The 1962 Roman Breviary in English and those of Religious Orders

[browebmaster]

If we are obliged to pray the breviary, may we use an English Translation of the 1962 Roman Breviary to fulfill the obligation or is it necessary to use Latin?

Do religious orders have their own breviaries? If so, may we use them though we are not affiliated to the order?

Thanks!

 

[AlexPetrosPio]

We are not required, as laity, to pray the Breviary. So, if one felt called to it, can pray a Benedictine Liturgy of the Hours from 1304 (arbitrary year).

 

[browebmaster]

Nevertheless, if one is obliged (e.g. a priest), may he fulfill his obligation by using the aforementioned?

 

[JReducation]

If we are obliged to pray the breviary, may we use an English Translation of the 1962 Roman Breviary to fulfill the obligation or is it necessary to use Latin?

Do religious orders have their own breviaries? If so, may we use them though we are not affiliated to the order?

Thanks!

The laity can pray the Liturgy of the Hours using any breviary from any year. Secular Clergy can only use the 1962 Roman Breviary or the 1970 Roman Breviary. They can use it in English or Latin. Both come in Latin as well as other languages.

Religious must use the breviary approved by their superior. Some religious orders have their own breviary.

The Benedictines have several breviaries. In the Benedictine tradition the breviary is subject to the abbot. He decides what breviary the abbey will use. He can even create a breviary for his abbey. Today, most Benedictine houses belong to a cluster called a congregation, not to be confused with a religious congregation. In a religious congregation, the houses are all under the governance of one major superior. In a Benedictine congregation, each monastery is sui iuris.

The Poor Clares use one of two breviaries. Those Poor Clares, such as the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, who come from the Benedictine school and follow the Rule of St. Benedict with Franciscan constitutions, usually use the Breviary of Solemnes (sp?). The Poor Clares who come from the Franciscan school out of Assisi and follow the Rule of St. Clare use the Roman - Franciscan Breviary, which comes in Latin and modern languages.

Franciscan men and Secular Franciscans use the Roman - Franciscan breviary only, in any language. It’s up to the superior of the house. In the case of the Secular Franciscans, it’s up to the Regional Minister. Franciscans can also use the Office of the Passion written by St. Francis, which is a much shorter breviary. It has only three hours in honor of the three hours that Christ spent on the cross.

Dominicans have their own breviary. Carmelites use the Roman Breviary of 1970 with an addendum for Carmelite feasts. The Jesuits also have their own breviary. The Brigitines use the Office of the Blessed Virgin.

Canon law allows religious communities of simple vows to use other forms of prayer in place of the breviary. Communities that make solemn vows, must pray one of the approved breviaries. The laity is not obliged to pray it, but it is highly encouraged.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[jwinch2]

Here is the Benedictine Monastic Diurnal, if you are looking for a traditional approach to the Monastic Office. farnboroughabbey.org/press/dirunal.php

However, as Brother JR already mentioned, each monastery or each congregation can, and often does, put together its own office based on their interpretation of the direction that St. Benedict gives in the Holy Rule.

This presentation does a nice job of discussing how St. Benedict compiled the office for his monks by combining aspects of the ancient monastic office and the cathedral office, how he ordered the psalms, and why he did both in the manner in which he did. bkstr.com/ProductDisplay/10001-152754-15053-4000000000002053288-1?demoKey=d

Peace,

 

[JReducation]

Here is the Benedictine Monastic Diurnal, if you are looking for a traditional approach to the Monastic Office. farnboroughabbey.org/press/dirunal.php

However, as Brother JR already mentioned, each monastery or each congregation can, and often does, put together its own office based on their interpretation of the direction that St. Benedict gives in the Holy Rule.

This presentation does a nice job of discussing how St. Benedict compiled the office for his monks by combining aspects of the ancient monastic office and the cathedral office, how he ordered the psalms, and why he did both in the manner in which he did. bkstr.com/ProductDisplay/10001-152754-15053-4000000000002053288-1?demoKey=d

Peace,

I remember studying this during my STD. It was fascinating. What many people don’t know is that Benedict was a scholar on Jewish liturgy. He paid close attention to how the Jews during Jesus’ times prayed the hours. That’s how he came up with the horarium for the LOTH.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[jwinch2]

I remember studying this during my STD. It was fascinating. What many people don’t know is that Benedict was a scholar on Jewish liturgy. He paid close attention to how the Jews during Jesus’ times prayed the hours. That’s how he came up with the horarium for the LOTH.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

Good stuff!

 

[Rich_C]

Nevertheless, if one is obliged (e.g. a priest), may he fulfill his obligation by using the aforementioned?

If he is a diocesan priest, yes. However, I know it is not so simple for priests in religious orders, though I don’t know the specifics.

Also, just to help everyone understand, I think you mean the 1960 Roman Breviary. To my knowledge, there was no new breviary put out in 1962, although the 1960 Breviary corresponds with the 1962 Missal.

 

[OraLabora]

Benedictines must use the schema approved by their abbot. However when they are traveling or have a heavy external apostolate, they may, with approval of their abbot, use the 1970 LOTH. Oblates can use either their abbey’s schema or the LOTH.

Another point is that if a diocesan priest is visiting another community, or a monk is visiting another community, he fulfills his obligation when participating in the Office of the community being visited; i.e. there’s no need to attend the Office and then recite their own Office before or after.

Everything a monk does, is with approval of the abbot.

 

[JReducation]

If he is a diocesan priest, yes. However, I know it is not so simple for priests in religious orders, though I don’t know the specifics.

Priests have no special place in religious orders. Whatever the rule and constitution says for the order applies to everyone from novices to solemnly professed religious. Ordination is not factored into this at all. As far as we’re concerned, you “just” a priest. However, you ARE a religious and you will do whatever everyone does. Orders make solemn vows. It is the vows that bind a member of an order to the LOTH, not the priesthood. The priesthood comes long after the vows, for those whom the superior approves and it’s considered accidental, not necessary to the life of the order, except for Dominicans and Jesuits.

In clerical congregations, such as the Fathers of Mercy, the arrangement is different. Everyone is a priest and everyone is a religious. However, they are not in solemn vows. They make simple vows. Simple vows do not bind you to the LOTH only solemn vows do. However, because they are priests, they are bound to the LOTH.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV