Thursday, September 22, 2011

Praying "The Office of the Passion" using the "Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order"

"The Office of the Passion" is a devotional office written by St. Francis of Assisi. (Note: It was not intended to replace the Liturgy of the Hours, which is the official prayer of the church.) It is one of the prayers that fulfill a Secular Franciscan's responsibility to join in liturgical prayer of the Church. See SFO Rule article 8.

I found a straightforward guide on how to pray the office in "Studying the Life of Francis of Assisi: A Beginner's Workbook" by William R. Hugo, OFM Cap. The various parts of the office are in the "Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order," but without Hugo's guide, I never would have figured out how to put them all together in a meaningful way.

Referencing the pages and text found in the Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order, you would pray the office in this order.
  • The Prayer Inspired by the Our Father, p. 101
  • The Praises to be Said at All the Hours, p. 99
  • Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary, p. 83
  • Psalm (see table below)
  • Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary, p. 83
  • Closing prayer: Let us bless the Lord…., p. 84
Referencing pages and text found in "Francis and Clare: The Complete Works," you would pray the office in this order.
  • The Prayer Inspired by the Our Father, p. 104
  • The Praises to be Said at All the Hours, p. 101
  • Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary, p. 82
  • Psalm (see table below)
  • Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary, p. 82
  • Closing prayer: Let us bless the Lord…., p. 83
Alternatively, here are the pages and text found in "Francis of Assisi: Early Document, Vol. I, The Saint" (Armstrong, Hellmann, and Short).
  • The Prayer Inspired by the Our Father, p. 158
  • The Praises to be Said at All the Hours, p. 161
  • Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary, p. 141
  • Psalm (see table below)
  • Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary, p. 141
  • Closing prayer: Let us bless the Lord…., p. 141
In the "Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order" you will find the psalms to pray on pages 81 to 102. (Some prayers are in their, too.) In "Francis and Clare: The Complete Works" you will find the psalms composed by St. Francis on pages 81 to 98. In "Francis of Assisi: Early Document, Vol. I, The Saint" you will find his psalms on pages 140 to 157. The times are from St. Francis' era.

Psalms composed by St. Francis
Part I: Triduum and Weekdays During the Year
Part II: Easter Season
Part III: Sundays and Principle Feasts
Part IV: Advent
Part V: Christmas Season
Compline (bedtime)
1
8
8
13
15
Matins (midnight)
2
9
9
14
15
Prime (sunrise)
3
3
3
3
15
Terce (9:00 a.m.)
4
9
10
10
15
Sext (noon)
5
9
11
11
15
None (3:00 p.m.)
6
9
12
12
15
Vespers (sunset)
7
7
7
7
15

No comments: