RB Reflection: 22 & 23 June

Chapter 18. The Order of the Psalmody

Each of the day hours begins with the verse, God, come to my assistance; Lord, Make hast to help me. followed by "Glory be to the Father" and the appropriate hymn.

Then, on Sunday at Prime, four sections of Psalm 118/119 are said. At the other hours, that is, at Terce, Sext and None, three sections of this psalm are said. On Monday three psalms are said at Prime: Psalm 1, 2 and 6. At Prime each day thereafter until Sunday, three psalms are said in consecutive order as far as Psalm 19. Psalms 9 and 17 are each divided into two sections. In this way, Sunday Vigils can always begin with Psalm 20.

On Monday at Terce, Sext and None, the remaining nine sections of Psalm 118 are said, three sections at each hour. Psalm 118 is thus completed in two day, Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, three psalms are said at each of the hours of Terce, Sext and None. The same psalms are repeated at these hours daily up to Sunday. Likewise, the arrangement of hymns, readings and versicles for these days remains the same. In this way, Psalm 118 will always begin on Sunday.

STEVE: Okay, so what am I supposed to make of this.
BENEDICT: That the most important things need to be dealt with first.
STEVE: We're already to chapter 18, I'd hardly call this dealing with most important first.
BENEDICT: That's not really the truth. The first seven chapters dealt with Kinds of monks, the abbot, counsel, tools for good works, obedience, restraint of speech, and humility. We start Chapter 8 with The Divine office at night. We are still talking about the Divine Office ten chapters later, and will continue to talk about it for three more days.
STEVE: Yeah, yeah. Fine, but I have to make sense of this for a bunch of Lay Cistercian's who are going to be waiting for me to say something profound.
BENEDICT: Why? Are the Psalms themselves not profound enough? Have I gone to all this trouble to write about the importance of the Psalms only to have them ignored for some "perceived" profound thing you might have to say?
STEVE: (bowing his head with both hands on his chest) Forgive me.