Which Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary? (OBCL 331)

[@DG-zz6kp]

As a Catholic of Filipino heritage, I love how you also referred to her as "Mama Mary." :) God bless your review. I've been meaning to get into mine that I purchased over a year ago to ease myself into the idea of praying the Divine Office, and you reminded me that I have a keeper in my hands! I pray this brings more people into the treasures of our faith and tradition.

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

💕during Covid, I made a video for a virtual May Crowning /First Saturday and the little girl who crowned Mary called her “Mamma Mary” and she enchanted me with her child’s simplicity. I would like to approach Mary with that level of humility, trust, and love. Give the Little Office a try & let us know how your relationship with Mary grows.

[@a.c.6192]

At 11:48, for anyone that doesn't know, Septuagesima (Sept-ooa-jesih-ma) is the 3rd Sunday before Ash Wednesday/the 9th Sunday before Easter

[@JB1912JB]

A lovely overview. Thank-you! +JMJ+

[@luclomme550]

Thank you for this very helpful review. You have a very pleasant voice to listen to, God bless you.

[@elishem8533]

I have both as well. I prefer the new old. The 1961 one

[@paulgritter7957]

This is incredibly appreciated. I’m getting this version. I’ve been trying to learn it from the newer one, and have not been able to figure it out. Thanks you so much! ☺️

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

If you are getting the Baronius Press edition, I have just done a walk-through of Prime. I may make more walk-throughs.

[@seventhsonswain]

I've been wanting to pray this devotion and did not know which edition to purchase. I love the Douay Rheims, and You did such a good presentation and walk through, that I just bought one from EWTNRC before your video was complete. Blessings from "MOMA MARY" be yours for your labor of love on Her behalf.

[@josephmary969]

when i was in dicernment of religious life i stayed at buckfast abbey, a benedictine monastery, it was here i learnt God wanted me to stick with the franciscans... i later found the 1221 rule and became a third order. after serving a latin mass, an older lady gave me the story of john bradborne. what a blessing to find out he was also a third order in habit, who also stayed and dicerned his religious life at buckfast abbey!!! (maybe i stayed in the same postulant room he did???)

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Wow! Amazing 💕I would love to walk in his footsteps.

[@josephmary969]

@@DeannaWillistonOFS i often find myself asking for his help to be a better penitent... they (the monks at buckfast) also hold st thomas moores hair shirt, another i ask for help to be better at penance!

[@apt5245]

"You don't need this dumbed down version, friends." I just ordered 5 from EWTN. $4 cheaper than Amazon and free shipping over $75. My family and I will be ready WHEN the churches get shut down ...again by The Church. Thank you! "Pray, hope, and don't worry!" -Padre Pio

[@sharonglenn2692]

THANK YOU! I have the newer version. Makes me fell a bit better to find I'm not the only one to get confused.....I tend not to pray it because I don't know if I'm praying the proper part! 😓 all prayer is good but I also we should not feel aggrevated while in prayer 😊 thank you!

[@AmericanShia786]

Very wonderful comparison video on the Little Office. I prefer the Baronius Press version to the new one myself. I see you also have a video on the Angelus Press Little Office, so I'll watch that one as well.

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Thank you. Please let me know if you have specific questions.

[@jackdillon4467]

Everything made by Baronius press is very correct and high quality! Yes it is leather

[@eogh]

I got the new one. I was postulant for passionists but discerned out. Thanks for video I subbed.

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Thank you for sharing. Can I ask what you like about the new LOBVM? It’s not the most popular choice on here, so another view point would be interesting. (Also, I’ve been reading about St. Gemma & learning a little about the Passionists. I know it can be difficult to transition out; what have you been doing?)

[@eogh]

@@DeannaWillistonOFS for me I left because it seemed the order lost sight of its purpose. It cared more about enviornment than salvation. Its common I love St Paul of the Cross and Gemma but I knew for my soul I had to leave... Tbh it was just the cheapest...

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

@@eogh Ug. I understand completely & am praying for our religious. …And thanks for the honest feedback. Obviously, I started with the new one myself; it was a good introduction.

[@eogh]

@@DeannaWillistonOFS I got introduced to a Franciscan called Fr Richard Rohr in the order as well but I'm not sure I could agree with a lot of what he said I see you are franciscan so you'd probably know more than myself. I'm from Ireland BTW 🇮🇪 nice to meet you

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

@@eogh if you watch my videos, I do not endorse Richard Rohr at all; he has fallen into New Age spirituality. That does explain what happened to the order you were discerning; he and other priests and religious like him are leading people astray. ..and hello! I have made several friends overseas through the John Bradburne Memorial Society. And I am (part) Irish, too, but my great-grandpa fled a “mean step-mother” and took a boat to America.

[@tonethetallbaldy5039]

I once managed to see the actual little office book John Bradburn owned and prayed with! The book among other items such as his headband were on display at Westminster Cathedral a few years ago. Thanks for your thoughts on the little office and yes the traditional version is far superior!

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Oh, what a blessing! Thank you for sharing. 💕

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

I am still in awe of your post. I wish JBMS would tour the relics.

[@MichaelBrooksmsb400]

Though I have both, I am thinking of switching to the Traditional Little Office from the regular Liturgy of the Hours. I have too many variations of the Divine Office, beginning with the 4 volumes LOTH, and Traditional Offices. I just need to narrow it down to the simplicity of the Traditional Little Office for a period of time.

[@user-xo4om8qv6m]

Which one is the traditional little office ,I feel the same way as you do I need simple version

[@MichaelBrooksmsb400]

​@@user-xo4om8qv6mit's the smaller of the two books.

[@seppe1701]

Great overview. Thanks. What are the differences or purposes of each of the three offices? In the old Carmelite one there seems to be three different onces also, which are used for different seasons - one for advent, one for Christmas, one for the rest of the year. I'm not sure the Carmelite edition is available as a book. I am not going to be able to pray each of the eight hours, but rather when I have spare time I could aim for whatever hours I have those moments, with the aim to target a certain amount each day.

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Office 1: Ordinary, Lent, & Easter; Office 2: First Vespers of the First Sunday of Advent until None of Christmas Eve & the Annunciation; Office 3: Christmas Eve to Compline of the Purification

[@dcn.paulschwerdt1582]

Deanna, I just ordered the old Little Office from Baronius Press. Their bindings are excellent. I borrowed the new version from my parish for a while just to see what it was like. Actually I was curious about the Little Office because I asked myself, "can I just pray the Common of the BVM from my 4 volume Liturgy of the Hours"? I discovered that it was different. In fact, the Carthusian monks pray both during throughout their day. I ordered the old Little Office last week and I'm like an impatient kid who wants my present now. Due date is Dec. 23. So this is the fourth time I've watched this video of yours to get a sneak preview. I have been a permanent deacon since 1994, and by virtue of my ordination I'm obligated by Canon Law to pray the LH. I also own a Latin version that I bought in the early 90s. I'm working to come up to speed in Latin, because I dread what the next version's translation will be. The LH is an old friend to me. Years ago when I was in the seminary a priest called the Breviary "my wife," I guess because it kept him in contact with his Lord. Probably Our Lord also gave him a "Honey Do" list through it. I have a wife who can provide such a list for me. One added feature of the Latin version is that it has Sunday Lauds and Vespers antiphons for the Canticle of Zechariah and the Magnificat for all three Lectionary cycles, A, B, and C. Also, there are no Psalm Prayers, which I have never prayed. First, they only exist in the U.S.A. edition, they're not in the UK/New Zealand/Australia English editions, nor are they in the Spanish versions. (Just thought I'd add that piece of trivia). Second I always thought they were an insult, as if some liturgist were saying, "here's what the psalm means, in case you're too dense to understand." If you want to read about me and my altar boy days in the 1950s and 1960s, check this out: liturgyguy.com/2021/03/11/when-the-mass-changed-memories-of-an-altar-server-in-the-sixties/ Pax et bonum! (My deacon formation class was named the St. Francis group)

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

So much information! Thank you so much for sharing. Do the monks pray both at each hour or alternative or leader’s choice? And yes, our friars here (hmm OFM Cap & OFM Conv) all say the same thing about the Breviary being your wife, because she always want to go where you are and it’s awful when you leave her behind 🤣 Psalm prayers-what??? And yes!!! Thank you again!

[@juliawoods-larsen2088]

I am praying the one for Carmelites - Latin and English.

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Wait, you have your own? Who’s the publisher? (Curious Franciscan here...)

[@genesimmon1721]

I am interested as well.

[@michelleirby7587]

I downloaded a version of this on audible which was really disappointing because it says the audiobook is three hours long but only contains vespers and is only in English if anyone knows a version of this besides Veronica Brandt which is beautiful by the way where it is actually sung in Latin I would love to purchase that audiobook I like Veronica Brandt‘s videos but I am blind and can’t follow her PDF booklets I’d like to find some thing that just has a recording for each version so that I can go to the recording and sing along as I can’t see

[@marlonmunguia2392]

For lessons on chanting the LIttle Office, I recommend checking out Veronica Brandt Her channel: kzbin.info Her website: littleoffice.brandt.id.au/

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Yes, I mention her a lot in later videos and have even interviewed her!

[@cristinanewman]

Thank you! Thank you for this review. I’m glad I’m not the only person who found the 1988 ed. frustrating. And now we can chant too!!

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Did you see these LOBVM chant videos? There are free video tutorials as well as the course: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIKkl2mCfr2njac

[@clarekuehn4372]

What is the difference between the 1961 and pre-1961 version?

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

The 1961 version gives hints and clues with the “optional” parts: the opening and closing prayers, the commemorations, and the Angelus. (Check the front and the back sections of the book.) If you’d like to see the 1939 Latin edition, check here: coelifluus.wordpress.com/officium-parvum-b-m-v/ (see this English website for more information: www.traditionallaycarmelites.com/little-office-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary.html Hope that helps!

[@leodoyle7975]

Can you send me a link on where to get the older version on a UK website please

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Baronius Press is based in London, so you should be able to find it in the UK. Does this site work for you? www.baroniuspress.com/book.php?wid=56&bid=47#tab=tab-1

[@thomasmartin2743]

I have the modern version and don't like that the canonical hours are not in order. It assumes someone will likely just say Morning and Evening prayers and if one wants the "in between" hours, they are located in the back of book. This leads to constant flipping around. So, I am interested in the "old version" as it seems to lay the whole day in order in front of you. but what I don't understand is why there is no Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc? Are the prayers the exact same thing every single day of the week? The new version has a theme/emphasis each day. I like that. Or does the old version also have different prayers/readings under the various canonical hours: on Mondays, say this, on Thursdays say this, etc. If so, that would make sense. Would appreciate any feedback on this. Thanks.

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

The Traditional Little Office of the BVM has all of the Hours in order, by season. 1: Ordinary, Lent, & Easter; 2: Advent & the Annunciation; 3: Christmas Eve until the Purification. In addition, some of the hours vary in part, by day of the week: eg. Matins has 1st Nocturn for Sunday, Monday, and Thursday; 2nd Nocturn for Tuesday and Friday; and 3rd Nocturn on Wednesday and Saturday. This is basically a different set of Antiphons and Psalms. But…in general, the variation is by hour and season, not day of the week. This does make it easier if you are praying with someone in another part of the world and, I think, easier to remember by hour vs day. I think the different nocturna are breaking up the old, long Matins that was previously prayed throughout the night.

[@thomasmartin2743]

@@DeannaWillistonOFS Okay, thanks for the response, Deanna. So, if I purchase the tradition version and pray it diligently at the canonical hours, there shouldn't be flipping around to different parts of book, right? Just keep a bookmark ribbon where I left off and my day will go in order?

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

@@thomasmartin2743 I keep one ribbon at the (optional) opening & closing prayers and have another that I move throughout the day. You may quickly memorize the opening and closing prayers (and perhaps the Angelus) and then only need the Hourly ribbon.

[@thomasmartin2743]

@@DeannaWillistonOFS Okay, thanks. My other concerns are the stilted (to me) Thee and Thou language and also, not understanding Latin or chant, its inclusion would just seem to make the book more busy and distracting for me. In fact, I am surprised that the book is not larger due to this. Makes me wonder if the modern version has more actual content (alternative prayers, etc.)? So, I am torn. I want something that flows in canonical order without page flipping, but prefer modern language without the Latin. Sigh...guess I can't have it all.

[@DennisCalago-z2m]

How can I purchase the book?

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Whoops! I tried to include the link, but didn’t realize it wasn’t working. Thanks for pointing this out. Try EWTN Religious Catalog: www.ewtnreligiouscatalogue.com/the-little-office-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/p/BKMAR05401

[@latsots]

where can you get actually? its sold out everywhere seems...and nowhere in europe too

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Which edition?

[@latsots]

@@DeannaWillistonOFS baronius press, ok i found it now on Sophia Institute :) praise God

[@emr2425introibo]

I have the St Bonaventure Press reprint of the 1908 office. The old versions are better than the New office.

[@DeAnneRidge]

I have 1904 version. I’m getting confused. Any help is appreciated.

[@emr2425introibo]

@@DeAnneRidge I misspoke. Mine is 1904 as well. When I posted the comment I was going off of memory. I just checked my copy. 1904.

[@cor_.iesuu3]

Is the newer book from Amazon?

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

It is published by Catholic Book Publishing. Many versions, including this one, are available through Amazon.

[@cor_.iesuu3]

@@DeannaWillistonOFSI’m only 15, do you think I’d understand the newer version better?

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

@@cor_.iesuu3 completely up to you. IMHO the newer version feels less reverent. (And check out Veronica Brandt, even her little ones sing the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.) The old version is also more easily memorized, which can be a great help in moments when you really need your Mother. (And God bless you for taking up this prayer.) I have lots of videos with walk-throughs & you can ask me if you get stuck.

[@Bleu-en2bf]

Lovely, are there night prayers?

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

The new edition does have one version (without all the options that are in the Morning & Evening Prayer) for Night Prayer. Oddly, the Marian antiphons are given in Latin & English. The traditional version also has Compline in English & Latin, side by side for all three offices.

[@speedygonzales9993]

What about the Latin-English version?

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

This is one of the Latin-English versions; I do not understand your question. Can you elaborate?

[@speedygonzales9993]

@@DeannaWillistonOFS Tks!, my mistake.

[@laizablue2007]

By any chance is there a Spanish version of the book?

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Amazon has a scanned (not a reprint) of a Spanish edition; it does not say what region the Spanish is from, but lists that the book was originally published before 1924. I have not seen it myself, just found it on search.Look for it under this name: Oficio Parvo De Nuestra Señora La Santisima Virgen Maria, Segun El Breviario Romano... (Spanish Edition)

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

I also found this, but again, my Spanish is very basic. Please let us know if these are good resources: espiritualidad.marianistas.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/espiritu_de_maria_oficio_parvo_de_la_inmaculada.pdf

[@laizablue2007]

@@DeannaWillistonOFS Thank you so much! I have tried searching it myself and I just couldn’t find the right translation for the title so I was getting no where. God bless you for everything you do!

[@MichaelBrooksmsb400]

I also have both. The 1988 Little Office, both Morning and Evening Prayers you have 2 readings....the 1st readings you have a choice, and the second reading is non Biblical.....I always do both readings. I do prefer the older Little Office.

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Good solution!

[@Dan-bc9nx]

BAR-O-NI-US Press, not BARINOUS Press...

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

Lol I am a goof! Confession time: so I am an alumna of Steubenville, and I always imagine this to be “Baron-ious,” like it was published by a bunch of barons. I literally think this every time. I’ll work on it.

[@dcn.paulschwerdt1582]

Also, it's im-pri-MAH-tur. :=) But I loved what you had to say so it didn't really matter. And you corrected yourself in a later video. Pax et bonum!

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

@@dcn.paulschwerdt1582 thanks! That one is funny because I do know how to say it, but once ai am on camera, my funny little accent comes out.

[@tluke157]

Genesis 9:4 (Before the law) 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. Leviticus 17:10 (Under the law) 10 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. Acts 15:20 (After the law in the New Testament) 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. The consumption of blood is forbidden and condemned all throughout the Bible, it is not the will of God for a person to consume any manner of blood at all whatsoever, transubstantiation is heresy and no Catholic priest has any power to turn wine into blood let alone Christ’s blood.

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/angelus/2009/documents/hf_ben-xvi_ang_20090705.html

[@tluke157]

@@DeannaWillistonOFS Mary did not remain a virgin after the birth of Christ, Joseph and Mary had sexual intercourse and she became a mother of many children, that is Jesus’s siblings after the flesh: Matthew 1:25 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Notice it says her “firstborn” son… Mark 3:31-35 31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. Who are these “brethren” of Jesus mentioned here? Mark 6:3 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. And who are these “sisters” mentioned? Doesn’t it seem rather strange to you that the Catholic Church would teach the perpetual virginity of Mary seeing as how Jesus was the firstborn among others who would have been his siblings?

[@DeannaWillistonOFS]

@@tluke157 it does not seem strange. The word that you translate to mean “brothers” and “brothers and sisters” means kinsmen. It is used elsewhere in the Bible for people we know are Uncle and nephew and others we know from other passages to be first cousins. The Catholic Church has always taught this since Apostolic times even until now. It’s not something that was invented in the 1500s. See how I used the word “until” ? It does not suggest an end point. You find the word used throughout the Bible in this way.

[@tluke157]

@@DeannaWillistonOFS No - the intended meaning is very clear from the context that it is referring to specific types of “kinsmen” as you say and that is brothers and sisters and that would coincide with what is said in the book of Matthew about Christ being the “firstborn” of Mary because the implication is that she continued to bear more children after her firstborn son. There is no reason that can be gathered from scripture that Mary remained a perpetual virgin, you’d have to get that from another source or “authority” and of course you get that from the Catholic Church not scripture. Just like you get all manner of unbiblical ideas about Mary such as the immaculate conception and the assumption and so forth, none of which are found in the Bible but are claimed by the Catholic Church… And just so you know there were many Christian groups outside of the Catholic Church prior to the Protestant Reformation and before the 1500s, that includes first of all the churches in Rome and Corinth and Galatia and Philippi and Ephesus and Thessalonica and so forth which were formed in the 1st century, as well as the Waldensians and Vaudois and Albigenses and Paulicians and Lollards (etc) who were persecuted and deemed heretics by the Roman Catholic Church because they were opposed to their false teachings. And let me ask you this - how can you claim on one hand that you believe the Bible (which all throughout from Genesis to Revelation condemns the consumption of blood) and then on the other hand believe and say that you are to consume blood in the sacrament of the mass? Are you suggesting that the biblical prohibitions against consuming blood found in (Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:10, Acts 15:20) are not given by God or are not legitimate scripture?

[@gera7734]

@@tluke157 You have to cross-reference the scriptures to understand properly because the term "brother" can be applied to men who are brothers by nature, kinship, race and by love. James and John are brothers "by nature" since they have the same father, Zebedee (Mark 1: 19). Cross-reference Matt 27: 55-56 with Mk 15: 40 and you will see their mother is called Salome. For James (the less), Jo’ses, and Jude, these are also brothers "by nature". Acts 1: 13 tells us their father is Alphaeus. Their mother is called Mary in Mk 15:40. This "Mary" is NOT the mother of Jesus since in John 19: 25 we are told she is the wife of Cleophas. Cleophas is an alternate translation of Alphaeus, so he is the same person named in Acts 1: 13. Simon (known as "the zealot" or "Canaanite") is also called a "brother" of the others. Given the moniker, it is most likely he is their "brother by race" and not "by nature". The same principle applies to 'sisters' who are unnamed. To sum it up: Zebedee and Salome begat James and John Cleophas (Alphaeus) and Mary (the ‘other’ Mary in Mt 27: 56, 61, 28: 1, Jn 19: 25) begat James (the less), Jo’ses, and Jude. The Holy Spirit and Blessed Virgin Mary begat Jesus Christ. Read Isaiah 66: 7-8-9 too

[@tobitsdogcasenerd]

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