When these [the psalms] are
finished and the versicle said, let the abbot give a blessing; and then, all
being seated in their places, let three lessons be read from the book on the
lectern by the brethren in their turns...
Rule of St Benedict chapter 9
FROM Easter to the first
of November let the number of the psalms be exactly as given above; but let
there be this difference, that the lessons from the book be not read, on account
of the shortness of the nights. Instead of the three lessons, let there be one
from the Old Testament said by heart, and let it be followed by a short
responsory.
Rule of St Benedict chapter 10
Just so you can see where we are up to, here is the table with the elements of Matins, with those covered in today's post highlighted.
ELEMENTS OF MATINS
|
OPENING SECTION
|
Opening prayer – Domine labia mea aperies
|
Psalm 3
|
Invitatory antiphon and Psalm 94
|
Hymn
|
NOCTURNS
|
| Antiphons |
| Psalms of the day of the week |
| Psalms of Commons and feasts |
| Canticles |
Versicle, Our Father and absolution
|
Blessings for the reader
|
Readings
|
Responsories
|
CONCLUDING SECTION
|
Te Deum (hymn)
|
| Gospel |
Te Decet Laus (hymn)
|
| Concluding Prayers |
Versicle, Our Father and Absolution
After the last antiphon is said at the end of the first Nocturn each day, and each Nocturn when there are twelve lessons (ie Sundays and major feasts), a versicle, the Our Father (said silently) an absolution is said standing.
The versicles (ie short verse and response) are proper to the day of the week, season or feast. The one's for each day and the main seasons can be found in most psalters or breviaries.
The Our Father is said exactly as at the day hours outside of Lauds and Vespers.
There are three absolutions normally used on weekdays: 'Exaudi Domine..' for Monday and Thursday; 'Ipsius pietas..' for Tuesday and Friday; and 'A vinculis peccatorum...' for Wednesdays and Fridays. These three absolution formulas are also used for the first, second and third Nocturn on Sundays and feasts.
There is also a special absolution for the Office of Our Lady on Saturdays.
On Friday in Lent this section looks like this:
R. Et sub pennis ejus sperábis. | R. And under his wings thou shalt trust. |
V. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem: R. Sed líbera nos a malo. Absolutio. Exáudi, Dómine Jesu Christe, preces servórum tuórum, et miserére nobis: Qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivis et regnas in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen. | V. And lead us not into temptation: R. But deliver us from evil. Absolution. O Lord Jesus Christ, graciously hear the prayers of Thy servants, and have mercy upon us, Who livest and reignest with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, ever world without end. Amen. |
The blessing for the readings
After the absolution comes the blessing for the reader. The pattern for the readings is blessing; reading; responsory. Accordingly, the number of blessings in each Nocturn depends on how many readings are said (viz 1, 3 or 4). The table below summarises how many readings to expect.
Type of ‘day’
|
Number of readings
|
All Sundays
|
12 (4 per Nocturn)
|
Class I&II feasts
|
12 (4 per Nocturn)
|
Class II&III days (Lent and Advent, Ember days etc days)
|
3 (Nocturn I)
|
Class II&III vigils (of feasts)
|
3
|
Class III&IV feasts and days in summer (Eastertide to end of October)
|
1 (of the day of the week or feast
|
Class III&IV feasts and days in winter
|
3 (on feasts 1 or more of the feast)
|
The blessings for feasts are usually the same as on Sundays, with the possible exception of the blessing for the eleventh reading, which usually reflects the saint or saints being celebrated.
On weekdays, the blessings used depends on the season and types of readings being used. If you are using a breviary, look for these key words and phrases:
- for Scriptural readings: ...ad lectiones de Scriptura');
- Patristic: de homilia..;
- for Class III feasts in winter: In festis III classis leguntur in hieme...;
- in summer: In aestate
- or for the Office of Our Lady on Saturday.
| Jube, domne, benedícere. Benedictio. Benedictióne perpétua benedícat nos Pater ætérnus. Amen. Lectio 1... | V. Grant, Lord, a blessing. Benediction. May the Eternal Father bless us with an eternal blessing. Amen. Reading 1... |
After the blessing for the first reading, everyone (except the reader) sits down.
The endings for the readings
Each reading is given a standard ending, which is usually not written out in breviaries:
| V. Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R. Deo grátias. |
V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God. |
Those listening to the readings stay seated except for the Gospel, and for the short extract from the Gospel in the first reading of the Third Nocturn on Sundays and feasts.
***Where to find the readings on Sundays
One other key point to note. For much of the year, the readings for all three Nocturns on Sundays are found together, in the section of the breviary covering the texts for the time of year.
Between August and November, however, the readings and responsories for Nocturns I&II are of the week of the month (ie first week of August, second week of August, etc) rather than the Sunday of the liturgical year. For this reason, you need to look in (at least) two different places during this part of the year to find the texts you need.
Readings on Class III feasts and the Office of Our Lady on Saturday
The final point to note is that the third reading set for the day (feria) can be displaced by on a Class III feast, or on other days such as a Saturday of Our Lady. In these cases the text of the reading is not omitted altogether; instead the second and third readings are combined into one, with the reading of the day or feast then being added on.
Further reading
How important are readings in the Benedictine Office?
Book Review: Liturgical readings
Lectio Divina Notes Blog - for translations of the daily readings and responsories of the Benedictine Office
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