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)