Are there people who have written or spoken about this? Why isn't the Liturgy of the Hours more common among lay people?

[Maximilian75]

Or just get the app! Laudate assembles everything for you on your phone - no bookmarks

 

[OraLabora]

Can anyone relate?

Yes, but me being me, I would have cut out everything else and kept the LOTH. I gave up on the Rosary a long time ago, and focused on the LOTH/Monastic LOTH instead. When I feel burned out now, I cut back from the Monastic to the secular LOTH, or I pray it in silence instead of chanting it.

Compline is the toughest Office for me. I’m usually so tired by bedtime. So I say it maybe an hour or so before bed now. It helped.

 

[s.cono]

I understand completely. I’m happy doing a couple of parts of the Office. Since I am not bound to it, I have that luxury. I’m still developing my daily prayer regimen, but happily after some tweaking things are settling into place.

 

[s.cono]

I’m quite convinced the Devil doesn’t like when people pray a lot and will make them ill or try to distract or disrupt them.

I clicked “like” on your post. I wish there was a “love” option. I couldn’t agree more with the the line I quoted from your post. I feel the exact same way. he does things to make you want to give up.

 

[TheLittleLady]

There is going to be an update in the near future, so, I’d not advise purchasing new books now.

 

[Glennon_P]

Any idea when the update will be coming?

 

[JohnLilburne]

At http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgy-of-the-hours/liturgy-of-the-hours-second-edition.cfm there is information on the progress being made, but it does not say when the update will be complete.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Awaiting approval as of last year, so, I’d expect it to be published by next year-ish. Not exactly a long time, however, it might be a consideration before buying the full 4 volume set.

 

[Phemie]

If I’m just reading Compline I do it in bed just before turning out the light. If I’m using Divine Office I pray it before I go to bed so as to not wake up my husband with my singing.

 

[phil19034]

There is going to be an update in the near future, so, I’d not advise purchasing new books now.

I would recommend buying Christian Prayer for ~ $30 now. I wouldn’t buy the whole 4 book series which is well over $100 though.

But it still might be 2+ years until the new version is out. So if you want to buy a book, buy Christian Prayer

 

[phil19034]

Awaiting approval as of last year, so, I’d expect it to be published by next year-ish. Not exactly a long time, however, it might be a consideration before buying the full 4 volume set.

At last I saw, they don’t except it to be ready until 2021. And I don’t know if that means the books will be ready by then, or if they will be ready for print then.

So again, I wouldn’t refrain from buying Christian Prayer. But I would refrain from buying the 4 volume set.

God Bless

 

[Peeps]

Yes, definitely, I relate! Thanks!

I appreciate all of you praying that office for people like me who still live an overly-busy life and simply cannot add yet another obligation (but we keep adding obligations anyway). Just this week, my husband was informed that he needed a total hip replacement, and I’ve been trying to schedule a knee replacement for several years now, but neither of us can find six weeks that we can take off work for these very necessary surgeries.

The Church doesn’t require the laity to pray the Office. Like I said, many thanks to those of you who DO pray it, as it benefits all of us who don’t.

BTW–it’s possible that more people would pray the Office if it wasn’t called “The Divine Office.” That sounds…well…I’d better not say. “Liturgy of the Hours” is also pretty intimidating.

Why not simply, “the Church’s prayer?” That sounds inviting and non-intimidating and friendly.

Just something to think about.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

BTW–it’s possible that more people would pray the Office if it wasn’t called “The Divine Office.” That sounds…well…I’d better not say. “Liturgy of the Hours” is also pretty intimidating.

Why not simply, “the Church’s prayer?” That sounds inviting and non-intimidating and friendly.

Um…prayers in the Church have traditional names of long standing. To rename them something that’s “non-intimidating and friendly” comes off to me like the bad side of Vatican II. Like some kind of weird marketing gesture, like something Protestants or LDS would do to be honest.

It’s not going to attract many new people and it’s going to turn off the type of person who actually wants to pray the prayer, who is usually someone who has some respect and love for both the Church and its tradition.

Also, it’s not simply “the Church’s prayer”, it’s a liturgy. Liturgy has a specific definition.

 

[MikeInVA]

Or just get the app! Laudate assembles everything for you on your phone - no bookmarks

There’s something special about using an actual breviary, though. I actually pray OOR and Morning Prayer using the “Praystation Portable” podcast as I drive to work Monday through Friday. I enjoy sitting down and reading it from my breviary on the weekends.

 

[MikeInVA]

There is going to be an update in the near future, so, I’d not advise purchasing new books now.

There’s been an update coming in the near future for years now. And the older versions will still be valid. Buying used may be a good option for someone who plans to upgrade immediately. Unless the new edition is wildly different and I need it for community prayer, I will probably stay with what I have.

 

[MikeInVA]

I would recommend buying Christian Prayer for ~ $30 now. I wouldn’t buy the whole 4 book series which is well over $100 though.

Christian Prayer is good unless you want to pray OOR. I bought the 4 volume set because my Lay Dominican chapter prays Midday Prayer at our monthly meetings, and as a result I discovered what a great office the OOR is! My wife and I now pray it together on the weekends - it is our favorite office.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Liturgy has a specific definition.

Good article that talks about that definition

https://bismarckdiocese.com/news/liturgy-work-of-god-or-work-of-the-people

 

[OraLabora]

there is information on the progress being made, but it does not say when the update will be complete.

There is our time, and there is Vatican time. When the Vatican promised us a new Latin Gregorian chant antiphonary for the “new” Liturgy of the Hours in 1970, they promised it “soon”.

The first volume came out in 2010. And that’s only for Vespers of Sundays, feasts and Solemnities. I wrote to Solesmes (charged with producing the antiphonary) a while back and asked when the next volume would come out. “Spring” was the answer. That was in 2016. I wrongfully assumed it meant spring of 2017. I’m still waiting…

There’s something special about using an actual breviary, though.

I couldn’t agree more! My breviary (i.e. each volume) is pretty dog-eared now. The leather cover I put on it is well worn. It makes it feel special somehow.

it is our favorite office.

Mine too, or as it is still known in the monastic world, Vigils (or Matins). I’m definitely a morning person and I pray it at 5:30 am. I tried praying it in the evening by anticipation, but I’m too tired by then for it to sink in. Works much better in the morning.

Like I said, many thanks to those of you who DO pray it, as it benefits all of us who don’t.

Thanks, yes when we pray the LOTH, we are praying it for all of you!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Question that I’m sure has been asked and answered on here before, O.L., but if someone prays an old form of the LotH, are they still considered to be participating in the official public prayer of the Church? Or do they need to use the latest approved version only?

 

[Maximilian75]

I know that Summorum Pontificum allows the pre-V2 breviary for clerics… I’d assume it counts as the official public prayer of the Church for lay persons as well?