St. Benedict's Rule for MonasteriesBenedict, Saint, Abbot of Monte Cassino
Religion
St. Benedict's Rule for Monasteries
Benedict, Saint, Abbot of Monte Cassino
Benedictines -- Rules
Vespers are to be sung with four Psalms every day. These shall begin
with Psalm 109 and go on to Psalm 147, omitting those which are set
apart for other Hours; that is to say that with the exception of Psalms
117 to 127 and Psalms 133 and 142, all the rest of these are to be said
at Vespers. And since there are three Psalms too few, let the longer
ones of the above number be divided, namely Psalms 138, 143 and 144. But
let Psalm 116 because of its brevity be joined to Psalm 115.
The order of the Vesper Psalms being thus settled, let the rest of the
Hour—lesson, responsory, hymn, verse and canticle—be carried out as we
prescribed above.
At Compline the same Psalms are to be repeated every day, namely Psalms
4, 90 and 133.
(Feb. 24 in leap year; otherwise added to the preceding)—June 25—Oct. 25
The order of psalmody for the day Hours being thus arranged, let all the
remaining Psalms be equally distributed among the seven Night Offices by
dividing the longer Psalms among them and assigning twelve Psalms to
each night.
We strongly recommend, however, that if this distribution of the Psalms
is displeasing to anyone, he should arrange them otherwise, in whatever
way he considers better, but taking care in any case that the Psalter
with its full number of 150 Psalms be chanted every week and begun again
every Sunday at the Night Office. For those monks show themselves too
lazy in the service to which they are vowed, who chant less than the
Psalter with the customary canticles in the course of a week, whereas we
read that our holy Fathers strenuously fulfilled that task in a single
day. May we, lukewarm that we are, perform it at least in a whole week!
CHAPTER 19
On the Manner of Saying the Divine Office
Feb. 24 (25)—June 26—Oct. 26
We believe that the divine presence is everywhere and that “the eyes of
the Lord are looking on the good and the evil in every place.” But we
should believe this especially without any doubt when we are assisting
at the Work of God. To that end let us be mindful always of the
Prophet’s words, “Serve the Lord in fear” and again “Sing praises
wisely” and “In the sight of the Angels I will sing praise to You.” Let
us therefore consider how we ought to conduct ourselves in the sight of
the Godhead and of His Angels, and let us take part in the psalmody in
such a way that our mind may be in harmony with our voice.
CHAPTER 20
On Reverence in Prayer
Feb. 25 (26)—June 27—Oct. 27
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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