Codex of Hours

The Codex of Hours is a liturgical text promulgated by the Congregation of Sacred Liturgy of the Council of Bishops, and approved by the Archbishop. It includes a cycle of prayers to be used each day of the week, by following all twenty-two of the psalms from the Codex of Scripture in sequence.

Decree of Publication
ALONSUS II

for perpetual memory

To the gracious bishops, priests, deacons, paladins, religious, and lay faithful, Greetings and Archiepiscopal Blessing:

Considering the great work of the Congregation for Sacred Texts in proposing the fourth revised edition of the Codex of Hours, and considering the need of the Church to offer fitting adoration to the Light, I decree and promulgate that henceforth the fourth edition of the Codex of Hours shall be used in all the solemn offices of the Church,

all to the contrary not withstanding.

ALONSUS II

Archbishop

Given at Stormwind, on the sixteenth day of December, in the year of the King's rule, sixhundred twenty-five, the second of my Archiepiscopate, the wednesday of the seventh week of Winterveil.

Preface to the Fourth Edition of the Codex of Rites
Your Graces,

Your Reverences,

Dear brothers and sisters in the Light,

It is with great joy that I hand on to you the fourth edition of the Codex of Hours. Since the earliest days of monasticism in the Church, monks and priests have offered a continual cycle of praise to the Light by a daily participation in communal and private prayers. With time, this daily prayer gradually became more structured and eventually was aided by the inclusion of poetic texts which form the modern psalter in the Codex of Scripture. Beginning with a small collection of only a few psalms, monks would offer prayers throughout the day such that each day the entirety of the psalter was prayed for the glory of the Light and the good of the Church.

Remaining faithful to this venerable practice, the Bishop, Mellar L. Servus, assembled the "Daily Office" using the psalter as found in the typical edition of Sacred Scripture. In this newer version, Bishop Servus designed an office that allowed priests to pray a cycle of psalms which repeated each week of the year. Readings were added along with a general structure of times for prayers in the Morning, Evening, and at Night. In later versions, another hour was added which was offered during the latest portions of the night.

At the request of His Holiness, Alonsus II, this Sacred Congregation began a revision of the Codex of Hours so that the official prayer of the Church might reflect the typical editions of the Codex of Scripture and the Codex of Rites, and that the wealth of hymns, recently discovered in the collected works of the late Archbishop Saint Columban the Great, may be added to the offices of the Church.

As such, in this volume, we present the offices of Lauds (offered in the morning), Vespers (offered in the evening), Compline (Offered at the end of the day), and Matins (offered late at night). These offices are structured according to the seven-day week, where each week begins on the day which in the local diocese is recognised as the day of precept. Therefore, in accord with the canons of the Church, clerics will no longer be bound to recite the office as seen in the Third Edition of the Codex of Hours, but are bound to the reception of this new office, each day, whether in public or in private, for the glory of the Light, and the good of the Church. Individual clerics are bound to recite the office as proper to their own diocese, even when traveling, unless they intend to take quasi-domicile in another diocese for some time.

Yours faithfully in the Light,

Dom MICHAEL Nicholls, O.S.C.

Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Columban the Great

His Holiness, CASPIUS

Archbishop-Emeritus of the Church of the Holy Light

At Northshire, 16 December 625 K.C.,

the Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Winterveil

Matins
The office of Matins is recited only when in community. When this is done, the highest-ranking cleric, or the cleric who has been deputed to celebrate the office in choir for that week, leads the other clerics into the chapel, who follow behind in pairs. When they reach the altar, they bow or genuflect, then step into choir formation, that is, facing each other in two rows and forming an aisle between them. The CELEBRANT stands at the head of the left row, while the LECTOR stands at the head of the right.

OPENING DIALOGUE:

The CELEBRANT intones the opening versicle, saying:

O Light, open my lips.

R: And my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

INVITATORY PSALM:

A psalm is chanted, as prescribed in the psalter. The antiphon is said before the psalm, and after each stanza.

CAPITULA:

The LECTOR comes to the center of the aisle, before the Celebrant, bows, and says:

Pray, Father (Your Grace, etc.), your blessing.

The CELEBRANT blesses the Lector, saying:

May the words of your lips gain for us an eternal reward.

R: May it be so.

Then, facing towards the altar, and without announcing the book from which the Capitula is taken, the LECTOR reads the assigned passage, which he concludes, saying:

But Thou, O Light, have mercy upon us.

R: Thanks be to the Holy Light.

RESPONSORY:

When the Capitula has been read, the LECTOR bows to the altar and returns to his place in choir. Then, the CELEBRANT intones the Responsory as denoted in the office of the day.

[PATRISTIC READING (Days of Precept and Solemnities):

The LECTOR comes to the center aisle, before the Celebrant, bows, and says, Pray, Father (Your Grace, etc.), your blessing.

The CELEBRANT blesses the Lector, saying:

May the words of your lips gain for us an eternal reward.

R: May it be so.

Then, facing towards the altar, the LECTOR reads the selected passage, saying first:

From a sermon by N.. (or: From a letter by N..) (or: From the writings of N..)

When the Patristic Reading has been concluded, the LECTOR says:

Here ends the reading.

RESPONSORY:

When the Patristic Reading has been read, the LECTOR bows to the altar and returns to his place in choir. Then, the CELEBRANT intones the Responsory as denoted in the office of the day.]

COLLECT:

The CELEBRANT says the Collect assigned to the day, saying first:

Light be with you.

R: And also with you.

Let us pray.

When the Collect is concluded, all say:

R: May it be so.

CONCLUSION:

Then, the CELEBRANT continues:

O Light, have mercy upon us.

R: Have mercy.

Let us bless the Light.

R: Thanks be to the Holy Light.

May the Light's assistance remain always with us.

R: And with our absent brethren.

Lauds and Vespers
The offices of Lauds and Vespers are recited, daily, by all priests and religious. They are the two hinges of the day. Lauds is always celebrated in the morning hours, while Vespers falls in the evening. They constitute the most major portions of the daily celebration of the Divine Office. If the offices are celebrated in community, the highest-ranking cleric, or the cleric who has been deputed to celebrate the office in choir for that week, leads the other clerics into the chapel, who follow behind in pairs. When they reach the altar, they bow or genuflect, then step into choir formation, that is, facing each other in two rows and forming an aisle between them. The CELEBRANT stands at the head of the left row, while the LECTOR stands at the head of the right.

OPENING DIALOGUE:

The CELEBRANT intones the opening versicle, saying:

O Light, come to my aid.

R: Make haste to help me.

PSALMODY:

A psalm is chanted, as prescribed in the psalter. The antiphon is said before and after the psalm, but not after each stanza as at Matins.

CAPITULUM:

Then, stepping into the centre aisle and facing towards the altar, and without announcing the book from which the Capitula is taken, the LECTOR reads the assigned passage, which he concludes, saying:

But Thou, O Light, have mercy upon us.

R: Thanks be to the Holy Light.

HYMN:

When the Capitula has been read, the LECTOR bows to the altar and returns to his place in choir. Then, the Hymn proper to the office is chanted, either by all, or by dividing the stanzas between the two rows of clerics, or even by assigning stanzas to individuals.

RESPONSORY:

Then, the CELEBRANT intones the Responsory as denoted in the office of the day.

Then, he recites the prayer of Archbishop Faol:

O Light, which dwelleth ever within us and without,

We sanctify ourselves to Thee.

It is Thy will within us that should will,

And Thy desire within us that should desire.

Lo, Thou makest our nights become our days, knowing our needs ere they exist;

Thou art our only need, aye, and in Thy merciful giving of Thyself,

R: Thou givest all.

COLLECT:

The CELEBRANT says the Collect assigned to the day, saying first:

Light be with you.

R: And also with you.

Let us pray.

CONCLUSION:

Then, the CELEBRANT continues:

O Light, have mercy upon us.

R: Have mercy.

Let us bless the Light.

R: Thanks be to the Holy Light.

May the Light's assistance remain always with us.

R: And with our absent brethren.

Compline
The office of Compline is celebrated late in the evening, far after the time at which work has been completed, but not after midnight. If the office is celebrated in community, the highest-ranking cleric, or the cleric who has been deputed to celebrate the office in choir for that week, leads the other clerics into the chapel, who follow behind in pairs. When they reach the altar, they bow or genuflect, then step into choir formation, that is, facing each other in two rows and forming an aisle between them. The CELEBRANT stands at the head of the left row, while the LECTOR stands at the head of the right.

OPENING DIALOGUE:

The CELEBRANT intones the opening versicle, saying:

O Light, come to my aid.

R: Make haste to help me.

PSALMODY:

A psalm is chanted, as prescribed in the psalter. The antiphon is said before and after the psalm, but not after each stanza as at Matins.

CAPITULUM:

Then, stepping into the centre aisle and facing towards the altar, and without announcing the book from which the Capitula is taken, the LECTOR reads the assigned passage, which he concludes, saying:

But Thou, O Light, have mercy upon us.

R: Thanks be to the Holy Light.

RESPONSORY:

When the Capitula has been read, the LECTOR bows to the altar and returns to his place in choir. Then, the CELEBRANT intones the Responsory as denoted in the office of the day.

COLLECT:

The CELEBRANT says the Collect assigned to the day, saying first:

Light be with you.

R: And also with you.

Let us pray.

CONCLUSION:

Then, the CELEBRANT continues:

May the Light grant us a restful night.

R: And a peaceful death.

May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of the Light.

R: Rest in peace.

THE PSALTER
The psalter, consisting of seven divisions of the psalms in the Codex of Scripture consists of the Day of Precept, which is determined by each diocese, and six ferial days. Each week, the ferial days are prayed in order, following the Day of Precept. If, for example, weekly liturgy is said in a diocese on Sunday, then Sunday is the Day of Precept in that diocese, and the subsequent days are serial.

Matins
INVITATORY: Ps. 1

Antiphon: O Come, let us sing praise to the Light; It comes quickly with the Dawn.

(1) Blessed be the Light from eternity to eternity.

(2) The Light has all power, splendour, glory, and majesty. (Ant.)

(3) Above all is the Light exalted; It has dominion over all.

(4) Thus the faithful world mayst slumber, wrapt in its universal law.

(5) Yea, over all is Its dominion and beyond all nations is Its rule. (Ant.)

(6) Where then is the Lord who claims he is more powerful?

(7) Who shall rise to conquer its rays? (Ant.)

(8) Not a one can usurp its throne,

(9) Unparalleled effulgence enduring to the end of days. (Ant.)

Glory be given to the Light,

for ever, unto the end of the age. (Ant.)

CAPITULUM: Wisdom 1:1-16

Hear now the wisdom of the Light. At the dawn of time, there was the Light alone. When the currents of time began their inexorable flow, further existences were ordained, and thus the Light shone forth, shedding divine inspiration through Its rays. In this way, all that is came to be--deigned to exist by that which is existence itself. Yet the Light, in Its graciousness, further ordained that the beings which It had inspired ought possess freedom. Of necessity through that freedom, those beings possessed the right to choose other than the Light. Many chose to reject the Light, and in Its absence, darkness thrived and covered the world. Still, all was not lost, for the Light does not abandon its people. The Light ordained that those who seek salvation from darkness might have a path of righteousness upon which to walk. In this wise were formed the virtues: respect, tenacity, and compassion. All who obeyed these precepts were spared from corruption. Those who rejected the way of righteousness were forever lost, for none can see unless the Light grant sight unto their eyes.

RESPONSORY: At the dawn of time, there was the Light alone.

R: None can see unless the Light grant sight unto their eyes. (Cf. Wisdom 1:2,16).

PATRISTIC READING, RESPONSORY, AND COLLECT:

Selected by the Superior of the House.

COLLECT:

Taken from the Temporal Cycle in the Codex of Rites.

Lauds
PSALMODY: Ps. 2

Antiphon: Now I perceive that only Your rays can satisfy me. (Cf. Columban 1:11).

(1) All glory and power to the Light; It is honest and true.

(2) Let all peoples and all nations sing praise to the Light.

(3) The Light is omnipotent; the Light does no wrong.

(4) May we be not glorified; may all glory be given to the Light.

(5) In an instant It willed the morn,

(6) And in that same instant It permitted the night.

(7) Praise be given to the Light which has not hidden us from wrong,

(8) But which has granted strength to the meekest,

(9) Strength enough to rival any darkness.

Glory be given to the Light,

for ever, unto the end of the age. (Ant.)

CAPITULUM: Teachings 3:8-10

Without the Light, the will to act is devoid of divine meaning. Arbitrary and directionless, the soul without the Light treads the path of chaos, negation, and the final death. Praise be to the Light which ever illuminates the path of life.

HYMN:

Eternal Daylight of the world,

The sovereign Star of night and day:

Thou givest seasons of the year

To take time's heaviness away.

In deepest night ne steepest Thou,

A Lamp for trav'lers on the way;

A Light dividing night from night,

The rooster crows, announcing day.

See, at the sound, the daystar wakes,

And drives the darkness from the sky;

All those who strayed on deadly roads

Now take the path to life on high.

RESPONSORY: We are ever in the presence of the Light.

R: A presence which at once both enlightens and sustains. (Teachings 1:2).

COLLECT:

Taken from the Temporal Cycle in the Codex of Rites.

Vespers
PSALMODY: Ps. 3

Antiphon: How wonderful are Your ways, O Holy Light! (Cf. Columban 2:1).

(1) Praise, O servants of the Light; praise the Light forever.

(2) Let all bless the Light, now and evermore!

(3) From the east to west, let all praise the Light.

(4) The Light is above all nations; It is higher than the heavens.

(5) Yea, Its rays reach the furthest corners of the sky.

(6) Is there a one who knoweth It not?

(7) Forsooth, even the blind know of the glorious Dawn

(8) Which, like the dew, comes upon us in Its subtlety.

(9) Truly, all shall be warmed by Its gentle touch,

(10) And nothing veils Its sight.

Glory be given to the Light,

for ever, unto the end of the age. (Ant.)

CAPITULUM: Cf. 1 Faol 1:1-2, 5

Brethren, I hear that you pray both in distress and in need. Would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in days of abundant blessings! If you cannot but weep when your soul summons you to prayer, then that same spirit shall spur you again, and yet again, in spite of your weeping, until you heed it joyfully.

HYMN:

O blessed font of good, the Light,

Who fill'st the day with radiance bright,

Hast shook the twisting void of woe,

Thou rulest over all below.

Thy wisdom joined in meet array

The morn and eve, and named them Day:

Night cometh with its darkling fears;

Regard Thy people's prayers and tears.

Lest, sunk in sin, and whelm'd with strife,

They lose the gift of endless life;

Whilest thinking but the thoughts of time,

They weave new chains of woe and crime.

RESPONSORY: It shall be your delight.

R: To hearken to the will of the Light. (Cf. 1 Faol 1:4).

COLLECT:

Taken from the Temporal Cycle in the Codex of Rites.