How to use these instructions with your Monastic Diurnal
The Ordo tells you what changes each day. The Diurnal already contains the parts that stay the same. Use this site to find the day’s color, psalms, canticle antiphon, collect, commemorations, and whether the Suffrage of All Saints is said — then pray from the book.
Page numbers refer to the Monastic Diurnal (Lauds, Hours, Vespers) unless marked * (Common of the Saints). Matins, when used, is in the Monastic Breviary Matins volume. This site does not include Matins.
Four sections of the Diurnal
- Psalter (pp. 1–156) — daily elements, especially the Psalms.
- Proper of the Season (pp. 157–442) — Advent, Lent, Easter, and the rest of the year of Our Lord.
- Proper of the Saints (pp. 443–669) — feasts on fixed dates.
- Common of the Saints (* pages) — apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, &c., when there is no proper.
Lauds — what stays the same
- Opening prayers, beginning of the Psalter (p. 1)
- Opening versicles (pp. 29–30)
- Psalm 67 (p. 30)
- Psalm 51 / Vulgate Psalm 50 (p. 30)
- Psalms 148–150 (p. 37)
- Canticle Benedictus (p. 41)
- Prayers before the Collect (p. 42)
- Closing versicles (pp. 43–44)
- Final antiphon of the B.V.M. (pp. 153–156; which antiphon follows the season)
- Versicle “May the divine help” (p. 44)
- Closing prayers, beginning of the Psalter (p. 1)
Vespers — what stays the same
- Opening prayers (p. 1)
- Opening versicles (pp. 29–30)
- Canticle Magnificat (p. 115)
- Prayers before the Collect (p. 115)
- Closing versicles (p. 117)
- Final antiphon of the B.V.M. (pp. 153–156)
- Versicle “May the divine help” (p. 117)
- Closing prayers, beginning of the Psalter (p. 1)
Ribbon bookmarks
- Black — daily Lauds psalms
- White — daily Vespers psalms
- Red — current antiphon of the B.V.M.
- Green — Proper of the Season
- Blue — Proper of the Saints
- Gold — Common of the Saints (* pages) for commemorations
The printed Ordo remains the official source. If a generated instruction conflicts with the book, follow the book. Long liturgical texts are not reproduced here; the Diurnal is the text you pray.