How many of you pray the Liturgy of the Hours?

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I use the 1-volume Christian Prayer, and I also switch on and off with the 1 volume Morning and Evening Prayer that is used by the non-US English speaking countries.

Christian Prayer has, of course, the full Morning, Evening and Night prayer, as well as rudimentary Readings and psalms for terce, sext and none. I don’t particularly like the paper inserts provided for the Invitatory and gospel canticles. Also, CP does not repeat the antiphons at the end of the Psalms, or the *nunc dimittus *in Night Prayer. It is a guarantee, that at least 2 of the three psalm/canticles will have the antiphon on the previous page, forcing you to turn back. However, the St. Joseph’s guide is a huge help with this volume ( and i assume the 4 volume set as well), and makes it very easy to follow the calendar and not miss a feast - St Anthony of the Desert coming up! (never knew he lived to be 100 years old!)

Morning & Evening Prayer has the Invitatory and the Gospel Canticles printed on the end-papers of the front and back covers - I find this a great help and very easy to use. The antiphons are printed both before and after the psalm/canticle. It is also smaller and thus easier to take when I travel. The major issue I have with this volume is the calendar is out of whack for what we use in the US, with some saints (St. John baptist de lasalle springs to mind) appearing on different days.

I have to admit that I usually get in about 1 full of Morning/Evening prayer a day. I could say I am too busy, and I am busy, but it doesn’t really take all that long, and so I guess the real answer. before God, is I am lazy and undisciplined.

For Lent this year I am going to commit to saying Morning, Evening, and Night prayer every day. I always find the grace to do this kind of stuff during Lent, and it seems so easy - then it becomes impossible for me Easter Monday morning!
 
twosweetgirls said:
Yep, now I definitely want the 4-volume leather LOTH to last me a lifetime.

Hmm, must start saving up. . . 😊
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I suggested on the other thread that why not buy it one volume at a time? That way you can spread the cost.

You should purchase Volume III already, since that’s what we’re using. If you can afford, get Volume II as well, since Lent is barely three weeks away. That should last you a good 17 weeks till about August when you can buy Volume IV. Then towards the end of November, get Volume I.
 
twosweetgirls said:
Yep, now I definitely want the 4-volume leather LOTH to last me a lifetime.

Hmm, must start saving up. . . 😊
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It’s probably not going to last a lifetime anyway. A reliable source has indicated that after the new Mass translation is complete, they will begin on a new LOTH translation as well. This process will likely be measured in years, but probably not a lifetime.
 
drforjc said:
It’s probably not going to last a lifetime anyway. A reliable source has indicated that after the new Mass translation is complete, they will begin on a new LOTH translation as well. This process will likely be measured in years, but probably not a lifetime.
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Given the length of time and bureaucracy involved, to undertake a revision of the English LOTH would probably take 20 years once it is started. I also have a reliable source that states that while it is being considered, there is nothing in the works to get it started.
 
In my family, each one is on his/her own to do readings, mp, & dp. (a local parish offers mp immediately before daily Mass, which is where I do it; dh has a buddy at work with whom he does dp). or sometimes comes up in conversation at supper. We do ep immediately after supper together. dh & I do np before retiring. It’s sort of a glue that holds the family together and we hold one another responsible to maintain the discipline. It works for us . . .
 
I use the Shorter Christian Prayer book. I pray the morning prayer most days. The evening prayer I haven’t been as disciplined about lately. SCP doesn’t have the full night readings, and there are a few other limitations. But I use it because my grandma did, and it was her book. Also, it’s the only one I have!

An awesome way I’ve found to start your day is to pray the Morning Prayer, then go through the daily mass readings. First thing every day. Does anyone else do this…?

Would love to get the full four-volume LOTH set someday.
 
Mannyfit75 said:
The LOTH or Breviary always have four volume set. There are two version. The full leather version, and there a paper cover with color leather cover. The contents are the same but the cover is completely different. I have the color Liturgy of the Hours set.

I had the leather bound and I donate it to the Chapel…
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Mannyfit75 - Question - Why did you switch from the leather bound to the paper cover with color leather cover ?.? I have the Christian prayer book with an addendium of the Franciscans… I’d like to purchase the 4 vol but can I get the Franciscan addendium with this along with the proper guide book ?..? Sorry for so many questions but I love praying the Breviary daily… God Bless and Thanking you ahead of time for your answers…🙂
 
I received the 4 vol set in Christmas 06 adn decided that four Lent in 07 I would learn how to read/pray it. Well now I do read/pray atleast during the week. That’s easier for me as I can focus on it on the train and at lunch and stop by Church on my way home to finish up. Thus most week days I’ll do all except sometimes I don’t get to the nightly prayer. I know the shortest and easiest I fail at doing. My schedule is so different on the weekends, it fall through the cracks. That will be this lent rtesolution - work on the LOTH on weekends. Yesterday I took out the Christmass vol but forgot to put in vol III. Fixed that last and was hoping I got that right - thanks.
 
I started praying the LOTH, when I first joined the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. Praying the morning and evening prayer, is part of the rule of life.

Having the instruction from the OCDS group, made learning how to do it, much easier than if I had to learn it on my own.

For years, my wife and myself used the single, Christian Prayer, The Liturgy of the Hours. This made the transition to the four volume set, which we just purchased for Christmas, much easier.
The four volume set is a little more confusing than the single CP version.

I said it in another thread, but I’ll repeat it here.

If you are thinking about learning the LOTH, but do not have the extra $120 to shell out on the four volume set, go with the single version CP, which goes for about $30. You can also get it used on line, much cheaper.

Most people with jobs and families, will only have time to do morning prayer and evening prayer. The single version is the same as the 4 volume set on these prayers.

So, if you want to get into it it, go with the single volume, Christian Prayer, The Liturgy of the Hours. Over the years, after you’re well disciplined in doing the LOTH on a daily basis, then you might want to get the four volume set.

Don’t let the expense of the four volume set, keep you from doing the LOTH.

Praying the LOTH, is a treasure!

Jim
 
Frogjim said:
Mannyfit75 - Question - Why did you switch from the leather bound to the paper cover with color leather cover ?.? I have the Christian prayer book with an addendium of the Franciscans… I’d like to purchase the 4 vol but can I get the Franciscan addendium with this along with the proper guide book ?..? Sorry for so many questions but I love praying the Breviary daily… God Bless and Thanking you ahead of time for your answers…🙂
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It’s just me. I prefer color over the leather. I’m a perfectionist. I also have a breviary leather cover with zipper. I switch it from Volume to Volume.

To twosweetgirls:

I also concur that you should buy it one volume at time, since you made it very clear you can’t afford to spend 150-200 dollars on the entire full volume set.
 
JimR-OCDS said:
I started praying the LOTH, when I first joined the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. Praying the morning and evening prayer, is part of the rule of life.

Having the instruction from the OCDS group, made learning how to do it, much easier than if I had to learn it on my own.

For years, my wife and myself used the single, Christian Prayer, The Liturgy of the Hours. This made the transition to the four volume set, which we just purchased for Christmas, much easier.
The four volume set is a little more confusing than the single CP version.

I said it in another thread, but I’ll repeat it here.

If you are thinking about learning the LOTH, but do not have the extra $120 to shell out on the four volume set, go with the single version CP, which goes for about $30. You can also get it used on line, much cheaper.

Most people with jobs and families, will only have time to do morning prayer and evening prayer. The single version is the same as the 4 volume set on these prayers.

So, if you want to get into it it, go with the single volume, Christian Prayer, The Liturgy of the Hours. Over the years, after you’re well disciplined in doing the LOTH on a daily basis, then you might want to get the four volume set.

Don’t let the expense of the four volume set, keep you from doing the LOTH.

Praying the LOTH, is a treasure!
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The Christian Prayer Book usually gets you hook on the LOTH. That’s why I started saving to get mine.

Jim
 
I haven’t bought the entire set. The LOH is available at universalis.com and I read it from my PocketPC. I wonder though how accurate that site is compared to the 4 volume set.

If anyone knows any major discrepencies, let me know.
 
^Sure will, Manny; thanks to you and Porthos for the suggestion, especially what volume to buy now, etc. 🙂
 
twosweetgirls said:
Sooo. . . I’ve been scoping out LOTH volume sets, and found several from ebay vendors/stores. Many are used, with publishing dates of 1976. Those are still applicable or current, right? Like someone upthread said, they never get old?

I kinda like the idea of a used set, one that’s already been prayed with by someone. . .
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I think they should still be the same. Make sure that they are published by Catholic Book Publishing. Additionally, you will want to get the LOTH Supplement that covers changes to the liturgical calendar since 1976. it is $2.95 plus shipping so it should not set you back. Also, as mentioned by a previous poster, get a guide, they are only $2.00.

I attend Morning Prayer and Mass at a Franciscan convent / retreat / infirmary. Learning from “experts” really helped me understand the structure of the offices quickly.

By the way, for Dominicans and Franciscans (and other orders?) there are supplements to the LOTH that reflect their slightly modified liturgical calendar. These are either special editions of the LOTH or supplemental books that can be tucked into the back of the regular 4-volume LOTH set or 1-volume CP. Here is some info for Franciscans. I am not a Franciscan, but since I pray MP with Franciscan sisters, I got the supplement. For Dominicans, you can get your supplement here. I suspect other older orders may have supplements as well.
 
twosweetgirls said:
Sooo. . . I’ve been scoping out LOTH volume sets, and found several from ebay vendors/stores. Many are used, with publishing dates of 1976. Those are still applicable or current, right? Like someone upthread said, they never get old?

I kinda like the idea of a used set, one that’s already been prayed with by someone. . .
Click to expand...
The transition from the CP to the four volume set for my wife and myself, was the result of having received a used four volume set, from a friend. My wife wanted the used set, so we only had to purchase a new set, for me, which cost us $130, instead of $260.

Her set is 1976 and is the same as my new set.

We always pray the evening prayer together.

Jim
 
I started online with praying Compline on Universalis. I probably prayed this nightly for a year or so.

At some point I switched to Christian Prayer. The unofficial translation of Universalis is so much better. I did not use it very often.

I stopped praying the Liturgy of the Hours for awhile until I began using the the Anglican Breviary. It is essentially the pre-Vatican II Divine Office translated into “Elizabethan” or “King James style” English. At the time I was studying Latin. So, I prayed most of the prayers (Our Father, Confiteor, Glory Be, etc.) in Latin. And I prayed the psalms themselves in English. I used it for Compline every night. On Sundays and occasionally other days I would also pray Vespers. I also used the Office of Matins a little like the Office of Readings in the LOTH. Whenever I had a chance during the day I would pray it - usually I would just read the lessons without the accompanying prayers in the afternoon.

I used this for about 2 years. Occasionally during this period I would use the Monastic Diurnal (pre-Vatican II Benedictine Divine Office) instead in Latin, English, or a combination.

And during my time with the Anglican Breviary I also began using Christian Prayer again, praying Vespers on Wednesday evenings with a friend of mine in front of the tabernacle in a local parish whenever she could make it.

At some point I got out of the habit again because I was working some really long hours. But, now I have begun thinking about starting again.

James
 
My dh & I pray the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We do Morning & Night prayer, and Evening prayer as often as we can.

Peace,
Linda
 
This may be a silly question, but to those of you who have the four volume set, what color ribbons do you put in each section? I’ve changed for each volume I have, but I wasn’t sure if there was an ‘official’ order they ought to be in?
 
andy120 said:
This may be a silly question, but to those of you who have the four volume set, what color ribbons do you put in each section? I’ve changed for each volume I have, but I wasn’t sure if there was an ‘official’ order they ought to be in?
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I never actually paid attention to the color. Without looking I can’t tell you which color are in which section. In fact, I think the ribbons are in different order in one or two of the books.
 
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