Windmill, thank you for taking the time to offer your guidance. When I posted my last question, I missed your earlier reference to the MD. Please excuse my lack of attention.
As far as your inquiries go…
Why are you pursuing a more traditional Office?
Generally, it is in tradition that the beauty and glory of the earthly component of our Holy Church shine brightest, in my opinion. With regard to the traditional office, not only do I suspect that our Lord finds it more pleasing, but it enshrines a heritage well worth preserving.
Do you attend an EF Mass on Sundays or an OF Mass? (It is good to keep on the same calendar with Mass and the Office as they dovetail into each other.)
EF, and OF when necessary. The contrasting calendars have been an issue for me outside of Mass, however. Do I celebrate my feast day in July or Dec.?? I have been graced with signs and signals on both days, so I’m pretty conflicted.
Do you intend to pray with a group or by yourself? If a group, what version of the Office do they pray?
By myself, unless I come across a group that shares my preferences.
Are there any devotions (eg. Rosary) that you are already dedicated to, time wise? (Any form of the Office is a time commitment.
Yes, and indeed it is… if I were committed to praying all the hours on a regular basis. My goal is to simply learn to pray the office. Otherwise, I would love to pray at least one of the hours as occasion inspires or permits. To echo my earlier sentiment, my primary goal is to learn and preserve our endangered history, traditions and heritage so that should I ever indeed be afforded the luxury of time, I can put it into greater practice. In the least, I want to be able to pass them down to my children and make sure that such fruit are accessible to them.
Are you fluent in Latin? If no, are you dedicated to learning it? (It’s important to understand what you are praying, or else it turns into “magic”. After a few weeks, you will give up.)
Not at all, and YES. As extremely green as I am, I have been blessed to make it past more than a few weeks! My ambitions may be lofty but I find them worthwhile, as unworthy as I may be. While I have been praying prayers that I dont understand as I’m praying them, I dont regard it as “magic” but as practice… a means to an end… a manner by which I can continue learning and growing. Furthermore, I have little doubt that I am still graced with the merits and intentions gained by praying in such a manner.
How opposed are you to praying from a smartphone?
Very. I do on occasion, such as when there is a feast that I seek to anticipate with a novena that I dont have a hard copy of. To me this is not ideal, however. Least of all because I do not want my prayer life dependent on an internet provider, or a flimsy gizmo.
