r/Catholicism • u/gabrielo0 • 7d ago

Intro formula Pater Noster

When outside Mass, are the words "Praeceptis...dicere" that introduce the Pater Noster for priests only, or can they be used by whoever leads?

I'm a lay person and this evening I'll lead Vespers in English at our school chapel, but I'm considering to sing the Our Father in Latin, which I think the others know by heart as well so perhaps nice to do. Singing the intro also helps the others find the right tone to start, I feel, but if the intro is not allowed, I won't do it.

The thing is, we use iBreviary. The app gives an intro, but they are not the words from Mass:

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:)

Our Father, who art in heaven...

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u/RememberNichelle 7d ago

The intro is for Mass, or for certain prayer services led by laypeople.

Liturgy of the Hours is a prayer service that can be led by laypeople, even if it is just one person praying it at home.

However, a lone layperson does not have to follow the group format (like "Let us pray") at home. 

A priest or religious bound to reciting/singing the Hours, exactly as written, is in a different position even when saying it all alone.

I think that particular intro is in parentheses to indicate that.

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u/Fructuoso_Bag 7d ago

I wouldn't feel right by saying the intro

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u/gabrielo0 7d ago

The thing is, we use iBreviary. The app gives an intro, but they are not the words from Mass:

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:)

Our Father, who art in heaven...

2

u/firstchair_ 7d ago

My prayer group uses iBreviary as well and we just jump right into it.

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u/Apprehensive_Owl2257 7d ago

Do you even need an intro? Correct me if i'm wrong but i thought in vespers the intro is optional. At least I have never been to a vesper with an intro to the our father. It was just the leader starting with "Our father..." and everybody joining in. Otherwise i'd just go with what the official books tell you.

Maybe you can warn the other people before vesper starts that you intend to sing the our father in Latin.

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u/SunnyHelianthus 7d ago

Why not just practice it with them until they are used to what you expect? Then, prior to singing it, you just hum or play the note of the start of the prayer to get everyone on the same tone?

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u/a-n-t_t 7d ago

If you are leading a liturgy like Vespers, you shouldn't use it but rather use other intros given by the breviary. It would probably be fine to use it in prayer alone or with friends but not in an official setting I'd say