Post on 25-May-2015
The Daily OfficesGreenhouse CaLLiNGOctober 6, 2012
What is liturgy? Greek: leitourgia
Two roots People (laos) Work (ergon)
Meaning in the ancient world Secular use
A work undertaken for the common good Religious use
Word used in Greek Bible for temple service (Luke 1:23)
Use of the term in the Western Church How we worship together as Church
Our “common prayer” Book of Common Prayer (BCP)
Spiritual significance We share in Christ’s own priestly prayer
Priesthood of all believers A standard of faith
How the Church has understood Scripture “How we pray is how we believe” (Latin: lex
orandi, lex credendi) Especially characteristic of the Anglican
tradition
Our “School of Prayer” How we learn to pray
Cf. language acquisition Learned socially Used individually
Two “routine” components Eucharist (previous training session) The “daily offices”
Origin of the daily offices Jewish practice
Three daily temple services Pattern for individual prayer
Example: Daniel 6 Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians
5:17) Our “sacred duty” (Latin: divinum officium)
English: “divine office”
Early Church Daily prayers at fixed times
Prayed in common Key element = Psalms
Selected for relevance to time of day (“cathedral office”) Morning = praise and petition Evening = thanksgiving
Early monastics Expansion of offices
Night Vigil Psalter prayed sequentially (“In course”)
Expansion of offices Inspiration: Seven times a day I praise
you for your righteous rules. (Psalm 119:164) Associated with specific times of day
(Latin: hora = English: “hour”) “Liturgy of the Hours”
Ultimately 8 “canonical hours”
Canonical “hours”1. Matins (Latin = “morning”) – night vigil2. Lauds (Latin = “praises”) – dawn3. Prime (Latin = “first hour”) – early morning4. Tierce (Latin = “third hour”) – mid-morning5. Sext (Latin = “sixth hour”) – noon6. None (Latin = “ninth hour”) – midafternoon7. Vespers (Latin = “evening”) – early evening8. Compline (Latin = “final”) - bedtime
New elements added Antiphons and responsories
Purpose = Christian understanding of Psalms Gospel canticles
Song of Zechariah (Benedictus) – morning prayer Song of Mary (Magnificat) – evening prayer Song of Simeon (Nunc dimittis) - compline
Scripture readings Patristic readings Hymns
Decline in lay participation Length Practical challenges
Complexity Language barrier
Unintended result of clerical obligation to pray offices
Private recitation “Bundling” of offices/loss of time element
English Reformation Move to restore lay participation in the
offices Reduction in number
Morning and evening prayer Shortened and simplified
Purely scriptural elements
Anglican distinctive Offices preserved as integral part of the
Church’s public worship Closest parallel = Eastern Churches
BCP (1979) Morning Prayer Evening Prayer Two additional offices
Noonday prayer Compline (night/bedtime prayer)
Liturgical calendar Key structural element of “school of prayer”
Objectives = completeness and balance Two components
Seasonal calendar Fixed dates (e.g., Christmas/Epiphany) Moveable dates (e.g., Easter/Ascension/Pentecost)
Sanctoral (i.e., “saints”) calendar
Seasonal calendar Original practice
Each Sunday = celebrate death and resurrection of Jesus
Addition of Easter (variable date) Special annual celebration of death and
resurrection of Jesus rooted in Passover Addition of Christmas/Epiphany (fixed dates)
Christmas – Western Church Epiphany – Eastern Church
Expansion of Easter Expand to one week (octave) Preceded by Lent
Goal = 40 days of fasting No fasting on Sunday = 6 weeks x 6 days = 36 Need for 4 more days => “Ash Wednesday”
Followed by Pentecost (Greek = “50”) 7 days x 7 weeks (“a week of weeks”) + 1 = 50
Holy Spirit = “fruit” of the “grain that dies” Giving of the Law at Sinai = giving of Holy Spirit
Expansion of Christmas Christmas
Expand to Epiphany (January 6) “12 days of Christmas”
Preceded by Advent 4 Sundays preceding Christmas Day
Seasonal calendar today in Western Church Advent
Start of Liturgical Year in Western Church Christmas/Epiphany Period from Epiphany to Lent
Anglicans = Epiphany season Roman Catholics = Ordinary Time (Part I)
“Ordinary” = no distinctive elements Latin: propria = English: proper
Cf. English “properties”
Seasonal calendar (cont.) Lent/Holy Week Easter Triduum (the great “three days”)
Holy Thursday evening-Easter Sunday Easter Season Pentecost Period until Advent
Anglicans = Season of Pentecost Roman Catholics = Ordinary Time (Part II)
Sanctoral calendar Origin in commemoration of local
martyrs Ancient Roman custom: meal at cemetery
on anniversary of death Eucharist at tomb of martyr
Expanded beyond martyrs First example – Martin of Tours
Expanded beyond local church Saints of other communities
Date used (4 choices) Death/burial/transfer of body/dedication
BCP (1979) Fixed calendar found on pages 15-30
Additional material available in Minor Feasts and Fasts Background Collect
Daily collects for special seasons Advent Lent
Morning prayerRite IIBCP (1979), pp. 75-102
Overall structure1. Preliminaries (optional)2. Invitatory and Psalter3. Lessons and canticles4. Apostles’ Creed5. Prayers6. Conclusion
1. PreliminariesOptional
ElementsA. Opening sentences B. Invitation to confessionC. ConfessionD. Absolution
A. Opening sentences (stand) One or more verses of scripture Purpose
Place prayer in broader context of the liturgical calendar
Selection Based on season or feast
Example: Advent
B. Invitation to confession (stand) Two forms
C. Confession of sin (kneel)
D. Absolution Priest – stand/”you” & “your” Other officiant – kneel/ “us” & “ours” Wording: priest v. other officiant
2. Invitatory and psalter
ElementsA. Versicle and responses (“preces”)B. Antiphon & InvitatoryC. Psalm(s)
A. Versicles and responses (stand) Also known as “preces” (Latin = prayers)
Custom – sign of the cross on lips
B. Antiphon & Invitatory (stand)
Purpose of invitatory = invitation to worship Options
Psalm 95 “Venite” (Latin: “Come”) Short version (1-7)/long version (penitential use)
Psalm 100 “Jubilate” (Latin: “Be joyful”) “Christ our Passover” (Romans and 1 Corinthians)
Easter season Purpose of antiphon = place in broader context of liturgical calendar
Custom: sign of the cross on lips
Example of antiphons
Use of antiphon Beginning/end (thematic “bookends”) Beginning + each break + end
C. Psalm(s) (stand or sit) Two approaches to selection
Lectionary (“psalms appointed”) Sequential recitation (“in course”)
Psalm(s) appointed Office lectionary
BCP (1979), pp. 934-1001 Facing pages
Year 1 on left Year 2 on right
Liturgical year begins 1 Advent Is the year starting January 1 odd or even?
Odd = Year 1 Even = Year 2
Psalm(s) appointed (cont.) Example:
Morning prayer = left of asterisk Psalms 146 & 147
Evening prayer = right of asterisk Psalms 111, 112, 113
Psalms appointed (cont.) Parentheses = may be excluded
Typically “imprecatory” material Example:
Psalm(s) appointed (cont.) Example of omitted material:
Psalms in course 30-day cycle (indicated in Psalter)
BCP, pp. 581-808 Sequential portions of approximately equal
length for each morning and evening
Methods of recitation Direct recitation
In unison Antiphonal recitation
Verse-by-verse alternation (within congregation) Responsive recitation
Verse-by-verse alternation (minister/congregation) Responsorial recitation
Congregation responds with antiphon
Conclusion of Psalm(s)
Christian understanding of Psalms Christ
King Bridegroom
Church Bride Jerusalem
Praying the Psalms Material not relevant to our current situation
We pray with others Imprecatory material
Focus on our own sinful nature
3. Lessons and canticles
Lessons Reader (stand)
Celebrant should not be reader People (sit)
Lectionary Readings
Old Testament New Testament (other than Gospel) Gospel
Sundays and feasts Use Eucharistic lectionary if
Principal service Joined to Eucharist
Assignment of readings Single daily office
May use all three readings (or less) Both morning and evening prayer
Option A: [2+1] or [1+2] Option B: [2+2]
4th reading = Old Testament of alternate year Gospel
Morning Year 1 Evening Year 2
Canticles (stand) Placement
After first two readings Custom: sign of the cross for “Gospel
canticles” Song of Zechariah (Benedictus) Song of Mary (Magnificat) Song of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis)
Canticles - selection8. The Song of Moses9. The First Song of Isaiah10.The Second Song of Isaiah11.The Third Song of Isaiah12.A Song of Creation13.A Song of Praise14.A Song of Penitence15.The Song of Mary
Nos. 1-8 = Versions in traditional English (“thee”/“thou”) from Rite I
Canticles - selection16.The Song of Zechariah17.The Song of Simeon18.A Song to the Lamb19.The Song of the Redeemed20.Glory to God21.You are God
Canticles – selection (cont.) Suggested assignment = BCP (1979)
pp. 144-145
4. Apostles’ Creed (stand)
5. Prayers (stand or kneel)
ElementsA. Salutation and Lord’s PrayerB. SuffragesC. Collect of the DayD. Other collectsE. Prayer for missionF. Intercessions/thanksgivingsG. Prayer(s) of thanksgiving
A. Salutation and Lord’s prayer
B. Suffrages Versicles + responses Two options
C. Collect of the day Sundays and feasts
“Proper” to the day Other times
Collect of previous Sunday
D. Other collects Sunday – proper (resurrection) Monday – renewal of life Tuesday – peace Wednesday – grace Thursday – guidance Friday – proper (crucifixion) Saturday – proper (sabbath rest)
E. Prayer for mission Three options
F. Intercessions/thanksgivings From those present
G. Prayer(s) of thanksgiving One or both
General Thanksgiving Prayer of St. Chrysostom
6. Conclusion
ElementsA. Versicle and response
• Officiant: Let us bless the Lord• People: Thanks be to God
• Custom: sign of the cross at versicle
B. Closing sentences• Three options
• Unrelated to seasons
Evening prayerRite IIBCP (1979), pp. 115-126
Overall structureo Same as Morning Prayer
1. Preliminaries (optional)2. Invitatory and Psalter3. Lessons and canticles4. Apostles’ Creed5. Prayers6. Conclusion
1. PreliminariesOptional
ElementsA. Opening sentences (stand)
• Not seasonal
B. Invitation to confession (stand)C. Confession (kneel)D. Absolution (priest stand/people kneel)
2. Invitatory and psalter
ElementsA. Versicle and responses (“preces”)B. Invitatory
• No antiphon
C. Psalm(s)
A. Versicles and responses (stand)
Custom: sign of the cross at versicle
B. Invitatory (stand)
C. Psalm(s) (stand or sit) Same as Morning Prayer
3. Lessons and canticles
Lessons (reader stands/people sit) Same as Morning Prayer
Canticles (stand) Selection
The Song of Mary The Song of Simeon
4. Apostles’ Creed (stand)Same as Morning Prayer
5. Prayers (stand or kneel)
Elements same as Morning PrayerA. Salutation and Lord’s PrayerB. SuffragesC. Collect of the DayD. Other collectsE. Prayer for missionF. Intercessions/thanksgivingsG. Prayer(s) of thanksgiving
A. Salutation and Lord’s prayer Same as Morning Prayer
Suffrages Versicles + responses Two options
C. Collect of the day Same as Morning Prayer
D. Other collects Sunday – proper (resurrection) Monday – peace Tuesday – aid against perils Wednesday – protection Thursday – presence of Christ Friday – proper (crucifixion) Saturday – proper (sabbath rest)
E. Prayer for mission Three options
F. Intercessions/thanksgivings Same as Morning Prayer
G. Prayer(s) of thanksgiving Same as Morning Prayer
6. ConclusionSame as morning prayer
NoondayBCP (1979), pages 103-107
Basic structure Opening versicle and response
Custom: sign of the cross at versicle
Basic structure (cont.) Psalm
3 options Lesson
3 options Lord have mercy Lord’s Prayer
Basic structure (cont.) Versicle and response
Collect 4 options
Intercessions
Basic structure (cont.) Closing versicle and response
Custom: sign of the cross at versicle
ComplineBCP (1979), pp. 127-135
Basic structure Opening sentence Versicle and response
Custom: sign of the cross at versicle
Confession and absolution (optional)
Basic structure (cont.) Versicle and response
Psalm (4 choices) Lesson (4 choices)
Basic structure (cont.) Versicles and responses and Lord have
mercy
Lord’s Prayer
Basic structure (cont.) Versicle and response
Collect 4 options
Other collects 2 options
Basic structure (cont.) Intercessions and thanksgivings Song of Simeon with proper antiphon
Used as “bookends”
Basic structure (cont.) Closing versicle and response
Closing sentence
Custom: sign of the cross