Liturgical texts

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"And because we receive in our cloister all their monks who come to us, and they likewise receive our monks in their cloisters, it therefore seems to us opportune, and this also is our will, that they have the usages and chant and all the books necessary for the day and night hours and for Mass according to the form of the Usages and books of the New Monastery, so that there may be no discord in our conduct, but that we may live by one charity, one Rule, and like usages."
[Carta Caritatis clause III, in Waddell, Narrative and Legislative Texts, p. 444.]

The Cistercians initially followed the liturgical texts from the Benedictine abbey of Molesme, which Abbot Robert had brought with him on the group’s departure from here in 1098. A concern for greater accuracy, simplicity and common observance soon led to the revision and standardisation of these texts. This process began with Abbot Stephen Harding’s critical edition of the Bible, and was followed by a revision of the hymnal (the choir book of hymns used in the Canonical Hours) and the antiphoner (the choir book of chants sung at the Canonical Hours).
These revised texts were pronounced exemplars and were to be followed in every Cistercian abbey, to ensure uniformity of practice

Private prayer book from Fountains Abbey

Thirteenth-century antiphonary. © Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, USA

Later 12th Century Missal, Rievaulx. © British Library

Private prayer book from Fountains Abbey
© British Library
<click to enlarge>

The antiphoner contained the choir book of chants sung at the Canonical Hours. Those sung at the Mass were in the gradual. (19)