MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER
IN THE VINCENTIAN COMMUNITY
In dialogue with the Father, in communion with Christ,
and in the love of the Holy Spirit
IVARIOUS ROLES
Each role should be carried out by different persons so that the celebration fits together as a harmonious collaborative effort of the community. Therefore, the accumulation of ministries by a single person should be avoided. All should be disposed to collaborate actively so as to contribute to the community's prayer.
Presider: begins the opening verse, tells what method to use in praying the Psalms, begins the antiphons, introduces the petitions, begins the Lord's Prayer, says the concluding prayer and (if a priest) gives the final blessing and dismisses the assembly.
2.Psalmist (or Soloist): proclaims all or part of a psalm or a canticle.
Reader: proclaims the "short reading," begins the responsory, and reads the petitions.
Intoner of the psalms: begins the individual psalms by reciting or singing the first verse.
IIPSALMODY
The manner of praying the psalms can be varied according to the literary genre of the psalms themselves (General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours, 121-123, 279). A very helpful indication comes from the title given to each psalm, and especially from the brief introduction (didascalia), in italic type, taken generally from the Church Fathers. The theme thus highlighted can help the presider choose one of the modes of praying the psalms listed below. It is also good to take into account the length of the psalm, the makeup of the particular assembly, whether it is a feast day or not, etc.
Examples:
a)verses recited by 2 alternating choirs: psalms pertaining to the People of God as a whole;
psalm proclaimed in its entirety by a psalmist (or soloist): messianic and Christological psalms, or those expressive of the particular situation of the author of the psalm;
psalm in which verses are alternated between a psalmist and the assembly: psalms that pertain to any of the situations described above in a and b;
psalm proclaimed by a psalmist with the antiphon repeated by the assembly after each verse or every two verses: psalms that pertain to the situations indicated in a and b;
psalm proclaimed by the whole assembly together: very brief psalms that pertain to the People of God as a whole.
IIISTYLE OF PROCLAMATION
Whether reciting or singing the psalms, one should maintain:
a rigorous respect for the pauses indicated by the asterisk (*) and the flexa ();
a rhythmic togetherness in praying the psalms in common, without jumping ahead or lagging behind.
IVTHE USE OF SONG
Since our morning and evening prayer are liturgical acts, the use of song is indicated for the Liturgy of the Hours. Singing engages us in a fuller way as a worshiping community (cf. General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours, 270) as we praise and thank God. It is especially appropriate for solemnities and feasts, but is also helpful (with sobriety) in ordinary circumstances.
In Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, almost any part can be sung: the opening verse, the hymn, the psalms and canticles (including the Benedictus and the Magnificat), and the Lord's Prayer. In practice, it is helpful to underline one or the other element, making the choice according to the circumstances and the capability of the assembly. If possible, the hymn should always be sung.
In singing one should be attentive to the asterisk and the flexa, as mentioned above, and one should pay particular attention to rhythm, to pitch, and to timing, according to the nature of the text and the melody.
Heaviness and slowness are to be avoided at all costs when singing in common, because they make the singing deadly and unappealing.
VSILENCE
The insertion of a brief meditative pause after each psalm and of a slightly longer pause after the short reading allows us to pray silently. Before the Lord's Prayer, a pause is made to provide space for spontaneous intercessions.
SUGGESTED WAYS OF PRAYING THE PSALMS IN COMMON
FIRST WEEK
SUNDAY
Evening Prayer I
Ps 141, 1-9Soloist
Ps 142Soloist; the assembly repeats the antiphon after each verse
Cant - Phil 2, 6-11Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
Morning Prayer
Ps 632 soloists
Cant - Dn 3Soloist and the assembly as a litany
Ps 149Sung
Evening Prayer II
Ps 110, 1-5,72 soloists (2nd, the words of God)
Ps 1142 choirs
Cant - Rv 19, 1-7Sung
MONDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 5, 2-10, 12-132 soloists
Cant - 1 Chr 29, 10-13Sung
Ps 292 soloists
Evening Prayer
Ps 11Soloist to the end of quotation; the assembly the rest
Ps 15Soloist 1st verse; 2nd soloist to the end
Cant - Eph 1, 3-10Sung
TUESDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 24Soloist the questions; the assembly the rest
Cant - Tb 13, 1-82 choirs
Ps 33Sung
Evening Prayer
Ps 202 choirs
Sal 21, 2-8,14Between soloist and the assembly
Cant - Rv 4, 11; 5, 9,10,122 soloists.
WEDNESDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 36Soloist 1-3; 2nd soloist the rest
Cant - Jdt 16, 2-3;13-15Sung, or 2 choirs
Sal 47Sung, or 2 choirs
Evening Prayer
Ps 27, 1-62 soloists
Ps 27, 7-142 soloists
Cant - Col 1, 12-20Sung
THURSDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 572 soloists
Cant - Jer 31, 10-142 soloists (one who speaks the "I" parts)
Sal 482 choirs
Evening Prayer
Ps 302 soloists
Ps 32Soloist; the assembly repeats the antiphon after each verse
Cant - Rv 11, 17-18;
12, 10b-12aSung, or 2 choirs
FRIDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 51Between soloist and the assembly
Cant - Is 45, 15-262 soloists
Ps 100Sung
Evening Prayer
Ps 411st soloist v 1-3; 2nd soloist the rest
Ps 46Between soloist and the assembly
Cant - Rv 15, 3-4Sung
SATURDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 119, 145-1522 soloists
Cant - Ex 15, 1-4a,
8-13, 17-18Sung
Sal 117Sung
SECOND WEEK
SUNDAY
Evening Prayer I
Ps 119, 105-1122 soloists
Ps 16Soloist
Cant - Phil 2, 6-11Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
Morning Prayer
Sal 118Between soloist and the assembly
Cant - Dn 3, 32-57Sung, or between soloist and the assembly as a litany
Ps 150Sung
Evening Prayer II
Ps 110, 1-5, 72 soloists (2nd, the words of God)
Ps 1152 choirs
Cant - Rv 19, 1-7Sung
MONDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 422 soloists
Cant - Sir 36, 1-5,10-132 choirs
Ps 19ASung
Evening Prayer
Ps 45, 2-101st soloist
Ps 45, 11-182nd soloist
Cant - Eph 1, 3-10Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
TUESDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 432 soloists
Cant - Is 38, 10-14,17-20Soloist
Ps 652 choirs
Evening Prayer
Ps 49, 1-132 soloists
Ps 49, 14-212 choirs
Cant - Rv 4, 11 ;5, 9-10,122 soloists
WEDNESDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 772 soloists
Cant - 1 Sm 2, 1-10Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
Ps 972 choirs
Evening Prayer
Ps 622 soloists
Ps 67Soloist; the assembly sings or recites verses 2 and 4
Cant - Col 1, 12-20Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
THURSDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 80 Soloist; the assembly recites verses beginning “God of hosts”
Cant - Is 12, 1-62 choirs
Ps 81Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
Evening Prayer
Ps 72,1-11Between soloist and the assembly
Ps 72,12-19Between soloist and the assembly
Cant - Rv 11, 17-18;
12,10b-12aSung, or 2 choirs
FRIDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 512 soloists
Cant - Hb 3, 2-4,13a,15-192 choirs
Ps 147Sung
Evening Prayer
Ps 116, 1-9Between soloist and the assembly
Ps 1212 choirs
Cant - Rv 15, 3-4Sung
SATURDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 92Sung
Cant - Dt 32, 1-122 soloists
Ps 8Sung
THIRD WEEK
SUNDAY
Evening Prayer I
Ps 1132 choirs
Ps 116Soloist
Cant Phil 2, 6-11Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
Morning Prayer
Ps 932 choirs
Cant - Dn 3, 57-88,56Between soloist and the assembly as a litany
Ps 148Sung
Evening Prayer II
Ps 110, 1-5,72 soloists (2nd, the words of God)
Ps 1112 choirs
Cant - Rv 19, 1-7Sung
MONDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 84Sung, or 2 choirs
Cant - Is 2, 2-52 soloists
Ps 96Sung
Evening Prayer
Ps 123Soloist
Ps 1242 choirs
Cant - Eph 1, 3-10Sung
TUESDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 852 choirs
Cant - Is 26, 1-4, 7-9, 122 choirs
Ps 67Soloist, the assembly sings or recites verses 2 and 4
Evening Prayer
Ps 1252 choirs
Ps 131Soloist
Cant - Rv 4, 11; 5, 9-10,122 soloists
WEDNESDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 86Between soloist and the assembly
Cant - Is 33, 13-162 soloists
Ps 98Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
Evening Prayer
Ps 1262 choirs
Ps 1272 soloists
Cant - Col 1, 12-20Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
THURSDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 872 soloists
Cant - Is 40, 10-17Between soloist and the assembly
Ps 99Between soloist and the assembly
Evening Prayer
Ps 132, 1-102 Soloists (2nd, the text in quotation marks)
Ps 132, 11-182 Soloists (2nd, the text in quotation marks)
Cant - Rv 11, 17-18;
12, 10b-12aSung, or 2 choirs
FRIDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 512 soloists
Cant - Jer 14, 17-21Between soloist and the assembly
Ps 100Sung, or 2 choirs
Evening Prayer
Ps 135, 1-122 choirs
Ps 135, 13-212 choirs
Cant - Rv 15, 3-4Sung
SATURDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 119, 145-1522 soloists
Cant - Wis 9, 1-6, 9-112 choirs
Ps 117Sung
FOURTH WEEK
SUNDAY
Evening Prayer I
Ps 122Sung
Ps 1302 soloists
Cant Phil 2, 6-11Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
Morning Prayer
Ps 118Between soloist and the assembly
Cant - Dn 3, 52-57Between soloist and the assembly as a litany
Ps 150Sung
Evening Prayer II
Ps 110, 1-5. 72 soloists (2nd, the words of God)
Ps 1122 choirs
Cant - Rv 19, 1-7Sung
MONDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 902 choirs
Cant - Is 42, 10-16Soloist
Ps 135, 1-12Sung, or 2 choirs
Evening Prayer
Ps 136, 1-9Between soloist and the assembly as a litany
Ps 136, 10-26Between soloist and the assembly as a litany
Cant - Eph 1,3-10Sung
TUESDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 1012 soloists
Cant - Dn 3,26-27.29.34-41 2 choirs
Ps 144, 1-10Soloist
Evening Prayer
Ps 137, 1-6Soloist
Ps 138Between soloist and the assembly
Cant - Rv 4, 11; 5, 9-10,12Sung
WEDNESDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 1082 soloists (2nd, what is in quotation marks)
Cant - Is 61, 10 - 62, 5Between soloist and the assembly
Ps 1462 choirs
Evening Prayer
Ps 139, 1-12Between soloist and the assembly
Ps 139, 13-18, 23-24Between soloist and the assembly
Cant - Col 1, 12-20Sung, or between soloist and the assembly
THURSDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 143, 1-112 soloists
Cant - Is 66, 10-14aSoloist
Ps 147, 1-11Sung
Evening Prayer
Ps 144, 1-82 choirs
Ps 144, 9-152 choirs
Cant - Rv 11, 17-18;
12, 10b-12aSung, or 2 choirs
FRIDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 512 soloists
Cant - Tb 13, 8-11, 13-152 choirs
Ps 147Sung
Evening Prayer
Ps 145, 1-132 soloists
Ps 145, 14-212 soloists
Cant - Rv 15, 3-4Sung
SATURDAY
Morning Prayer
Ps 92Sung
Cant - Ez 36, 24-28Soloist
Ps 8Sung
(Translator: Robert J. Stone, C.M.)
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