A
Andruschak
Guest
I was on another retreat this weekend, at the Serra Retreat Center. The main theme was asking questions while on the spiritual path. But we also had some free time, so I decided to recite the Little Office of the BVM in the Baronius Press Edition.
My curiousity was aroused over in the Catholic Forums by some “traditionalists” who claimed the older edition of the LO were far superior to the modern 1988 edition from Catholic Publishing. Well, is it?
That would depend on what you regard as traditional, and how important it is to you. The 1988 LO has little latin, and is based on 14 Offices, Morning and Evening Prayyer for the seven days of the week. It is a simple, sturdy, well-put-together edition; well suited for today’s Catholics, like me.
The Baronius LO has everything in both Latin and English, but in general you recite the same office day after day. Little changes as far as day to day goes. You also pay for 42 pages of Gregorian Chant used with the Office. Articles in front and back flesh out the bare bones of the Office.
One of these articles explains why the Office has SEVEN hours, even though there are actually EIGHT hours. But Matins and Lauds were traditionally said together. One of the articles warns that “haste is the destroyer of devotion”.
So at the retreat, On Saturday 26 April, I recited the Office from start to finish, as it was intended to be recited.
Matins 15 minutes, Lauds 10 minutes, Prime 4 minutes, Terce 4 minutes, Sext 4 minutes, None 4 minutes, Vespers, 9 Minutes, and Compline 10 minutes. One hour altogether, and that does not include the optional prayers before and after the offices, nor the optional Commemorations.
Conclusion: If you are one of those who enjoy saying the same prayers day after day, This version of the Little Office is what you seek. It will become like those comfortable old slippers that you just cannot do without.
For myself, no. I will keep the Baronius edition for use on those Sundays when I know I have an extra hour to recite it slowly and properly. But otherwise I will continue to use the 1988 edition for those weeks when I choose to recite the Little Office. (Maybe once every couple of months, to avoid boredom of reciting the same office week after week.)
I also talked with the Priest giving the retreat about my prayer program with the BSP/CFP. As a Recovered Alcoholic himself, with an extensive knowledge of just what kind of person I am, he reminded me to “KEEP IT SIMPLE” and EASY DOES IT".
In fact, after we talked it over quite a lot, he said he would rather I go for a prayer program of silent meditation, contemplation, and Eucherist Adoration. NOT piling devotion upon devotion, biting off more then even a hippo could chew. We indeed had Eucherist Adoration at the Retreat, and I found it to be profoundly spiritual in a way quite different from rote recitation of The Divine Office or the Little Office.
All in all, a worthwhile weekend devoted to AA’s 11th step.
My curiousity was aroused over in the Catholic Forums by some “traditionalists” who claimed the older edition of the LO were far superior to the modern 1988 edition from Catholic Publishing. Well, is it?
That would depend on what you regard as traditional, and how important it is to you. The 1988 LO has little latin, and is based on 14 Offices, Morning and Evening Prayyer for the seven days of the week. It is a simple, sturdy, well-put-together edition; well suited for today’s Catholics, like me.
The Baronius LO has everything in both Latin and English, but in general you recite the same office day after day. Little changes as far as day to day goes. You also pay for 42 pages of Gregorian Chant used with the Office. Articles in front and back flesh out the bare bones of the Office.
One of these articles explains why the Office has SEVEN hours, even though there are actually EIGHT hours. But Matins and Lauds were traditionally said together. One of the articles warns that “haste is the destroyer of devotion”.
So at the retreat, On Saturday 26 April, I recited the Office from start to finish, as it was intended to be recited.
Matins 15 minutes, Lauds 10 minutes, Prime 4 minutes, Terce 4 minutes, Sext 4 minutes, None 4 minutes, Vespers, 9 Minutes, and Compline 10 minutes. One hour altogether, and that does not include the optional prayers before and after the offices, nor the optional Commemorations.
Conclusion: If you are one of those who enjoy saying the same prayers day after day, This version of the Little Office is what you seek. It will become like those comfortable old slippers that you just cannot do without.
For myself, no. I will keep the Baronius edition for use on those Sundays when I know I have an extra hour to recite it slowly and properly. But otherwise I will continue to use the 1988 edition for those weeks when I choose to recite the Little Office. (Maybe once every couple of months, to avoid boredom of reciting the same office week after week.)
I also talked with the Priest giving the retreat about my prayer program with the BSP/CFP. As a Recovered Alcoholic himself, with an extensive knowledge of just what kind of person I am, he reminded me to “KEEP IT SIMPLE” and EASY DOES IT".
In fact, after we talked it over quite a lot, he said he would rather I go for a prayer program of silent meditation, contemplation, and Eucherist Adoration. NOT piling devotion upon devotion, biting off more then even a hippo could chew. We indeed had Eucherist Adoration at the Retreat, and I found it to be profoundly spiritual in a way quite different from rote recitation of The Divine Office or the Little Office.
All in all, a worthwhile weekend devoted to AA’s 11th step.