CWR: Amoris Laetitia: A CWR Symposium by CWR Staff

Pope Francis’ post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, “On love in the family,” has been one of the most widely anticipated papal documents in recent years, following the closely watched...

Related: Watch: Ignatius Press editorial staff members discuss "Amoris Laetitia"

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Posted by ZENIT - News Agency on Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Psalm 88 in the Roman Office

Pray Tell: Does Psalm 88 Make Sense at Compline? by Liborius Olaf Lumma

The current Roman order uses Ps. 88 on Fridays. The mood of this psalm is totally different than that of all the other ones. While Pss. 4, 31, 91, and 134 express confidence and trust in God’s guidance, Ps 88. definitely does not. It is a lamentation and a petitionary prayer, rather in terms of desperation than in terms of hope.

In my eyes (and in the eyes of all scholars I know on that point), the meaning of Compline in the old monastic tradition is to express and practice imperturbable confidence in contemplation of death (sleep being an image of death of course). Ps. 88 can be seen as an imitation of Christ’s despair on the cross (cf. Mt 27:46 and Ps 22:1). One might argue that this is exactly why this psalm is a good choice for a Christian night prayer on Friday, but I would argue that this is not what Compline is about. Reading Ps. 88 transforms Compline into something it was not meant to be: it turns from a rite of peace, silence, and confidence into a late-medieval affective and almost painful imitatio crucis (imitation of the cross). And this does not even fit with General Instruction no. 88 which claims for Compline on weekdays that “psalms are chosen which are full of confidence in the Lord.”

The Church of England adopted most of the Roman cycle for Compline, but not on Fridays: They prefer Ps. 139 (and I think they had good reason).

Especially (but not only) in Easter season I would strongly suggest not saying Ps. 88 at Compline. What do you think?

Where was it placed previously?

CWR Blog: The law before ‘Amoris’ is the law after
Those who think Francis' apostolic exhortation has cleared a path to the Communion rail for Catholics in irregular marriages are hearing words that the pope (whatever might be his personal inclinations) simply did not say.
April 10, 2016 04:14 EST
Edward N. Peters

(In the Light of the Law)

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Fr. Hunwicke: OK, then. So, on to the next question.

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Amoris Laetitia

Pope Francis’ post-Synodal Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, on “The Joy of Love”, was officially released to the public at...

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Pope’s Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation ReleasedCardinal Schönborn, Cardinal Baldisseri, and Married Couple Present Widely Anticipated ‘Amoris Laetitia’ on Love in the Family

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