Chapter (liturgy)

Capitulum to the sext from the Antiphonale monasticum ( Phil 4,6  EU ): "Do not worry about anything, but in every situation bring your prayers and supplication with thanks to God!"

The short reading during the daytime is referred to as a chapter ( Latin capitulum , section, literally “little head”) in the Liturgy of the Hours . This is recited during prayer in community according to the psalmody by the Hebdomadar or by a lecturer , followed by the responsory , in the small hearing the versicle .

In contrast to the longer scripture readings of the Matins or Reading Hearing, the chapter only contains a few verses from a biblical book. The General Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours states that the chapter should be "read and heard as a genuine proclamation of the Word of God". Many a short written word that may not come into play in the ongoing reading ( railway reading ) appears here "in a new light".

In the Roman Book of Hours, the text of the chapter changes daily and is repeated every four weeks, according to the four-week psalter . The coined times and the festivals have their own chapters. The Gospels are - according to ancient custom - not used, the short readings of Vespers are the New Testament removed because they follow the canticle from the New Testament.

literature

• Kai Gallus Sander: Chapter (II) . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 5 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1996, Sp. 1215 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ General Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours 45.156.
2. ↑ General introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours 157f.