Solitary Liturgy of the Hours

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As a new Catholic, and completely new to the Liturgy of the Hours, I have a quick question. When praying the Liturgy of the Hours alone, I am aware that the hymn is skipped or is optional. Can I assume that the response portion is to be left out?

I know, it’s probably a silly question to ask, but I want to make sure.

TIA!
 
The hymn is actually NOT optional, even in individual recitation. You can recite it if you don’t want to sing it, but you cannot omit it.

I don’t know if by “response” you mean “responsory” but if you are, then the responsory is optional for Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, as per GILH 49:
  1. As a response to the word of God, a responsorial chant or short responsory is provided; this may be omitted. Other chants with the same purpose and character may also be substituted in its place, provided these have been duly approved by the conference of bishops.
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However, the responsories have great value. Why would you even want to omit them?

Of course this answer is framed with the assumption that you intend to offer the Liturgy of the Hours as the Liturgy of the Hours, that is, as the official prayer of the Church, and not merely adapting it for personal devotional prayer. If the latter, then of course, you’re free to adapt as you see fit.
 
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Thanks for your response. The book I am reading on how to do the Liturgy of the Hours indicated the hymn was optional if you are alone. Mistakes happen, though. So, it is good to see your answer. Yes, I meant “responsory”. Spellcheck disliked it, so I changed it to response 🙂.
 
Yes, some how-to books on the LOTH claim the hymn is optional, but that claim is unsupported by either the General Instruction or the rubrics. Hymns are integral to the Liturgy of the Hours. Recite it them you will, but do not omit.
 
Actually the hymn is optional when your praying the LOTH"s alone.

The Breviary by the Catholic Book Publishing Company, was designed to be said in a group, but can be used alone, with modifications.

You’re not required to sing or recite the hymns when alone.

Jim OCDS
 
jvickers said:
. When praying the Liturgy of the Hours alone, I am aware that the hymn is skipped or is optio
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That’s inaccurate.

The hymn is a mandatory element of the Office.

When alone, you can simply recite the hymn either out loud or even silently in your heart, but for the Liturgy to be validly celebrated, the hymn must be recited.
 
jvickers said:
The book I am reading on how to do the Liturgy of the Hours indicated the hymn was optional if you are alone. Mistakes happen, though
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Odd…

What’s the name of the book? Does it have an imprimatur/nihil obstat?
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Actually the hymn is optional when your praying the LOTH"s alone.
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Where is that said in the Rubrics or the General Instruction?

As far as I’m aware, saying the hymn is optional is a personal opinion which is seemingly contradicted by the official Instruction and Rubrics.
 
The General Instruction is just that, “General,” not absolute.

Also, as a Discalced Carmelite, Secular, OCDS, this is how I was instructed by the Friars.

Then of course the monastic orders like the Trappists and Benedictines, follow their own LOTHs.

Jim
 
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It’s named, The Everyday Catholic’s Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours, by Daria Sockey. Not sure about the imprimatur/nihil obstat.
 
There is no indication that the hymn is optional. The GI say in fact that they are the most important poetic element of ecclesiastical (i.e. non-scriptural) creation. (paragraph 173)

When in doubt I follow the liturgical cues of the abbey I’m associated with. They are serious liturgists, being of the Solesmes Congregation. I’ve often travelled with individual monks. They always recite every Office even away from the abbey. I’ve recited the minor hours with them in my car, on a cycling trail, and atop a mountain on a hike.

They always recite the hymn, even in private.
 
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Probably an inadequate solution but can you not copy it to a word processor and resize the font until it fits?

Hey! So, this is a response to another thread! Lol. Oops.
 
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jvickers said:
Catholic’s Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours, by Daria Sockey
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I used to read Darias’ blog, she’s great so I’m sure the book is excellent.

If you’re not already familiar with it, check it out:

Coffee and Canticles

Ordinary Catholics Loving the Liturgy of the Hours
dariasockey.blogspot.com dariasockey.blogspot.com

Sadly, she’s stopped adding new content. 😦

If she said the hymn was optional though, I’d chalk it up to innocent human error. Maybe she meant it was optional to SING the hymn? Because that IS optional. One can sing the hymn, or simply recite it, or even read it and recite it in the heart. But the hymn is integral to the structure of the Liturgy.
 
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Thanks! I’ll chalk it up to human error and recite the hymn. (Can’t carry a tune, and my wife would probably tell me to stop singing 😄)
 
jvickers said:
Can’t carry a tune, and my wife would probably tell me to stop singing
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I can’t sing either, my voice sounds idiotic.

But I either recite the hymn out loud prayerfully, or sing it silently in my heart.
 
I couldn’t sing the hymns even if I wanted to. I’m not familiar with the melody of any of them, and my music reading is very rusty (not that there is always notation for the hymns).

I do know O Come O Come Emmanuel. I’ve enjoyed singing that one during vespers.
 
mrsdizzyd said:
I couldn’t sing the hymns even if I wanted to. I’m not familiar with the melody of any of them, and my music reading is very rusty (not that there is always notation for the hymns).
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I downloaded the LOTH onto the phone. Those people can carry the tune!
 
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