Monastic Diurnal Psalter

[ies0716]

I've seen a number of threads relating to the Monastic Diurnal (the Farnborough Abbey one).  I'm pondering buying one as I currently pray my daily hours using the Anglican Breviary but a) don't have anywhere near the amount of time necessary to say Matins b) don't find the Coverdale Psalter particularly "prayable" and c) I'm not holding out hope for the Baronius Press breviary to come out anytime soon.

My particular question is this: how "prayable" is the psalter?  I understand that they don't use the DR psalter but one of their own translation.  Is the language fairly easy to pray with?  I find that the language in the AB is so cryptic at times that it becomes a distraction to properly praying the psalter.  I find the DR more easy to understand, so if the MD psalter is similar to the DR than hopefully it will work better.

Just curious to hear what people's thoughts are.

http://www.farnboroughabbey.org/press/dirunal.php

[Tim]

I use the Monastic Diurnal if I don't have access to Laszlo's Divinum Officium. I recite the Office in latin and it is the same psalter in Latin as on Divinum Officium. The English is a little different and I think better. Here's a sample in English for Psalm 122;

Unto thee I lift up mine eyes * Who are enthroned in Heaven.
Behold, as the eyes of the servants, * are upon the hand of their master,
As the eyes of the handmaid upon the hand of her mistress, *
so are our eyes turned unto the Lord, until He showeth us mercy.
Have mercy on us, O Lord be gracious to us, *
We are overfilled with the taunts of the rich, *
and with the contempt of the proud.

Ad te levavi oculos meos, * qui habitas in caelis.
Ecce sicut oculi servorum,*
in manibus dominorum suorum.
Sicut oculi ancillae in manibus dominae suae: *
ita oculi nostri ad Dominum Deum nostrum,
donec miseratur nostri.
Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri: *
quia multum repleti sumus despectione:
Quia multum repleta est anima nostra: *
oprobrium abundantibus, et despectio superbis.

tim

[ies0716]

Tim,

Thanks for the feedback!  I was able to track down an older copy of the Monastic Diurnal (1948, I believe) at my local library, so I'll be looking through that and seeing what I think.  Do you know if there were significant changes to the text (not rubrics) between the 1948 and 1961 versions?

[Tim]

No I don't know but Laszlo (glgas) might. He's pretty much the expert, and I'm just the helper. There is also a fishie that posts infrequently,  if the question is very obscure concerning the Office, but he doesn't comment otherwise. I think his name is Paul, you might want to check to see if that is right and send him a message. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will see this and comment.
tim

[formerdatt]

I ordered mine today. There is an associated blog called "saints will arise". I love my Anglican breviary but some of the old English is too much for me, such as "paps" for "breast". I feel uncomfortable as a traditional Catholic carrying around a beautiful bound book labeled Anglican. I guess my sense of pride has turned to arrogance. Be that what it may, I dumped another 75 bucks with high hopes.

[Tim]

Regarding the 1948 edition, it is the same as the 1961. The Monastic Diurnal published by St. Michael's Abbey Press is the same as the first five editions compiled by the Monks of St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, and which were published by Dessian between 1948-1963. I found this in the Monastic Diurnal, that I have.
tim

[formerdatt]

Tim: So I have purchased in one volume, the day hours from the older three volume Collegeville set?

[Tim]

According to the inside of my Diurnal, yes. The one being printed now is just a re-printing of the other. For what this is worth I like it very much. The translations of the hymns are well, more manly, and less flowery, than the Roman Diurnal. In fact the entire book is that way, which would make it appear to be from before the cataclysm which is continuing. This warms my Pope Pius XIIth old heart. I am told and I have no reason to doubt this, the Diurnal was originally published as a handy book for traveling Monks, so they could recite the day hours as they traveled. And since I mentioned my favorite Pope Pius XII, did you know that when he called Cardinals or Bishops, or Monsignors on the telephone, they immediately dropped to their knees to receive the phone call. That's my kinda Pope.
tim

[formerdatt]

Tim: Besides also being an old grey haired codger, we have much in common. I am an original "traddie" from the pre-Vatican II days. I remember Pius XII as a young lad and the election of Pope John (The Jolly). Too bad things shortly went south from there. I really look forward to this book. i have had out my AB and Collegeville for the last day, comparing verses and prayers. i like what you wrote about being a bit more manly (the MD) and a little less prissy - my word here. When I lived in the south, stationed particularly in Virginia, all heads would bow at the name of Robert E. Lee. I love your anecdote about Pope Pius XII.

[Tim]

Yep, Pope John XXIII was a roly poly Pope with a smile and manor that was infectious. Fr. Pacwa says that in the miracle God allowed him he was dressed in a very old and patched Cassock. He was the image of a simple Italian country Priest.
tim