MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER

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 (2^nd, 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 1^st verse; 2^nd 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; 2^nd 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 411^st soloist v 1-3; 2^nd 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, 2-101^st soloist

Ps 45, 11-182^nd 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 (2^nd, 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 (2^nd, the text in quotation marks)

Ps 132, 11-182 Soloists (2^nd, 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 (2^nd, 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 (2^nd, 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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