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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Psalm Prayer Michael Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Question:

1. Should one say the antiphon before or after they have said the Psalm Prayer?

2. Should one say "Let us pray" at the beginning and "Amen" at the end of the Psalm Prayer? I believe Monsignor Elliot in his "Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite" says to do this.

3. Should one say "Amen" at the end of the "Pater Noster"?

4. At the end of Daytime Prayer it says that before the concluding prayer one should say "Let us pray." Should one do this before the concluding prayer at Compline as well?

5. Should one make the sign of the cross while saying the blessing at the end of Compline as one does with the personal blessing used at the end of Lauds and Vespers?

Thank you so much! Pax Domini sit semper tecum.

Michael

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Michael:

1. The Psalm-Prayer is traditionally said silently to oneself after the Antiphon. The GILH, however, is somewhat unclear.

The GILH states:

112. Psalm-prayers for each psalm are given in the supplement to The Liturgy of the Hours as an aid to understanding them in a predominantly Christian way. An ancient tradition provides a model for their use: after the psalm a period of silence is observed, then the prayer gives a resume and resolution of the thoughts and aspirations of those praying the psalms.

2. When the Psalm-Prayer is said silently the "Let us Pray" would certainly not be said.

Monsignor Elliot is referring to (see his footnote) the Ceremonial of Bishops, no 198b:

When the psalm prayers are used, after the repetition of the antiphon, the bishop puts aside the miter, rises, and once everyone else has stood says, "Let us pray." After a brief pause for silent prayer by all, he says the prayer corresponding to the psalm or canticle.

This is done in the celebration of Solemn Evening Prayer (Vespers) on Major Solemnities with a Bishop present and only optionally (see the text: "when the psalm prayers are used"). Since this is specific to Vespers on Major Solemnities with a Bishop I am not so sure we can consider this the norm for all situations.

The text of Monsignor Elliot's book does seem to imply this practice as a norm, but the tradition as I understand it and as I was taught by the Benedictines, provides for a silent recitation of the Psalm-Prayer.

I believe in normal situations you have an option and as such the "Let us Pray" would also be an option.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary