How Many Psalms Are to Be Said at the Night Office
Feb. 11—June 12—Oct. 12
In winter time as defined above, there is first this verse to be said
three times: “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your
praise.” To it is added Psalm 3 and the “Glory be to the Father,” and
after that Psalm 94 to be chanted with an antiphon or even chanted
simply. Let the Ambrosian hymn follow next, and then six Psalms with
antiphons. When these are finished and the verse said, let the Abbot
give a blessing; then, all being seated on the benches, let three
lessons be read from the book on the lectern by the brethren in their
turns, and after each lesson let a responsory be chanted. Two of the
responsories are to be said without a “Glory be to the Father”; but
after the third lesson let the chanter say the “Glory be to the Father,”
and as soon as he begins it let all rise from their seats out of honor
and reverence to the Holy Trinity.
The books to be read at the Night Office shall be those of divine
authorship, of both the Old and the New Testament, and also the
explanations of them which have been made by well known and orthodox
Catholic Fathers.
After these three lessons with their responsories let the remaining six
Psalms follow, to be chanted with “Alleluia.” After these shall follow
the lesson from the Apostle, to be recited by heart, the verse and the
petition of the litany, that is “Lord, have mercy on us.” And so let the
Night Office come to an end.