Help me to learn to pray the LOTH

[Philothea53]

I have been using the one-volume Christian Prayer for about 6 months after attending a retreat taught by a local Deacon on how to pray the LOTH.

I was in the bookstore this past Saturday with my husband and he bought me the four-volume large print set (my birthday is next month) because he knows how much I have enjoyed praying in this way.

Wow. It is beautiful! But it’s different. I never prayed the OOR because it’s not in the Christian Prayer volume and I had not really done much with the Office of Saints, or with Memorials, Feasts, and Solemnities because I wanted first to get used to the basic rhythm.

I sometimes feel much older than I am. I have tried to read online and I have “Lord, Open my Lips” but I’m kind of feeling like a dummy here. What I am looking for is someone willing to guide me - what page to start, when to flip to a different page, which prayers to use when - basically I have to start from scratch.

 

[mercygate]

I have been using the one-volume Christian Prayer for about 6 months after attending a retreat taught by a local Deacon on how to pray the LOTH.

I was in the bookstore this past Saturday with my husband and he bought me the four-volume large print set (my birthday is next month) because he knows how much I have enjoyed praying in this way.

Wow. It is beautiful! But it’s different. I never prayed the OOR because it’s not in the Christian Prayer volume and I had not really done much with the Office of Saints, or with Memorials, Feasts, and Solemnities because I wanted first to get used to the basic rhythm.

I sometimes feel much older than I am. I have tried to read online and I have “Lord, Open my Lips” but I’m kind of feeling like a dummy here. What I am looking for is someone willing to guide me - what page to start, when to flip to a different page, which prayers to use when - basically I have to start from scratch.

Go to www.penitents.org and click on “Holy Angels Gift Shop.” They have a link to LOH. Buy a copy of *The Divine Office for DODOS (Devoted, Obedient, DIsciples of Our Savior). *

It walks you through the Office in baby steps. Mind you, in seminaries, they teach this in a class that takes a whole year. DODOS gets you flyin’ in just 90 days!

Go for it! It’s the best resource out there!

 

[mercygate]

I have been using the one-volume Christian Prayer for about 6 months after attending a retreat taught by a local Deacon on how to pray the LOTH.

I was in the bookstore this past Saturday with my husband and he bought me the four-volume large print set (my birthday is next month) because he knows how much I have enjoyed praying in this way.

Wow. It is beautiful! But it’s different. I never prayed the OOR because it’s not in the Christian Prayer volume and I had not really done much with the Office of Saints, or with Memorials, Feasts, and Solemnities because I wanted first to get used to the basic rhythm.

I sometimes feel much older than I am. I have tried to read online and I have “Lord, Open my Lips” but I’m kind of feeling like a dummy here. What I am looking for is someone willing to guide me - what page to start, when to flip to a different page, which prayers to use when - basically I have to start from scratch.

Here is a link to what page you should be on. Bookmark it and refer to it when necessary. Once you get going, you will need it only a couple of times a year – like when you go from Easter season back to Ordinary time. You CAN figure this out for yourself, but it’s so much easier to let these guys to it for you.

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Lawrence. Here’s how it works. If there is something in the Proper of Saints for St. Lawrence (by date: August 10), you take it from there. If not, you take it from the Common of One Martyr. If there is nothing in there, you take it from the weekday. For a Feast, you will not take anything from the Propers of the Season (if I remember correctly – I left my breviary in the car today).

PM me if you have specifice questions and I’ll try to help.

 

[Rafeller1]

My wife and I use the 4 volume set also. Here are 3 things that we found helpful:

1. A tutorial that has examples which includes page numbers for the 4 volume set. This is in pdf format and can be found at this web address. prayer.rosaryshop.com/discoveringPrayer.pdf
2. The Saint Joseph guide for LOTH. This should have come with your books. If it did not you can obtain one for the current year for $2 from the catholic book publishing company at this address. catholicbookpublishing.com/ShowProduct.aspx?ProductID=310&DepartmentID=11
   Make sure you get the one for the 4 volume set (T-400-G). It contains the page numbers for each prayer for each day of the year.
3. Another thing that should have come with your books is an insert that has a general outline of each prayer so you know what should come next.

If you have any questions you can contact me here or at rafeller1@yahoo.com

 

[AlexV]

If it really takes seminaries a year to teach people how to pray the ordinary Office, then seminary education is in a more deplorable state than I ever imagined.

 

[Windmill]

If it really takes seminaries a year to teach people how to pray the ordinary Office, then seminary education is in a more deplorable state than I ever imagined.

LOL!

I would way to those who are interested, the Liturgy of the Hours in America has fallen prey to the ICEL butchers of Latin. As Fr. Stravinskas (editor of the Catholic Response) once quipped, "The two problems with ICEL are that half of them know no Latin and the other half knows no English.

As a budding Latin scholar (<1 year), even I can see flaws in the translation approved for use in the USA.

If you are not praying the office in community (IOW, you’re praying it basically by yourself), you may consider these two alternatives:

Lauds and Vespers (photos), Amazon has the best price.

Divine Office (v1, v2, v3, one-volume ed.) approved for use in the United Kingdom.

Both of these have superior English translations of the Latin.

Of course, you could also buy the Latin LotH and bypass the whole translation thing all together.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Rapheller1

Thanks for the link to the tutorial in pdf. This looks very interesting I wish I had it six months ago.

 

[puzzleannie]

may I suggest you continue has you have been doing for a while to get used to the layout of your new books (which you will soon come to love). While we are in ordinary time just follow the 4-week psalter, and add the propers when you are ready. They just go in order by week, and the only hitch will be on Sunday. You can just read the Office of Readings for the day, or you can begin with the Lord open my lips . . . in Invitatory Psalm, and the psalms for the OR. this way you only need two ribbons, one for the front section that goes by the week of the year, and one for the 4-week psalter.

when you get into that rhythm you can start going to the back for the solemnities, feasts and memorials (a third ribbon). You can just use the psalms for the day from the psalter, with the antiphons and readings of the feast, including those for morning and evening prayer and invitatory, or you can use the psalms suggested in the common of the day (now you need more ribbons, say one for the feast day (say St. Thomas) and one for the common (say, common of apostles).

add another ribbon for the (optional) hymns in the back and you are set. I think there are enough ribbons but I also use the little cheat sheets that comes with the 4-volume set. they have the morning and evening gospel canticles, the invitatory psalms, and the common for 1st Sunday of the psalter, which is used for so many feasts and solemnities. This gives me all the place-markers I need.

go by slow steps. for a long time I just read the OR, which is now my favorite part of the whole LOTH. Then I gradually added the psalms, then got into the feasts. When travelling I just use shorter Christian prayer and a devotional guide to the daily readings like Word Among Us as my OR.

 

[Philothea53]

I’m getting a lot of good posts here - forgive me for not answering each one individually. I am so sorry summer is coming to an end for - school starts Monday morning! I would love to have more time!!

But, I am determined. I am printing off the pdf suggested as we speak. But that said, I think I am going to try to slow down a little. I got really excited and wanted to do it all at once - a dauting task, I now realize. I have a tendency to jump in with both feet

If I may ask one specific question: When I opened my Breviary this morning, I had my yellow ribbon on page 901 - Friday, Week II. I start with the Invitatory which in essence takes me to page 613 to say Lord, open my lips… then the recitation of the Antiphon from page 901, the reading of Psalm 95 from 613, then repeat the Antiphon from 901. Now if I want to skip the Office and go on to Morning Prayer, I go to page 904. There, because I said the Invitatory just now, I skip the God, come to my assistance…? and on to the Hymn? then for St. Lawrence, I use the Antiphons from 1307, but use the Psalms from 905 - 909 (including the Psalm-Prayer at the end of each)? I use the Reading, Responsory, and the Antiphon for the Canticle of Zehariah from pgs. 1307 and 1308. Then the Intercessions ending with Our Father… from page 1732 and back to the Prayer at 1308.

Boy, I realize I did say one specific question. But, is that the proper page flipping?

It seems to take away from the prayerful atmosphere to try to figure out where I am supposed to be at any given time? Do you all ‘plan’ ahead? Should I look over Morning Prayer for the next day after this day’s Morning Prayer and the same for Evening Prayer?

One more question before I will quit (for now): At the end of Psalms - is it Doxology, Antiphon, Psalm-Prayer or Antiphon, Doxology, Psalm-Prayer or ???

God bless you all.

 

[mercygate]

I’m getting a lot of good posts here - forgive me for not answering each one individually. I am so sorry summer is coming to an end for - school starts Monday morning! I would love to have more time!!

But, I am determined. I am printing off the pdf suggested as we speak. But that said, I think I am going to try to slow down a little. I got really excited and wanted to do it all at once - a dauting task, I now realize. I have a tendency to jump in with both feet

If I may ask one specific question: When I opened my Breviary this morning, I had my yellow ribbon on page 901 - Friday, Week II. I start with the Invitatory which in essence takes me to page 613 to say Lord, open my lips… then the recitation of the Antiphon from page 901, the reading of Psalm 95 from 613, then repeat the Antiphon from 901. Now if I want to skip the Office and go on to Morning Prayer, I go to page 904. There, because I said the Invitatory just now, I skip the God, come to my assistance…? and on to the Hymn? then for St. Lawrence, I use the Antiphons from 1307, but use the Psalms from 905 - 909 (including the Psalm-Prayer at the end of each)? I use the Reading, Responsory, and the Antiphon for the Canticle of Zehariah from pgs. 1307 and 1308. Then the Intercessions ending with Our Father… from page 1732 and back to the Prayer at 1308.

Boy, I realize I did say one specific question. But, is that the proper page flipping?

It seems to take away from the prayerful atmosphere to try to figure out where I am supposed to be at any given time? Do you all ‘plan’ ahead? Should I look over Morning Prayer for the next day after this day’s Morning Prayer and the same for Evening Prayer?

One more question before I will quit (for now): At the end of Psalms - is it Doxology, Antiphon, Psalm-Prayer or Antiphon, Doxology, Psalm-Prayer or ???

God bless you all.

Last question first: Doxology, Psalm prayer (optional; I usually skip it), Antiphon.

First office of the day (whether Office of Readings or MP):

Lord open my lips (etc).
Invitatory antiphon.
Venite (or one of the other 3 invitatory Psalms)
Glory be.
Invitatory antiphon (you can omit it here if you like).
Hymn (optional)
Antiphon for Psalm
Psalm
Glory be
psalm prayer (optional)
Antiphon for psalm (optional) … . . .

You begin the office with “God come to my assistance . . .” only when you have not begun with the invitatory.

Got that?

But today was a FEAST. So most of the Office was taken from the Proper of Saints, although portions came from the Common for One Martyr.

Puzzleannie’s advice is usually spot-on but in this case I would advise doing it the hard way and working your way systematically through the process step by step. It IS daunting at first – and we make mistakes even after long experience – like when I forget that Night Prayer for the Office for the Dead is Night Prayer II of Sunday and not from the weekday. Although it is complicated, it is not rocket science.

YOU CAN DO THIS!

GET THE DODOS BOOK!!! It’s really a great way to learn the Office.

 

[puzzleannie]

If you begin with the invitatory, you say begin with the Lord open my lips (I had this wrong in my previous post)… glory be…antiphon…psalm 95 (or alternate) … glory be and antiphon repeated. You can then go directly to the office for the hour of the day, in which case you do not say the God come to my assistance. Or you can go directly to the Office of Readings, without the God come to my assistance.

there is also a provision for the office of the hour before or after Mass, when you skip some of the introductory stuff. No sweat if you pray more, or less, while you are learning. It did take a good year, praying once a week in common with others and tutorials and the monastery, and frequent calls for help to my brother, to really get the system down pat. I know I still skip some feasts and memorials, but do try to get the solemnities. The best way to learn is to pray with others, and the best shortcut for “what week are we on or what day are we on” is the universalis site given above.

when you have the time to give it the attention it deserves, do read the introduction to the LOTH at the beginning of the first book, It is a liturgical education in itself.

bear in mind if you do pray it with others, there may be some changes to what you are used to so go with the flow. for instance, if a deacon or priest is present he may give a blessing at the end, rather than the usual conclusion.

 

[Philothea53]

Evening Prayer took 65 minutes I begged pardon for my prayer time resembling more like a study session but I think I am going to get this. If desire matters, I’ve got it made

Thank you so much everyone. I hope the thread stays open. I may be back with more

 

[mercygate]

Evening Prayer took 65 minutes I begged pardon for my prayer time resembling more like a study session but I think I am going to get this. If desire matters, I’ve got it made

Thank you so much everyone. I hope the thread stays open. I may be back with more

An easy place to begin is with Morning and Evening Prayer on Sundays because athe Sunday offices are not all broken up all over the breviary. You just wind 'em up and let 'er rip. The only thing you have to search for for Sunday (including first vespers for Sunday, which is on Saturday evening) is the antiphon for the Gospel Canticle and the closing prayer. Both of those are up front in the Proper of Seasons.

 

[Nico]

If it really takes seminaries a year to teach people how to pray the ordinary Office, then seminary education is in a more deplorable state than I ever imagined.

Yes, I must agree, especially today. The LOH is not really that complicated but even in the old days of the Breviarium Romanum, we didn’t need a year to learn it…and that was far more complex and complicated.

In nomine Domini,

Nico

 

[mercygate]

Yes, I must agree, especially today. The LOH is not really that complicated but even in the old days of the Breviarium Romanum, we didn’t need a year to learn it…and that was far more complex and complicated.

In nomine Domini,

Nico

As explained to me, the year-long course in the LOH dealt with a lot more than just learning to pray the Office. It covered the history and development of the Office as well.

The old Breviary was a LOT more complicated. But even the new one has its pitfalls. For instance, things like taking Compline from the office after second vespers when praying the Office for the Dead can escape notice if you don’t turn the page to review ALL of the optional prayers. In the little hours, many people have trouble with the disposition of the complementary psalmody (ya gotta read the red print) around the Psalms for the day. For Morning and Evening Prayer, flipping back and forth from the Proper of Seasons to the Ordinary to the Proper of Saints and to the weekday on certain obligatory Memorials can be quite confusing.

In the Confraternity of Penitents, where we take several months of the first Novice year to work our way systematically into praying the full Office, I find at our annual retreat that people who bypass our texbook and try to learn it by following only the instructions in the Breviary get all messed up with it.

 

[AJV]

An easy place to begin is with Morning and Evening Prayer on Sundays because athe Sunday offices are not all broken up all over the breviary. You just wind 'em up and let 'er rip. The only thing you have to search for for Sunday (including first vespers for Sunday, which is on Saturday evening) is the antiphon for the Gospel Canticle and the closing prayer. Both of those are up front in the Proper of Seasons.

Morning and Evening Prayer for a feria will be even simpler because there is absolutely no flipping required except for the Common texts. Now I know the canticles and all by heart, but before I printed out a small paper with the text of canticles and other common parts like the conclusion so I didn’t have to flip at all.

 

[AJV]

As explained to me, the year-long course in the LOH dealt with a lot more than just learning to pray the Office. It covered the history and development of the Office as well.

The old Breviary was a LOT more complicated. But even the new one has its pitfalls. For instance, things like taking Compline from the office after second vespers when praying the Office for the Dead can escape notice if you don’t turn the page to review ALL of the optional prayers. In the little hours, many people have trouble with the disposition of the complementary psalmody (ya gotta read the red print) around the Psalms for the day. For Morning and Evening Prayer, flipping back and forth from the Proper of Seasons to the Ordinary to the Proper of Saints and to the weekday on certain obligatory Memorials can be quite confusing.

Yes but the difference between the old and the new is that with the new you can read the instructions at the front (bypassing all the explanation and going straight to chapter 4) and learn it (that’s how I did it). With the old system (before 1961) you read the rubrics and go “Huh!” and then you have to go and reread them again SLOWLY. And even then it’s difficult. You really NEEDED a Ordo to keep up with all the translations and commemorations and resumed lessons and whatnot. Whereas with the new one I find I can comfortably say the Office without the assistance of any Ordo most of the time. I daresay most people once they get the hang of it, could do so too.

 

[Philothea53]

For tonight, August 14, for Evening Prayer we used Evening Prayer I on page 1315. We were directed to the Psalms and canticle from the common of the Blessed Virgin Mary on page 1622. I still used the Antiphons at page 1316 rather than those at 1622. Was that right?

Then according to the St. Joseph Guide for the LOTH, for Night Prayer we are to go to page 1233. That is right in the middle of After Evening Prayer I on Sundays and Solemnities. Should it actually be page 1228 - the beginning of After Evening Prayer I on Sundays and Solemnities? If not, then where is Night Prayer for tonight?

 

[Philothea53]

Morning and Evening Prayer for a feria.

What is a ‘feria’?

 

[porthos11]

For tonight, August 14, for Evening Prayer we used Evening Prayer I on page 1315. We were directed to the Psalms and canticle from the common of the Blessed Virgin Mary on page 1622. I still used the Antiphons at page 1316 rather than those at 1622. Was that right?

You were correct. Propers trump Commons.

Then according to the St. Joseph Guide for the LOTH, for Night Prayer we are to go to page 1233. That is right in the middle of After Evening Prayer I on Sundays and Solemnities. Should it actually be page 1228 - the beginning of After Evening Prayer I on Sundays and Solemnities? If not, then where is Night Prayer for tonight?

Page 1228 contains the hymns. Actually, the title “AFTER EVENING PRAYER I ON SUNDAYS AND SOLEMNITIES” is slightly misplaced. Those hymns are the Night Prayer selections for all days, not just after Evening Prayer I.

So, what you do for Night Prayer is say the usual God come to my assistance…, then select a hymn, then recite the Office as given on page 1233. Conclude with the second prayer, “Lord, we beg you to visit this house…” and the Marian antiphon.

BTW, a ferial is a weekday that has no particular saint or celebration attached to it. Basically, it’s a weekday when the priest wears green.