Solitary Liturgy of the Hours

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The LOTH does include hymn options; all hymns are to be approved by the Conferences of Bishops responsible for the various translations into the vernacular. (ICEL for US and English Canada, AELF for francophone Canada and francophone countries). In the French LOTH, there is a hymn provided for each office of each day, and a section of optional hymns as well after the psalter. For the seasons, a pool of approved hymns is provided in the first pages starting a new season (Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter seasons); they can be used for any of the hours.

Again, the LOTH is very clear on what is optional, and what isn’t, either through a rubric or the General Instructions.

In the Latin LOTH, there are actually way fewer hymn options, the only one that I can think of being the hymn for Compline (Te lucis, or Christe Redemptor) in Ordinary Time. The hymns are on a two-week cycle for the ferial Office, and hymns for the seasons are unique to a specific hour for each season.
 
GIRM is an abbreviation for General Instruction on the Roman Missal. It contains the rubrics for celebrating Mass not the Office.

The rubrics for the Office are contained in the General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours (GILH).

The rubrics are not optional and not for us to choose how we celebrate the sacred liturgy.

You also seem to be confused about different offices. The GILH contains the rubrics for the forma ordinaria of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Rite.

Many religious orders have their own Office. They do not use the Roman one. For example, Benedictines have their own office based on the Thesaurus Liturgiae Horarum Monasticae.

It is my understanding the Carmelites have their own Office. Therefore, when the friars taught to how to recite the Office they could very well have been teaching you their Office and not the Roman one. Perhaps, in their Office the hymn is optional when a particular office is recited by one individual alone.
 
I’m using the GIRM as it was used by others

However, I am referring to the Rubrics for the Liturgy of the Hours, GILH, thanks for the clarification.

But this is the “General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours,” and there are variations as you point out. It was written back in 1973 ? primarily for the office which is prayed in common. Very little is included for individual prayer.

The Discalced Carmelites, which my wife and myself are 3rd order members, secular, OCDS, use the Roman Breviary as the Friars use. It is published by the Catholic Book Company. We use the four volume set, but many members of the group also used the shorter Christian Prayer, Th Liturgy of the Hours.

This morning I tried singing the hymn to myself, but being there is no music with it, I got lost on the notes about 3/4 through. It’s why I still hold that the hymn is optional for individual prayer.

Jim
 
The reason for my objection toward the idea that the hymn being mandatory for individual prayer, is that as more and more lay people are beginning to learn to pray the LOTHs, I would hope that they are not discouraged from praying the office on their own, because they don’t know the hymn, or reciting it doesn’t make sense.

Obviously, praying in common with a group, is preferred, but not absolute.

I’ll stand by the direction given to my by the Discalced Carmelite Friars who were the spiritual directors for my OCDS group.

Jim
 
I think that your view on the hymn being optional is completely reasonable, based on the direction you’ve received as a member of the OCDS. However, I can’t find anything in either the GILH or the Ordinary of Vol. I of the LOTH to support it. Perhaps I’m overlooking something–would you please point me to the support for your stance in either of these sources? By “your stance” I mean: In general (rather than just in particular to your order), the hymns are an optional part of the LOTH.

The only references in the GILH that I can find which seem relevant to the discussion here are the ones that OraLabora already supplied. Additionally, in the Ordinary in Vol. I, for all of the hours, it says either “Then the appropriate hymn is said”, or “Then the appropriate hymn follows”, or just “Hymn”. None of these indicate that it optional to at least recite the hymn. Of course, neither do they suggest that SINGING any part of an office is required.
 
The GILH speaks primarily of the office being prayed in common and it mentions little about individuals praying the office. It also doesn’t state anything about postures when praying the office alone, unless I missed it, but again, when praying alone, I’ve been instructed that it’s not necessary to stand as the GILH instructs those praying in common to do.

At this point, go by what you believe to be proper for your individual prayer, or you belong to a Third Order Group, go by what your Spiritual Director says.

When my wife and myself visit the Trappist Monastery near us for Vespers and Benediction, we follow the monks as they follow the norm for their order, which is different than the Discalced Carmelites.

The goal of praying the Liturgy of the Hours, as in all prayer, is to develop a closer relationship with God. We’re not just reading the psalms and canticles, but uniting ourselves, with God and the Church. Anything that distracts us from that goal, should be avoided.

Jim
 
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Please could I ask you to read your last paragraph again. You may know what you meant, but read how it reads. You cannot claim the hymn is optional because of your inability to sing.
 
I think it’s our duty to pursue truth I. Matters such as this. Jim obviously believes he has found the truth as pertains to his situation even though evidence to the contrary has been provided.

Let’s hope he confirms his belief next time he visits his instructor/spiritual director.

Then come back & let us know. I’m curious to know what the friars tell him.
 
I don’t see what your problem is with the last paragraph.

If you’re goal is other than union with God, then what is it ?

Jim
 
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I have no problem with what the spiritual directors have taught us years ago.

My wife and myself are now isolated members of OCDS.

Bottom line, I have no interest in pursuing this issue again

The OP will have to take what was posted to his priest and follow his advice.

God Bless
Jim
 
Since Jim has received instruction from his superiors, it seems evident that’s what he should follow. I don’t think he needs to defend himself for doing what her been instructed to do. This thread is starting to feel like bullying.
 
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I think I’ve figured out why we are getting different viewpoints. The 4-week LOTH was originally designed as a secular Office, and as such does have lots of instructions for private recitation. So just for giggles I looked at the General Instruction of the Monastic Liturgy of the Hours. And indeed, since it’s intended as a choral Office, there is nothing about private recitation in the GIMLH. The only reference is that monks who are outside the monastery for licit reasons (apostolic work, travel) with the abbot’s consent, may use the secular 4-week LOTH, with all the rubrics that apply to private recitation from that book.

Many religious use the LOTH as-is but with their own usages, calendar, etc, and probably their own books and customs. I suspect that since they are intended for choral recitation, not much is said about private recitation.

So in a way we’re both right, and following the usages of our communities as we were instructed.

I apologize if I have been overly pedantic about this. It finally clicked this afternoon and I had a look at my monastic breviary for any insight and indeed no mention of private recitation, whereas my 4-week secular breviary has many instructions for private recitation (no need to stand, bow, etc, repetitions not required in responsories, concluding prayer to use, no need to repeat antiphon between each strophe of the Invitatory, etc.).

For secular users of the LOTH, I think the rubrics and the GI provide sufficient guidance for private, community or choral recitation. The fact that the LOTH was primarily for secular diocesan and non-choral use can probably be deducted from how long it took for the first volume of its official Antiphonary to appear (answer: 40 years!).
 
SuscipeMeDomine said:
Since Jim has received instruction from his superiors, it seems evident that’s what he should follow. I don’t think he needs to defend himself for doing what her been instructed to do. This thread is starting to feel like bullying.
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This is correct – and reading through the thread, “bullying” is a good term for some of the posts. Especially coming from those who are not even Carmelite Seculars.

@JimR-OCDS should do nothing other than follow the formation he received from the friars of his province, under his Prior Provincial.

The Discalced Carmelites have a remarkable formation programme for their secular order. They do a very good job of formng their members in how they are to fulfil the obligations they assume in Carmel, in regard to spirituality, prayer as well as the Liturgy of the Hours done according to the Carmelite’s customs.
 
OraLabora said:
Many religious use the LOTH as-is but with their own usages, calendar, etc, and probably their own books and customs.
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Indeed…and all that extends to their secular order members, above all when we are speaking of the Canons Regular and the Friars, including the Carmelites of both the Ancient Observance and the Teresian Reform.

Happy Christmas, @OraLabora. I look forward to being shortly back in the cloister and in monastic retreat and will remember you, your abbey, and your good Abbot in my prayers in these very special days.
 
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I am a new Catholic also, but I was taught by a nun on how to do the Liturgy of the Hours. I don’t know it completely well, but I also did the hymn, where I would recite it with my friends who were in the group.
jvickers said:
When praying the Liturgy of the Hours alone, I am aware that the hymn is skipped or is optional.
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Hmm…I am not sure what book you are using. When I learned it, it was not so. Would you be able to ask a sister or a priest about this? They know very well about the Liturgy of the Hours. And maybe see what book you are using, too.

Blessings!
 
pulchraesamicamea said:
Would you be able to ask a sister or a priest about this?
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That’s what I will probably do. I forgot to ask my priest yesterday after Mass.

I’m using iBreviary at the moment until I get comfortable with things. I’ve been reciting the hymns, which is not problematic. Once I figure out those ribbons, I’ll probably look for a hard copy of the breviaries. Unless iBreviary turns out to be sufficient. No need to spend more on something available for free, after all.

Eventually, I’d like to go to a Liturgy of the Hours, but I live 40 minutes from the Church I attend. I have a “How to” book on breviaries coming that hopefully explains the ribbons! My wife, who is is brilliant, attended one and came back traumatized 😉, so things appear to be complex. I’ve been praying Morning Prayer and Night Prayer - Night more than Morning. She and I wake and retire at different times. I’d like to eventually pray them with her at least. iBreviary will probably suffice for that.

Thanks for your response!
 
I can discern no reason for your uncharitable comments.

You have most likely done something we all do. When we say or write something we know exactly what we mean because we thought it. However, we may not express ourselves as well as we could and what we say or write is not clear to our listener or reader because they do not have the benefit of what we were thinking. If you are willing to re-read that paragraph objectively you will see it effectively reads, "because I do not sing well the hymn at the Office should be omitted the Office is recited alone".

Up to this point I have seen nothing other than your opinion that the hymn should be omitted. I have seen claims it should not from people on here who I believe have a very good knowledge of the Office. Also, it also only your opinion that rubrics can be optional or only apply in certain cases. At times the rubrics do tell us what to do when reciting an Office on our own. I think it reasonable to infer from that when it does not the rubrics apply in all circumstances.

Perhaps you can cite some source such as an instruction from a Roman dicastery or some guide to the Office, say something published by Mgr. Elliott, to substantiate your claim.

Felicem natalem Christi
 
TomH1 said:
Up to this point I have seen nothing other than your opinion that the hymn should be omitted.
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Then you must have missed his posts where he clearly said that this was the instruction he received from the friars, as part of his formation as a secular Carmelite.
TomH1 said:
Perhaps you can cite some source such as an instruction from a Roman dicastery or some guide to the Office, say something published by Mgr. Elliott, to substantiate your claim.
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He has already cited his source. Please see above.
 
On the question of whether the hymn is optional in private recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours, here is an argument that it is.

Father Edward McNamara quoted from “Nov. 15, 2000, the Holy See issued an extensive “reply to a doubt” (Prot. No 2330/00/L)” at What Should Be Prayed in the Liturgy of the Hours - ZENIT - English . The Latin text of this document is at http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...n_ccdds_doc_20001205_liturgia_horarum_lt.html . He has (with my bold text):

““By itself, Morning Prayer (Lauds) should be recited during the morning hours and Evening Prayer (Vespers) during the evening hours, as the names of these parts of the Office indicate. If someone cannot recite Morning Prayer (Lauds) in the morning, he has the obligation of reciting it as soon thereafter as possible. In the same way, if Evening Prayer (Vespers) cannot be recited during the evening hours, it must be recited as soon thereafter as possible (SC 89). In other words, the obstacle, which impedes the observation of the ‘true time of the hours,’ is not by itself a cause that excuses the recitation either of Morning Prayer (Lauds) or of Evening Prayer (Vespers), because it is a question of the ‘Principal Hours’ (SC, 89) which ‘merit the greatest esteem’ (GILH, 40).

“Whoever willingly recites the Liturgy of the Hours and endeavors to celebrate the praises of the Creator of the universe with dedication, can at least recite the psalmody of the hour that has been omitted without the hymn and conclude with only a short reading and the prayer.”

So this last sentence seems to make the hymn optional, at least for some situations.

Indications that it is optional from the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours are:

“28 The Liturgy of the Hours is entrusted to sacred ministers in a special way so that it is to be recited by each of them—with the necessary adaptations—even when the people are not present.”

“42 A suitable hymn is then said. The hymn should be composed so as to express the particular characteristic of each Hour or feast. It makes an easy and pleasant opening to the prayer, especially in celebrations with the people.”

“280 The hymns, provided that they have doctrinal and artistic value, can also be of benefit to the person reciting the Hours. As far as possible, hymns should be sung in community celebrations as their nature demands.”

(Quotes from the edition at https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Rites/GILH.pdf ).

Arguments that it is not optional are at The Rite Questions: Hymn in the Divine Office .

It seems to me that there is enough doubt about whether it is optional that in practice it would be better to include the hymn.

[Excerpts from the English translation of the General Introduction on the Liturgy of the Hours © 1974, the Hierarchies of Australia, England and Wales, Ireland. All Rights Reserved.]
 
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