RB Reflection: 14 June 2008

Feb. 13 - June 14 - Oct. 14

Chapter 11: The Celebration of Vigils on Sunday

On Sunday the monks should arise earlier for Vigils. In these Vigils, too, there must be moderation in quantity: first, as we have already indicated, six psalms are said, followed by a versicle. Then the monks, seated on the benches and arranged in their proper order, listen to four readings from the book. After each reading a responsory is sung, but "Glory be to the Father" is added only to the fourth. When the cantor begins it, all immediately rise in reverence.

After these readings the same order is repeated: six more psalms with a refrain as before, a versicle, then four more readings and their responsories, as above. Next, three canticles from the Prophets, chosen by the abbot, are said with an "alleluia" refrain. After a versicle and the abbot's blessing, four New Testament readings follow with their responsories, as above. After the fourth responsory, the abbot begins the hymn "We praise you, God." When that is finished, he reads from the Gospels while all the monks stand with respect and awe. At the conclusion of the Gospel reading, all reply "Amen," and immediately the abbot intones the hymn "To you be praise." After a final blessing, Lauds begins.

This arrangement for Sunday Vigils should be followed at all times, summer and winter, unless -- God forbid -- the monks happen to arise too late. In that case, the readings or responsories will have to be shortened. Let special care be taken that this not happen, but if it does, the monk at fault is to make due satisfaction to God in the oratory.

It strikes me as funny that not only do they get up earlier on Sunday for Vigils, they have moderation in quantity. Moderation? Fourteen psalms and at least eight readings, with as many responsories, and canticles, and the Te Deum, and a gospel reading? Wow, aren't you glad you weren't a monk in Benedict's monastery!

It's easy to get caught up in the details of how many psalms, responsories, readings, etc., but to do that is to miss the entire point of the chapter. The work of God is serious business, and we must take great care to make certain that we approach it with due seriousness.

Nothing is more disconcerting than a disorganized Lauds or Vespers. It's almost always in an informal setting, and a lot of time wasted while the leader hurriedly turns pages in the book he/she should already have marked, and ready to go. If that is annoying in the informal setting, imagine it in the monastic setting. What if the next time you were at the Abbey of Gethsemani, expecting the usual orderly progression, and one side starts psalm 115 while the other side is singing 116?

As Lay Cistercian's we must be aware of the need for order in our lives, our prayers, our local communities, and in the wide world of International Lay Cistercian's. We have come to the point of asking the Abbots/Abbesses of the Order for some type of formal relationship between our Lay groups and their monastic communities. This is the time for preparedness, and order.