How the Night Office Is to Be Said on Sundays
Feb. 13—June 14—Oct. 14
On Sunday the hour of rising for the Night Office should be earlier. In
that Office let the measure already prescribed be kept, namely the
singing of six Psalms and a verse. Then let all be seated on the benches
in their proper order while the lessons and their responsories are read
from the book, as we said above. These shall be four in number, with the
chanter saying the “Glory be to the Father” in the fourth responsory
only, and all rising reverently as soon as he begins it.
After these lessons let six more Psalms with antiphons follow in order,
as before, and a verse; and then let four more lessons be read with
their responsories in the same way as the former.
After these let there be three canticles from the book of the Prophets,
as the Abbot shall appoint, and let these canticles be chanted with
“Alleluia.” Then when the verse has been said and the Abbot has given
the blessing, let four more lessons be read, from the New Testament, in
the manner prescribed above.
After the fourth responsory let the Abbot begin the hymn “We praise You,
O God.” When this is finished the Abbot shall read the lesson from the
book of the Gospels, while all stand in reverence and awe. At the end
let all answer “Amen,” and let the Abbot proceed at once to the hymn “To
You be praise.” After the blessing has been given, let them begin the
Morning Office.
This order for the Night Office on Sunday shall be observed the year
around, both summer and winter; unless it should happen (which God
forbid) that the brethren be late in rising, in which case the lessons
or the responsories will have to be shortened somewhat. Let every
precaution be taken, however, against such an occurrence; but if it does
happen, then the one through whose neglect it has come about should make
due satisfaction to God in the oratory.