More psalms QUESTION from Fr. P.J. Morgan August 29, 2000 I find that there are too few psalms per week. Where can I obtain the schema B psalms printed out in a book in English. Perhaps The O.S.C.O have such a publication? I would be able to use it in conjunction with the Liturgia Horarum. May be that you know of some other publication in English or Latin. How long do we have to put up with these terrible English hymns?
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, O.L.S.M. on September 7, 2000 Dear Father Morgan:
There has been a significant reduction in the number of psalms and prayers, expecially in the Day Prayers in the current edition of the Divine Office. This was done to make the Divine Office more accessible to those outside of monks in choirs in monasteries, but there has been an increase in other parts of the Office as well.
Under current legislation, we are obligated to use this 1975 edition of the Divine Office, unless you can get a dispensation from your bishop, perhaps, to use the pre-Vatican II edition.
I do not know where you might find a Latin version of the current Office, but you should be able to find the pre-Vatican II Latin version in Used Books shoppes perhaps.
At the moment I am not certain about the Hymns. You may be able to replace the Hymns listed in the Office with another appropriate hymn. A quick look at the General Instruction did not reveal that the hymns in the book are the only ones we can choose from, but I'd have to do a more careful reading to be sure.
God Bless.
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