The burial of “alleluia.” Saint Benedict touches on Lent again and again in the Rule, especially when he is talking about the Divine Office. There is that one chapter about the times of saying alleluia.
From the holy feast of Easter until Pentecost, “alleluia” is always said with both the psalms and the responsorials. Every night from Pentecost until the beginning Lent, it is said only with the last six psalms of Vigils. Vigils, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext and None are said with “alleluia” every Sunday except in Lent; at Vespers, however, a refrain is used. “Alleluia” is never said with responsorials except from Easter to Pentecost. [1]
The Medieval monks had a liturgy for this little provision for alleluia. At Vespers, on the eve of the first Sunday of Lent, they would have solemn burial of alleluia. They would put alleluia in a coffin and solemnly carry alleluia off to the cemetery or the crypt for burial until alleluia arose with Christ at Easter.
Lent in the Rule. Benedict makes many provisions for Lent in Rule, but chapter forty-nine is devoted to the observance of Lent.
The life of a monk ought to be a continuous Lent. Since few, however, have the strength for this, we urge the entire community during these days of Lent to keep its manner of life most pure and to wash away in this holy season the negligences of other times. This we can do in a fitting manner by refusing to indulge evil habits and by devoting ourselves to prayer with tears, to reading, to compunction of heart and self-denial.
During these days, therefore, we will add to the usual measure of our service something by way of private prayer and abstinence from food or drink, so that each of us will have something above the assigned measure to offer God of his own will with the joy of the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 1:6). In other words, let each one deny himself some food, drink, sleep, needless talking and idle jesting, and look forward to holy Easter with joy and spiritual longing. Everyone should, however, make known to the abbot what he intends to do, since it ought to be done with his prayer and approval. Whatever is undertaken without the permission of the spiritual father will be reckoned as presumption and vainglory, not deserving a reward. Therefore, everything must be done with the abbot’s approval. [2]
That last little bit is a safeguard against pride. We can plan on doing great things, but then we have to go and share it with somebody, it kind of deflates down to its real size. We are humbled by it and accountable, too.
[Click here to go to part two]
NOTES
1. RB 15:1-4.
2. RB 49:1-10.
This is part one of a talk given on the Rule of Saint Benedict by Abbot M. Basil Pennington, OCSO; Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery. Sunday, February 4, 2001
© Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery, 2006
