Monastic diurnal

[puella]

I've just ordered a copy from St. Michaels, and then I can give my LOH to my sister (who's entering soon and needs to take Office books with her)

The prospect of being able to pray the "older" monastic Office is really exciting! Does anyone else use it, or have any experience with it?

[puella]

I got home from work today to find my Diurnal (I'm going to have real trouble typing that word, I can tell ) on my doorstep. Yippee! The ribbons have been knotted and I'm now figuring out which bit goes where.

This blog is a great resource for anyone wanting to pray the older form of the Benedictine office. Actually, what the difference is between that and the older form of the Roman office, I'm not sure. Except for things like whether the Nunc Dimittis is sung at Compline - I think I understand that one.

Anyway. Just to share the in happiness

[Anselm]

Hi Puella,

I use that version occasionally - I like to read the latin version now and again.
My community have Latin vespers, and I like the rythm. It feels a bit like getting back to basics - especially when the transaltion is provided!

I like the St Michael's Diurnal for the richness of some of the offices. Morbid maybe, but the Rite of Commending a Departing Soul is useful! Don't come across that very often! And when I find myself at that particular moment I'd love to have those words muttered in my ear!!

I confess I've never bothered working out precedence from the tables at the front, and I get lost trying to make sure I have the correct antiphons and collects....

For daily use I read the Shorter Benedictine Breviary. It's very easy to use, and I find the translations comfortable. And the extended readings for vigils is good. The only thing I perhaps find lacking, if that's not too strong, and it's the same for the Diurnal, it's the limited use of psalms. The Shorter Breviary at least has alternates, but nothng matches the Divine Office 4 week cycle for covering the psalms and canticles.


I'm glad you enjoyed receiving your new book. I love books - I share your joy!
Pax,
Anselm

[puella]

It's partly the complexity of the older office that attracts me; as a teenager I learnt how to pray the LoH in less than a week - it's not good for your ego to be able to pick up something like that so quickly. The rest of the Christian life is a challenge, so why shouldn't learning the Office be so too? Dumbing everything down is disheartening and discouraging.

As for the LoH being more comprehensive than the older Office - I'm not sure. The LoH omits a few verses of psalms whereas the older versions don't. If Matins is included then I'm sure that the older forms would have more pieces from Scripture than the newer.

[IgnatiusOblSB]

Greetings and Blessings! Friday 8 January 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I wish to thank "puella" for the link regarding learning about the Monastic Diurnal.

This is a great resource and I am studying it with every detail!

I have ordered a copy and should have it within a few days.
Being an Oblate these many years I have grown so much
with prayer and scripture. I am looking forward towards the
representation of this "early" period of the Holy Church when the
Monastic Diurnal was the sole source of Benedictine prayer life.

Thank you again for such a rich resource!

God Bless!

[IgnatiusOblSB]

Greetings and Blessings! Monday 18 January 2010

Well....I have just received this "wonderful" copy of the "Monastic Diurnal!"

I wish to quote from the PREFACE of this beautiful book of Holy Prayer:

We live in a time in which the thirst for novelty and for a superficial spontaneity
in the Liturgy have run their course, a time in which neglected treasures are
prized anew. The present reawakening to the riches of the Latin Liturgy and
Gregorian chant renders timely indeed the republication of this Diurnal. It is
offered by the monks of Saint Michael's Abby as a humble tool for sanctification,
a vademecum to help us on our way, as we hasten to our true and heavenly
homeland. Ur in omnibus glorificetur Deus.
Dom Cuthbert Brogan OSB
Conventual Prior
Corpus Christi, 2004

And...the day when I received this publication, a Priest friend came by my home
and Blessed it in the "true" Latin Blessing format!.....Wow!....what a wonderful gift!
This Priest friend is a "Hermit" living out (many miles) in a extreme forested rural area
in our local Parish community. He celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass locally several
times during the month. We are so Blessed to have him!

May the Lord's Blessings always be with You!