The following list of breviaries, along with brief descriptions, is given generally in order of increasing complexity. Thus the complete, official Liturgy of the Hours, or the "Roman Office," is listed last.
1. Morning and Evening Prayer: Selections from the Liturgy of the Hours, ed. by Rev. D. Joseph Finnerty & Rev. George J. Ryan (N.Y.: Regina Press, 1994), 307 pages.
- 1 volume, hardback (paperback version out of print)
- simplified 1-week cycle of psalms, with special psalms for seasons of the
Church year
- $8.95 in 1995.
2. Joyce Ann Zimmerman, C.PP.S., et. al., Pray without Ceasing: Prayer for Morning and Evening (LP, 1993), 672 pages.
- 1 volume, paper
- simpler structure than Roman Office
- 2-week series of psalms
- $19.95 in 1993.
3. A Shorter Morning and Evening Prayer: The Psalter of the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Collins Liturgical Publications, 1987), 562 pages; also available from The Liturgical Press.
- 1 volume, very thin paper
- also includes Night Prayer, Proper of the Seasons, Feasts of the Lord in
Ordinary Time
- $11.95 in 1993.
4. Daytime Prayer - from the Liturgy of the Hours (Washington, DC: U.S. Catholic Conference, 1978), 521 pages.
- 1 volume
- Midmorning, Midday, & Midafternoon Prayer, with Proper of Seasons,
Solemnities of the Lord, Proper of the Saints
- $6.95 in 1991.
5. Shorter Christian Prayer (N.Y.: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1988), 670 pages, 4 1/2" x 7".
- 1 volume, soft cover, thin paper, 4-week cycle of psalms
- Morning & Evening Prayer, with 1-week cycle of Night Prayer
- special selections for propers of seasons & saints
- available from Daughters of St. Paul
- $8.95 in 1995.
6. Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours (LP, 1976), 1878 pages.
- 1 volume, 4-week cycle of psalms
- no longer in print
- Morning & Evening Prayer, with 1-week cycle of Night Prayer.
7. Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours (N.Y.: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1985), 1600 pages.
- 1 volume
- includes 4-week cycle of Morning & Evening Prayer plus Night Prayer,
selections from Daytime Prayer; with Propers of Seasons, Propers of Saints,
& Commons
- available at St. Vincent Book Center
- regular edition: $26.25 in 1993; large-type edition: $27.00 in 1993.
8. Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours (Boston, MA: The Daughters of St. Paul, 1976), 1758 pages.
- 1 volume, bonded leather, thin paper
- includes Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Night Prayer, &
selections from Office of Readings; with Propers of Seasons, Propers of
Saints, Solemnities
- $21.95 in 1995.
9. The Liturgy of the Hours According to the Roman Rite (N.Y.: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1975)
- 4 volumes, 1716 to 2044 pp. each
- complete "Roman Office"
- $96.00
- available at a discount from St. Vincent Book Center.
10. addresses of some publishers:
Catholic Book Publishing Co.
257 W. 17th St.
New York, NY 10011
Collins Liturgical Publications
Icehouse One - 401
151 Union St.
San Francisco, CA 94111-1299
The Daughters of St. Paul
50 St. Paul's Ave.
Jamaica Plain
Boston, MA 02130
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey
P.O. Box 7500
Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
The following brief formulas for prayer, based on those used in MBO, are included only as suggestions and because of popular request. Ideally, Oblates might use a part of the Liturgy of the Hours to open and/or close meetings, e.g., Evening Prayer (Vespers) in late afternoon or early evening or Night Prayer (Compline) later in the evening. Otherwise, Oblate moderators and lay leaders are free to choose whatever form of prayer seems appropriate to the group; this might include at least one psalm and a brief Scriptural reading.
The texts of the psalms given below are taken from The New American Bible (N.Y.: P.J. Kenedy & Sons, 1970).
Leader: O God, come to my assistance.
All: O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be . . . Amen. Alleluia.
[During Lent substitute "Praise to You, O Lord, King of eternal glory!" for
"Alleluia".]
Leader: I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart
Side 1: in the company and assembly of the just.
Side 2:
Side 1: Majesty and glory are His work, and His justice endures forever.
Side 2:
Side 1:
Side 2:
Side 1: The works of His hands are faithful and just; sure are all His precepts,
Side 2: reliable forever and ever, wrought in truth and equity.
Side 1: He has sent deliverance to His people;
He has ratified His covenant forever;
holy and awesome is His name.
Side 2: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
prudent are all who live by it.
His praise endures forever.
Side 1:
Side 2: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come to You.
Leader: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we pray that during this meeting our thoughts, words, and actions be prompted by Your inspiration and furthered by Your help. May every prayer and work of ours begin from You and be brought to fulfillment by You. Help us to put on the heart and mind of Christ, Your Son. We ask this through the same Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Leader: Let us bless the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Leader: O God, come to my assistance.
All: O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be . . . Amen. Alleluia.
[During Lent use, "Praise to You, O Lord, King of eternal glory!"]
Leader: Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands;
Side 1: serve the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful song.
Side 2:
Side 1:
Side 2:
Side 1:
He made us, His we are;
His people, the flock He tends.
give thanks to Him; bless His name,
whose kindness endures forever,
and His faithfulness to all generations.
Side 2: as it was in the beginning, . . . Amen.
Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry come to You.
Leader: Let us pray. Almighty and merciful God, You who have given the human race the means of salvation and the gifts of everlasting life, look graciously on us, Your servants. Comfort the souls of those whom You have created. May our gathering to ponder the truths of Your Gospel and the Holy Rule open us more fully to walk in the way of Your Son and to give witness to the values in which we have been instructed. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Leader: Let us bless the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
(The prayer might then conclude with the singing of an appropriate Marian hymn, such as the "Ultima," given in C.3. below.)
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.
Holy Father St. Benedict, pray for us.
Father most renowned, . . .
Father most affectionate, . . .
Father most patient, . . .
Flower of piety, . . .
Flower of sanctity, . . .
Flower of chastity, . . .
Bright light of the world, . . .
Star of religion, . . .
Mirror of perfection, . . .
Teacher of silence, . . .
Example of poverty, . . .
Master of obedience, . . .
Model of abstinence, . . .
Kind instructor of monks, . . .
Firm in faith, . . .
Strong in hope, . . .
Fervent in charity, . . .
Pure in mind, . . .
Chaste in body, . . .
Free from passions, . . .
Foreknowing the future, . . .
Adorned with the grace of God, . . .
Filled with the Holy Spirit, . . .
Raised to the height of angelic glory, . . .
Rapt in the ardor of contemplation, . . .
Joined to the choirs of angels, . . .
Exalted among the Patriarchs, . . .
Made companion among the Prophets, . . .
Associated to the college of Apostles, . . .
Adorned with the roses of Martyrs, . . .
Decorated with the labors of Confessors, . . .
Placed over the choir of Monks, . . .
Crowned with the lilies of Virgins, . . .
Patriarch of Western Monasticism, . . .
Patron of a happy death, . . .
United to the company of all the Saints, . . .
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
V. Intercede for us, O Holy Father, St. Benedict.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
Let us pray. O most holy Abbot Benedict, the father and guide of monks, intercede for our salvation and the salvation of all humanity. Raise up, O Lord, in Your Church the spirit which animated our blessed Father Benedict, and being filled with the same spirit, may we seek to love what he loved and to practice what he taught. Grant us, we ask You, O Lord, perseverance in doing Your will, that in our days the people serving You may increase both in number and in zeal for the Gospel. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
See the booklet Novena to St. Benedict (LP, 1987).
The golden sun lights up the east,
Recalls, by solemn yearly feast,
When Benedict ascended high
To heaven's mansions in the sky.
O gracious father, on this day
With humble hearts and words we pray,
That, taught by you to live aright,
We may enjoy God's vision bright.
All praise to God the Father be,
And to His Son, eternally,
With equal glory, as is meet,
To God the holy Paraclete.
[Click this link to load just the Novice Oblation form for printing.]
Name
Signature _____________________________ Date ________________________
Please send to: Director of Oblates
St. Vincent Archabbey
300 Fraser Purchase Rd.
Latrobe, PA 15650-2686
[Click this link to load just the Full Oblation form for printing.]
Name
a. Please describe in at least one paragraph: (1) how you have undertaken the practices expected of Oblate novices and (2) how you have grown in your Christian faith as an Oblate novice. (Feel free to use additional sheets of paper. If necessary, another person may put your thoughts into writing.)
b. Please describe in at least one paragraph how you hope to continue to grow closer to Christ and the Church as an Oblate. (As above, additional sheets and the help of another person may be utilized.)
Please send to: Director of Oblates
St. Vincent Archabbey
300 Fraser Purchase Rd.
Latrobe, PA 15650-2686
The following summary is drawn largely from RB 1980: The Rule of St. Benedict: In Latin and English with Notes, ed. by Timothy Fry, O.S.B. (LP, 1981) (abbreviated as RB+), and the pages mentioned refer to the section of RB+ dealing with RM.
The Regula Magistri, or Rule of the Master (RM), "was a Latin monastic rule of unknown authorship, about three times the length of the RB" (pp. 70-71), that contains many passages similar to those in RB. In fact, "large sections of the texts of the two rules are identical, or nearly so" (p. 71). For centuries it was explained that RM had borrowed large sections from RB and made rather long-winded additions to it. It was considered unthinkable that the renowned St. Benedict would have borrowed large portions of his rule from an earlier source, and especially from such an unoriginal, impractical rule as RM.
However, in the late 1930's the hypothesis was proposed that RM was earlier than RB and that RB had borrowed considerably from RM. Initially, Benedictines reacted with shock to such a suggestion. However, over the next several decades the scholarly evidence was built up that RM really did come first, and today "there is no longer any prominent expert in the field who holds that the RB is earlier than its sister rule" (p. 72). At the same time, we now realize that the likelihood that St. Benedict borrowed extensively from RM does not at all diminish his stature. In fact, one can see the practical wisdom of our patron precisely in the ways that he eliminated long passages from RM and carefully edited other passages. Thus St. Benedict preserved what was best in the monastic traditions that preceded him and, from the wisdom of his experience, contributed elements to that tradition that would render his monasteries more vibrant Christian communities -- houses of disciples being built up in love and reflecting the values of Christ's Kingdom.
Those Oblates having a more scholarly bent might wish to read a recent edition of RM (see listing in VI. above) and to read about its relationship to RB in RB+, pp. 79-90. Also TU makes many comparisons between RB and RM in discussing the various chapters of RB. Another interesting and brief study of RB in relation to RM occurs in Chapter 2 of The Benedictines, by Fr. Terrence Kardong, O.S.B.
The following calendar consists of feasts of Benedictine saints and other saints related to monastic life, as well as other celebrations special to the American-Cassinese Congregation, to which St. Vincent Archabbey belongs, or special to the Archabbey itself. The rank given to each celebration is that currently indicated in the Ordo of the American-Cassinese Congregation. The notation used for rank is as follows:
S - solemnity
F - feast
M - memorial
OM - optional memorial
2 Jan --- Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops & Doctors (M)
10 Jan --- Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop (OM)
15 Jan --- Maur & Placid, Disciples of our Holy Father Benedict (M)
17 Jan --- Anthony of the Desert, Abbot (M)
26 Jan --- Robert of Molesmes, Alberic, & Stephen Harding, Abbots of Citeaux (OM)
10 Feb --- Scholastica, Virgin (F)
11 Feb --- Benedict of Aniane, Abbot (OM)
14 Feb --- Cyril, Monk, & Methodius, Bishop (M)
9 Mar --- Frances of Rome, Oblate (OM)
21 Mar --- Passing of our Holy Father Benedict, Abbot (S)
21 Apr --- Anselm, Bishop & Doctor (M)
23 Apr --- Adalbert, Bishop & Martyr (OM)
11 May --- Odo, Maiolus, Odilo, Hugh, & Peter the Venerable, Abbots of Cluny (M)
15 May --- Pacomius, Abbot (M)
19 May --- Celestine V, Pope & Hermit (OM)
25 May --- The Venerable Bede, Priest & Doctor (M)
27 May --- Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop (OM)
5 Jun --- Boniface, Bishop & Martyr (M)
19 Jun --- Romuald, Abbot (M)
11 Jul --- Benedict, Patriarch of Western Monasticism (F)
12 Jul --- John Gualbert, Abbot (OM)
13 Jul --- Henry, Oblate (OM)
29 Jul --- Martha, Mary, & Lazarus, Hosts of the Lord (M)
19 Aug --- Bernard Tolomei, Abbot (OM)
20 Aug --- Bernard, Abbot & Doctor (M)
24 Aug --- Anniversary of Dedication of St. Vincent Archabbey Basilica (S, at
Archabbey only)
3 Sep --- Gregory the Great, Pope & Doctor (F)
17 Sep --- Hildegard, Virgin (OM)
2 Oct --- Guardian Angels, Patron of the Congregation (F)
6 Oct --- Bruno, Hermit (M)
7 Nov --- Willibrord, Bishop (OM)
11 Nov --- Martin of Tours, Bishop (F)
12 Nov --- Theodore of Studis, Abbot (OM)
16 Nov --- Gertrude, Virgin (M)
19 Nov --- Mechtild, Virgin (OM)
23 Nov --- Columban, Abbot (OM)
26 Nov --- Silvester, Abbot (OM)
5 Dec --- Saba, Abbot (OM)
St. Meinrad Archabbey, which belongs to the Swiss-American Congregation of Benedictines, publishes an Oblate manual that includes a 10-page calendar of Benedictine saints. [See The Benedictine Oblate Companion (St. Meinrad, IN: St. Meinrad Archabbey, 1981), pp. 110-119.] In that calendar some of the dates do not correspond with those in the current Ordo of the American-Cassinese Congregation. Some of the names of Benedictines listed in that calendar, other than those in the calendar above, are given below.
Adela Adelaide Adelard Adrian Aemelian Agnellus Alcuin (Benedictine?) Aldhelm Alexander Alfric Alto Amadeus Ambrose Anastasius Angelo Ansgar Ascelina Aurea Beatrice Benedicta Benno Berno Bertha Bertilla Bertin Bertrand Cecilia Clarus Conrad Cunegundis Cuthberga Cuthbert Digna Donatus Ebba Edburga Ediltrude Edith Egbert Elfleda Erhard Eric Ermin Ethelburga Eugene Eusebia Eusebius Fara Fintan Frederic Gall Gaudentius Gerard Germanus Gilbert Godfrey Harlindis Herbert Herman Hilda Hildeburg Ida Ildephonse Jane-Marie Jerome Joachim Joanna Juliana Justus Jutta Lanfranc Leander Lioba Ludger Madelberta Malachy Malchus Mathildis Mellitus Mildred Notberga Odilia Orlandus Ositha Oswald Paschal Ralph Raymond Rembert Rietrudis Rigobert Roman Rudolph Rupert Salaberga Salome Sergius Severin Simeon Sperandea Tetta Thecla Urban Viola Virgil Walburga Walter Wendelin Werner Willibald Windfrid Wunibald
The following are responsibilities of the monks of St. Vincent Archabbey to pray for members of the Oblate Community:
1. Each month the Director of Oblates, or a Benedictine priest delegated by him, is to offer a Mass for the intentions of all Oblates.
2. During the month of November of each year, the Director of Oblates, or a priest delegated by him, is to offer a Mass for all the deceased Oblates affiliated with the Archabbey.
3. When the Director of Oblates receives notification of the death of an Oblate or Oblate novice, he or a Benedictine priest delegated by him is to offer a Mass for the deceased person within one month. Also, the deceased is mentioned in prayer on one day at the monastic community's Divine Office after the mentioning of recently deceased monks.
4. All living and deceased Oblates are to be included in the prayers of the monastic community at each daily Conventual Mass.
On May 5, 1975, the Sacred Penitentiary issued the following decree in response to a request that the norms of the Apostolic Constitution Indulgentiarum Doctrina be applied to indulgences available to Oblates of Saint Benedict:
The Sacred Penitentiary, by special and express Apostolic Authority, graciously grants a plenary indulgence, to be gained by the Oblates of Saint Benedict, provided that, fulfilling the usual conditions (i.e., confession, communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father), they pronounce or renew, at least privately, the promise of faithfully observing the statutes of their way of life:1. On the days of enrollment and Oblation;
2. On the feast days of: Saint Benedict (March 21 or July 11), Saints Maurus and Placid, Saint Scholastica, Saint Frances of Rome, and on two additional feast days to be designated by the superior of the monastery . . . [At Saint Vincent Archabbey, August 24 and December 8 have been chosen. August 24 is the anniversary of the dedication of the Archabbey Basilica in 1905, and December 8 is the date of the death of Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, our founding abbot, in 1887, as well as the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, who is the patroness of the nation.]
3. On the twenty-fifth and fiftieth anniversaries of the first Oblation.
These are to be in force in perpetuum without the dispatching of an apostolic brief. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.
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