RB 1980- The Rule Of St Benedict

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RB 1980- The Rule Of St Benedict Page 57

by Saint Benedict


  On the seventh day, the Lord’s Day, there gather in the courtyard before cock-crow all the people, as many as can get in, as if it was Easter. … Soon the first cock crows, and at that the bishop enters, and goes into the Anastasis. The doors are all opened, and all the people come into the Anastasis, which is already ablaze with lamps. When they are inside, a psalm is said by one of the Presbyters, with everyone responding, and it is followed by a prayer; then a psalm is said by one of the deacons, and another prayer; then a third psalm is said by one of the clergy, a third prayer. … After these three psalms and prayers they take censers into the cave of the Anastasis, so that the whole Anastasis basilica is filled with the smell. Then the bishop, standing inside the screen, takes the Gospel book and goes to the door, where he himself reads the account of the Lord’s resurrection. … When the Gospel is finished, the bishop comes out, and is taken with singing to the Cross, and they all go with him. They have one psalm there and a prayer, then he blesses the people, and that is the dismissal (Eger. peregr. 24,9-10).15

  One can see in this description several of the elements characteristic of the cathedral tradition in the Liturgy of the Hours, e.g., the use of incense and lights, the rather elaborate ceremonies. As we shall see, this resurrection vigil seems to have had some influence on the Rule of Benedict, particularly on its directions for the last segment of vigils on Sunday.

  Urban monastic tradition

  The final line of development in the Liturgy of the Hours has been characterized by Mateos as the “urban monastic tradition.”16 Monks who lived in cities could hardly help being influenced by the liturgical customs of parochial churches. The urban monks tended to adopt cathedral customs associated with morning and evening prayer. To these they added the public celebration of the daytime prayers (at the third, sixth and ninth hours) already referred to by writers like Tertullian, Hippolytus and Cyprian. The monks also celebrated vigils (“nocturns,” the “night office,” the “midnight office”) and, perhaps, Compline. The urban monastic tradition thus combines elements traditional among ascetics (e.g., vigils) with popular customs derived from the cathedral tradition. This mixture of elements had its influence, as we shall note below, on the structure and content of the Divine Office in the Rule of Benedict.

  The historical outline given above shows that by the time the RB appeared, there were already well-established patterns of common prayer in both the monastic and cathedral traditions. Quite obviously, these patterns of prayer had an impact on the liturgical code of the RB. In the notes that follow, based largely on the extensive commentaries of Dom Adalbert de Vogüé, we shall attempt to identify both the distinctive contributions made by the RB to the structure and content of the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as those elements borrowed by the RB from other sources, e.g., the Rule of the Master and the customs of Roman basilical monasteries.

  The hours of prayers in the RB

  Before discussing the sources used by Benedict in the liturgical code, it may be useful to outline the structure of the Liturgy of the Hours found in RB 8–20. There are eight “hours” in Benedict’s arrangement: Vigils, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline. In the outline that follows, references are given in the right-hand column to the appropriate chapter and verse in RB where one may find further detail about the hours of prayer and their content. In the left-hand column references are given to the RM, one of RB’s sources.17

  RM

  RB

  I. VIGILS (RB 9, 10, 11)

  32–33;44

  A. Vigils: Weekday in winter

  9

  1. Introduction

  32.13

  Opening verse (“Lord, open my lips”), three times

  9.1

  Psalm 3

  9.2

  32.14

  Psalm 94(95)

  9.3

  Ambrosian hymn

  9.4

  2. “First Nocturn”

  33.29;44.2

  Six psalms with refrain

  9.4

  (9 psalms)

  Versicle

  9.5

  Blessing by abbot

  9.5

  Three readings

  9.5

  Three responsories (one after each reading)

  9.5

  3. “Second Nocturn”

  44.2

  (4 psalms)

  Six psalms with “alleluia” refrain

  9.9

  44.4

  Reading from the Apostle

  9.10

  44.4

  Versicle

  9.10

  44.4

  (“rogus Dei”)

  Litany (“Lord, have mercy”)

  9.10

  33;44

  B. Vigils: Weekday in summer

  All as for a weekday in winter (see above), except: the three readings and responsories are replaced by:

  10

  One reading from the Old Testament, recited by memory

  10.2

  A short responsory

  10.2

  49

  C. Vigils: Sundays, summer and winter18

  11

  (all-night vigil on Saturday-Sunday)

  1. Introduction (inferred from the structure of weekday vigils; not explicitly mentioned in RB 11)

  2. “First Nocturn”

  Six psalms (with refrain: cf. RB 11.4)

  11.2

  The first psalm of Sunday vigils is always Psalm 20 (21): (see RB 18.6, 23).

  Versicle

  11.2

  (Blessing by abbot? See weekday vigils, above)

  Four readings

  11.2

  Four responsories (one after each reading)

  11.2

  3. “Second Nocturn”

  Six psalms with refrain

  11.4

  Versicle

  11.4

  (Blessing by abbot? See weekday vigils, above)

  Four readings

  11.5

  Four responsories (one after each reading)

  11.5

  4. “Third Nocturn” (cf. the “resurrection vigil” of the cathedral tradition described in the Apostolic Constitutions and in Egeria’s Travels)

  Three canticles with “alleluia” refrain

  11.6

  Versicle

  11.7

  Blessing by abbot

  11.7

  Four readings from the New Testament

  11.7

  Four responsories (one after each reading)

  11.7

  The hymn “We praise you, God”

  11.8

  Reading from the Gospel

  11.9

  The hymn “To you be praise”

  11.10

  Final blessing

  11.10

  II. LAUDS (RB 12–13)

  A. Lauds: Sunday

  12

  1. Introduction

  Psalm 66(67) without refrain

  12.1

  Psalm 50(51) with “alleluia” refrain

  12.2

  2. Psalmody

  Psalm 117(118)

  12.3

  Psalm 62(63) (cf. the morning psalm of the cathedral tradition described in the Apostolic Constitutions)

  12.3

  3. Canticle and “praises” (Benedictiones et laudes)

  12.4

  35.5

  Canticle of the Three Young Men (Dan 3:52-56, 57-90; RB uses the term Benedictiones for this canticle)

  12.4

  39.4

  Psalms 148, 149, 150 (RB uses the term laudes to refer to these three psalms, which were a familiar part of Lauds in the old Roman Office)

  12.4

  4. Reading and concluding prayers

  12.4

  39.2 (different reading)

  A reading from the Book of Revelation

  12.4

  39.1

  A responsory

  12.4

  Ambrosian hymn

  12.4

  Versicle

  12.4
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  39.2

  Gospel Canticle (almost certainly the Benedictus or “Song of Zechariah”—Luke 1:68-79)

  12.4

  35.1

  (“rogus Dei”)

  Litany (perhaps a full litany rather than simply the “Lord, have mercy”)

  12.4

  Conclusion

  (Lord’s Prayer? See RB 13.12)

  B. Lauds: Weekdays

  13

  1. Introduction

  Psalm 66(67) without refrain

  13.2

  Psalm 50(51) with refrain

  13.2

  2. Psalmody (variable)

  13.3-9

  Monday:

  Psalms 5 and 35(36)

  13.4

  Tuesday:

  Psalms 42(43) and 56(57)

  13.5

  Wednesday:

  Psalms 63(64) and 64(65)

  13.6

  Thursday:

  Psalms 87(88) and 89(90)

  13.7

  Friday:

  Psalms 75(76) and 91(92)

  13.8

  Saturday:

  Psalm 142(143) and the Canticle from Deuteronomy divided into two sections

  13.9

  3. Canticle and “praises”

  13.10

  The canticle follows the variable psalms and follows the “practice of the Roman Church” (13.10). On Saturday, the canticle is actually the second section of the Canticle from Deuteronomy (RB 13.9).

  Psalms 148, 149, 150

  13.11

  4. Reading and concluding prayers

  13.11

  A reading from the Apostle

  13.11

  A responsory

  13.11

  Ambrosian hymn

  13.11

  Versicle

  13.11

  Gospel Canticle (probably the “Song of Zechariah”)

  13.11

  Litany

  13.11

  Conclusion

  13.11

  Lord’s Prayer (recited aloud by the superior)19

  13.12

  34;35;40

  III. PRIME (RB 17.2-4; 18.2-5)

  (Sunday and weekdays)20

  1. Opening verse: “God, come to my assistance”

  17.3

  2. Hymn

  17.3

  35.2; 40.1-2

  3. Psalmody (variable) (with or without refrain: 17.6; “alleluia” on Sunday: 15.3)

  17.2; 18.2-5

  (2 psalms with refrain; 1 psalm with alleluia)

  Sunday:

  Psalm 118(119)

  (four sections)

  18.2

  Monday:

  Psalms 1, 2, 6

  18.4

  Tuesday:

  Psalms 7, 8, 9A(9)

  Wednesday:

  Psalms 9B (10), 10(11), 11(12)

  Psalms for Tuesday

  Thursday:

  Psalms 12 (13), 13(14), 14(15)

  through Saturday

  Friday:

  Psalms 15 (16), 16(17), 17A (18A)

  inferred from RB 18.5

  Saturday:

  Psalms 17B (18B), 18(19), 19(20)

  35.3;40.3 (2 readings; 1 responsory)

  4. Reading (only one; note the difference from RM)

  17.4

  5. Concluding prayers

  40.3

  Versicle

  17.4

  35.3;40.3

  (“rogus Dei”)

  Litany (“Lord, have mercy”)

  17.4

  Dismissal

  17.4

  35;40

  IV. TERCE (RB 17.5; 18.1, 3, 7, 9)

  1. Opening verse: “God, come to my assistance”

  17.5; 18.1

  2. Hymn

  17.5

  35.2;40.1-2 (2 psalms with refrain; 1 psalm with alleluia)

  3. Psalmody (partial variability) (with or without refrain: 17.6; “alleluia” on Sunday: 15.3)

  Sunday:

  Psalm 118 (119) (three sections)

  18.3

  Monday:

  Psalm 118(119) (three sections)

  18.7

  Tuesday

  |

  Saturday:

  Psalms 119(120), 120 (121), 121 (122) (inferred from 18.9-10)

  35.3;40.3

  (2 readings; 1 responsory)

  4. Reading (only one; note the difference from RM)

  17.5

  5. Concluding prayers

  40.3

  Versicle

  17.5

  35.3;40.3

  (“rogus Dei”)

  Litany (“Lord, have mercy”)

  17.5

  Dismissal

  17.5

  (cf. RM’s outline for Terce)

  V. SEXT (RB 17.5; 18.1, 7, 9, 10)

  (Sunday and weekdays)

  Same structure as for Terce, except; Psalmody: (with or without refrain: 17.6; “alleluia” on Sunday: 15.3)

  Sunday:

  Psalm 118(119) (three sections)

  18.3

  Monday:

  Psalm 118 (119) (three sections)

  18.7

  Tuesday

  |

  Saturday:

  Psalms 122(123), 123 (124), 124 (125)

  18.9-10

  (cf. RM’s outline for Terce)

  VI. NONE (RB 17.5; 18.1, 7, 9, 10)

  (Sunday and weekdays)

  Same structure as for Terce and Sext, except:

  Psalmody: (with or without refrain: 17.6; “alleluia” on Sunday: 15.3)

  Sunday:

  Psalm 118 (119) (three sections)

  18.3

  Monday:

  Psalm 118 (119) (three sections)

  18.7

  Tuesday

  |

  Saturday:

  Psalms 125(126), 126 (127), 127 (128)

  18.9-10

  36;41

  (“lucernaria”)

  VII. VESPERS (RB 13.12; 17.7, 8; 18.12-18)

  (Sunday and weekdays)21

  1. Introduction: (RB makes no explicit references to either an opening verse or introductory psalms)

  36.1;41.1-2 (4 psalms with refrain; 2 psalms with alleluia)

  2. Psalmody (variable) (with refrain: 17.7; “alleluia” is not used on Sunday: 15.3)

  18.12-18

  Sunday:

  109 (110), 110(111), 111 (112), 112(113)

  18.13

  Monday:

  113 (114-115), 114 (116A), 115 (116B), 116 (117), 128(129)

  18.17

  Tuesday:

  129 (130), 130 (131), 131 (132), 132 (133) (inferred from 18.13-14)

  Wednesday:

  134 (135), 135 (136), 136 (137), 137(138) (omit 133 [134]:18.14)

  Thursday:

  138A (139A), 138B (139B)139 (140), 140 (141)

 

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