vary. Sometimes they come from the Psalm/Reading. Sometimes they are the New Testament or Old Testament parallel to the Psalm/Reading. In the case of ones for Saint feast days they are either a saying attributed to the Saint or a favorite Biblical phrase that the Saint loved or a biblical parallel to the Saint.

Someone else may be able to give you a better explanation as to why particular antiphons are chosen.