17. The Number of Psalms to Be Sung at These Hours
We have already arranged the order of the psalms for the Night Office and for Matins; let us now see about the hours that follow.
2 At Prime, let them recite three psalms one by one, and not under one doxology. 3 A hymn for this hour comes before they begin the psalms after the verse: “O God, come to my assistance” (Ps 70:2). 4 At the end of the three psalms, a single reading is recited by heart with a verse and the Kyrie eleison, and the concluding prayers.
5 Now let the prayer at Terce, Sext, and None be celebrated in the same way: that is, the verse, the hymns proper to the hour, three psalms, a reading and a verse, the Kyrie eleison, and the concluding prayers. 6 If the community is larger, let them sing the psalms with antiphons, but if smaller, let them recite them straight through.
7 However, the liturgy for Vespers should have four psalms with antiphons. 8 After these psalms, a reading is to be recited by heart; then come the responsory, an Ambrosian hymn with a verse, the Gospel Canticle, the litany, and with the Lord’s Prayer the concluding prayers.
9 Compline ends with the recitation by heart of three psalms. These psalms are recited straight through without an antiphon. 10 After these psalms, there follows the hymn proper to the hour, one reading, a verse, the Kyrie eleison and the concluding prayers with a blessing.
