What Daily Office Do You Recite

[everbecoming2007]

For those of you who recite the Daily Office I'd like to get an idea of what everyone's doing here and what you like or dislike about the version you are using, especially since we are coming from different countries, jurisdictions, and Anglican bodies. I know some people mix and match versions -- some people might use an older lectionary with a newer version of the Office for instance. And I come across some who simply read straight through the Bible at their own pace for their readings.

I started out reciting the North American 1928 BCP office, Morning and Evening prayer. For Compline I regularly recited this version.

I now recite the 1979 North American prayer book version Rite I and use the two year lectionary. Although I normally attend a 1928 BCP service we are using the modern collects. I initially transitioned to the 1979 version simply to become more familiar with it. I also wanted to reconcile myself to it to some degree and be more in sync with the wider community since I am after all in a church that uses this prayer book. I only occasionally recite Compline because of my schedule. I do use the 1979 version but adapted into traditional English as allowed by the rubrics: the adaptation I use is here. I am still partial to the 1892 version which I became very familiar with and flows very well, but the psalms are the same which is the most important part to me.

I have not had a chance to compare the lectionaries to see what I prefer, and I may not do it since it is tedious work. I do like the idea of one year lectionaries better than multiple years because of the repetition.

At this point I will be continuing my Rite I usage with the two year lectionary for practical reasons. This rite is more flexible in terms of shortening it and I do like to stick to the rubrics instead of just cutting out what I want to, and with the new job I have it is more of a challenge to keep up with this discipline. I usually have to recite Evening Prayer on my break at work, and I have the readings for years one and two printed out in Daily Office books for easy usage without having to juggle a Bible which would be very inconvenient at work. I don't have an office book for the 1928 version. And since I'm pressed for time doing just the one reading for Evening Prayer is easier for me than the two readings I have to do in the 1928 version.

Practical reasons for using this version of the Office aside I do like the antiphons, I don't think the Collects are bad, the lectionary has worked well enough for me, and I love the Easter canticle and Phos Hilaron. I prefer the confession I use now over the one that said "and there is no health in us" -- I'm not sure I agree with that, but I could change my mind depending on how that phrase was explained to me I suppose. I tend to think we do have some health in us through grace and the divine image.

I do not like all of the options for canticles in Rite II. When I have occasionally tried using that rite I feel like there are too many choices to pick from. I like just a few selections that eventually become familiar or even memorized. I also wish the Collect of the Day had remained mandatory. I do recite the Sunday Collect daily and that helps ingrain it and ponder it through the week.

In closing what are you doing for the Office and why? What lectionary do you use or do you not use one at all? Do you have any likes or dislikes about the Office you are using?

 

[Philip_B]

Common Worship with the daily prayer app on the phone works for me.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

Common Worship. I’ve never heard the term recite for this.

 

[Symphorian]

I use Daily Prayer from Common Worship (CofE) and its associated Lectionary. I like its day to day and seasonal variation.

Whilst I have an affection for the majestic language of the 1662 BCP Office, I find it lacking in day to day and seasonal variation, although the proposed 1928 BCP makes up for that somewhat. It can be a bit inconvenient having to manage three books... prayer book, lectionary and Bible and I'm tempted to buy a proposed 1928 BCP which has all the readings for MP and EP included. I know there are all sorts of apps nowadays but I prefer to use a book.

I sometimes dip into the Roman Office. Everything you need is in one volume which is nice, but unless you're including the Office of Readings you don't get to read much scripture. The scripture readings for Lauds (MP) and Vespers (EP) are just a few verses. I do happen to like the Office of Readings as it includes readings from the Church Fathers.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

Welcome to CF and STR, Symphorian

 

[Paidiske]

I use the offices from A Prayer Book for Australia (1995 book). It has forms for morning and evening prayer for each day of the week. I use that with a version of the revised common lectionary adapted for local ecumenical use in Australia.

I actually like that there are extra canticles that I can choose to use; I can swap them around seasonally or choose to do something different in ordinary time or whatever. I use the lectionary because it's an important discipline but I don't particularly love this one; I find the choices about where to begin and end sections are often strange or unhelpful.

What I miss most, actually, is nothing to do with the book; but I'm somewhere in the field of sad/disappointed/frustrated that I now say it entirely on my own. I miss being somewhere where people actually gathered to pray together on a daily basis.

 

[everbecoming2007]

I use the offices from A Prayer Book for Australia (1995 book). It has forms for morning and evening prayer for each day of the week. I use that with a version of the revised common lectionary adapted for local ecumenical use in Australia.

I actually like that there are extra canticles that I can choose to use; I can swap them around seasonally or choose to do something different in ordinary time or whatever. I use the lectionary because it's an important discipline but I don't particularly love this one; I find the choices about where to begin and end sections are often strange or unhelpful.

What I miss most, actually, is nothing to do with the book; but I'm somewhere in the field of sad/disappointed/frustrated that I now say it entirely on my own. I miss being somewhere where people actually gathered to pray together on a daily basis.

Unfortunately I must recite the Office alone as well. I do see some benefits to this in some ways. I am able to go at my own pace at least if I'm not pressed for time. But I would like to be able to recite it communally as well.

Occasionally when there is no Wednesday Eucharist I lead Morning Prayer, but there is much pressure to severely truncate the psalms and other portions because people find it too long. I don't bend to that pressure too much, but I have to do so a bit just because the people aren't familiar with using prayer books and it all becomes so cumbersome and awkward having to help them that I don't think the people will get much benefit if I don't shorten it some.

I don't really blame them. Not many people are too familiar with the Daily Office these days since it is not often offered publicly in a regular manner, and often services are printed out instead of people learning to use the prayer books. I had the benefit of my original priest teaching me how to say the Offices when I was receiving instruction for baptism, and he was available in the chapel nearly every day to join him in the prayers.

 

[gordonhooker]

The same as Paidiske the APBA with the APBA lectionary.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

Where does “recite” come from?

 

[gordonhooker]

Where does “recite” come from?

from the Latin 'recitare' to read aloud....

 

[Shane R]

I'm obviously on the '28 American BCP, but the Abp. really doesn't care that much what lectionary the clergy follow. I read as I see fit.

 

[everbecoming2007]

I'm obviously on the '28 American BCP, but the Abp. really doesn't care that much what lectionary the clergy follow. I read as I see fit.

So do you not follow set readings?

I'll also add that I use the 7 week cycle of psalms instead of the 30 day cycle since I don't have much time.

 

[seeking.IAM]

I confess I seldom do the Daily Office, except as a daily Lenten practice. When I do, I use the Mission of St. Clare online app. I feel somewhat guilty saying this, but to be totally honest I find it too time consuming to do on a daily basis. I prefer to use the briefer version in the BCP of Devotions for Families.

 

[Shane R]

So do you not follow set readings?

I'll also add that I use the 7 week cycle of psalms instead of the 30 day cycle since I don't have much time.

No. I don't even look at the BCP tables unless I have been asked to fill in at our mission on the middle peninsula. I do use the 30 day Psalter though.

 

[tryzub1318]

I don't personally say the Divine Office. I say Family prayer from the 1928 'The Church-people's prayer book' from the Anglican Church of wales (with an anglo-Catholic addition of the Angelus afterwards)

 

[everbecoming2007]

No. I don't even look at the BCP tables unless I have been asked to fill in at our mission on the middle peninsula. I do use the 30 day Psalter though.

What do you do for the scripture readings?

 

[Shane R]

What do you do for the scripture readings?

I usually read through one book chapter by chapter. For instance, at the moment I am working through Deuteronomy. I work through the Gospels by pericope rather than by chapter.

There are times when I will be doing a deeper study of a particular passage and will read the same place several days in a row -maybe even the whole week- each time in a different version.

 

[everbecoming2007]

I usually read through one book chapter by chapter. For instance, at the moment I am working through Deuteronomy. I work through the Gospels by pericope rather than by chapter.

There are times when I will be doing a deeper study of a particular passage and will read the same place several days in a row -maybe even the whole week- each time in a different version.

Interesting!

As I mentioned my work schedule is making it hard for me to say the office. I think I'm going to adapt and say all the psalms and readings for the day in Morning Prayer on work days. It will be longer but I will have more time to absorb it instead of having to rush through Evening Prayer at my break.

 

[Shane R]

An interesting technique one of my seminary professors advocated was to read a Pauline epistle in one sitting. He asserted that one really doesn't catch the broad argument or the flow of the epistle if it is broken down into chapters or paragraphs. The same rule holds true for the general, or catholic, epistles. Having done that for two semesters (and having sat through hundreds of hours of mostly mind-numbing and myopic 'verse-by-verse' Bible study), I agree that it gives a fresh perspective on the works. Obviously, not everyone has the stamina to read Romans or the two Corinthian epistles in one sitting but the rest, except Hebrews, are manageable for the average reader. He also believed Hebrews was really the key to unlocking all of the epistles and forming a coherent picture out of all the material.

 

[Philip_B]

An interesting technique one of my seminary professors advocated was to read a Pauline epistle in one sitting. He asserted that one really doesn't catch the broad argument or the flow of the epistle if it is broken down into chapters or paragraphs. The same rule holds true for the general, or catholic, epistles. Having done that for two semesters (and having sat through hundreds of hours of mostly mind-numbing and myopic 'verse-by-verse' Bible study), I agree that it gives a fresh perspective on the works. Obviously, not everyone has the stamina to read Romans or the two Corinthian epistles in one sitting but the rest, except Hebrews, are manageable for the average reader. He also believed Hebrews was really the key to unlocking all of the epistles and forming a coherent picture out of all the material.

I quite like the notion of listening to a whole epistle in one sitting on an audio tape - I imagine they are streamed as well. It is worth remembering that most of the early Christians experience of the letters or Gospels was hearing, not reading. It is amazing what you pick up in this way, just a different perspective.