How to QUESTION from Raoul July 18, 2001 Dear Brother, I ordered the book Christian Prayer, Can you please give me instructions on how to pray it? Also, What is the difference between this book and the 4 book set? which one is the one used by priests and nuns? Thank you and God Bless!
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, OLSM on July 20, 2001 Dear Mr. Raoul:
Well, to give instructions on how to pray the Office will take 14 session Course. I am working on an Online Course on how to Pray the Divine Office. I hope to have it done by the end of summer.
The difference between the one volume editions and the four volume editions is that the four volume contains ALL of the Divine Office. The Catholic Book Publishers one volume edition contains only the Morning, Evening, and Night prayers. It gives only a sample of Day Prayers and the Readings. The Daughters of St. Paul one volume edition contains ALL of the Divine Office EXCEPT the readings. It has only a sample of the Readings.
Both the one volume and the four volumes are used by priests and religious. At least one copy of the four volume has to be in a convent or monastery in order to have access to the readings.
Though, in many monasteries, the monastery prepares a loose-leaf version of the Divine Office specically designed for their purposes.
The Readings are a valuable part of the Divine Office in that it contains the sermons of the Saints, but it is optional.
Usually, only cloistered religious pray all 7 hours. Secular Priests and religious who are in active ministry often pray only the Morning, Evening, and Night prayers, and maybe one of the three Day prayers.
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