The Carmelite Monks Midnight Office
A silent procession of hooded monks marches through the cloister walk; the darkened hall flickers with the shadows of their woolen habits silhouetted against the cream limestone by the full moon. Ascending the stairs one-by-one, the monks enter the third-floor chapel, genuflecting low to the ground in adoration and greeting of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Rising and kissing their scapulars, the monks report to their respective place in choir; older monks towards the front and younger towards the rear of the chapel. After making a humble prostration, each monk opens his breviary, a handheld leatherbound book of some 1000 pages. Setting each ribbon in its place for the night's prayer, he peacefully kneels, waiting for the strike of midnight and the beginning of Matins.
An ancient tradition, dating back to Old Testament times, one learns of nocturnal prayer from the lips of the Royal Psalmist who declared “I rose at midnight to give praise to Thee” (Ps 118:62 DRA). St. Paul and his companion, St. Silas, also rose to pray at midnight, as told in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 16:25). The monk meditates on the holy prophets, apostles, martyrs and monks who have preceded him in the practice of the Midnight Office. Uniting his prayers to his holy companions Communion of Saints, He wonders if they too experienced the fatigue that was his, or if the nocturnal office was easier for them.
The clock strikes 12:00, and Fr. Prior raps on the wooden choir stall and proceeds to stand at the footpace of the altar. The monks cross their lips as Fr. Prior intones, “Domine labia mea aperies,” (O Lord open my lips), to which is added “Et os meum annuntiabit laudem. (And my mouth shall declare thy praise). Fr. Prior continues “Deus in adjutorium meum intende” (O God, come to my assistance), to which the monks respond “Domine ad adjuvandum me festina” (Lord, make haste to help me). After chanting the Gloria Patri the office of Matins begins.
For most feasts in the Carmelite Rite, Matins is divided into three nocturnes, each consisting of three psalms and three readings. The psalms change based on the day of the week, as do the readings, which consist of scriptural readings (first nocturne), readings from the life of the day's saint (second nocturn) and the Gospel of the day, with accompanying Patristic homily. Each of the nine psalms begins with an antiphon, the first of which is intoned by the Prior, then the Sub-Prior, and so on down the choir rank. The readings, on the other hand, begin with the youngest of the temporary professed Choir monks and continue from youngest to oldest, with the exception of the Gospel, which is always chanted by a Deacon or Priest.
After Matins is complete (which takes between 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the feast) it is then time for Lauds.
Latin for praise (or praises), Lauds consists of 4 psalms and 1 Old Testament canticle, which is appropriate since Lauds is prayed in anticipation of the day's dawn, just as the Old Testament awaited the dawn of Christ. After chanting a hymn, the monks pray the Benedictus, which is the Canticle of Zachariah from St. Luke's Gospel. In the Carmelite Rite, Lauds ends with the Salve Regina, prayed to Our Lady in thanksgiving for all the graces received, and in petition for all the graces that the monks' spiritual children stand in need of. Finally, the Prior, in a low and subdued tone, chants “Fidelium animae per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace.”
After a silent Pater and Ave each monk makes the sign of the Cross, prostrates to the floor, and slowly leaves the chapel, retracing his steps towards through the cloisterwalk and outside to his hermitage, climbing back into his rustic bed for a few hours of sleep before Prime.