A Guide to 7 Traditional Hours of the Divine Office

[@tommyofaquino]

I would really like to see it posted on KZbin so I can learn it

[@codynunez5246]

Beautiful vignette brother. Thank you for creating this. Totally helps me deepen my understanding and prayer of the Divine Office.

[@Cor_Jesu_Press]

Absolutely. God bless.

[@vivacristorey4363]

The reformed liturgy of the hours still uses a traditional 7 hours. But it has rearranged it slightly to be adaptable for modern use in most cases. The living magisterium has always had and still has the authority to do this. Office of readings is the first hour and is preferred as such, but can when necessary be done at some other suitable time of day. Morning prayer is the second hour can be said any time before 9am. The three minor hours remain fixed at 9, 12pm and 3pm. However, for most secular clergy, they are obligated to recite one of these. So the three psalms for the minor hours of the day can be used at any of those hours. For those who wish to pray two minor hours or all three of them, they can use the same three psalms, or specified complimentary psalms, or substitute them for other psalms. Evening prayer is at 6pm. And night prayer is at 9pm. It has always been the case that these times can change around when necessary for an individual or for a community when there is a need, but the reforms make this changing around more synchronistic and simple. There has actually always been 8 hours rather than 7. There have been 7 for the day and one for the night. I praise thee seven times a day and wake up to praise thee at midnight. But over time, the midnight office more commonly began to be prayed along with the first morning prayer. Although prime has been suppressed when it comes to obligation for most people, it can still be prayed out of charity and devotion to those who feel called to and by those who have it as part of their community rule.

[@MeowCockadoodledoo]

I was introduced to this daily prayers back when I used to attend daily Masses, where the local sisters with laypeoples would recite the Lauds and Vespers before Mass (using 1970 Liturgy of the Hours). But what joy it was for me to have found the richness of the old Breviary's Divine Office, where all 150 psalms are read in 1 week cycle. I still occasionally read my Office nowadays, since my current job hinders me from reciting the full 7 Office, but whenever I have the chance to chant it (using the 1962 Breviary), it gives me that mysterious vibes, as I also involve my chanting with body movements like those of monks.

[@tanksgt]

the potbelly stove at the end is neat

[@DavidWilson-hd6iz]

Just off to pray Terce now. Thanks!

[@mrsjackson9999]

For Laity living in the world the Little Office of the BVM is a reasonable option. And there’s various options if you have a particular order you are called to vs just the Roman (the Carmelite, the Dominican)…

[@vivacristorey4363]

This is true. However, it is good to note that the reformed liturgy of the hours actually takes about the same amount of time as the Little Office. It is only that one is simpler and can fit in your pocket. The reforms have made it so that the laity can more easily participate in this great work.

[@Yousef_altajiN]

Only pray the Tradition Divinum Officium

[@Cor_Jesu_Press]

nice

[@vivacristorey4363]

It is wrong to tell people to only pray an older form of the divine office. For those who feel called to do so they are free too. But it is not superior to the ordinary one.

[@Yousef_altajiN]

@@vivacristorey4363 theologically it is superior by far. Compare my friend. See the mountain of things removed.

[@vivacristorey4363]

@@Yousef_altajiN I have compared. They are different. One was necessary in the past. And the reformed one is what the Holy Ghost has chosen for our times as the ordinary means for the hours. Theologically it is erroneous to claim that the ordinary liturgy of the hours, approved and recommended by the magisterium, and used to sanctify the day by the majority of clergy and religious in our times, to be inferior to the alternative. It is wonderful that many prefer the older one and find sanctity in it, and it is approved for use by those who wish to. But it is wrong to tell people that they should only choose the older. As for "the mountain of things removed" I would highly disagree. Everything that was changed had reasons behind it. Things are often removed or added throughout time as the Holy Ghost leads the Church to meet the needs of the faithful in that particular time. The reformed one meets the needs of the faithful and is good and sufficient for sanctification. Changing the psalm cycle from one week to four weeks is not a removal. Anyone who wishes can pray the rest of the psalms each week if they wish. The Office of Readings was shortened because of the new calendar for Mass. Since mass has a three year and two year reading cycle the office of readings was shortened to synchronize with that. So that is not so much a removal but a redistribution.

[@Yousef_altajiN]

@@vivacristorey4363 nice. Whole load of Modernism...change of "understanding of dogma and doctrine"...nice

[@davidiancrux]

Which book do you use? The one from Angelus Press?

[@Cor_Jesu_Press]

Angelus press book is great for the chant. With changes in liturgical seasons I go back to it to re learn the chant for antiphons. Otherwise I use the Diurnale Romanum clearcreekmonks.org/gift-shop/diurnale-romanum-1962/ It’s completely Latin which I prefer because it makes it easier on the eyes, less clutter. No matins (so perfect for lay man)

[@davidiancrux]

@@Cor_Jesu_Press Awesome, I will have to try it. I don’t know latin though :(

[@tommyofaquino]

​@@davidiancrux If you stick with it and keep praying the psalms, it'll start making sense

[@z4gee12]

​@@tommyofaquino Can you clarify what you mean by that? As in, even if you don't study Latin, it'll start to make sense?

[@tanksgt]

what about the Capitular office

[@Cor_Jesu_Press]

Part of Prime no?

[@kyrieeleison1243]

Actually there are 8 canonical hours. 7 during the day and 1 during the night (matins). The modernists tried to suppress prime, which is why there are only 7 in the modern Roman office.

[@Cor_Jesu_Press]

@@kyrieeleison1243 might want to watch the video before commenting

[@C.S.S.M.L..]

Matins and Lauds are an unique Office

[@vivacristorey4363]

You are correct that there are eight. You are wrong to accuse the living magisterium of making "modernist" decisions as that would be Hell conquering Christ's Church - something that can't happen. Prime has been suppressed - meaning that most clergy are not obligated to pray it anymore. The reasons for this are clearly given in the documents that talk about it. However, prime still exists and can freely be prayed by those who feel called to do so. Rome has the right to reduce obligations or add them to suit the different needs during different ages of the Church.