The Rule of Saint Benedict

How many Psalms are to be said in these Hours

We have already settled the order of the psalmody for the Nocturns and for Lauds, let us now arrange for the Hours which follow. At Prime three psalms are to be said separately, that is, not under one Ghria. After the verse, O God, incline unto mine aid, and

before the psalms are begun, the hymn of each Hour

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is to be said. At the end of the three psalms a lesson is recited, then with the versicle and Kyrie eleison the Hour is concluded. ‘The Hours of Tierce, Sext and None are to be said in the same way, that is, the verse (O God, incline, etc.), the hymns of these Hours, three psalms, the lesson and versicle, and with Kyrie eleison they are concluded.

If the community be large the Hours shall be sung with antiphons, but if it be small they are to be without. Evensong shall be said with four psalms and antiphons, after which a lesson is to be recited, then a responsory, hymn, versicle, canticle from the Gospel (i.e. Magnificat), and it is concluded by the litanies (or Kyrie) and the Lord’s Prayer. Compline shall consist in the saying of three psalms straight through and without antiphons, followed by the hymn of the Hour, a lesson, versicle, Kyrie eleison, and

shall conclude with the blessing.

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