Bought Vol. III & IV The Liturgy Of The Hours - Kind Of Lost

[stradioti]

I looked at the St. Joseph Guide For The Liturgy Of The Hours and I’m still confused as to how one uses this.

For today, May 24, 2007 it indicates:
Thu. Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter
ALL 989, Ps 1435, NP 1642

I’m recently back in the Church and feel this would help me once I get a handle on how to use it.

Can anyone help?

Stradioti

 

[awalt]

Well I would recommend you start with the Morning and Evening Prayer, not the others through the day and evening.

We are actually in Vol. II right now, which you don’t have.

Morning and Evening Prayer basically has 3 Psalms and their antiphons (read before and after), an optional prayer after each Psalm (not all three Psalms have a prayer, and the prayer is read before the antiphon is repeated), then a Reading, Responsory, Canticle (Zechariah or Mary), Intercessions, and Prayer

So for MP and EP, translate thusly:

For today, May 24, 2007 it indicates:

Thu. Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter
ALL 989 - From above, this is where you resume after reading the Psalms for Week III from pg. 1435-n. It has a section for MP and EP, and includes the appropriate Reading, Responsory, Canticle, Intercession, and closing prayer.

Ps 1435 - Since we are in Week III of the four week Psalter, pg. 1435 has the Psalms and antiphons for the day. For morning prayer the psalms actually start on page 1439, EP on 1449.

NP 1642 - Night Prayer, if you are just starting with MP and EP you can safely ignore this.

If you search on these forums you will find some very detailed explanations of how to do the LOTH, but it is complicated when you start bringing solemnities, saints, etc. into play. I might suggest instead of buying Vol I and II right now, you but the shorter single volume Christian Prayer book, and then go to this site to see what to read. The key is to pray regularly not get lost and discouraged by all the complexities of the full LOTH, so IMHO starting this way you have a much better chance of continuing this holy and blessed activity every day for the rest of your life!

Good luck and God bless!

 

[stradioti]

awalt, thank you for the reply and help!

I’ll look into the things you’ve mentioned. I also noticed a neat version one can install on a handheld at: universalis.com/20070525/n-download.htm

You’re so right in maintaining a consistent prayer life. This is what has helped me the most in my journey back.

I came back to The Lord through studying many Orthodox books and attenting their beautiful liturgies. I have a little Orthodox Prayer book that I love to use as well. My home is in the Latin Rite but I really have been fed through the Orthodox Spirituality and love these old prayers. I pray for true unity some day.

Thanks and God Bless You,

Stradioti