Thinking about buying Christian Prayer...

[Antonius Block]

I've been wanting to start praying parts of the Liturgy of the Hours (I primarily go to mass in the OF, so that makes more sense for me than the old Roman Breviary), and so I've been thinking of picking up a copy of Christian Prayer. Does it have all of the Hours, readings, etc, in it? What are its limitations?

I've been reading a bit about the Liturgy lately, and I can't figure out the 2-year cycle for readings, and whether that fits into the Liturgy of the Hours. Any advice on this?

I'm afraid I don't know enough to ask more specific questions: I just need help!

[Louis_Martin]

I can't stop you, knock yourself out.  Enjoy the psalms that have been removed for being "unchristian."  Enjoy the four weeks to say almost all the psalms.

I can't stand the new breviary, having prayed it for two years.  The intentions that you pray are also terribly translated.  One prayer in English asks God to provide adequate housing for the homeless.  The Latin asks God to provide the homeless a heavenly home.  Huge difference.

[CollegeCatholic]

PM Credo, if he doesn't respond here. 

[markadm]

'Christian Prayer' is not really a good example of the Roman Office, whether in its post- or pre-Conciliar form. Much better - but sadly more expensive - would be 'The Divine Office' (3 vols., UK, etc.) or 'Liturgy of the Hours' (4 vols., USA).

Christian Prayer includes Morning and Evening Prayer, Night Prayer, and the Minor Hour, but doesn't really do the Office of Readings (the post-Vatican II version of Matins) any justice at all. In fact, it includes no lectionary element. It does, though, have some Hymns with modern notation - which the others don't have.

As an introduction it's not too bad, and if you already have a Lectionary to make an Office of Readings, then you could start with it. But eventually, I fear it will frustrate you. It's just... well... lacking.

Also, you may find the post-Conciliar form of the Office eventually lacking. I started to notice it myself in Compline - compared to the Breviarium Romanum it has been decimated in the new rite.

I know you would like to have your Office agree with Mass - I too wanted that - but you may find the artificial nature of the post-Conciliar reforms ultimately too false or rigid to endure.

These resources might help you either in making choices, or in finding additional material you may need:
http://liturgyhours.blogspot.com/2008/07/resources.html

(Note to everyone else: if anyone wants to maintain that site, please PM me.)

[Antonius Block]

I can't stop you, knock yourself out.  Enjoy the psalms that have been removed for being "unchristian."  Enjoy the four weeks to say almost all the psalms.

I did notice, this morning, that Psalm 63 (62 LXX) had the last 3 verses chopped off, which seemed like a cop-out to me. All I can say is that, since I'm not attending mass primarily in the EF or following the traditional calendar, it would be weird to follow the traditional breviary. Also, praying the LOTH is better than sticking with the Magnificat, which, I admit, has had its benefits for me.

I can't stand the new breviary, having prayed it for two years.  The intentions that you pray are also terribly translated.  One prayer in English asks God to provide adequate housing for the homeless.  The Latin asks God to provide the homeless a heavenly home.  Huge difference.

Do you know where to find the Latin version? A shortened Latin-English edition would be ideal (a la Christian Prayer).

[Antonius Block]

'Christian Prayer' is not really a good example of the Roman Office, whether in its post- or pre-Conciliar form. Much better - but sadly more expensive - would be 'The Divine Office' (3 vols., UK, etc.) or 'Liturgy of the Hours' (4 vols., USA).

Christian Prayer includes Morning and Evening Prayer, Night Prayer, and the Minor Hour, but doesn't really do the Office of Readings (the post-Vatican II version of Matins) any justice at all. In fact, it includes no lectionary element. It does, though, have some Hymns with modern notation - which the others don't have.

As an introduction it's not too bad, and if you already have a Lectionary to make an Office of Readings, then you could start with it. But eventually, I fear it will frustrate you. It's just... well... lacking.

Also, you may find the post-Conciliar form of the Office eventually lacking. I started to notice it myself in Compline - compared to the Breviarium Romanum it has been decimated in the new rite.

I know you would like to have your Office agree with Mass - I too wanted that - but you may find the artificial nature of the post-Conciliar reforms ultimately too false or rigid to endure.

These resources might help you either in making choices, or in finding additional material you may need:
http://liturgyhours.blogspot.com/2008/07/resources.html

(Note to everyone else: if anyone wants to maintain that site, please PM me.)

I really am just looking for something as an introduction: Lauds, Vespers, and Compline are all I can see myself trying to do right now. Does CP fit the bill?

And I'm certainly not writing off the possibility or likelihood that I'll "graduate" to the preconciliar office one day!

[markadm]

I really am just looking for something as an introduction: Lauds, Vespers, and Compline are all I can see myself trying to do right now. Does CP fit the bill?

And I'm certainly not writing off the possibility or likelihood that I'll "graduate" to the preconciliar office one day!

Well, that's the thing: I wouldn't rule it out.

Ultimately you may find it incomplete, but as a beginning, it certainly is liturgical prayer. Yes, it may suffer from the nasty 4-week Psalter, and be missing this, that, and the other, but it is Liturgical prayer. So, as a fellow commenter said: "knock yourself out"!

God bless you. Happy Hogmanay.

[Louis_Martin]

Do you know where to find the Latin version? A shortened Latin-English edition would be ideal (a la Christian Prayer).

The Latin version's hard to get, let alone an English-Latin.  I used the iPhone App to compare.

[JayneK]

I really am just looking for something as an introduction: Lauds, Vespers, and Compline are all I can see myself trying to do right now. Does CP fit the bill?

There is a thick, one volume Christian Prayer:The Liturgy of the Hours which contains Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Night Prayer and a selection from the Office of Readings.  There is also a slimmer (and less expensive) volume called Shorter Christian Prayer.  It has the four week cycle for Morning and Evening Prayer plus one week of Night Prayer.  For an introduction, the latter is probably adequate. This is what I first used.  It requires less book-marking and page turning than the thicker one so it is simpler to use.  And it saves you money which may be a consideration, especially if you are going to graduate on to something better later.

[Rosarium]

I've been wanting to start praying parts of the Liturgy of the Hours (I primarily go to mass in the OF, so that makes more sense for me than the old Roman Breviary), and so I've been thinking of picking up a copy of Christian Prayer. Does it have all of the Hours, readings, etc, in it? What are its limitations?

I've been reading a bit about the Liturgy lately, and I can't figure out the 2-year cycle for readings, and whether that fits into the Liturgy of the Hours. Any advice on this?

I'm afraid I don't know enough to ask more specific questions: I just need help!

Maybe you would like the Little Office?