Liturgy of the Daily Office - Fr. Stephen Gauthier

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


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


ComplineBCP (1979), pp. 127-135

Basic structure Opening sentence Versicle and response


Confession and absolution (optional)


Psalm (4 choices) Lesson (4 choices)

Basic structure (cont.) Versicles and responses and Lord have

mercy

Lord’s Prayer


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