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BlytheMike
Guest
Why isn’t there a Saturday evening prayers in the liturgy of the hours? What are you supposed to pray on Saturday in the evening?
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OraLabora
Guest
What? Of course there are Saturday Evening prayers in the LOTH. You pray Evening Prayer I (First Vespers) of Sunday. Liturgically, Sundays, Solemnities and feasts of Our Lord that fall on a Sunday, begin on the eve. It’s a continuation of the ancient Jewish tradition of beginning feasts and the Sabbath on the eve at sundown.
So tonight, Saturday evening, you do what I just did moments ago, you pray Evening Prayer I of the 7th Sunday of the Easter season, or, if you are in an area where the Ascension is transferred to the Sunday, you pray EP I of the Ascension.
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Michael_Mayo
Guest
If one does not know that, it can be confusing as Evening Prayer I is under the heading of Sunday even in “Shorter Christian Prayer” which is the most user friendly. I supposed it could be viewed as an option for Sunday. I dont see it in the instructions so one just has to know or figure it out.
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detoutcoeur
Guest
You aren’t the first to wonder.
Have a look at this earlier thread:forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=1013076
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OraLabora
Guest
Gee you’re right, I didn’t realize the English LOTH was so unclear. I use the LOTH in French and it says at the heading for Sunday I, II, III or IV:
SUNDAY I
Saturday evening
and then proceeds with the Office. I looked back in my Christian Prayer, which I never use, and it simply says “Sunday, Evening Prayer I” with no reference that it is to be prayed on Saturday evening.
Likewise, the English General Instructions for the LOTH of the hour states:
Whereas the equivalent paragraph in French states:
(translated: The Sunday Office begins with First Vespers (Saturday evening office) etc.
No idea why the English version is so much less clear than the French. Another translation mystery I guess…
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otjm
Guest
Well, you know, the LOTH is not exactly on the New York Times Best Seller List. So perhaps in order to cut a few costs, a bit of ink was saved by not including the explanation?
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Vico
Guest
ewtn.com/library/curia/cdwgilh.htm
General Instructions
Chapter IV: Various Celebrations Throughout the Year
Chapter IV-I. Mysteries of the Lord
Sunday
- The office of Sunday begins with evening prayer I, which is taken entirely from the four-week psalter, except those parts that are marked as proper.
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