Question Regarding LOTH

[Epistemes]

I had a question/request for advice. This Lent I would very much like to try to pray the Divine Office. However, as I attempt to purchase book, discover how to use book, etc. I am becoming confused and disheartened. What, for instance, is the difference between the Breviary, the Divine Office, and the Liturgy of the Hours?? Are there different versions or translations? What do you use? Where did you obtain your copy? How did you learn to use it? Maybe God doesn’t want me to pray the LOTH. Hmmm. Any sage advice? Know any website where I can get the correct book at a reasonable price?

 

[tinalewis]

Hi there -

No sage advice, here, but I’ll share what worked for me.

My two essentials were Divine Office for DODOs and a copy of Christian Prayer.

You can find both at any Catholic bookstore and a regular bookstore (Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc.) can order them for you. They can also be found at Amazon.com as discounted new and also used. Usually eBay also has a used copy or two up for bid. I’ve seen well-used but still perfectly fine copies of Christian Prayer for as low as a $5 starting bid on eBay. Don’t hesitate to order a used copy, as the pages and binding hold up well under years of use and remain completely usable.

LIke any wonderful spiritual practice, it takes effort and desire to learn and practice. Remember to pray for guidance from Jesus and the Holy Spirit . . . and you will succeed. You may not become a LOTH whiz overnight, but it will happen.

All the best on embarking on this marvelous prayer!

 

[tinalewis]

Oh - one more thing.

If you want to ‘try before you buy’, then ask your priest or a religious if they have an extra copy you could borrow. I’m sure they’ll be happy to take a look and ask around to see if they or someone else has a copy for you.

 

[Fidelis]

I was praying the one volume LOTH for a long time, but during one of the busier times of my life, I fell away from it. I’ve also decided to take it up again for this Lent. Once you get started, it’s fairly easy but it does take persistence.

There are three volumes to choose from:

-Shorter Christian Prayer (one volume, less reading options, takes less time)

–LOTH 1 Volume (one volume, all of the prayers, but not all of the readings)

—LOTH 4 Volume (4 volumes, the one priests and religious use, contains all the readings).

In addition to the books recommended above, here are some websites that may be helpful:

Simple Way Limited Partnership and Lay Apostolate

The Liturgy of the Hours online

Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) Q & A Index

Universalis Daily Prayer Online

Someone also started a good thread here.

Hope that helps!

 

[dcrowmik]

I had a question/request for advice. This Lent I would very much like to try to pray the Divine Office. However, as I attempt to purchase book, discover how to use book, etc. I am becoming confused and disheartened. What, for instance, is the difference between the Breviary, the Divine Office, and the Liturgy of the Hours?? Are there different versions or translations? What do you use? Where did you obtain your copy? How did you learn to use it? Maybe God doesn’t want me to pray the LOTH. Hmmm. Any sage advice? Know any website where I can get the correct book at a reasonable price?

Catholic Book Publishing Company is where I got the full set of four volumes. Breviary, Divine Office, Liturgy of the Hours - they all refer to the same thing.

A couple online guides on how to pray the hours: tutorial here and guide here.

It will probably take you about two weeks to get the full hang of how to pray the hours but it is well worth it. If you do decide to jump full in and pray all the hours (there are seven of them throughout the day), plan on spending about 1-1/2 to 2 hours out of your day to be able to offer them prayerfully without rushing through. If that sounds a bit much, then at least start your day off with the Office of Readings (about 30 minutes) and end your day with Night Prayer (about 10 minutes). After you’ve gotten into that habit you can then add one of the Daytime Prayers, then Morning Prayer then the remaining two Daytime Prayers.

Some have said it was hard for them to fit all the hours into their day. Others have found they were able to jump right into praying all the hours from the very beginning. You will need to determine how much you want to modify your day. You will find that you will either drop an activity or two that you are now doing each day, will become more efficient at some of those activities or you might decide to get up a little earlier and go to bed a little later. Whatever you do you will find it richly rewarding.