Part of the Sabbatine Privilege is for those who can read to recite
daily the Little Office of Our Lady. And yet, this recitation can
be dry as dust without a proper understanding of these holy
prayers. Although this book has been written primarily for the use
of religious, I have borne in mind the wants of that everincreasing
number of the laity who prefer to find their devotion in the
Church's prayers, where all is staid and sober and short, rather
than in the utterances of private individuals, which are often the
reverse. In days gone by the Little Office in English was the
favourite devotion of our Catholic forefathers. Happy for England
when our prayers once more take such forms, and we build our
spiritual life on the simple direct spirit of Holy Mother Church,
instead of 011 those so-called devotions which the late saintly
Cardinal Manning was wont to count as some of the greatest evils of
the Church to-day. As to the book itself. I have divided the
treatise into three parts: - In the THEORETICAL part, I inquire
into the nature and excellence of Liturgical Prayer; and then
discuss the materials which compose the Little Office; lastly, I
give an historical account of the growth and development of the
Prayer as we have it to-day. In the PRACTICAL part, I consider the
best means of saying the Office with fruit and according to the
mind of the Church, and I also make various suggestions to this
end, and treat of some difficulties. The EXEGETICAL part consists
of a full and complete Commentary, drawn from the Fathers and great
mystical writers, on every verse of the Psalms, together with a
full explanation of the hymns, lessons, responsories, antiphons,
versicles, and prayers. To this is added by way of Appendix a
Ceremonial and the latest decrees of the Sacred Congregation of
Rites upon the subject. As to the use to be made of this book. It
is not intended to be read through once and then laid aside, as a
mere book of reference. But, as the Office is a daily work, so
should this treatise be made a daily handbook for reading and
studying now one part, and then another. I recommend that first of
all the book be read through, in order to grasp the general
subject. Then that portions of the Third Part be studied daily. On
retreat days, the First and Second Parts may be read with
advantage. Again, a verse of a Psalm with its commentary may be
usefully taken as the subject of mental prayer, and the lights
which are gained during the recitation will prove abundant food for
this time. And for spiritual reading, slow and thoughtful, what can
be better than a commentary on the Psalms; for here we have the
Holy Ghost speaking to us directly in the words of the Scripture i
and His saints explaining them to us. The main point I want to
arrive at with those who use this book is the value of the Public
Prayer above all private prayer, and the consequent necessity of
making a deliberate study thereof.
General
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