Category Archives: GILH

Our last post on the text of the GILH. 280. Even when the hours are recited, hymns can nourish prayer, provided they have doctrinal and literary excellence; but of their nature they are designed for singing and so, as far … Continue reading →

The Psalms are not just the pedestrian background for the Hours, and the utilization of singing to pray them is a priority: 278. Clearly the psalms are closely bound up with music (see GILH 103-120), as both Jewish and Christian … Continue reading →

The oft-quoted “pride of place” designation for Gregorian chant has another condition attached here: services sung in Latin. 274. For liturgical celebrations sung in Latin, Gregorian chant, as the music proper to the Roman liturgy, should have pride of place, … Continue reading →

The concession of #271 assumes that daily singing is the ideal. 271. It is particularly appropriate that there be singing at least on Sundays and holydays, so that the different degrees of solemnity will thus come to be recognized. Musicians … Continue reading →

Music itself is part of the language God uses to communicate to us and we use to worship God. Excising it from worship would be like eliminating vowels from written language or sibilants from spoken language. Maybe you could get … Continue reading →

We’re now in th estretch run of GILH. From here on out, we talk about music, that lifting factor to Catholic blogs everywhere. Part II of Chapter V gives direction as to the role of music at the LH. In … Continue reading →

With the continuation of Chapter V, section I, we get the litany of liturgical ministries, starting with the lectors and psalmists: 259. Those who act as readers, standing in a convenient place, read either the long readings or the short … Continue reading →

We’re in the home stretch of GILH, my friends. Chapter V is titled Rites for Celebration in Common. First on the agenda is the question of “Who does what?” The post-conciliar principle of keeping to one’s assigned duties is quoted … Continue reading →

Some sensible, but dry considerations for interrupted readings: 249. When the continuous reading is interrupted because of a solemnity or feast or special celebration, it is allowed during the same week, taking into account the readings for the whole week, … Continue reading →

Choices, choices, choices: the theme of the next few sections of the GILH. First, choose when one can, but don’t upset the structure of the Hours themselves: 246. In certain particular cases there is an option to choose texts different … Continue reading →

Some options are offered … Option to Choose an Office 244. On weekdays when an optional memorial is permitted, for a good reason the office of a saint listed on that day in the Roman Martyrology, or in an approved … Continue reading →

Next, we look at subsection III of Chapter IV: Calendar and Option to Choose an Office or Part of an Office Calendar to be Followed 241. The office in choir and in common is to be celebrated according to the … Continue reading →

Another rung down: the memorial. First, a liturgical reminder for optional memorials falling during Advent, Christmas, Lent or Eastertime: 234. In the arrangement of the office there is no difference between obligatory and optional memorials, except in the case of … Continue reading →

The next lower rung is the feast. First, no special Vespers for the evening prior: 231. Feasts have no evening prayer I, except those feasts of the Lord that fall on a Sunday. At the office of readings, at morning … Continue reading →

The next rank of liturgical observance, the solemnity, can be identified in the LH because they have an evening prayer celebrated on the vigil: 225. Solemnities have an evening prayer I on the preceding day. 226. At evening prayer I … Continue reading →