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Significant differences between the Liturgy of the
Hours (Roman Office) and Benedictine Daily Prayer (BDP)

  1. The Roman Office has a 4-week Psalter. BDP has a 1-week psalter, with a supplemental 2nd-week psalter. This supplemental psalter only affects Vigils and Lauds.

  2. All the “little hours” (midmorning, midday, midafternoon, and night prayer (with Latin titles: terce, sext, none, and compline) are included in the one-week psalter.

  3. The Roman Office has non-scriptural readings for everyday. BDP has non-scriptural readings for Sundays and feast days.

  4. BDP, pays special attention to monastic/Benedictine saints. BDP offers alternative non-scripture readings for many OSB feasts not just the same one as the Roman office.

  5. BDP uses the NRSV Bible, except for the psalms, which are a newer version of the Grail translation (1983) than the Roman Office.

  6. BDP has litanies and responses from St. John’s Abbey prayer modeled on traditional monastic prayer—rather different than the responses and intercessions of the Roman Office.

  7. BDP does not claim or pretend to be the official Roman Office. Nonetheless, it is a wonderful book.

  8. There is a simple guide and an introduction in the beginning of the book; these should help orient the user.

Benedictine Daily Prayer Quick Reference Guide

For Monday Liturgy of the Hours: (As if Monday of 2nd Week of Advent)

Vigils begins on p. 903 and continues after Invitatory Psalm 94 with the hymn etc. beginning on p. 986. On p. 993 it indicates readings, etc. [and response] page 1 ff = readings [for Monday of the 2nd week of Advent pp. 20ff and concluding prayer back on p. 993]. It would be possible to use the Oration (Prayer) proper to St. Saba (December 5, 2005) from p. 1685 for any concluding oration of today.

  • Advent: Also see pp. 1336ff for options proper to the Season of Advent which can replace any hymns, antiphons, and readings from The Weekly Psalter, see especially p. 1347 (M, W, F) and p. 1356 (T, Th, Sa).

  • Christmas: Also see pp. 1368ff …

  • Lent (and Holy Week): Also see pp. 1435ff …

  • Paschal Triduum: Also see pp. 1494ff …

  • Easter (Pentecost [1612ff], Holy Trinity [1621] …): Also see pp. 1534ff …

Lauds begins /w Opening Verse either p. 993 or 909 /w Psalm 66 and then Hymn and psalms beginning p. 994. The short reading for Lauds is found on pp. 1000f. Benedictus on p. 911 Litany and concluding prayer as found 1001-1003.

Terce [Sun. see p. 963, Mon. see p. 1003, Tues. – Sat. see pp. 913-917]

Sext [Sun. see p. 968, Mon. see p. 1008, Tues. – Sat. see pp. 917-920]

None [Sun. see p. 972, Mon. see p. 1012, Tues. – Sat. see pp. 920-924]

Vespers begins /w Opening Verse either p. 1015 or 925 /w Hymn and psalms beginning on p. 1016. The short reading for Vespers is found on pp. 1021f. Magnificat p. 926, Litany and concluding prayers pp. 1023ff.

Compline is always the same pp. 927-934.