Why are public Vespers and Matins not too common?

[Religio71]

I’m curious, does anyone know why most Roman Catholic parishes don’t have public vespers and/or matins liturgies, whereas many if not most Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox do? Is it because we have more focus on Rosary and novena services? Is this just a difference in the development of West vs. East in traditions?

Also, would a deacon be able to organize and celebrate public vespers/matins? Or is a priest necessary for the public liturgy?

Thanks!

 

[thunderballs75]

I also wonder this. They could be done any time. And yeah, they have it in the Eastern Catholic Churches all of the time. Every Thursday I go to vespers at the Melkite Catholic Church.

But yeah, I think a deacon is allowed to do it.

 

[JReducation]

Vespers, Matins etc are part of the Liturgy of the Hours. They are as much liturgy as is the mass. However, anyone can preside over the Liturgy of the Hours. The tradition is that the presider is a priest, deacon or a religioius superior who is not a priest. But it can be a lay person too.

The Rosary, the Chaplet and other prayers cannot take the place of the Liturgy of the Hours. The Rosary is not equivalent. It is a public devotion, but not the official prayer of the Church, as is the Liturgy of the Hours. Even Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament cannot trump the Liturgy of the Hours. The Liturgy of the Hours flows from the mass.

The reason that it is not celebrated in public in the West, as much as it is in the East, is because of schedules. Western parishes tend to have more evening activities than Eastern parishes. Therefore, in Western parishes, the Liturgy of the Hours is celebrated in the religious houses or privately by deacons, priests, and bishops. There are some parishes that do not have a heavy evening schedule and they do celebrate Vespers with the congregation several times a week.

Some religious communities also have a rule among themselves. They do not pray the Liturgy of the Hours with the laity to avoid being contaminated by the laity. These religious communities serve in parishes, but they celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours in their enclosure. In some houses the choir is off to the side of the main body of the church so that you can hear the Liturgy of the Hours, but you can’t participate with the religious.

This is just an aside, but here is a good example of a situation where the liturgy is deliberately hidden from the laity. The Carthusians do not celebrate masss or the Liturgy of the Hours where the laity can see them or hear them. If you visit their houses, you may not go near their chapel. They have a separate chapel for the visitors. For them, the liturgy is the most sacred moment in the life of teh Carthusian and it is not to be shared with anyone. St. Bruno wrote this into their rule.

The Franciscans and Benedictines will usually pray the Liturgy of the Hours in a chapel that is open to the public.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Bluegoat]

I have wondered this myself. In the traditional Anglican parishes I have attended, often Morning and Evening prayer are said in the Church for all to attend as they desire. When I was a student, and there was lots of manpower, we had those offices plus compline and daily mass. It seems to have gone out of style at more modern parishes.

In the older BCP, it specifically states that if at all possible, the priest, who is obligated to say the offices, should do it in the church and ring the bell to allow the parishioners to join him, or at least “lift up their hearts” as they go about their work.

Attending the daily offices was a really important part of my religious formation as a student. It’s something I should really get back to.

 

[Breviarylover]

I’m curious, does anyone know why most Roman Catholic parishes don’t have public vespers and/or matins liturgies, whereas many if not most Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox do? Is it because we have more focus on Rosary and novena services? Is this just a difference in the development of West vs. East in traditions?

Also, would a deacon be able to organize and celebrate public vespers/matins? Or is a priest necessary for the public liturgy?

Thanks!

Yes, I wish parishes would offer this more often.

But, if you would just like to learn more about the Divine Office, I invite you to join this group. groups.yahoo.com/group/TheRomanBreviaryGroup/