As it is commonly known, Berakhot 4b praises the person, who says Psalm 145 three times a day. We do it by reciting Ashrei in the morning as a part of Pesukei dezimrah (Orach Chayim 51:7, Mishneh Torah Tefilah 7:12) and before minchah (Orach Chayim 234:1, Mishneh Torah Tefilah 7:18). There is a second recital of Ashrei (Mishneh Torah Tefilah 7:17) in the weekday morning prayer before Uva leTziyon. On Monday and Thursday this is after the Torah is brought back to the ark,* but on Shabbat it is said while the scroll is still outside. Last Shabbat I had a terrible cold and I couldn't pray with a minyan. As Ashrei might seem to be a part of the Torah reading, I was wondering if I had to say it between the morning prayer and the mussaf, or there was another designated place for its recital.

* Sefardim do it after Ashrei

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    Not everyone has that Girsa in the Gemara. The Geonim write that saying three times in the service is just to make sure everyone says it at least once so they all get olam haba – Double AA Nov 1 '18 at 22:07
  • What else would you be doing between Shacharit and Musaf? You aren't allowed to say the Amida twice back to back. That's why we put Ashrei before Neilah. Seemingly this would be the same. Frankly I don't know where else you'd want to put it. – Double AA Nov 1 '18 at 22:09
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    It's not part of the Torah reading. It's an intro to musaf, same as the intro to mincha. – Heshy Nov 1 '18 at 22:10
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    @DanF I see what you mean, but Selichot are not really "special" in this respect. Ashrei is chosen to introduce Selichot because Selichot are trying to copy tefilah. There are two very good questions here, (1) why are they trying to copy tefilah and (2) why is Ashrei chosen for tefilah in general. But I don't think trying to correlate (1) and (2) is that illuminating. – Heshy Nov 2 '18 at 18:50

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