ROLES IN THE CELEBRATIONS OF THE
LITURGY OF THE HOURS
Roles for Formal Celebrations
Presider
~ one who leads community in prayer. This may be a bishop, priest or
deacon, or, in the absence of an ordained minister, a layperson.
Readers ~
for Scriptures & Petitions of the Intercessions.
Leader of
Song
Cantor
~ to lead sung psalmody
Psalmist
~ person(s) who lead(s) psalmody which is spoken
Choir
Acolytes
~ to assist bishop, priest or deacon
Core group of
participants ~ to serve as a nucleus within the larger
assembly, especially in parish groups. This will enable entire
congregation to become acquainted and comfortable with the Liturgy of
the Hours.
Minimum Roles
* Leader
Reader
* Psalmist
* These roles may be
combined when only two people are present for a celebration
Chart of Roles
Please note: This chart of roles is intended only as a suggestion of
some appropriate distributions of roles. Other options may also be
used and can be found in books which discuss the communal celebration
of the Liturgy of the Hours.
A primary source is the
General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours.
|
Roles in Celebrations of the
Liturgy of the Hours |
|
Posture |
Ritual Part |
Small Celebrations |
Large, Formal Celebrations |
|
Stand |
Introductory Verses |
Leader with
congregational response |
Leader with
congregational response |
|
Hymn |
Entire Assembly |
Entire Assembly |
|
Sit (remain
seated to Gospel Canticle)
|
Psalmody Antiphon |
Psalmist
begins; congregation joins |
Psalmist or
Cantor with congregation (depending on the musical setting) |
|
Verses |
Alternating
sides (groups or individuals) |
Alternating
sides or alternation between congregation and choir (depending
on the musical setting) |
|
Doxologies (bow at the names of three Persons of the Trinity |
Continue as
above |
Continue as
above |
|
Psalm Prayer (optional) |
Read by Leader |
Read by Leader |
|
Antiphon Repetition |
All |
All, depending on musical setting. |
|
Reading |
Reader |
Reader |
|
Responsory |
Leader with
congregational response |
Dependent on
musical setting. |
|
Stand
|
Gospel Canticle (each person makes sign of cross at beginning) |
As in psalmody |
As in psalmody |
|
Antiphon/verses |
As in psalmody |
As in psalmody |
|
Intercessions
Introduction |
Leader |
Presiding
priest or leader |
|
Petitions |
Reader or
Reader and Congregation |
Cantor, Reader
or Reader and congregation |
|
Response |
Sung or recited
by congregation |
Sung or recited
by congregation |
|
Our Father |
Introduced by
Leader; prayed by entire assembly |
Introduced by
Presiding Priest, deacon, or leader; prayed by entire assembly. |
|
Concluding Prayer |
Leader |
Presiding
priest, deacon or leader. |
|
Dismissal or Closing Prayer |
Leader with
congregation responding |
Presiding
priest, deacon or leader with congregation responding. |
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© Sister Janet
Baxendale, S.C.
Composed for the Archdiocese of New York Liturgical Commission.
