s, he can, for such recitation is the Church's ideal; and
the priest who says his part (alternate verses, etc.), as in choir,
fulfils his obligation, even when his companion is a layman or an
inattentive person. In such recitation a priest should be careful (1)
that his recitation be of alternate verses, (2) that the verse
recitation be successive and not simultaneous, (3) that the verses,
etc., chanted by one companion (or by one choir) be heard by the other
companion or choir. There is no necessity for a priest at such
recitation to say one verse in a loud voice and to say his companion's
verses in a low, inaudible voice. Some priests do this with distressing
results. Imperfect vocal recitation often leads to doubts and scruples
in old age when remedies either cannot be applied or prove useless.

Those who recite the office in choir are bound by the rubrics concerning
kneeling, sitting, standing, etc. Secondly, they are bound to observe
the rules of the liturgy, especially the rule as to the stop in each
verse at the asterisk mark. Thirdly, they are bound to recite clearly
and distinctly; but even if they cannot hear distinctly the alternate
choir, or even if they recite in a low voice, they fulfil the obligation
of recitation; and canons are bound at Cathedral offices to sing and
chant or to lose their manual distributions and the fruits of their
prebends. If a person reciting his office with a companion or in a choir
does not understand the words recited by his companion or by the choir,
he is not bound at the end to repeat the part which he did not
understand, because such a person has the intention of offering prayer
and praise to God, and that intention suffices. Moreover, the Church's
precept of reciting the office should he interpreted benignly, otherwise
it must give rise to many scruples; for, companions in recitation, then,
always, should be anxious as to the duty of repetition or the
non-fulfilled duty of complete recitation.

Pronunciation of the words of the office should be _integral_. That is,
the words and syllables are to be repeated fully without mutilation or
abbreviation. Hence, if mutilation of the words occur to such an extent
that the sense or meaning of the words is notably changed, mortal sin
may be committed. But if the mutilation be small in quantity there is
only a venial sin committed, and often no sin at all may be committed,
as the mutilation of words or syllables may be quite involuntar