The Divine Office: A Study of the Roman Breviary

_Advent_ (Latin, _advenire_, to come to) is a period beginning with the Sunday nearest to the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30) and embracing four Sundays. In the early Church t...

The title of the Breviary is, BREVIARIUM ROMANUM EX DECRETO SACROSANCTI CONCILII TRIDENTINI RESTITUTUM S. PII V. PONTIFICIS MAXIMI JUSSU EDITUM, ALIORUMQUE PONTIFICIUM, CURA REC...

There are many reasons why we should recite the Divine Office devoutly, for (1) the words which we read are holy; (2) He to Whom we speak is God; (3) we speak in the name of Hol...

Beneficed Clergy are those who hold a Canonically erected benefice. Canon 1409 of the _Codex Juris Canonici_ defines an ecclesiastical benefice to be a "Juridical entity constit...

_Etymology, Definition, Symbolism_. The word "Lauds" is derived from the Latin _laus_, praise. It is applied to this Hour, as it is _par excellence_, the hour in which God's pra...

_Etymology_. The word _Matins_ is derived from _Matuta_, the Latin name for the Greek goddess of morning. The word used in the Roman Breviary is _matutinum (i.e., tempus)_. It i...

From all eternity the Godhead was praised with ineffable praise by the Trinity--the three divine Persons. The angels from the first moment of the creation sang God's praises. _S...

_Etymology_. The word _vespers_ comes directly from the Latin _Vesper_; _Vespera_ or _Espera_ was a name given to the star Venus, which rising in the evening was a call to praye...

safe as the apple of His eye and to protect us "under the shadow of His wings" (Ps. 40, v, 6). These solemn words of our dying Saviour have been, in all ages, and in all lands,...

_Etymology._ The word Terce comes from the Latin word _tertia (hora)_, third. Because this little Hour was said at the third hour of the Roman day, that is, about 9 o'clock in t...

_Etymology_.--The word, Breviary, comes from an old Latin word, _Breviarium_, an abridgment, a compendium. The name was given to the Divine Office, because it is an abridgment o...

It is excellent in itself, in its antiquity, for in substance it goes back to the first ages of Christianity. It is excellent, in its author, for it has been constructed and imp...

Who are bound to say the office? Must every holder of a benefice read the office? What sin is committed by the omission of a notable part? What sins are committed by the omissio...

I. Idea of the Breviary II. Short History of Divine praise in general, of the Breviary in particular III. The excellence of the Roman Breviary in itself and in comparison with o...

Parts Pater Noster and Ave (Title XXXII) Credo (Title XXXIII) Domine labia mea--Deus in Invitatory (Title XIX) Hymns (Title XX) Antiphons (Title XXI) Psalms (Title XXII) Canticl...

MORAL THEOLOGY GIVES THE RULES AND LAWS, WHICH MUST BE FOLLOWED FOR THE VALID AND LICIT RECITATION OF THE HOURS. ASCETIC THEOLOGY EXPLAINS THE MEANS, WHICH ARE TO BE USED IN THE...