$350 and it's all yours...Baronius Breviarium Romanum

[Mithrandylan]

NYC, what hours does your diurnal have?

I think all diurnals, by definition, have all hours complete, except Matins. 

Really?  I thought that they just had Lauds, Vespers and Compline.

I don't mind doing matins on the computer, but I'm sick of doing all the other hours on the computer.  Can you tell me what diurnal you have?

[newyorkcatholic]

NYC, what hours does your diurnal have?

I think all diurnals, by definition, have all hours complete, except Matins. 

Really?  I thought that they just had Lauds, Vespers and Compline.

I don't mind doing matins on the computer, but I'm sick of doing all the other hours on the computer.  Can you tell me what diurnal you have?

The reason they have all the day hours is, I believe, for the convenience of apostolic religious.  You are never (on the traditional schedule) going to say Matins apart from your community or wherever you are residing, but with a diurnal on hand (which is one volume for the whole year, no switching tomes) you can fulfil your obligation to recite the other hours while you are on assignment at a university or hospital or parish duties.

Because of price and time and the fact that laypeople are not bound to Matins, it becomes a nice alternative to the full office for laypeople.

I have this one: http://pcpbooks.net/product.php?id_product=55665

Very reasonably priced, good reprint.  But I'm getting the Baronius breviary for the reasons I mentions.

The diurnal above btw is:

-Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, Compline
-Gallican Psalter (Vulgate)
-Good appendices but mostly for priests (formulas for sacraments in extremis, preparation for Mass, common rituals for blessings, and so on.
-Has office of the dead and of the BVM (but not Matins for those either).
-Completely in Latin

[Mithrandylan]

Completely in latin... bummer.  I can get by on some, but not all   :(

[Tim]

Mith, here's a Latin/English Diurnale, but it's Benedictine. I use it and like it much more than the '62 Diurnale Romanum. It has the old psalter not the Pian, and it's  a bit easier than the Roman, but has more psalms. If you recite the entire Benedictine Office including the Nocturns, which are not included, you get to 279 psalms per week. The store is in the UK.

http://www.theabbeyshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_29&products_id=745


tim

[Mithrandylan]

Tim, thanks for posting.  I actually found those guys about a week ago!  I think I'll probably order it sometime within the next few weeks. 

[Windmill]

Okay, as promised I am writing my thoughts on the 1963 Monastic Diurnal (2011 printing),  I just got it in today, and I am totally wowwed!  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had the previous printing (6th edition, first reprint), and it was very nice.  I sold it because I got the Diurnale Romanum and wanted to give that an honest shake.  I found out that I really needed a Latin-English prayerbook because my Latin, though decent, was not competent.  I also missed the Nunc Dimmitis that is not in the MD, but I have come to appreciate the fact that the psalter and Benedictine setup in the MD is more traditional than the 1962 BR (especially after the 1911 reforms by Pius X). 

Here are my first impressions of the newest reprint:
1) It is thicker.  You may say, that's a negative, but in this case it isn't.  The first reprint fit nicely in the coat pocket, but in the hand it was awkward.  You almost had to scrunch your hand to hold it.  Because of the added thickness, this edition is a whole lot easier to cradle in the hand.  The height and width are the same, so it's still a nice little package, but the slightly increased depth makes it more user friendly

2) The pages are a little lighter.  Not a big deal since there is a ton of ink used in this book.  The contrast was awesome before (you could easily read the type), but now it is a little better.  This is nice for low-light situations.

3) I can't remember, but I think the first version only had 5 ribbons.  This new version has 6.  Nice when you are honoring a saint on his feast day and have to move in and out of the Commons.

4) Leather binding is not quite as rugged as the first reprint.  Don't get me wrong, it blows away the LOTH and it will last a long time.  It just feels like there is a tiny less quality.  This may change as the Diurnal gets used more.  I also may be totally hallucinating and it's the exact same leather.  This is probably the case.

5) The font is amazing.  It really feels authentic - like you've uncovered a relic from a century ago.  The feeling of praying with Benedictine monks of ages past is really there.

6) Gilding: it's there.  It's nice.  It sticks at first, but the pages easily separate.  I have the black leather edition of the LOTH, and I am still prying pages apart that are "gilded" together.  I don't have that problem with the MD.

7) The inserts are less attractive.  The first reprint had the Benedictus/Magnificat and the sheet on ranking feasts printed on heavy card stock and cut to dimensions that would fit into the MD easily.  This version has the same stock for the Benedictus/Magnificat, but the ranking of feast table is regular paper.  Also, both sheets are too big to fit in the MD, so they will have to be cut with scissors or reprinted.  This isn't a big deal, but since there is no Ordinary in the MD, you would have to mark the Sunday Lauds and Vespers with Holy Cards or something to use the "native" B/M.

8 ) Prayers: Elizabethan English with the thee's, thou's, etc...  It seemeth like a true English work that healeth the soul.

So, there it is.  I am looking forward to returning to using the Latin/English, single-volume, traditional Psalter, Elizabethan English, pocket-sized, Benedictine treasure. 

P.S.  If you order from the Abbey Shop as linked above in my post and Tim's, get the expedited shipping.  Even then, I think there's a customs lag.  I ordered mine on Feb. 27 and just got it today (Mar. 12).  Don't do what I did and give up on the Abbey Shop and order a second MD from another place.

P.P.S.  I will shortly have an extra, brand new MD that will likely be sold to a friend or Fisheater.  PM me if you are interested.  I will just sell it for the retail cost plus shipping.  I don't want to make a buck off it, but I don't want to lose a buck either.

[formerdatt]

Well gang, for what it's worth, They have had my check for over two weeks and no books, no shipping email, nada. Maybe to be expected with this outfit. Too high my expectations I guess.

[newyorkcatholic]

Well gang, for what it's worth, They have had my check for over two weeks and no books, no shipping email, nada. Maybe to be expected with this outfit. Too high my expectations I guess.

Same here.  I called them about this today (and left them a message).  Hopefully they'll reply and let me know when to expect the volumes.

[formerdatt]

I could never get through. Thanks for the good college try and the update!

[Adam Wayne]

Just curious, for those who put in an order at Baronius.

I never received an order number when I used the link. I had to email them to get a confirm number to write on my check.

Did this happen to anyone else?

I think they said to expect delivery in 6 to 8 weeks. So I'm thinking it should arrive by the end of April.

I am fortunate to have a Latin and English set, so I am in no rush. But, I certainly understand the excitement and anxiety about the entire process.