Holy Rule for February 11
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St. Mary's Monastery
Feb 10, 2026, 5:29:35 PM (10 days ago) Feb 10
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Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
February 11, June 12, October 12
Chapter 9: How Many Psalms Are to Be Said at the Night Office
In winter time as defined above, there is first this verse to be said three times: "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise." To it is added Psalm 3 and the "Glory be to the Father," and after that Psalm 94 to be chanted with an antiphon or even chanted simply. Let the Ambrosian hymn follow next, and then six Psalms with antiphons. When these are finished and the verse said, let the Abbot give a blessing; then, all being seated on the benches, let three lessons be read from the book on the lectern by the brethren in their turns, and after each lesson let a responsory be chanted. Two of the responsories are to be said without a "Glory be to the Father" but after the third lesson let the chanter say the "Glory be to the Father," and as soon as he begins it let all rise from their seats out of honor and reverence to the Holy Trinity.
The books to be read at the Night Office shall be those of divine authorship, of both the Old and the New Testament, and also the explanations of them which have been made by well-known and orthodox Catholic Fathers.
After these three lessons with their responsories let the remaining six Psalms follow, to be chanted with "Alleluia." After these shall follow the lesson from the Apostle, to be recited by heart, the verse and the petition of the litany, that is "Lord, have mercy on us." And so let the Night Office come to an end.
REFLECTION
Keeping Vigils is one of the things monastics do and have done from time immemorial. Monasteries are structured to make that possible. Things that are never easy are at least possible in monasteries because everything has been geared toward that end.
Oblates in the world may sometimes express regret that they cannot keep the whole monastic Office, but let me assure you, there are Vigils kept by Oblates of which monastics have no clue. Sure, it's hard to get up in the dark and say 14 psalms, but monastics need never face the harder, lonelier Vigils spent beside a desperately ill spouse or child. They need not face the terror of long insomniac nights of financial dread and worry, which compounds when one realizes that oversleeping might cost one one's job. The vocations in which Oblates find themselves often more than compensate for whatever asceticism one might find in a cloister!
But, you see, that is how it ought to be: all the graces we need for holiness, for sainthood, are built right into our situations. The monk need not long for parenthood, nor the parent for the cloister. Each vocation is different and appropriately varied, but every vocation carries within it exactly the mercy and the means of grace which God knew from all eternity would be most perfect for us.
We must train ourselves with great care to really will whatever God wills for us. This is different from merely passive acceptance. This is actually wanting whatever God sends out of deep faith that it is tailored flawlessly to our best growth in holiness. The best book ever written on this practice, in my opinion, is "Abandonment to Divine Providence", by Father Jean-Pierre de Caussade, SJ. I heartily recommend it and it is still in print after several centuries, a real classic! Great Lenten reading! You want to get an edition that has the letters of de Caussade, they are the best.
Never, ever think that a night spent sleepless for a sick child doesn't count as many, many, MANY Vigils! Benedictines live and thrive in all manner of environments today, and some of the best of them are not in choir in the wee hours, but that matters absolutely not at all!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
Br. Jerome Leo’s Daily Reflection on the Holy Rule
February 11, June 12, October 12
Chapter 9: How Many Psalms Are to Be Said at the Night Office
In winter time as defined above, there is first this verse to be said three times: "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise." To it is added Psalm 3 and the "Glory be to the Father," and after that Psalm 94 to be chanted with an antiphon or even chanted simply. Let the Ambrosian hymn follow next, and then six Psalms with antiphons. When these are finished and the verse said, let the Abbot give a blessing; then, all being seated on the benches, let three lessons be read from the book on the lectern by the brethren in their turns, and after each lesson let a responsory be chanted. Two of the responsories are to be said without a "Glory be to the Father" but after the third lesson let the chanter say the "Glory be to the Father," and as soon as he begins it let all rise from their seats out of honor and reverence to the Holy Trinity.
The books to be read at the Night Office shall be those of divine authorship, of both the Old and the New Testament, and also the explanations of them which have been made by well-known and orthodox Catholic Fathers.
After these three lessons with their responsories let the remaining six Psalms follow, to be chanted with "Alleluia." After these shall follow the lesson from the Apostle, to be recited by heart, the verse and the petition of the litany, that is "Lord, have mercy on us." And so let the Night Office come to an end.
REFLECTION
Keeping Vigils is one of the things monastics do and have done from time immemorial. Monasteries are structured to make that possible. Things that are never easy are at least possible in monasteries because everything has been geared toward that end.
Oblates in the world may sometimes express regret that they cannot keep the whole monastic Office, but let me assure you, there are Vigils kept by Oblates of which monastics have no clue. Sure, it's hard to get up in the dark and say 14 psalms, but monastics need never face the harder, lonelier Vigils spent beside a desperately ill spouse or child. They need not face the terror of long insomniac nights of financial dread and worry, which compounds when one realizes that oversleeping might cost one one's job. The vocations in which Oblates find themselves often more than compensate for whatever asceticism one might find in a cloister!
But, you see, that is how it ought to be: all the graces we need for holiness, for sainthood, are built right into our situations. The monk need not long for parenthood, nor the parent for the cloister. Each vocation is different and appropriately varied, but every vocation carries within it exactly the mercy and the means of grace which God knew from all eternity would be most perfect for us.
We must train ourselves with great care to really will whatever God wills for us. This is different from merely passive acceptance. This is actually wanting whatever God sends out of deep faith that it is tailored flawlessly to our best growth in holiness. The best book ever written on this practice, in my opinion, is "Abandonment to Divine Providence", by Father Jean-Pierre de Caussade, SJ. I heartily recommend it and it is still in print after several centuries, a real classic! Great Lenten reading! You want to get an edition that has the letters of de Caussade, they are the best.
Never, ever think that a night spent sleepless for a sick child doesn't count as many, many, MANY Vigils! Benedictines live and thrive in all manner of environments today, and some of the best of them are not in choir in the wee hours, but that matters absolutely not at all!
Br. Jerome Leo Hughes, OSB (RIP)
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