Investiture of new monsignors includes Evening Prayer JACKSON — On Tuesday, June 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Bishop Joseph Latino will preside at Solemn Evening Prayer with the Investiture of Papal Honors on Msgr. Michael Flannery, Msgr. Patrick Farrell and Msgr. Elvin Sunds.
Bishop Latino invites everyone to come and honor the new monsignors by joining in the great tradition of Evening Prayer.
In February, Pope Benedict XVI conferred the title of Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary on Msgr. Flannery and the title of Prelate of Honor on Msgrs. Farrell and Sunds. The ceremony on June 17 will be a public celebration for the honors.
In the Catholic Church, the title monsignor is an honorary designation which denotes distinction and recognition for particular service to the church. It is given to priests by the pope. There are three levels of monsignors – Chaplain to His Holiness, Prelate of Honor and Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary.
A priest holding the title Protonotary is considered the highest-ranking non-episcopal prelate of honor at the diocesan level. Msgr. Flannery was named a Prelate of Honor in March 2002, by Pope John Paul II. He now moves to the third and highest level of monsignor.
On June 17, Bishop Latino will present each monsignor with his decree from the Vatican. The ceremony will occur within the celebration of Evening Prayer or Vespers as it has been known traditionally.
Evening Prayer is part of the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Office as it is also called. The Liturgy of the Hours is an ancient form of prayer that has developed and evolved throughout the past 17 centuries. It is part of the official liturgical life of the Catholic Church.
“Many lay people think the Liturgy of the Hours is something only priests and religious pray, but it has always been the prayer of the whole church,” said Mary Woodward, from the diocesan liturgy office. “Images of a priest sitting quietly praying with his breviary in hand or monks singing somber yet melodic chant tones while sitting in a chapel removed from the world are what usually come to mind for most Catholics,” Woodward said.
“But the Liturgy of the Hours can be and is celebrated in parish settings. It is an ancient Catholic tradition that can be easily adapted to today’s parish’s prayer and liturgical life.
“It doesn’t require master musicians to pray the Hours, though when done in a musical setting the Hours can be quite moving spiritually. However, the Hours can be prayed without music or can be prayed with very simple chant tones and be just as spiritually moving and sacred,” Woodward added.
The Evening Prayer as celebrated in today’s church includes an opening hymn, followed by two psalms, a New Testament canticle, a reading from Scripture, a short responsory, the Magnificat, intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer and a concluding prayer. Other elements such as a light ceremony at the beginning of the celebration known as a lucernarium can also be included.
Psalms and canticles are sung to simple chant tones alternating verses between groups. On June 17, the choir and the congregation will alternate the verses.
“Because of its ancient tradition as the prayer of the church, the Liturgy of the Hours can lend a uniquely Catholic identity to the prayer life of parishioners. We live in an area which is not predominantly Catholic, so we should embrace the Liturgy of the Hours as our own and incorporate it into the liturgical life of our parishes and diocese,” Woodward said.
The Diocese of Jackson is developing some educational resources and training opportunities on the Liturgy of the Hours for parishes, which will be available in the fall.
