Breviaries, breviaries & MORE breviaries...

taken from my previous blog: http://dominexaudinos.blogspot.com/2007/10/breviaries-breviaries-more-breviaries.html


My attention now focused on traditional breviaries that was in vogue before Vatican II. Several options were available for me and among them were:

1. Romanum Breviarum (Roman Breviary) 3-4 volumes

2. Officium Divinum (Angelus Press) * condensed version of the tridentine breviary

3. Monastic Diurnal (St Michael's)

4. Monastic Diurnal (St Andrews Press)

5. Anglican Breviary (Frank Gavin liturgical press; reprinted by Daniel Lula)

From all the 5, I have ordered and received #2 Officium Divinum, and ordered #5 Anglican Breviary. #1 was actually my ideal choice and it is the complete compilation of the Roman office. Most expensive due to the number of copies in a complete volume and it being priced high for each (cost a bomb all together!) News has gone out that Baronius Press is coming out with a republished edition by late 2007 or 2008.

After much consideration, I reckon the Roman Breviary would be too expensive unfortunately, as my finances cou'ldn't cope with the possible exorbitant pricing after considering overseas shipping and exchange rates. KIV-ed it for future purchase to make a great additional collection to my devotional books.

Next, I did an online comparison between the Diurnals which had no Matins, some price comparison, and the usability of each edition. Ok, perhaps the diurnals were abit pricey as well, St Michaels edition of the Diurnal had an extra Latin translation over St Andrews edition (Anglican edition) The other downside of it was though it is really really traditional form pre-dating that of the Roman Breviary, the little hours and Compline is the same for the whole week. I much prefer some variety especially for Compline as it is "my most creative hour" and I'm usually free from work at that time.

So, I decided to get the Officium Divinum first as it was a practical choice; its useful for travel as it is short, only contains Sunday Lauds, Prime, Sext, Vespers & Compline and the rest of the week's Prime, Sext & Compline plus it was a beautiful edition which I believe was printed by one of SSPX's publishing house Angelus Press. Text and format is black and red throughout, and as it was a special abbreviated version for the use of the laity (a breviary ironically speaking, is already an abbreviated edition of the many volumes of the actual ancient Divine Office at the time of the Lateran Council) Nice familiar graphics too to go with the text taken from St Andrews missal.

And finally my most reasonable choice - was the Anglican Breviary of course. A Faithful translation from the Roman Breviary of 1955, some aspects I discovered online when they argued on the Anglican nature of this somewhat "Romish" breviary (hate that word):

1. The psalter (as a backbone of the breviary) is from the famous Coverdale psalter

2. The collects mirror those from the Book of Common Prayer 1928

3. Apparently the Hour of Matins is slightly different

4. Antiphons are native towards those from Anglican sources

5. The hour for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is slightly muted compared to the Roman breviary.

6. Naming convention for Sundays after Pentecost is: Sunday after TRINITY.

7. Scripture excerpts are taken from the King James Bible.

From there, what made the Anglican breviary romish to some but reasonably allowable for Catholics:
1. Translation and format pattern exactly the Roman Breviary of 1955 using old Elizabethan English.

2. Contains feast observances and prayers as set forth exactly in the Catholic Church Kalendar (some not found even in the Anglican calendar) as of 1955.

3. Page flipping and compexity of the rubrics found here are unusual in the context of the BCP but native to the characteristics of the RB.

4. Books that normally are not in the Protestant canon: Esdras, additional material from Esther, Judith, Tobit - are found in the AB as translated from the King James version.

Above all, even though the pros is not as much as the cons, I believe meditation wise I'm stronger in English than in Latin, so I prefer the English use. Latin becomes an accidental novelty if just recited without meaning; especially if its those that consist of long scriptural text. (versicles & antiphons are different if in Latin as they are normally short and easy to remember) I feel it is important for us to get some form of meaning whenever we recite the Office, or else we end up praying like robots without putting our heart and soul into it. Sincerity is important.

Also, the main purpose of reciting the Office would be lost - thats why I feel that the Divine Office should never be a rushed job. If one is unable to say the long version, say the short ones instead and you're most likely to appreciate the "quality of prayer" rather than its quantity by trying to run a whole marathon in order to finish all the hours.

* of course, this does not discount us at times whenever we're free - don't take the easy way out! after all, it is an opus dei - work of God and labour brings much fruit and grace with sincerity

I'll continue the next part of my discussion in my new posting.

How it all started with the breviary

Its been 5 years since I started with the breviary. below i moved from previous blog
http://dominexaudinos.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-it-all-started-loth-do.html

I use a wide variety of books to supplement my daily rhythm of prayer I've established for myself over these course of few years. As a child right up to my teens, any born Catholic would have to learn to say the basics "Our Father", "Hail Mary", "Glory Be". Then came recitation of the Rosary.

There were the colourful prayer booklets on prayers to Our Lady, Our Lord Jesus and to the Saints. Such was the seeds that were sown with text books I used during my primary-secondary years at Catechism class. (or more fondly known as Sunday School).

It was sometime during my college days when I went online, joined Catholic forums and stuff - I read alot about what people were doing "the Hours", "Divine Office", "LOTH", "DO", "Breviary". Imagine discovering, learning and nurturing a fascination for a form of devotion online! Pictures upon pictures of people doing the LOTH and DO everywhere. Well, a clear and successful testament to calls from our former Pope John Paul II pushing for evangelisation on the Internet and bringing the message of Christ further on the WWW.

One thing led to another and the next minute - I got myself a used copy of Christian Prayer (CP) abbreviated version of the Liturgy of the Hours; LOTH by Catholic Book Publishing (CBP) from a second-hand bookstore. Very nice black and red print throughout and had nice illustrations bringing to life the prayers inside and capturing the mood for silent contemplation during the recitation.

Then, my eyes caught site of another abbreviated edition of the LOTH by Daughters of St Paul (DoSP). This edition is by far what many traditionalists would call it the modern Diurnal without Matins (except that there is really no Office of Readings which is supposed to be a fusion of Matins & Vigils) This alternate edition of LOTH is more complete than CBP edition having no dual colour scheme employed by CBP. DoSP is more thorough in covering hours with Midmorning, Midday & Midafternoon; otherwise known as Little Hours with Terce, Sext & None as its tridentine names.

Humans being humans - there were forums and reviews comparing and pitting LOTH against another variant of the Hours known as the Divine Office (DO) This alternate translation is mainly for nations under the Commonwealth, UK, Ireland, and a few pacific islands formerly under British rule. Through the episcopal conferences of UK, British Isles, India, South East Asia; the nations half of the otherside of this planet subscribe to the British translation.

By far, I think only some countries like the Philipines and India were given special approval for both DO & LOTH to be publically recited.

Anyhow, that's when I decided to contact my local Catholic bookstore (managed by Daughter's of St Paul) and got hold of a copy of an abbreviated edition of the DO otherwise known as "Everyday Prayer" (EP) from one of the nuns when they had a book sale outside my neighbourhood's chapel.

*by now you would have noticed I seem to be collecting only abbreviated breviaries, not "complete editions". Well, due to financial constraints, I can only afford these ;o(

Anyway, when I started reading & reciting the DO, I generally liked it better (my apologies to those of you who love the LOTH) the wordings were much nicer and richer and there were many reviews saying the same thing about the British edition. Well, all the more for me to use it now! I have eversince referred to it as my main source of devotion till recently.

The EP is like the DoSP edition of CP; all is black and white. But the difference between the EP and the DoSP edition of the LOTH is that the DoSP edition has beautiful illustrations, and though there isn't any dual colour scheme like the CBP edition, fonts used are varied in the form of bolded or italicised fonts of different kinds - still making it more approachable in terms of format and outlook of the typeface.

The EP unfortunately has none of those - only simple black & white text. However, what makes me love EP so much is that the antiphons are repeated after every psalm appointed, and of course the translation or the wordings are from British sources and scripture excerpts come from the Jerusalem Bible (that's one of my favourite Catholic Bibles). Great translation for those who have not had a good grasp of Latin and it minimises page flipping.

Here, American translations for the collects tend to be noticibly bland be it in the LOTH or CP as attested by many people online. It is uninspiring at best.
Another shortcome about the EP is that it has only Morning (Lauds), Evening (Vespers) and Night (Compline) prayer. Additional materials offered are 1 excerpt for the Little Hours and 1 excerpt of the Office of Readings, plus office of the Dead, alternative psalms & collects to be used in the Commons section under the Sanctoral cycle, and in the midday hours.

I have mentioned earlier that I have grown to love all things that is pre-concilliar especially in liturgical disciplines. Well, all breviaries mentioned so far are fully English, and translations are mainly contemporary. This is where I find it is still lacking for the dual language option of Latin/English so prevalent in pre-concilliar breviaries and prayer books, and the traditional English translations from Latin as opposed to contemporary ones. I hungered for more options and so my search continued...

Let the weak and the orphan have justice

God takes his stand in the divine assembly, surrounded by the gods he gives judgement.

How much longer will you give unjust judgement and uphold the prestige of the wicked?

Let the weak and the orphan have justice, be fair to the wretched and the destitute.

Rescue the weak and the needy, save them from the clutches of the wicked.

Ignorant and uncomprehending, they wander in darkness, while the foundations of the world are tottering.

I had thought, "Are you gods, are all of you sons of the Most High?"

No! you will die as human beings do, as one man, princes, you will fall.'

Arise, God, judge the world, for all nations belong to you.

- Psalm 82, NJB -

Remembering Doris

Sacred to Blessed Memory

DORIS TAN SIEW KEE

(Rumah Amal Cheshire Selangor)

14 June 1948 - 22 March 2013

I take the little lamb, said He,

And lay it on my breast.

Protection He shall find in me

And be forever blest.

... Her soul, like a star, beacons from the abode where the eternal are.

Rest in peace auntie Doris! You shall be remembered forever!!

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine

Et lux perpetua luceat eis,

Requiescant in pace.

† Pater noster, Ave Maria, Gloria Patri...

:: Notice ::

* Funeral service will be held on Saturday,  23rd March 2013 - 12:00pm at St Mary's Cathedral (Jalan Raja, 50050 Kuala Lumpur), thereafter remains will be cremated. Ashes will later then be interred with her husband (Vincent Tan) at the Cheras Christian cemetery

... Memorial prayers will be offered at the Chapel of Kristus Aman for her repose April 6th, 13th & 20th

Goodbye & farewell to a dear friend who has always been apart of my family. You will be remembered always. Till we meet again at the Father's house!

We Have a Pope: FRANCIS !

13 March, Anno Domini 2013: 266th Pope of the Catholic Church has now been elected, taking on the name: Pope Francis I

A man of humility and simplicity, asking the world to world to pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and furthermore asked us all in hushed silence to pray for him. Indeed a very humbling first impression that touches the heart and brings warmth and confidence to our current reigning Vicar of Christ. 




Thank you Lord for giving us Pope Francis. May his guidance and his papacy be blessed for many years to come and may the Church prosper, grow ever larger and be under constant watch, blessing and protection of the Blessed Virgin and our Divine Master and Lord Jesus Christ.

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum;

HABEMUS PAPAM! 

Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum,

Dominum GEORGIUM MARIUM

Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem BERGOGLIO   

qui sibi nomen imposuit FRANCISCUM

VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! 
VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! 
VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! 
VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! 
VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! 
VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! 
VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! VIVA IL PAPA ! 

Extra Omnes!

Balloting begins!! #Conclave2013

The doors are now shut. The election is now in session...

#Conclave2013

March 12th, Anno Domini 2013...

The Princes of our Holy Mother Church troop into the Sistine Chapel for their vote of a lifetime

Each taking the Oath of secrecy...

Each with a name printed at the back of their minds...

Each armed with a piece of paper...

Each to take that vote....

And only ONE to don the white cap and robe...

Eligo in Summum Pontificem...

May the Lord bless them and guide them as they cast their ballots based on their conscience.

Viva il Papa!!

INTERREGNUM PRAYER

Prayers for a new and good Pope - 266th Pope of the Catholic Church to lead us April 2014 onwards...

Let us pray

Almighty God, hallowed be Thy name. Thy will be done for Your Church on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily Eucharistic bread offered on allYour altars throughout the world for our good and the salvation of the world.Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.Strengthen in holiness Your Priests, Bishops and Cardinals and call them into a deeper conversion and union with You so that they may serve You more perfectly.That Your Bishops, Priests, and Deacons may be tireless messengers of YourGospel to the ends of the earth. 
We beseech You to look with love on the Holy Conclave and inspire them to elect that one among them You wish to serve as Your Vicar here on earth. Lead them not into temptation but deliver them from the evil and wiles of the devil so that protected by Your holy angels they may freely think, deliberate and choose wisely the Cardinal best suited to be the Bishop of Rome, Pontifex Maximus. 
Amen.

**prayers taken from [Roman-Catholic-News] Volume 13, Issue 43 (Roman-Catholic-News@yahoogroups.com)

Sacred to Memory

Sorrowful moments remembered in time,
Seeking the meaning for death in rhyme,
Knowing that life won't be forever,
Sweet the memories created together.

Lost a soul in Valentine showers,
Lost yet another in gloomy May flowers,
Tears well drop to a breath of anguish,
Fades a life force meetings extinguish.

It is with great sadness, we recall in memory two souls who have returned to our Lord in the 2 first quarters of the year;

1. Jenny Hodge nee Kee Soo Chia (Sah Ee Poh) who passed away on 23rd February 2012

2. Kelvin Teoh Cheng Hin (cousin) who passed away 10 May 2012.


Requiem aeternam dona Eis, Domine,
Et lux perpetua luceat Eis.
Requiscant in pace.

Rest in peace Sar Ee Poh and Kelvin koh.  :)

Santo Subito!

Summer afternoon windy weather,
Tense moments and hearts a flutter,
Hearts waited with abated breath,
She who has bestowed many blessings and great wealth.

Courtesy from Star Online - Beatification of Pope Blessed John Paul II 

(1st May 2011)

Our beloved and blessed Pope John Paul,

Who shepherded us and lead us away from the fall,

Gave us a sign from the heavens above,

Totus tuus is the work of the Mediatrix's love.

Deo gratias Holy Father has seen and believed,

That the cure of the nun is not to be deceived,

She ascends the altar bringing the vial,

Containing the sacred blood that brought all a big smile.

Santo subito! Sainthood now! is the cry of the masses,

Polish flags held aloft jubilations with drinking glasses,

Let there be a second miracle we hope and pray,

That he's well on his way to Sainthood come Canonisation Day.

Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta with Blessed John Paul II

† Pope Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!

Laudetur Iesus Christus...........

Christian Butsudan

I have been reading with interest of late about "Butsudan"

Its a beautiful Japanese altar cupboard used by Buddhists of Nichiren persuasion or those that come from the SGI or the Sokka Gakai International Buddhist denomination. Used to house the Gohonzon or the "kami" spirit, the Butsudan has 2 distinctive layers of doors folded twice when opened (collapsible)

A very culturally Japanese traditional fixture at home, almost every old Japanese family has one (except those who have converted to other faiths)

Butsudan doors are opened only during prayer sessions and also comes with an assortment of singing bowl/bell, a candle, incense, scripture stand, and also houses pictures and ancestral tablets of the departed. During evenings, it is closed. Am not sure why it ought to be closed since spirits or a diety cannot be physically "trapped" by it for safekeeping.

but all those doors kinda make it look cool and sleek with a deep resonance of solemn feel to it which i like.

Here are some of the many samples online which are really cool

 Absolutely beautfully lacquered and gold plated at the right places.
Something I was thinking if i can get hold of one to house a crucifix and the number of statues that I have.

 A thought has come to mind...what if i make one myself? wouldn't that be interesting? hmm...how ah?
the models i've seen online look kinda tricky to make one.

Or should i just buy a 2 door cupboard and convert it into one?

 Am considering of having one for a Catholic altar. No harm right? Fancy "Asianising/Japanising" my Catholic devotions with this one. Something to look forward to!

Passings

Received sad news of Auntie Marianne Pradit's husband who passed away just recently in Brussels on 24 Feb last Thursday. Funeral will be followed by cremation on 3rd March, Wed 2011
Please pray for his blessed repose.

Andre Henri Jean-Francois TOTTE

 18 December 1941 - 24 February 2011

70 years

born Leopolville @ Kinshasa

died Brussels

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine,

Et lux perpetua luceat eis

Requiescant in pace

Amen

Rest in peace Uncle Andre :'(

Pax

Issues Settled: Let's go Chinese!!

There have been many cases when one is fortunate to be born:
1. a Chinese
2. a Catholic
3. with local cultural inclinations that seem to border paganism

I have all 3. so predicament is: i want to honour my dead relatives, ancestors, who are not Catholics, or Christians. Well, u know the usual, its not the usual offering of masses, rosaries, divine offices or prayers ... but involving the use of incense joss sticks...and candles.

Many cases and debates have been circulating. Protestants are quite clear about it: no way hozaay! anything that looks or relates to the most remote that is paganistic is an absolute no-no.

For Catholics, how?

Well, it was ok can no problem in the 16th century. then, century later, cannot..then another century actually still cannot, but we say "yes" to it to save face and our life from the knife. then, followed by several centuries of ban. Mother church sat down and reassessed the situation, weight all options, and yes, prayed for divine intervention and reasoning to prevail.

In the end, Chinese won midway to as far as being allowed to offer joss stick incense in a joss bowl/urn, use ancestral tablets, kowtow and bow thrice to photos as per the old custom...to even as far as offering of fruits or food in front of photos & pictures.

I have been researching on this for quite a bit, and managed to rest my troubled conscience everytime i light a joss stick.

Our belated Holy Father, Pope Pius XII in 1939, agreed to lift the ban on ancestral worship and veneration of ancestral and images/tablets of the dead for Asia in his decree "Plane Compertum Est" . Full details spelled out are:

• Catholics are permitted to be present at ceremonies in honor of Confucius in Confucian temples or in schools;
• Erection of an image of Confucius or tablet with his name on is permitted in Catholic schools.
• Catholic magistrates and students are permitted to passively attend public ceremonies which have the appearance of superstition.
• It is licit and unobjectionable for head inclinations and other manifestations of civil observance before the deceased or their images.
• The oath on the Chinese rites, which was prescribed by Benedict XIV, is not fully in accord with recent regulations and is superfluous.* (taken from wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Rites_controversy)

not good enough? want more ecclesiastical backing? 
go to: www.catholic.org.sg/liturgy/bulletins/7%20-%20Ancestors%20Veneration.htm (Archdiocese of Singapore)


There you go, now, we have papal backing and support that lifts this ban forever to the delight (and perhaps confusion of future Asian Catholics)

To strengthen this stand, Vatican II has future developed the stand of tolerance, to one that of embracing diversity of cultural observance & traditions. ie "inculturation".

Now we have Chinese New Year Masses, people lighting joss sticks and offering to images & crucifixes of Jesus and the blessed saints.

Need I say anymore?
 Lets go Chinese and pray our way...only to our only Lord & Saviour who is king and hope of all mankind, without a guilt or worry in the world haha...

Spin off from the original

16 December 2010, 3:47pm marks the beginning of my new blog, focusing on my religious musings and devotions. its a spinoff from the original "Its Chapel Time" blog of mine which i have incidentally lost the ID login. crapsidaisee....