Vespers and Compline Together?

[dcrowmik]

In the Hours Matins and Lauds are often prayed together. Is it ever permissible to pray Vespers and Compline together?

 

[DixitDominus]

I assume that you are talking about the extraordinary form of the Divine Office, since in the ordinary form Matins has been replaced with the Office of Readings.

Technically speaking, Matins and Lauds make up one hour, Lauds being the conclusion of Matins. This is why they are prayed together when the Office is recited in common.

In regards to the private recitation of the Office, you are free to pray Vespers and Compline together, though the hours would probably be more spiritually beneficial if said at the correct times, namely, early evening for Vespers and just before retiring for Compline.

 

[Cluny]

Actually, according to the rubrics promulgated in the '50, Lauds MUST be said after midnight, preferably around daybreak, as a morning prayer, even in private recitation.

Matins could still be anticipated overnight, even as early as 2 pm. At one time, it was Matins and Lauds.

Obviously the Office achieves its best devotional value as the hours are separated throughout the day, though there’s no reason Vespers and Compline cannot be aggregated.

 

[John_Lilburne]

In the Hours Matins and Lauds are often prayed together. Is it ever permissible to pray Vespers and Compline together?

“99 If the Office of Readings is said immediately before another Hour of the Office, then a hymn fitting to this other Hour may be used to begin the Office of Readings. The prayer and conclusion at the end of the Office of Readings and the introductory verse with the Glory be to the Father of the succeeding Hour are omitted.” (Divine Office, published by E.J. Dwyer, Sydney, 1974, ISBN 085574233X, page lii. General Instruction, n. 99.)

So the Office of Readings (Matins) could be joined with Night Prayer (Compline). But no similar provision is made to join Evening Prayer (Vespers) with Night Prayer (Compline).

Regarding Night Prayer the General Instruction has: “84 Compline is the final prayer of the day to be said before going to bed, even if this is after midnight.” For Evening Prayer: “39 Vespers is celebrated in the evening when the day is drawing to a close, …”.