The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Divine Office

[nohself]

I’ve made it a habit to pray daily the morning and evening prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours. I now plan on praying the Little Office of the BVM. But I’ve been concerned about it distracting me from the Divine Office. However, I’m looking at page eight of the Little Office, which says,

“With the reform of the Divine Office or *Liturgy of the Hours *by the Second Vatican Council the guidelines emphasized that this Little Office had to conform to the general thrust of the Liturgy of the Hours so that it would be a prayer of the Church. Taking this into consideration the revision of the Little Office…follows the liturgical reform of the Divine Office.”

Does this mean that the Little Office may be prayed in place of the traditional Divine Office, and as such the Little Office may rightfully be called a part of the Divine Office?

Jamie

 

[nohself]

I did a little research…the Little Office is indeed considered a *part *of the Divine Office. It may replace the Liturgy of the Hours (in the traditional format) because the Little Office (as it is now) is itself modeled after it and is a true prayer of the Church. The format of the prayer is very much the same as the LOTH, only with a second reading–usually a homily from a saint, and with honor given to Mary in the plan of salvation.

Jamie

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Both are personal devotion, so do what you want. I would caution you against stacking up too many devotions. Better a few devotions said prayerfully than a bunch said just to get through them.

Scott

 

[nohself]

Scott Waddell:

Both are personal devotion, so do what you want. I would caution you against stacking up too many devotions. Better a few devotions said prayerfully than a bunch said just to get through them.

Scott

Yeah, that’s good advice. But the Divine Office and the Little Office are more communal than personal, as the Divine Office is the official prayer of the Church.

Jamie