B
BarbaraTherese
Guest
There are fixed rules for praying The Divine Office…but they are not obligatory for lay people for sure. Usually only the contemplative orders follow them and are obliged to do so. Certainly the daily prayer times I use are to fit in with what works in my day - and I have geared my fixed daily prayer times so that I can most often fit them into the busiest and/or worst of my days.
Formally, I use “Daily Prayer from The Divine Office” which is a much shorter version of the actual Divine Office. This consists of a single book about the same size as a Daily Mass Missal and the cost was around the same also. I use St. Paul’s “Office of Readings” book which was slightly cheaper. They were purchased however back in 1992.
Here is my fixed schedule, which I may increase dependant on my day.
When I first came to the Divine Office, it was a mass of confusion to me…a little bit of practise and it becomes a matter of routine without difficulty. For CAF members, quite a few are praying the Divine Office and some the full version, so questions can be always answered I should think.
Formally, I use “Daily Prayer from The Divine Office” which is a much shorter version of the actual Divine Office. This consists of a single book about the same size as a Daily Mass Missal and the cost was around the same also. I use St. Paul’s “Office of Readings” book which was slightly cheaper. They were purchased however back in 1992.
Here is my fixed schedule, which I may increase dependant on my day.
When I first came to the Divine Office, it was a mass of confusion to me…a little bit of practise and it becomes a matter of routine without difficulty. For CAF members, quite a few are praying the Divine Office and some the full version, so questions can be always answered I should think.
*]Commence duties of day: Morning Prayer (Lauds) from Daily Prayer from the Divine Office (DPDO for the purposes of this thread) and after Morning Prayer I read the First Reading and Gospel for the day and if time permits a quite short meditation on The Gospel.15 and at the most 20 minutes daily.
*]End the general duties of day: Evening Prayer (Vespers) from DPDO plus the Second Reading only from the Office of Readings and if time permits a short mediation. This reading is most often taken from the writings of The Fathers of The Church or perhaps a saint - sometimes a passage or two from an encyclical or other Church document. 15 - 20 minutes at the most daily
Each evening I will light a candle on a very small and simple oratory and spend some time praying for intentions.
3, Immediately before bed: Night Prayer (Compline) from DPDO. This is a quite short Office.5 - 10minutes at the most daily- Wherever I can fit it in comfortably timewise in my day, I spend 15minutes in private prayer or mental prayer - I may extend this dependant on the content of the day…I use a timer so I dont have have any concern on my mind about the time situation. 15 minutes at least daily.
Personally I have found that if I gear my day to the very worst day possible I can certainly get to the first five above and that is stricly what I found will work for me - to gear my formal daily prayer times to my very worst possible of days. I can always increase on a temporaray basis only if I choose. This is purely personal.
Of course, I live alone and it may be far easier for me than others.
At times for some reason, I may miss my daily schedule of prayer…I dont spend time feeling guilty. God is our Loving Father not a hard and severe taskmaster.
I am not stating that a formal prayer time set structure is essential, it is only suggested, conscious as I am that I have far more time available that many others. I dont have the demands on me than many others have. Also I have a very real attraction to the Divine Office which does make it an easy matter for me. Not all have this attraction. There are many ways of praying and spending time in prayer per se.
Other things may work for other people. And others may have hints or procedures that will be of help to others - me included…hence this thread.
See next Post and a very short one