The Office: old or new?

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Hello everyone. I was wondering how many of you pray the older Divine Office. I pray the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin in the traditional form (which is part of the reason I am looking for the older office). If you pray it, why the older office instead of the newer? I find the language a bit more beautiful and easier to meditate on, but I do appreciate the office of readings in the newer office.

On a side note, I’ve been combing the internet looking for a Latin/English Breviary to complete my own set. The Liturgical Press put one out in '64 in three volumes, of which I have the third volume (August to the end of November.) If any of you have the other two volumes and would be willing to sell them, please shoot me a message.

Peace and love in Christ.
 
I pray the 1960 version of the Divine Office. I normally do not pray Matins, but I would like to start doing that hour. Here is a great website that can be used to pray a few different forms of the Office:

divinumofficium.com/cgi-bin/horas/officium.pl

That site also has a standalone program that can be downloaded so you can pray it without an internet connection. You can pray the Tridentinum, Divino Afflatu, 1955 and 1960 Offices through that website.
 
I thought you were talking about “The Office” - the TV show! 😃

(resume the regularly scheduled conversation)
 
The 3 volume bilingual Breviary by Liturgical Press is being re-typset and published with gilt edges and leather bindings by Baronius Press, who have also reprinted a 1962 hand missal.

It would be expensive, but you would certainly get what you paid for.

My only problem with it–they hymns are rendered into prose, and do not follow the Latin meter or rhyme scheme.
 
What I’d really like to find is a place where I can hear the prayers and pray along with them, YouTube or someplace where I can download an MP3 of the prayers. I have found some of the prayers individually recorded, but no place where I can find all of them. I’d really like to hear the latin, and read and pray along with it, or at least learn how to properly pronounce it.
 
Solo1959 said:
What I’d really like to find is a place where I can hear the prayers and pray along with them, YouTube or someplace where I can download an MP3 of the prayers. I have found some of the prayers individually recorded, but no place where I can find all of them. I’d really like to hear the latin, and read and pray along with it, or at least learn how to properly pronounce it.
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Angelus Press sends a Latin pronunciation guide when you purchase the Officium Divinum. Here is a review: angeluspress.org/oscatalog/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=419&reviews_id=37

Its 15% off right now too. It has all of the offices for Sunday, and Prime, Sext, and Compline for the rest of the week. Here is where to buy it. angeluspress.org/oscatalog/advanced_search_result.php?PHPSESSID=84bsb62ecvae7pf945op5l30e6&keywords=Divine+Office&x=26&y=9

Also, if you can go to a Latin Mass, depending on the priest, you can pick up on pronunciations. Singing the Credo and Gloria at a High Mass you’ll pick up on a lot too. Sometimes you can really hear the difference between American, French, or other “kinds” of Latin. You don’t have to copy those! I suppose most of us give ourselves away anyway as most people seem to be with second tongues.
 
I have a question. If you do not understand Latin, why do you want to pray the Office in Latin? Part of praying the Office is to meditate on the psalms as you are praying them. It is not just rote prayer. The psalms are the backbone of our prayerlife, but if one does not understand what one is praying then something is missing. I can understand praying in Latin at Mass since one can be reading the translation along with what the priest is praying…but in the Office, you are praying in private for the most part. I have been to Lauds and Vespers where it was completely chanted in Latin, and it was very beautiful, but I had no idea what the words of the psalms were. Part of the beauty of the Office for me is meditating on the psalms. BTW this is how the rosary developed. The people could not meditate on the psalms during communal prayer since they did not undertand Latin, but they could meditate on the words of the Hail Mary and the mysteries of the life of Jesus and Mary that were part of the rosary. I know many older priests who simply said the Office out of obligation when it was in Latin, but once it changed to the venacular, a whole new world opened up to them and they truly were able to pray the Office with real love and devotion.
 
Joannm said:
I have a question. If you do not understand Latin, why do you want to pray the Office in Latin? Part of praying the Office is to meditate on the psalms as you are praying them. It is not just rote prayer. The psalms are the backbone of our prayerlife, but if one does not understand what one is praying then something is missing. I can understand praying in Latin at Mass since one can be reading the translation along with what the priest is praying…but in the Office, you are praying in private for the most part. I have been to Lauds and Vespers where it was completely chanted in Latin, and it was very beautiful, but I had no idea what the words of the psalms were. Part of the beauty of the Office for me is meditating on the psalms. BTW this is how the rosary developed. The people could not meditate on the psalms during communal prayer since they did not undertand Latin, but they could meditate on the words of the Hail Mary and the mysteries of the life of Jesus and Mary that were part of the rosary. I know many older priests who simply said the Office out of obligation when it was in Latin, but once it changed to the venacular, a whole new world opened up to them and they truly were able to pray the Office with real love and devotion.
Click to expand...
Why not just buy a traditional Breviary in English?

Breviarylover
 
Harrison said:
I pray the 1960 version of the Divine Office. I normally do not pray Matins, but I would like to start doing that hour. Here is a great website that can be used to pray a few different forms of the Office:

divinumofficium.com/cgi-bin/horas/officium.pl

That site also has a standalone program that can be downloaded so you can pray it without an internet connection. You can pray the Tridentinum, Divino Afflatu, 1955 and 1960 Offices through that website.
Click to expand...
Just went over to the site. I live what I see prayerwise. A lot more that the LOTH which I pray. I will be using this until the 3 volumn set comes out and then I will probably buy that to use.

Now if they would only come out with it on the iPhone.
 
Joannm said:
I have a question. If you do not understand Latin, why do you want to pray the Office in Latin? Part of praying the Office is to meditate on the psalms as you are praying them.
Click to expand...
I know, I didn’t explain anything, therefore my question with zero context makes little sense.

There are many prayers in the Daily Office, for example:

Salva nos, Dómine,
  • Keep us safe, Lord
    vigilántes,custódinos dormiéntes;
  • While we are awake, and guard us as we sleep
    ut vigilémus cum Christo,
  • So that we can keep watch with Christ
    et requiescámus in pace.
  • And rest in peace.
Those like THESE, I like to follow along in both languages as best I can, just the way I typed it above. That’s how I read it at night. Although I do this alone, by myself, I somehow feel connected to others when I do it. My theory is that the Latin is common to everyone, but English is just for me. I of course read the Psalms in English because they are God’s way of speaking to me and I need to understand, but the prayers, as long as I follow along with the translation, seem to mean more to me when I see them in Latin as well. Such that once I learn what they mean, I theoretically can pray them with anybody anywhere in any time.
Joannm said:
I have been to Lauds and Vespers where it was completely chanted in Latin, and it was very beautiful, but I had no idea what the words of the psalms were.
Click to expand...
Yes, I’m POSITIVE it must be beautiful, but I have never, ever experienced this. And I’d like to. I figured if there were a recording somewhere, I could experience this. I feel like I am missing out on something beautiful.

I hope you don’t think I’m being weird or anything, and no, I don’t think they work better in Latin, I just wanted to see what it was like.
 
RoryMcKenzie56 said:
Angelus Press sends a Latin pronunciation guide when you purchase the Officium Divinum. Here is a review: angeluspress.org/oscatalog/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=419&reviews_id=37

Its 15% off right now too. It has all of the offices for Sunday, and Prime, Sext, and Compline for the rest of the week. Here is where to buy it. angeluspress.org/oscatalog/advanced_search_result.php?PHPSESSID=84bsb62ecvae7pf945op5l30e6&keywords=Divine+Office&x=26&y=9

Also, if you can go to a Latin Mass, depending on the priest, you can pick up on pronunciations. Singing the Credo and Gloria at a High Mass you’ll pick up on a lot too. Sometimes you can really hear the difference between American, French, or other “kinds” of Latin. You don’t have to copy those! I suppose most of us give ourselves away anyway as most people seem to be with second tongues.
Click to expand...
Thank you SO! much. I actually bought a book in January (English), so I can’t really get this one now, too. I found that they have a Latin Mass not far from my house and I’ll be going on Sunday. The whole thing is actually exciting. I love this.
 
RoryMcKenzie56 said:
Angelus Press sends a Latin pronunciation guide when you purchase the Officium Divinum. Here is a review: angeluspress.org/oscatalog/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=419&reviews_id=37

Its 15% off right now too. It has all of the offices for Sunday, and Prime, Sext, and Compline for the rest of the week. Here is where to buy it. angeluspress.org/oscatalog/advanced_search_result.php?PHPSESSID=84bsb62ecvae7pf945op5l30e6&keywords=Divine+Office&x=26&y=9

Also, if you can go to a Latin Mass, depending on the priest, you can pick up on pronunciations. Singing the Credo and Gloria at a High Mass you’ll pick up on a lot too. Sometimes you can really hear the difference between American, French, or other “kinds” of Latin. You don’t have to copy those! I suppose most of us give ourselves away anyway as most people seem to be with second tongues.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link to the Angelus Press Breviary.👍
 
You might also check out the Anglican Breviary. It’s like the Roman Breviary, but in Elizabethan English. Some FSSP priests recommend it to their laity in lieu of a Latin-only Breviarium Romanum. Differences are negligible.
 
Solo1959 said:
Thank you SO! much. I actually bought a book in January (English), so I can’t really get this one now, too. I found that they have a Latin Mass not far from my house and I’ll be going on Sunday. The whole thing is actually exciting. I love this.
Click to expand...
Windmill said:
You might also check out the Anglican Breviary. It’s like the Roman Breviary, but in Elizabethan English. Some FSSP priests recommend it to their laity in lieu of a Latin-only Breviarium Romanum. Differences are negligible.
Click to expand...
I use the Anglican Breviary and love it!!😃
 
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