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  THE INDICATING OF THE HOUR FOR THE WORK OF GOD
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of proper timing and
reverence in the Work of God, with the Abbot taking responsibility for
indicating the hour and appointing suitable brothers to perform the
duties.

Topics: "Liturgical Prayer", "Monastic Discipline"
Scripture References: Psalm 119:130, Ecclesiastes 3:1, 1 Corinthians 14:40, Colossians 3:23, 1 Peter 4:10

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DESCRIPTION
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St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of punctuality and
order in the work of God, assigning the duty of signaling the hours for
prayer to the Abbot or a carefully chosen brother. He instructs that the
Psalms and antiphons should be intoned by appointed individuals in a
specific order, following the Abbot's lead. St. Benedict stresses the
need for those who sing or read during these times to do so in a manner
that uplifts and edifies the listeners, with humility, seriousness, and
reverence, as appointed by the Abbot.

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CONTENT
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The indicating of the hour for the Work of God

by day and by night

shall devolve upon the Abbot

either to give the signal himself

or to assign this duty to such a careful brother

that everything will take place at the proper hours.

Let the Psalms and the antiphons be intoned

by those who are appointed for it,

in their order after the Abbot.

And no one shall presume to sing or read

unless he can fulfill that office

in such a way as to edify the hearers.

Let this function be performed

with humility, gravity and reverence,

and by him whom the Abbot has appointed.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/the-indicating-of-the-hour-for-the-work-of-god/
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