Guest Comments by Sue Kephart
The Holy Rule of St. Benedict
Chapter 15: At what times “Alleluia” is to be said
Feb 18-June 19-Oct 19
From holy Easter until Pentecost without interruption
Let “Alleluia” be said
both in the Psalms and in the responsories.
From Pentecost to the beginning of Lent
let it be said every night
with the last six Psalms of the night Office only.
On every Sunday, however, outside of Lent,
The canticles, the Morning Office, Prime, Terce, Sext and None
shall be said with “Alleluia,”
but Vespers with antiphons.
The responsories are never to be said with “Alleluia”
except from Easter to Pentecost.
Alleluia: Praise the Lord! A popular expression among many Christians today. However, in our reading today St. Benedict restricts the use of the Alleluia. I may know why. Those LCG members in liturgical traditions go through the seasons of the church year. Other LCG members in other Christian traditions do not. “Every day is the same in the Lord”, I’ve been told.
God may be the same today, tomorrow and yesterday. But I admit I am not. The change of the church seasons reminds me of my desert times, my close times and times of seeking. With the changes in the Daily Office as St. Benedict has arranged it everyone from all traditions can sense the ever changing human condition in our relationship to the Lord.
In my tradition we bury the Alleluia the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. In my congregation it is done with children’s Alleluia banners waving to the strains of the Jambalaya Dixieland Band. Buried until “the appointed time”. Then long dreary Lenten season begins. Sometimes I long for a little alleluia. Palm Sunday, Holy Week. A time of quiet remembrance.
Then with the children’s new Alleluia banners leading the processional the appointed time is here, the Resurrection of Our Lord. Alleluia, all of us of all traditions can shout together, “He has risen, Alleluia. He has risen indeed Alleluia, Alleluia”.
Alleluia without interruption!!
LCG grandma
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