L
Lady_Cygnus
Guest
This is in reply to a question on another thread in this forum - and since the LOTH has a lot of sacred scripture in it - I figured it would be ok to put it here.
There are three different types:
4 volume set - Full set - The liturgy of the Hours [LOTH]
1 volume - Christian Prayer [CP]
1 small volume - Shorter Christian Prayer [SCP]
The LOTH is the complete set - it has the Office of Readings which contains extended readings from the bible and the church fathers for each day along with the other hours. This is also the most expensive, usually costing about $140 or more.
CP is a condensed version of the four volume set - it takes out the Readings (although there are a few in the back). I found this one a bit more confusing than the 4 volume, mostly because it jumps back and forth so much in order to condense everything. This is usually about $30-40
SCP is a very small book that contains just the morning and evening prayer psalms with a couple of prayers for the special seasons (Easter, Advent, etc…). This is the cheapest of the three at only $20 or less (depending on the place you get it). Often churches will have copies of this in the chapel, so you could browse through it and see how comfortable you are with it.
What will work best for you depends mostly on how often you want to prayer and how comfortable you are with multiple volumes. The SCP is a good starting place because it introduces you to the two most prayed hours without much extra stuff to confuse you. The four volume is wonderful because of the Office of Readings (which I love).
One thing I would recommend (no matter which type - or maybe even to help you pick one) is the book Lord Open my Lips by Murry. It is an excellent guide to the hours. It takes you through the prayers step by step and explains the differences between the three types more clearly than I ever could. It’s set up to walk you through with a copy of the Liturgy on hand, but if you get it before getting the books it might help you decide which is more suited for you.
Also - once you do decided which type, the Saint Joseph Guide for Christian Prayer is extremely helpful. I don’t currently have one - but then I’m observing the saint days or really anything outside the four week psalmster. Actually - I’m more winging it - making sure I’m on the right week by comparing it to evening prayer at the church I go to.
I’m sorry, I thought you asked what it was.
There are three different types:
4 volume set - Full set - The liturgy of the Hours [LOTH]
1 volume - Christian Prayer [CP]
1 small volume - Shorter Christian Prayer [SCP]
The LOTH is the complete set - it has the Office of Readings which contains extended readings from the bible and the church fathers for each day along with the other hours. This is also the most expensive, usually costing about $140 or more.
CP is a condensed version of the four volume set - it takes out the Readings (although there are a few in the back). I found this one a bit more confusing than the 4 volume, mostly because it jumps back and forth so much in order to condense everything. This is usually about $30-40
SCP is a very small book that contains just the morning and evening prayer psalms with a couple of prayers for the special seasons (Easter, Advent, etc…). This is the cheapest of the three at only $20 or less (depending on the place you get it). Often churches will have copies of this in the chapel, so you could browse through it and see how comfortable you are with it.
What will work best for you depends mostly on how often you want to prayer and how comfortable you are with multiple volumes. The SCP is a good starting place because it introduces you to the two most prayed hours without much extra stuff to confuse you. The four volume is wonderful because of the Office of Readings (which I love).
One thing I would recommend (no matter which type - or maybe even to help you pick one) is the book Lord Open my Lips by Murry. It is an excellent guide to the hours. It takes you through the prayers step by step and explains the differences between the three types more clearly than I ever could. It’s set up to walk you through with a copy of the Liturgy on hand, but if you get it before getting the books it might help you decide which is more suited for you.
Also - once you do decided which type, the Saint Joseph Guide for Christian Prayer is extremely helpful. I don’t currently have one - but then I’m observing the saint days or really anything outside the four week psalmster. Actually - I’m more winging it - making sure I’m on the right week by comparing it to evening prayer at the church I go to.