A GLOSSARY OF LITURGICAL TERMS
This glossary might be helpful in coming to understand the terms that are used frequently in speaking about the Sacred Liturgies of the Church. Liturgy, a Greek word, means "work of the People of God". When we are actively involved in Liturgy, we are never doing it alone. As Catholics we believe that we are united with the whole Church, in every time - past, present, and future - as well as in every place - here on Earth, the souls in Purgatory, and especially the Church in heaven. Even when we pray the Divine Office in "private" or a priest says a Mass by himself, we are united in a mystical way with the entire Church - NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
The Church is so convinced of this powerful & continual prayer in her life and mission that as members of the Priesthood of the Baptized, we too exercise our own mission by joining with the Church Universal in this intercessory ministry. This is one of the greatest gifts of the Liturgical renewal of Vatican II. By following its decrees and exhortations with loving obedience, we give glory to the Great High Priest Himself, Jesus Christ.
P.S. - Do not be frightened by the Latin terms. We have been saying the Office as a Church since the time Christ ascended to the Father. As you grow in knowledge of this beautiful prayer, the Lord will school you in the long history and effectiveness of the prayer.
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The Divine Office
The Divine Office - In Latin, this term means the 'Divine Duty' since it is the duty of those who are bound by Canon (i.e. Church) Law to pray it for themselves, the Church, and the world.
The parts of the Divine Office are:
Office of Readings - A series of Psalms, Scripture reading, a Church Father or Saint's reading, and a collect. This best said late at night or early in the morning, though it can be said at any time of the day.
Lauds - This term means "praise". It is the Church's way of beginning the day with God. The full Latin title of this Office is "Laudes Matutinas" translated as 'Morning Praise' (Prayer)
Diernum - This refers to the Offices said during the day. An older title for theses Offices (as well as for the night Office, Compline) was the "Little Hours". Today we only need to pray one of three though all three may be prayed. They are:
Terce - meaning the third hour of the day or 9:00 a.m.
This is the Office that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. In English, this is translated as Mid-Morning Prayer.
Sext - meaning the sixth hour of the day or 12:00 noon. This is the hour that commemorates the Lord being nailed to the Cross. In English, this called Mid-Day Prayer.
None - meaning the ninth hour of the day (3:00 pm). This is the hour that commemorates the mission of the church to the world, the road to Emmaus, and the decent from the Cross. In English, this is called Mid-Afternoon Prayer.
Vespers - This is the evening prayer of the Church. We commemorate especially the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the beginning of the Passion of the Lord. It may be prayed anytime in the evening.
Compline - meaning the 'completion' of the day and it has taken on the themes of the 'little death' as we prepare for sleep and for putting our lives in the hands of the Father as Christ did on the Cross. With this, the Liturgical day is brought to a close.
Within the structure of each of these Offices there are several common elements.
The Invitatory - This is a Psalm (usually Ps. 95 though options are allowed) that is used at the beginning to the first Office of the day (Readings or Lauds). It is a joyful invitation to begin our daily praise to the Lord.
The Opening Versicles - The "O God + Come to my assistance..." that is at the beginning of every Office except the one that begins with the Invititory. Knowing that we cannot pray of ourselves but that it is the Spirit that prays in us, we ask the Lord for His help in praying this Office.
Psalmody - This is the part of the Office that has the Psalms for its text. Each Psalm and Canticle (a section of Scripture) has an Antiphon (verse) that is recited before and after the Psalm. Each Psalm and Canticle, except when noted, ends with the "Gloria Patri", the 'Glory to the Father and to the Son...As it was in the beginning...' It is an ancient monastic custom to bow during this or any other mention of the Trinity by name.
Responsory - This is a response to the readings
Gospel Canticles - These are the three Canticles from the Gospel of St. Luke. They are:
The Benedictus (Lk 1:68-79) - used at Lauds as a Canticle of praise.
The Magnificat (Lk 1:46-55) - Our Lady's praise to God for the Work He did in Her life.
The Nunc Dimittis (Lk 2:29-32) The aged Simeon's prayer to God for letting him see the Messiah. An appropriate way to ask the Lord's 'dismissal' for the day.
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Terms Common to both the Office and the Eucharist
Feria - a weekday during "Ordinary Time" (properly, Tempus per Annum, 'Time of the Year') with no saint to celebrate.
Optional Memorial - The Parish, priest, or individual has the option of celebrating the saint of the day.
Memorial - The saint the Church calls us to celebrate.
Feast - A celebration of one of the Mysteries of our Lord's life, a major celebration of Mary or one of the saints, a special day in the Church's history.
Solemnity - A day of great importance to the Church that calls for special celebrations in the Liturgy (like the Gloria).
According to the way that the liturgical books order a day to be celebrated, several things must be known first.
1. The Season of the Year - such as Lent, Advent, etc.
There are special norms for celebrations during these times and they will be clearly marked in the red print of books.
2. The 'Rank' of the day - whether the day is a Memorial, Feast, etc., as above. There is a 'Table of Precedence' in the front of the Breviary that tells you which day, if two come on the same day, is the one that you celebrate.
3. The Proper or Common - These refer to the texts of the day as found in both the Breviary or the Sacramentary (Mass Book).
The Proper of Seasons is used........
When it is a no-saint day every day except during Ordinary Time.
During Ordinary Time, the text for the previous Sunday is used.
The Proper of Saints is used...........
For the saint of the day that is going to be celebrated (if there is any). If there is, they will be celebrated considering the Season of the Year as well. It is here especially that the Table of Precedence is most used.
The Common of Saints is used..........
As the text of the saint to be celebrated. It is based on what type of saint he or she was.
There are many options here so try and learn them. Take this list and see if you can't find these things in your books. The main order for the Offices is found in the middle of the book called the 'Ordinary'. If you have trouble, ask some one who has been saying Divine Office for some period of time.