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| PJD | Saturday, 27. June 2009, 07:05 |
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"You are correct Vespers forms part of the Divine Office that Priest, deacons and religious say each day. It is the Prayer of the church and anyone who wishes may share in it. There are several versions for use by congregations, which abbreviate the 3 Vol Divine Office. I think its use should be encouraged and it can be quite beautiful if the Hymns are sung and the psalms intoned. The joy is that does not require a minister, special or otherwise, to lead it." I would like to make an observation about this Penfold - I mean what we call 'saying the office'. First it is very nice if said in the Church e.g. before Mass - but people come and go. When I started there were two or three, and it gradually increased to about eight or nine over a period, and thereafter reduced until there was only one (not me). At one instance as I was a sacristan, it was indicated to me that those duties over-rided joining in, and since then I rarely said the office in company. This story, if you like, reflects the fact that the priests, being fewer in number, are pushed to get as much help in the ordinary church arrangements. Another point, when I asked whether priests have the same difficulty as I have of saying the office at the correct time i.e. morning prayer in morning, evening in evening, - I was told that they had. In fact one priest was said as sometimes to say his office in one go, right through. In response to this another priest said that was 'illegal'. So you have to smile. Even on the internet at one time, a Jesuit I think, pointed out that saying morning prayer (e.g. at 2pm) was acceptable because you were in fact joining in with those on our planet who were still in morning time. There is a third point - and that priests do not as far as I know say the office with one another. They say it like most of us who say the office - in private. So there are difficulties all round as I see it in trying to get 'two or three' saying it together because for most people the 'opportunity-time' obviously varies according to the individual daily routine (or variable - and very variable - routine). Sorry to be so long winded about this. I can start morning prayer now - and then telephone goes - carry on where I left off - and then a knock at the door. Very unsatisfactory, so I avoid that sort of thing and say it anytime in a time when I am fairly certain not to be disturbed. Sorry to be so long winded, but I wanted to contribute to this subject in some way. PJD |
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| Lay led devotions · General Catholic Discussion | |
5:06 PM Nov 25