Beginning prayer QUESTION from Frances January 14, 2001 I am a Secular Carmelite and have two questions. One when we begin Morning Prayer and say Lord, open my lips-And my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Do you say the Glory Be after and then go into the recitation of Psalm 95? I know you do when you start with God, come to my assistance. My other question is, is is proper to say the Canticle of Zechariah or the Canticle of Mary together rather alternating as we do with the other Psalms? I've heard the Carmelite Sisters and they recite the Canticles together. I said only two questions, but I do have one more--have you worked on the 14 session instruction for Liturgy of the Hours yet? I will be starting to teach the new aspirates how to recite the Divine Office and thought if it was available I could certainly use the help.
God bless you for all of your work and taking the time to answer my questions.
+Frances
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, O.L.S.M. on January 22, 2001 Dear Mrs. Frances:
You are actually referring to the Invitatory, not Morning Prayers. The Invitatory is said at the beginning of the liturgical day -- which is often Morning Prayers, or the Office of Readings combined with Morning Prayers. But if one begins the day with the Office of Readings at the vigil hours, (i.e. 3am) then the Invitatory is said then.
The sequence is to say the Lord open my Lips, followed by Psalm 95. The Glory be is said after Psalm 95.
The God, come to my assistance that begins Morning prayers is omitted when the Invitatory is said before Morning Prayers. This after Psalm 95, followed by the Glory Be, next comes the Hymn for Morning Prayers.
On the Course on the Divine Office, I hope to have that done my June, but that depends largely on my health.
God Bless.
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