Breviary with a history - advice please

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Some 30 years ago I was gifted a set of Liturgy of the Hours books by a local priest. These had been his own personal set and he gifted them to me because he knew of my interest and devotion in praying the Hours. I lost touch with the priest but his breviary remained a constant companion throughout all these years.

Recently I discovered that the priest in question had been convicted of child sex offences a few years ago and is no longer a serving member of the Clergy. Now I feel very uncomfortable using his breviary. My thoughts often wander away from prayer and I am instead distracted by thoughts of his crime. I have considered explaining the situation to my parish priest and asking him to bless the books. I could of course just use another breviary but this one had always felt like an ‘old friend’.

Some days I even feel uncomfortable holding the book. I pray to the Lord that I can find forgiveness for my friend and thus some peace for myself. I would be interested to know this community’s thoughts and feedback. I have only just found this forum but already enjoying the debates and advice here.
 
Maybe you’re meant to pray for him?

There’s no need to be resentful or superstitious though.
 
Thank you - I hadn’t really considered that I may be being superstitious. And yes, I am praying for my friend and the young ones involved. I’m not sure I’m feeling resentful, I don’t feel anger or revulsion, just distraction away from my prayer.
 
I think you need to discuss this with a priest, with the books.

I have a used set of LotH that I bought on eBay. I don’t know who the original owner was, but I enjoy reflecting on the sections that he commented on - it’s like praying with the original owner. So I definitely understand where you’re coming from there.

I think your issue is more about how you feel about your friend than his books, to be honest.
 
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By your username I guess (perhaps) incorrectly that you are from York, UK.

I have the Divine Office in three volumes. They are in excellent condition. For obvious reasons I no longer use them, and it is a pity to see them idle.

If you are indeed from that city, and would care to PM me the name of your parish church - and priest- then I shall arrange to take the books there, and leave them for you to collect. There is no need to exchange personal details; nor will there be any charge.

I will not be offended should you chose, instead, to cherish the Breviary given you; after all, the shortcomings of its previous owner have no effect on its efficacy or intrinsic beauty and worth.

I wish you well, and God’s peace, whatever you decide.
 
My suggestion would be to remain using the books as normal, simply offer up some prayers for him before the Our Father during Morning and Evening Prayer.
 
Thank you for such a generous offer. However, your wise words are worth more. You are so right in your summary. And in actual fact this has been my Breviary through many trials and joys of life. If you are local, I feel sure that some soul amongst the congregation of Our Lady’s Acomb would make good use of your Breviary.

Thank you so much for your insight. May God go with you.
 
yorkman said:
You are so right in your summary
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Nice to be ‘right’ at least now and again. 😄.

Not too far from Acomb. God willing, I will follow your advice.

You don’t need me to tell you; but cherish your Breviary, and let it continue to be your companion through all that life can bring; and do so with a clear conscience and a happy heart.

May the Beloved continue to bless and guide you, and to keep you - and all you love - safe in these uncertain and difficult times.
 
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I feel blessed to have been able to witness this beautiful exchange on this thread. As cynical and suspicious as I get here on CAF, I am humbled and gratefully reminded that giants do dwell here. Thank you.
 
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I am sorry your friend fell into sin and hurt others as well as himself. That must be a tough cross to bear.

I would recommend that you either continue to use the breviary and pray very hard for your former friend, or else give the breviary to someone else who will.

You can have the breviary re-blessed if you want, but the breviary in itself is not evil. It represents part of what was good about the priest you knew. People, including priests, are rarely all bad or all good. They usually have a mixture of good and bad qualities in them. But like I said, if the breviary is an uncomfortable reminder, give it to someone else who will pray LOTH with it. And you can get a new one free of the baggage.
 
Yorkman I am in Victoria, Australia. This state has a really bad history of historic child abuse. They even had a Royal Commission into it and named many people who worked between different Diocese and Parishes. I dont think one parish has not been affected in some way.
I was also gifted a set of Liturgy of the Hours by my Parish Priest when I joined a Public Association of the Faithful. I have not asked who owned these previously, they are well worn volumes and came from a Parish with lots of history. These volumes are blessed and well used.

Use your volumes with confidence that every one is a sinner and your volumes no doubt would have been blessed if they come from a Parish
 
yorkman said:
If you are local, I feel sure that some soul amongst the congregation of Our Lady’s Acomb would make good use of your Breviary.
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Hello again

Have spoken to Fr Tony Lester (O.Carm). He has asked that I call back in a fortnight to arrange a visit. Badly disrupted by Covid-19 it would seem.

I’ve a soft spot for the Carmelites (was a member of their Third Order, and spent time at Hazlewood Castle, testing a vocation). A flood of very happy memories.

Looking forward to meeting him, God willing. Again, many thanks for your suggestion.

Take care, and God bless.
 
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How delighted I was to read this. I do hope you can arrange to meet. Fr Tony is a wonderful man and much loved in our community. How interesting too to read of your Carmelite connection. I am sure that you will have much to talk about! God bless.
 
I had to deal with a similar situation myself. I used to have quite a lot of books that had been given to me by somebody who I later learned was a paedophile. I decided that I didn’t want them around. It wasn’t that I thought that they were actually contaminated or anything like that; I just didn’t want to keep something that was a reminder of this person. So I gave them away, and presumably the new owners are perfectly happy with them, as they don’t know that at one time they passed through the hands of this child abuser.
 
Yes.

I don’t think he was at Hazlewood in my day. I recall Frs Killian Lynch, Bernard and Adrian…but my memory for names is grim!

The Castle is now an hotel, of course; and the room I helped convert (with a lay resident call Danny) into a chapel is now one of the offices.

The original church is still there, of course.

The Castle belonged - originally - to the Vavasour family - a knight of William the Conqueror. During the Elizabethan purge of Catholics the then Lady Vavasour - a Lady in Waiting to the Queen - was granted permission to continue practicing the Faith (and all her family, of course), on condition they did so entirely within the grounds of the estate. Members of the family are entombed in the church, but the faces of their statues have been damaged by puritans, probably in Cromwell’s time.
 
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