Divine Office/ Liturgy of the Hours

[cartoon_priest]

I want to start praying the Liturgy of the Hours/ Divine Office. How can I start? Specific books or websites?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Check out divineoffice.org

It gives you all the texts and also has an audio version.

Personally I like praying it with others so I’d recommend looking around for a parish or group that gathers to pray the Office.

 

[tee_eff_em]

I want to start praying the Liturgy of the Hours/ Divine Office. How can I start? Specific books or websites?

For the sake of minimizing confusion, it might behoove you to wait until the resumption of Ordinary Time, or at least until the II Week of Easter. (Passiontide and the Easter Octave are not really *that *difficult, but I imagine they could confuse a novice) And in any case: Don’t sweat it if you make mistakes early on (Oh no – I should have prayed this psalm, not that one) – Learn from the mistake and move on. Even if you don’t dot all the t’s and cross all the i’s, you are still praying.

:twocents:
tee

 

[Shin]

I want to start praying the Liturgy of the Hours/ Divine Office. How can I start? Specific books or websites?

Here’s the traditional calendar and breviary online version.

 

[Shin]

I want to start praying the Liturgy of the Hours/ Divine Office. How can I start? Specific books or websites?

For a traditional physical version, there are used breviaries one can find on auction sites like the Collegeville Breviary in Latin and English.

These get bought up quickly I am told.

Baronius Press is supposed to be coming out with a version, so there’ll be an actual Latin/English version in publication currently with that, but when this will happen, I don’t know.

 

[xixxvmcm85]

Here’s the traditional calendar and breviary online version.

Which, by the way, is the brain-child of our own “laszlo”, a member of Catholic Answers Forum. He designed that website, which I use on my phone every day. We all owe him a debt of gratitude.

Thank you Laszlo!

 

[Shin]

Which, by the way, is the brain-child of our own “laszlo”, a member of Catholic Answers Forum. He designed that website, which I use on my phone every day. We all owe him a debt of gratitude.

Thank you Laszlo!

Thanks be to God from whom all blessings flow, and Laszlo.

I have two links for it, one for the Breviary, and one to go directly to the traditional calendar.

 

[puzzleannie]

see the reference thread sticky on the Spirituality forum for a link to LD site with the aid you need

 

[laszlo]

For the sake of minimizing confusion, it might behoove you to wait until the resumption of Ordinary Time, or at least until the II Week of Easter. (Passiontide and the Easter Octave are not really *that *difficult, but I imagine they could confuse a novice) And in any case: Don’t sweat it if you make mistakes early on (Oh no – I should have prayed this psalm, not that one) – Learn from the mistake and move on. Even if you don’t dot all the t’s and cross all the i’s, you are still praying.

:twocents:
tee

I agree with this. The rubrics are for the people not the people for the rubrics. God expects humilty not perfection form most of us

 

[edowitz1]

Roman Catholic Doctrine Vs. The Doctrinal Teaching of the Word of God

Eternal life is a merited reward [1821, 2010]. - Roman Catholicism
Eternal life is the free gift of God (Romans 6:23)

No one can know if he will attain eternal life [1036, 2005] - Roman Catholicism
The believer can know that he has eternal life by the Word of God (1 John 5:13)

The Roman Catholic Church is necessary for salvation [846]. - Roman Catholicism
There is salvation in no one but the Lord Jesus Christ, “for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)

Purgatory is necessary to atone for sin and clean the soul [1030-1031]. - Roman Catholicism
Purgatory does not exist. Jesus made purification for sins on the cross (Hebrews 1:3)

Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin from the first instant of her conception (the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception) [490-492].
Mary, a descendant of Adam, was born in sin (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12)

Mary is the Mother of the Church [963, 975]. - Roman Catholicism
Mary was the earthly mother of Jesus ( John 2:1)

The Magisterium is the authoritative teacher of the Church. [85-87]. - Roman Catholicism
The Holy Spirit is the authoritative teacher of the church (John 14:26; John 16:13, I John 2:27)

The pope, as the Bishop of Rome, is the successor of Peter [882, 936] - Roman Catholicism
Peter had no successor, nor was he a pope.

The pope is infallible in his authoritative teaching [891]. - Roman Catholicism
God alone is infallible (Numbers 23:19)

Scripture and Tradition together are the Word of God [81, 85, 97, 182]. - Roman Catholicism
Scripture is the Word of God (John 10:35, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21). Tradition is the words of men (Mark 7:1-13).

The sacrificial work of redemption is continually carried out through the Sacrifice of the Mass. [1364,1405, 1846]. - Roman Catholicism
The sacrificial work of redemption was finished when Christ gave His life for us on the cross (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 1:3).

God desires that consecrated bread and wine be worshiped as divine. [1378-1381] - Roman Catholicism
God forbids the worship of any object, even t hose intended to represent Him (Exodus 20:4-5, Isaiah 42:8)

Justification is lost through mortal sin [1033, 1855, 1874] - Roman Catholicism
Justification cannot be lost. Those whom God justifies will be saved from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9).

Justification is furthered by sacraments and good works [1212, 1392, 2010] - Roman Catholicism
Justification is the imputation of the perfect righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Christ the believer has been made complete (Colossians 2:10).

Salvation is attained by cooperating with grace through faith, good works, and participation in the sacraments [183, 1129, 1815, 2002]. - Roman Catholicism
Salvation is attained by grace through faith apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation (Ephesians 2:10).

Mary, “the All-Holy,” lived a perfectly sinless life [411, 493]. - Roman Catholicism
Mary was a sinner; God alone is sinless (Luke 18:19, Romans 3:23, Revelation 15:4).

Mary was a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Christ [496-511]. - Roman Catholicism
Mary remained a virgin until after the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:25). Later she had other children (Matthew 13:55-56, Psalm 69:8).

Each Sacrifice of the Mass appeases God’s wrath against sin [1371, 1414]. - Roman Catholicism
The once-for-all sacrifice of the cross fully appeased God’s wrath against sin. (Hebrews 10:12-18).

The Bishops, with the Pope, as their head, rule the universal church. [883, 894-896]. - Roman Catholicism
Christ, the head of the body is the Head of the Church. (Colossians 1:18).

The faithful receive the benefits of the cross in fullest measure through the Sacrifice of the Mass [1366, 1407]. - Roman Catholicism
Believers receive the benefits of the cross in fullest measure in Christ through faith (Ephesians 1:3-14).

God has exalted Mary in heavenly glory as Queen of Heaven and Earth [966]. She is to be praised with special devotion [971, 2675]. - Roman Catholicism
The name of the Lord is to be praised, for He alone is exalted above heaven and earth (Psalm 148:13). God commands, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3).

Mary is the co-mediator to whom we can entrust all our cares and petitions 9 968-970, 2677] - Roman Catholicism
Christ Jesus is the one mediator to whom we can entrust all our cares and petitions (1 Timothy 2:5, John 14:13-14, 1 Peter 5:7).

Mary is the co-redeemer, for she participate with Christ in the painful act of redemption [618, 964, 968, 970]. - Roman Catholicism
Christ alone is the Redeemer, for He alone suffered and died for sin (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated in the Sacrifice of the Mass [1323, 1382] - Roman Catholicism
The Sacrifice of the cross is finished (John 19:30).

Indulgences dispensed by the Church for acts of piety release sinners from temporal punishment [1471-1473]. - Roman Catholicism
Jesus releases believers from their sins by His blood. (Revelation 1:5).

The Magisterium has the right to define truth found only obscurely or implicitly in revelation. [66, 88, 2035, 2051]. - Roman Catholicism
No one has the right to go beyond what is written in Scripture (1 Corinthians 4:6, Proverbs 30:5-6).

Scripture and Tradition together are the Church’s supreme role of faith [80, 82]. - Roman Catholicism
Scripture is the church’s rule of faith (Mark 7:7-13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

 

[OraLabora]

Here’s the traditional calendar and breviary online version.

Somehow I have trouble considering a breviary that is only 101 years old as “traditional”. The breviary underwent major reform in 1910 under Pius X which resulted in several departures from tradition, namely no longer saying the three Laudate psalms at Lauds every day (ps. 148, 149, 150), dividing the psalms into equal parts, fewer psalms at Matins, etc.

If you want a truly traditional breviary the current Benedictine breviary goes back 1500 years to the time of St. Benedict. Apart from the basic structure of the Office, St. Benedict would hardly recognize the Breviary of Pius X and later.

 

[laszlo]

Somehow I have trouble considering a breviary that is only 101 years old as “traditional”. The breviary underwent major reform in 1910 under Pius X which resulted in several departures from tradition, namely no longer saying the three Laudate psalms at Lauds every day (ps. 148, 149, 150), dividing the psalms into equal parts, fewer psalms at Matins, etc.

If you want a truly traditional breviary the current Benedictine breviary goes back 1500 years to the time of St. Benedict. Apart from the basic structure of the Office, St. Benedict would hardly recognize the Breviary of Pius X and later.

Before 1911 either the Roman and the Monastic Breviary was very different from the 6th Century ancestors. There were very few ferial days, and even more than half of the Sundays the Office was a Saints office, with different Psalter. The consequence was that only less than half of the psalms were recited regularly.

St Pius X restored the order of office, and with only a few exceptions the 150 psalms were read in every week. This was a big change either for the Monastic and for the Roman Breviary.

The St Benedict psalter, being a revision of the Roman psalter was more logical, included less repetitions. E.g. Ps 118 (119 in the NAB) was read only on Sunday and Monday divided to half, so each part only once; instead of every day full. Consequently St Pius X made a new distribution of the Psalms for the Roman Breviary, and left intact the St Benedict psalter for the monastics.

Outside of the psalter, the monastic offices followed the changes required for the Roman Breviary.

 

[OraLabora]

The St Benedict psalter, being a revision of the Roman psalter was more logical, included less repetitions. E.g. Ps 118 (119 in the NAB) was read only on Sunday and Monday divided to half, so each part only once; instead of every day full. Consequently St Pius X made a new distribution of the Psalms for the Roman Breviary, and left intact the St Benedict psalter for the monastics.

Actually there are lots of repetitions in the Benedictine psalter: Ps. 3, 94, 66, 50, 148, 149, 150 are recited daily; Ps. 119-127 are recited at the Little Hours every weekday except Monday.

 

[otjm]

I want to start praying the Liturgy of the Hours/ Divine Office. How can I start? Specific books or websites?

I am not sure you necessarily got an answer here, so I will put my oar in the water.

The easiest way to break into saying the LOTH may be through the use of the Magnificat - but be forewarned that it is a very truncated version.

After that is a simple book which I believe is called Shorter Christian Prayer - it has Lauds, Vespers and Compline and some of the feast day readings.

After that, (and I would suggest starting with that so as not to be overwhelmed), there is a one volume set of LOTH; it is expanded beyond the Shorter Christian Prayer.

And if you really get into the LOTH and want a fuller set, there is the 4 volume set.

I do not suggest the last two options until you have been able to establish saying the LOTH on a consistent basis. If you really don’t have the time to say any more than that, it doesn’t make a tremendous amount of sense to spend money on 1 or 4 v=olumes you will not use.

When I was in the seminary (college) in the early 1960’s we used Shorter Christian Prayer; we were encouraged to pray more than that (we said that in community), but not to get more deeply involved in the LOTH, but rather to expand other prayer formats, such as the Rosary. At that time, it was good advice.

 

[Stavros]

I’ve been using the Divine Office iPhone app by the DivineOffice.org people. It’s great because it has all of the different texts in the right place, including the antiphons. It also has the Office of the Readings, which is great because I only have the Christian Prayer book and not the whole four-book set. The app also has audio, which includes sung hymns, and sacred silence. I’m a bit on the ADD side, so having the audio really helps me stay focused on the prayers.

I’ve just started praying the evening prayers this Lent, but so far it’s fantastic. I have the shortened book of Christian Prayer, but was having the darndest time figuring out what went where. I’m starting to get a feel for where I need to go in the book with the documentation on the app. I can read along in my book, when I’m home, and I’m starting to get a better feel of things. And when I go to the Cathedral on Mondays, they have Eucharistic Adoration, but it’s in Spanish. So I’ve been sitting towards the back, and listening to the prayers and reading/praying along in my own personal adoration.

A $15 app is way cheaper than either the Christian Prayers or full LOTH books. For those without an iPhone, it has the same look as the DivineOffice.org web site, but it’s in a mobile format.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Somehow I have trouble considering a breviary that is only 101 years old as “traditional”. The breviary underwent major reform in 1910 under Pius X which resulted in several departures from tradition, namely no longer saying the three Laudate psalms at Lauds every day (ps. 148, 149, 150), dividing the psalms into equal parts, fewer psalms at Matins, etc.

If you want a truly traditional breviary the current Benedictine breviary goes back 1500 years to the time of St. Benedict. Apart from the basic structure of the Office, St. Benedict would hardly recognize the Breviary of Pius X and later.

This just shows the average lay persons misunderstanding of the term “traditional” as used by the Church.

Traditional does not mean “old”.

 

[OraLabora]

This just shows the average lay persons misunderstanding of the term “traditional” as used by the Church.

Traditional does not mean “old”.

Well maybe; but the Benedictine office has been more or less in continuous use (at least the psalmody) for 1500 years.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Well maybe; but the Benedictine office has been more or less in continuous use (at least the psalmody) for 1500 years.

Yes, by the Benedictines. The other religious orders as well as the rest of the Church did not use it.