German Lutheran Breviaries and Liturgical Prayerbooks

A Bibliography of German Lutheran Breviaries and Liturgical Prayerbooks, found in the library of the Lutherische Theologische Hochschule, Oberursel 

(Excluded are Catholic and Reformed sources, although union sources are included.)

Allgemeine lutherische Konferenz. Allgemeines Gebetbuch: Ein Haus- und Kirchenbuch für evangelisch-lutherische Christen. (Leipzig: Verlag von Justus Naumann, 1883). 608pp. Text only, old script. Half of the book is prayers, lectionary, and Psalm schedule for the Sunday's, weekdays, and feasts of the Church year. The other half is hymns.

Bernstein, Walter Heinz, Breviarium Lipsiensae; Tagzeitenbuch. (Die Evangelisch-Lutherische Gebetsbruderschaft, 1988). xxviii + 557pp. Lutheran breviary.

This is a genuine Kunstwerk. This one volume, in German with occasional Latin, contains a lectionary (reading the NT twice a year, and the OT once every two years), the ordinary of the hours (four hours per day: Lauds, Sext, Vespers, Compline--all of which contain melismatic responsories, and especially Vespers), canticles, the entire Psalter (with the last accent on the second or third last syllable of each half-verse pointed), an antiphonary (four-week Psalter cycle, melodies melismatic Medieval), the De Tempore (texts keyed to the historic church year) and De Sanctis (only J. Baptist, 3 Marian feasts, Michael, and All Saints are given, along with a common of apostles) for the Lutheran Church year. The appendix contains the Athanasian creed, the seven penitential Psalms with the Litany, the Reisesegen, and a prayer for the Church. This book is a treasure of devotion and musical art. September 2001.

Brandhorst, Reinhard, i.a. Evangelisches Tagzeitenbuch. 4th edition, completely revised. (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1998). 970 pp. Hardback. 7 ribbons plus a laminated card with canticles and orders of service. Lutheran breviary.

This is a successor to the 1979 Evangelisches Tagzeitenbuch and the 1995 Evangelisches Stundengebet. It still uses same general Psalm schedule and lectionaries (the German version of the historic church year) as its predecessors, as well as Gregorian Psalms, antiphons, hymns, etc, all written in Gregorian musical notation. For all parts of the book, however, there are many options. The Psalms are laid out again not in canonical order, but in the order of their liturgical use. Gregorian responsories and hymns abound. Although not given special propers in the book, the liturgical calendar at the beginning of this volume is filled with commemorations. These include some traditional saints (e.g. Hilarius von Poitiers, Jan 13), famous Lutherans (e.g. Wilhelm Löhe, Jan 2; Klaus Harms, Feb 1), as well as such figures as Charles Spurgeon (Jan 31), Martin Bucer (Feb 28), and Meister Eckhart (Mar 27). As the calendar shows, the volume is self-consciously ecumenical. An interesting addition to this breviary was the Christus-Rosenkranz (Christ-Rosary). Instead of the Hail Mary there is prayed: "Gelobt sei, der da kommt im Namen des Herrn: Jesus Christus, Gottes und Marien Sohn, der..." (Praised be Him who comes in the name of the Lord: Jesus Christ, Son of God and Mary, who...) and then follows a list of sentences commemorating aspects of our Lord's life and ministry, or other theological points of interest.

In general, this breviary seems more like a source book for the divine office than it does a personal prayer book, since it is extremely complicated.

Diedrich, J. Breviarium: das ist Matutinen und Vespern durch das ganze Kirchenjahr für Kirche, Schule und Haus. (Berlin: Verlag von Wilhelm Schulze, n.d. (19th c., certainly post-1855)). xxii + 438pp. LThH Oberursel library. Lutheran breviary.

This is a short breviary without music, from the last half of the 19th century. The most curious feature is that Psalms do not seem to be prescribed. After a short introduction, a few forms of the Lutheran Litany, and a table of Bible readings for the church year, propers are listed for Matins and Vespers. Vesper am Sonnabend vor dem ersten Advent has the following structure: Im Names des Vaters..., Ant. (Zach. 9), Hymn--Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, V.&R., prayer, reading from Isa 1, V.&R., prayer, reading from Gen. 1, V.&R. reading from Gen. 2, V.&R., prayer, hymn, Magnificat, petitions or Litany, Vater unser, prayer, blessing. All of the Versicles and Responses correspond to the Bible reading. The sanctoral cycle is laid out thus: S. Andrew (11/30), S. Nicholas (12/6), S. Thomas (12/21), S. Stephan (12/26), S. John (12/27), Conversion of S. Paul (1/25), Purification of S. Mary (2/2), S. Matthiätage (2/24), Annunciation of S. Mary (3/25), S. Mark (4/25), SS. Philip & James (5/1), John the Baptist (6/24), S. Peter Paul (6/29), Visitation of S. Mary (7/2), S. Mary Magdalene (7/22), S. James (7/25), S. Lawrence (8/10), S. Bartholomew (8/24), Beheading of John (8/29), Birth of S. Mary (9/8), Exaltation of the Cross (9/14), S. Matthäitage (9/21), S. Michael (9/29), S. Luke (10/18), SS. Simon & Jude (10/28), Feast of the Reformation (10/31), Feast of All Saints (9/1), S. Martin (11/11), S. Catharine (11/25), Harvest Feast, Church Consecration Day, Bußtag (Quatember), In cross and need, In time of war, On the deathday of a God-pious Christian, On the birthday of a God-pious Christian.

Dieffenbach, Georg Christian u. Christian Müller, Diarium pastorale, Bd. 1: Evangelisches Brevier. (Stuttgart: Verlag von S. G. Liesching, 1857). xvi + 621pp. Library of LThH, Oberursel, Lutheran breviary.

This is a breviary specifically for Lutheran pastors. It is not keyed specifically to the Church year, but assumes a familiarity with it and gives season options in hymn and prayer selections. Instead, it is keyed to the Christian week. The hours run thus: Matutin at 6am, Laudes at 9am, Pro pace at noon, Meditatio at 3pm, Vesper at 6pm, and finally Completorium at 9pm. The structure of the hours has very little to do with the classic Medieval forms. For example, Matins consists of introitus (Psalm verses), Kyrie (a kind of litany ending with the Kyrie), Gloria (actually only the one verse from Luke, not the gloria in excelsis), collects, Lectio, Preces, short versicles, creed, Sanctus, Pater noster, Benedictio. So very little of this is similar to the classic liturgy of the hours, but instead it consists of sections borrowed from the Hauptgottesdienst and elsewhere. Why is the noon hour prayer called Pro pace? Vespers also has its own peculiarities. It runs thus: Versicles, collects, psalm, Agnus Dei, the seven penetential Psalms. On Sundays alone is the Magnificat sung, on Fridays, Isa 53.

Drobnitzky, Walter, and Friedrich Heiler, Evangelische-Katholisches Stundengebet. (Bochum: Förderkreis Breviergebet, 1982). 432pp. Lutheran breviary.

The 8 canonical hours are provided for, without music. The little booklet is designed for use with a Bible. The Psalm schedule is a 3 week cycle with 1 Psalm for each nocturne at Matins, 3 Psalms at Lauds, one Psalm at each little hour, 1 Psalm at Compline, and only 2 Psalms at Vespers. I found myself desiring a more substantial amount of Psalmody at Vespers. The lectionary does not cover the whole Bible. The best parts of this breviary is that it is that it corresponds nearly 100% with the historic church year, does not show any personality traits of the author, and is very small and compact.

Evang.-Luth. Diakonissenanstalt Neuendettelsau. Der Psalter; nach der Übersetzung D. Martin Luthers (revidierter Text 1964) für den gottesdienstlichen Gebrauch bearbeitet mit Ordnung der Tageszeitengottesdienste und des Beichgottesdienstes. (Würzburg: Universitätsdruckerei H. Stüry AG., 1971). 426pp. hardback, 3 ribbons. Lutheran breviary.

Besides the whole Psalter pointed to a German version of Gregorian tones, there are 176 Gregorian antiphons, arranged by Psalm tone, and orders of service for die Matutin (Matins), Mittagslob (Sext), die Vesper, and Komplet (Compline). Also included is an order for a confession-service. 3 Psalms with their antiphons are suggested for each Sunday and feast day. Otherwise there are no lectionaries or instructions on which antiphons to use with which Psalms. In general, this is the Psalter that would fill out and complete a hymnal for the purposes of daily prayer.

Hofhansl, Ernst, and Herbert Naglatzki. Evangelisches Stundengebet; Beten im Rhythmus von Jahr und Tag. (Hannover: Lutherisches Verlagshaus GmbH, 1995). xiv + 317pp. Lutheran breviary.

This is a successor to the 1979 Evangelisches Tagzeitenbuch. There are only a few differences that distinguish it from its predecessor. The music is written in Gregorian musical notation. The Psalms are not in canonical order, but in the order used in the course of the liturgical day, week, and year. This makes the book easier to use if one follows the suggested schedule of Psalms, but on the other hand, it decreases the book's versatility. The Wochenpsalm (Psalm of the week) uses the standard Wochenspruch (Verse of the week, a standard part of the German Lutheran propers) as its antiphon. All the hymns except two are taken out of this book, and reference is made instead to hymns from the Evangelisches Kirchengesang and the Evangelisches Gesangbuch, the state church hymnals. Titles of hymns are also listed, making it possible to find the suggested hymn in a different hymnal. The most significant improvement is that the Psalms in this book are pointed, to make their chanting easier. The tone and antiphon are also printed directly before each Psalm. Although this breviary is not as easy to read as its predecessor (since it is printed only in black), the layout may make it easier to use.

Maude, Albert. Evangelisches Tagzeitenbuch; Ordnung für das tägliche Gebet. 3rd revised ed. (Kassel: Johannes Stauda Verlag, 1979). xxiv + 717pp. Hardback, 6 ribbons, plus a laminated card listing Psalm tones. Lutheran breviary.

In general, this breviary seems to be a pleasant balance between simplicity and complexity. It does not have the peculiarities of a personal prayer book, but was developed in the context of the communal prayer of the Evangelische Michaelsbruderschaft. Therefore it has much to commend it.

Music is written on a modern music staff, while notes are written as neumes. Included is the Psalter in canonical order (unfortunately, some Psalms contain only selected verses), according to one of the revised Luther translations (perhaps the 1964?) as well as Gregorian antiphons, a few hymns, many prayers, a lectio continua chart for Bible reading, and the orders of service. This is a small book that can be used in at least two ways. The first is a more informal form of home devotions called "Das Gebet der Tageszeiten." It consists of several hymns, set Bible passages, one Psalm, and prayers. This form of prayer is given for morning, midday, and evening prayer.

The other form of prayer is the more liturgical "Chorgebet." Frühlesung is a simplified form of Medieval Matins, similar to the modern RC Office of Readings. Morgenlob is Lauds. Bereitung zur Messe is a short, mostly unvarying preparation for mass. Mittagsgebet is Sext, with the Luther-antiphon "Verleih uns Frieden" (Grant us peace) as a preface to the Collect for Peace (which is often prayed at noon in German prayer-books, rather than at Vespers, as in English and American prayer-books). Zur Todesstunde Jesu is a short, unvarying, responsive prayer office at 3pm. Abendsegen is Vespers. Nachtgebet is Compline.

In this Breviary, the Gospel Canticles (Benedictus at Lauds and Magnificat at Vespers) have seasonal antiphons. At Matins, a lectio continua of the Psalms is suggested. At Lauds, Sext, and Vespers, three Psalms are prayed. The first Psalm is always the Wochenpsalm (Psalm of the week) which has its own antiphon and is repeated at the three main offices throughout the week. The second Psalm is the Tagespsalm (Psalm of the day). The Tagespsalm changes every day which is repeated at the three main offices. The third Psalm is the Stundenpsalm (Psalm of the hour). Each office of each day of the week has its own Stundenpsalm. The Stundenpsalmen change seasonally. The readings at the three main offices are from various parts of the OT, NT, and Apocrypha, and all have to do with the theme of Sunday's Gospel.

The sanctoral cycle consists of SS. Andrew, Thomas, Conversion of Paul, Presentation, Matthias, Annunciation, Mark, Erntebittag (Day of prayer for the harvest, May 1), Philip & James, Augsburg Confession, Peter & Paul, Visitation (July 2), James the Elder, Laurence-Destruction of Jerusalem, Bartholomew, Beheading of John Baptist, Matthew, Michael and All Angels, Harvest Thanksgiving, Luke, Simon & Jude, Reformation, All Saints, Gedenktag der Entschlafenen (Commemoration of the Faithful Departed).

Orate Fratres: Gebetsordnung für evangelische Pfarrer und Mitarbeiter in der Kirche. 3rd rev. ed. (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1970). 213pp.

Similar to the Evangelisches Tagzeitenbuch series, there are two parallel orders of prayer, a simpler one meant for private use, and a choral, liturgical one meant for congregational use. The liturgical sections are identical to other modern German Lutheran hymnals and breviaries. This appears to be the case due to the common use among German Lutherans of the Tagzeiten-Gottesdiensten der Lutherischen Liturgischen Konferenz Deutschlands. After the orders of service, a Psalm schedule (1 Psalm at each office, keyed to the church year) and then a lectionary (also keyed to the church year) follow. Next come hymn texts (translations of Latin hymns) and then 34 pp. of prayers. This seems like a suitable introductory prayer book. It would be nice to see a more thorough use of the Psalms, however.

Paul, Erhart, ed. i.a. Der Psalter und die Cantica der heiligen Schrift nach der deutschen Übersetzung D. Martin Luthers; Für den Gesang eingerichtet. (Erschienen im Feste-Burg-Verlag, 1960). 223pp. 2 ribbons, a Psalm-tone card, and a pamphlet with 20 Gregorian antiphons. All 150 Psalms, several OT canticles, the three Gospel canticles, and the Athanasian Creed are here pointed for chanting. At the end of each half-verse, the location of the last two stressed syllables is indicated. Thus the tunes are interchangeable.

Pregizer, Albert, ed. Alles mit Gott! Evangelisches Gebetbuch für alle Morgen und Abende der Woche, in sechsfacher Abwechslung, für die Fest- und Feiertage, für die Kommunion, sowie für besondere Zeiten und Lagen, von Luther, Arndt, Scriver, Arnold, Stark, Storr, Roos, Tersteegen, Spitta, J. A. Burk, A. Knapp und vielen anderen Gottesmännern. (Reutlingen: Enßlin und Laiblin, 1897). 432pp. Old script. Prayers only.

Stählin, Wilhelm, pub. Psalmgebete: Im Auftrag der Evangelischen Michaelsbruderschaft. (Kassel: Johannes Stauda-Verlag, 1959). 188pp. 3 ribbons and Psalm-tone card. This is an unpointed Psalter with 123 Gregorian antiphons.

Other Liturgical Works:

Lochner, Friedrich. Der Hauptgottesdienst der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche. Zur Erhaltung des liturgischen Erbtheils und zur Beförderung des liturgischen Studiums in der americanisch-lutherischen Kirche erläutert und mit altkirchlichen Singweisen versehen. (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1895). 294 pp.

The first section of the book deals with the history and form of the Lutheran Divine Service. Of special interest here is his emphasis on communion every Sunday and Feast day, his use of the term "the Evangelical Mass," and his promotion of the use of the historic mass vestments, e.g. the chasuble. The second section deals with the individual parts of the Divine Service in detail. For each section there are several musical settings given, stemming either from historic catholic sources or from the first two centuries of Lutheranism. E.g. all the introits for the historic church year are pointed for singing with Gregorian Psalm tones. An appendix discusses the altar, pulpit, font, and their appointments.

Mehl, Oskar Joh. Das liturgische Verhalten: Beiträge zu einem evangelischen Zeremoniale und Rituale. (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1927). 212 pp. Included are ceremonial directions for the Hauptgottesdienst, baptism, confirmation, wedding, burial, visitation of the sick, and confession. The Roman Catholic ceremonial is indicated with suggestions for Lutheran usage following.