| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
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| choice of texts | Stephen | Wednesday, May 23, 2012 |
Question: I am having a hard time understanding why religious communities, most notably the Benedictines, are allowed to choose their own psalter cycle and lectionary for the office (including, in many cases, the much maligned, NRSV of scripture or even worse.) Please don't say this is not happening; I can refer you to many websites. But....for me, as a Catholic layperson, not bound to recite the office, to be "praying with the church" I must use the 1971(?) edition of the office without alteration. Can you help me understand?? |
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| Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)
Dear Stephen: Various Religious Orders have permission to develop their own material and rubrics for the Divine Office. If one is not a member of one of one of those Orders, then one must use the general edition and translation that is approved for the country in which was resides. Since this prayer is liturgy, the Church regulates it -- even for laymen not required to recite it. Two choices are permitted—use the version of the Liturgy of the Hours that is current (c. 1975), or the new edition when it comes out, or use the Pre-Vatican II Divine Office. The Pre-Vatican II version is far more complicated, especially for laymen, than the current edition. It is your choice as to using the pre-Vatican II or Post-Vatican II Divine Office. God Bless,
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