Vespers tonight

[twf]

I was planning to pray Evening Prayer II for the Annunciation tonight, but I see on divineoffice.org that tonight’s evening prayer defaults to Evening Prayer I for the Fourth Sunday of Lent. It makes sense that by default the Sunday of Lent would take precedence in this case…but is it possible within the rubrics to continue the celebration of today’s solemnity at vespers tonight?

 

[Mary_Ellen]

If you are not bound to pray the Office you may do as you wish. According to her rubrics the Church will be praying Evening Prayer I for the 4th Sunday of Lent. If your intent is to pray the prayer of the Church in union with said Church than pray EPI of the 4th week.

Be at peace.

 

[GoGoDiego]

I was planning to pray Evening Prayer II for the Annunciation tonight, but I see on divineoffice.org that tonight’s evening prayer defaults to Evening Prayer I for the Fourth Sunday of Lent. It makes sense that by default the Sunday of Lent would take precedence in this case…but is it possible within the rubrics to continue the celebration of today’s solemnity at vespers tonight?

No, at least within the rubrics

A sunday of Lent takes precedence over a Solemnity, therefore, you are to use Evening Prayer I of Lætare Sunday. In any church that has Our Lady of Annunciation as its titular and having their feast at March 25 on a Saturday, they would be using the Mass of the Fourth Sunday for an evening Mass on that day, regardless if it is their feast day.

But to repeat what Mary Ellen has said, I think there is nothing wrong using personal preference, assuming that you aren’t under obligation to recite

 

[OraLabora]

If you are not bound to pray the Office you may do as you wish.

It ceases to be liturgy if you do that.

Even laity, praying privately, are taking place in the public, official, prayer of the Church. There is great value in that. If going through all the trouble to pray the hours, I like to make sure it is liturgical.

For it to be liturgy, it must be according to the rubrics. The rubrics allow some variations and choices, but the precedence of Sundays in Lent is not one of them.

 

[FrDavid96]

I was planning to pray Evening Prayer II for the Annunciation tonight, but I see on divineoffice.org that tonight’s evening prayer defaults to Evening Prayer I for the Fourth Sunday of Lent. It makes sense that by default the Sunday of Lent would take precedence in this case…but is it possible within the rubrics to continue the celebration of today’s solemnity at vespers tonight?

Well, to answer your exact question “within the rubrics?..” No, that’s not possible.

However, since you’re asking about private prayer, you can do it. I don’t recommend it, but you’re under no obligation in the first place.

I know it’s over by the time you read this, but the question might come back in future.

By no means would I encourage this, but if you came up to me in-person and said “yesterday, I prayed EP for Annunciation in stead of 4th Sunday” my response would be “that’s great that you’re praying the LOTH. If you need help with the calendar, ask me.”

 

[FrDavid96]

It ceases to be liturgy if you do that.

Even laity, praying privately, are taking place in the public, official, prayer of the Church. There is great value in that. If going through all the trouble to pray the hours, I like to make sure it is liturgical.

For it to be liturgy, it must be according to the rubrics. The rubrics allow some variations and choices, but the precedence of Sundays in Lent is not one of them.

I did think about this for a while before responding.

Usually, I would agree.

However, in this thread, we’re discussing a private recitation of the Hours, and the question itself is the calendar, not the liturgy itself.