RB 1980- The Rule Of St Benedict
Page 57
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
/>
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)