Office Readings vs. Mass Readings

[Gabrielo]

I like to read and meditate on the daily readings of Holy Mass, especially now we can’t go to church due to the lock down. But recently I read about the Office of Readings (part of the Liturgy of Hours) as being perfect for the lay faithful to pray during this lock down. And now I am confused, because these are different readings.

At the moment I feel more comfortable to read the readings of Mass. Also there are interesting reflections available on websites, Youtube and smartphone apps. But I am aware that I am doing an imperfect thing by taking parts of Holy Mass while not actually joining a whole Holy Mass.

If I would pray the Office of Readings, I can do the whole thing “by the book”, but I would also miss the readings of Holy Mass of the day. Of course, I could do all of it, but I know myself, so it is better for me to start small than to not start at all. I will grow step by step.

So my question is: should I continue in my habit to read the readings of Holy Mass of the day, or is it better to switch to praying the Office of Readings?

 

[OraLabora]

The two are not mutually exclusive. During lockdown, many, myself included, have been doing both. I pray the Liturgy of the Hours daily, including the Office of Readings. If I have a few spare moments, especially on Sundays I’ll pull out my missal or go on line and read the daily Mass readings.

I’m not sure exactly why you think it’s impossible to do both. It isn’t.

The Office of Readings has both a scripture reading (not from the Gospels), and a patristic (church fathers) or hagiographic reading (from/about the saints). These readings are incredibly rich and worth the detour.

 

[porthos11]

I like to read and meditate on the daily readings of Holy Mass, especially now we can’t go to church due to the lock down. But recently I read about the Office of Readings (part of the Liturgy of Hours) as being perfect for the lay faithful to pray during this lock down. And now I am confused, because these are different readings.

At the moment I feel more comfortable to read the readings of Mass. Also there are interesting reflections available on websites, Youtube and smartphone apps. But I am aware that I am doing an imperfect thing by taking parts of Holy Mass while not actually joining a whole Holy Mass.

If I would pray the Office of Readings, I can do the whole thing “by the book”, but I would also miss the readings of Holy Mass of the day. Of course, I could do all of it, but I know myself, so it is better for me to start small than to not start at all. I will grow step by step.

So my question is: should I continue in my habit to read the readings of Holy Mass of the day, or is it better to switch to praying the Office of Readings?

Do the Office of Readings for your liturgical action, and the Mass readings for your personal lectio divina.

There is no either/or here.

 

[gotDoug]

But I am aware that I am doing an imperfect thing by taking parts of Holy Mass while not actually joining a whole Holy Mass.

I’ve never heard about it being wrong to take the readings from the Holy Mass (of the day) and reading them on your own outside of Mass. I think that’s a laudable and commendable practice. It allows one to stop and focus, or meditate on certain items, which isn’t possible at Mass. I know priests who read the upcoming Sunday Mass readings a few days in advance when they are preparing their homilies. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

If I would pray the Office of Readings, I can do the whole thing “by the book”, but I would also miss the readings of Holy Mass of the day. Of course, I could do all of it, but I know myself, so it is better for me to start small than to not start at all. I will grow step by step.

While I would highly encourage everyone to pray the Divine Office, and by extension the Office of Readings, there is nothing inherently wrong with only reading the scriptural and/or patristic/hagiographic readings of the day. You don’t have to pray the Office of Readings “by the book.” If you omit the introduction, hymn, psalms, and the collect, it simply becomes a devotional practice, as opposed to a Liturgy.

So my question is: should I continue in my habit to read the readings of Holy Mass of the day, or is it better to switch to praying the Office of Readings?

I think that’s a question only you can answer. You should do whatever is most beneficial to you and your prayer life. There is nothing wrong with either. You can continue to read the readings of the day from the Mass or read one or both readings from the Office of Readings alone (without reciting the rest of the Office). You can also do a combination of both. You can also read whatever Scripture passages you want, which do not need to be related to the Mass or the Office of Readings of the day.

 

[porthos11]

While I would highly encourage everyone to pray the Divine Office, and by extension the Office of Readings, there is nothing inherently wrong with only reading the scriptural and/or patristic/hagiographic readings of the day. You don’t have to pray the Office of Readings “by the book.” If you omit the introduction, hymn, psalms, and the collect, it simply becomes a devotional practice, as opposed to a Liturgy.

And often, that is what I do. The Office of Readings is not a regular part my day; my go-to Hours are Lauds, Vespers, and Compline.

However, I can and do lectio, and probably not as much as I ought to. With full awareness that I am not performing a liturgical action, I just read devotionally. Sometimes, just a reading from Mass. Sometimes from the two-year Office of Readings lectionary at the back of the Christian Prayer book.