Roman Breviary

...published by Bishops in their dioceses, This sentence continues from the previous page's list of abolished texts. and we abolish all use of them from all the world’s Churches, Monasteries, Convents, Military Orders Religious orders of knights, such as the Knights Hospitaller., Regular Orders, and places of both men and women, even those exempt Institutions that were answerable directly to the Pope rather than their local Bishop., in which the Divine Office The cycle of daily prayers (Psalms, hymns, and readings) required of clergy and monks. has otherwise been accustomed or ought to be said according to the rite of the Roman Church.

Exceptions are made, however, for those institutions which, from their very first foundation, were approved by the Apostolic See The office and authority of the Pope. or by a custom which, like the foundation itself, can be proven to have used other specific Breviaries The book containing the Divine Office. for at least two hundred years. While we do not take away that ancient right of saying and singing their own Office from them, we nevertheless permit them to use this our Breviary—which has now been published—if it should please them more, provided that the Bishop and the entire Chapter The governing body of clergy in a cathedral or collegiate church. agree that they may say and sing it in Choir.

Indeed, we altogether revoke all and any Apostolic and other permissions, customs, and statutes—even those fortified by oath, Apostolic confirmation, or any other status—as well as privileges, licenses, and indults Special permissions or favors granted by the Church hierarchy. for praying and singing, both in Choir and outside of it, according to the manner and rite of the Breviaries thus suppressed. These were granted to the aforementioned Churches, Monasteries, Convents, Military Orders, and places, as well as to the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, and other Prelates of the Churches, and all other individual ecclesiastical persons, both secular and regular, of either sex, for whatever cause they were granted, approved, or renewed, and in whatever formulas, decrees, or clauses they were strengthened. We will that all those things shall henceforth have no force or effect.

Therefore, with any other use forbidden to anyone, as has been said, we command that this our Breviary, and this formula for praying and singing, be observed in all the Churches, Monasteries, Orders, and places of the entire world, even those exempt, in which the Office ought to be or is accustomed to be said according to the custom and rite of the said Roman Church—saving the aforementioned foundation or custom exceeding the aforesaid two hundred years. We decree that this Breviary is never at any time to be changed, either in whole or in part, nor is anything to be added to it, or anything at all taken away from it. Furthermore, all those who, by right or custom, ought to say or sing the Canonical Hours The specific times of prayer throughout the day. according to the manner and rite of the Roman Church itself, are subject to the penalties established by the Canonical sanctions against those...