Why does EWTN omit psalm prayers in Vespers

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Sirach2

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Tonight will be the fourth time EWTN prays Vespers with benediction. I have truly enjoyed praying along with them, but I am wondering why they omit the psalm prayer? Perhaps since there is only a half hour? BTW, this is a very beautiful celebration of Vespers with chant.

I remember reading Father Z’s comment about this in his blog, WDTPRS, a few years ago and he seemed irritated that these were added to the LOTH.

Being tempted now to omit them when I pray the Divine Office, I wonder whether this is appropriate? Would someone who prays LOTH regularly please comment.
 
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My understanding is that they are optional. They do not appear in the Order for Morning and Evening Prayer (Collins, UK). Silent prayer after each psalm is encouraged.
 
I have been praying the Liturgy of the Hours for over a decade now, and I have never used the Psalm Prayers. They are, as Angelus said, optional, and don’t even appear in some editions. They seem to have been added on in the US version.

-Fr ACEGC
 
I really enjoy the prayers after the psalms and find that they give me some additional direction and focus in my private prayers.
 
Coming from you, Father, I will take it to the bank, so to speak. Many thanks for putting my mind at rest about this.
 
Incidentally, if anyone is interested, the vespers air on EWTN today (Sunday) at 6:00 PM, EST. I highly recommend praying along with them.
 
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They are optional. The French LOTH does not even have them. The monastic breviary our abbey uses includes them but the abbey omits them. The secular LOTH in French doesn’t even include them.

They never really “took off” as it were.
 
Thanks, @OraLabora. You have helped me a number of times regarding the LOTH in the past, but this matter was new to me. Thanks to EWTN, I got to the bottom of it. I often use DivineOffice.org when I am on line, and they, too, insert the psalm prayer. One might think that their Office would be official and correct. I obtained my breviary from Daughters of St. Paul in 1981 and learned to pray it in community. They, too, always used the psalm prayer. 🤨
 
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Psalm Prayers are optional so EWTN can omit them. You can omit them in private recitation, too.

Here in the UK our version of the LOTH the Divine Office (3 volumes) does not have the Psalm Prayers.
 
These Psalm prayers are not in the Latin typical edition. They are totally optional.
 
Sirach2 said:
Tonight will be the fourth time EWTN prays Vespers with benediction. I have truly enjoyed praying along with them, but I am wondering why they omit the psalm prayer? Perhaps since there is only a half hour? BTW, this is a very beautiful celebration of Vespers with chant.

I remember reading Father Z’s comment about this in his blog, WDTPRS, a few years ago and he seemed irritated that these were added to the LOTH.

Being tempted now to omit them when I pray the Divine Office, I wonder whether this is appropriate? Would someone who prays LOTH regularly please comment.
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They have always been optional; I myself never say them, and the most I do is read them silently.
 
Thanks so much to all of you who assured me that the psalm prayers are optional. I appreciate your feedback. I am very comfortable now leaving them aside.
 
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