Sunday January 27th. 2008
The Divine Office– the prayer of the Church, recited each day by every priest.
Each day, a priest spends approx. 40 minutes saying his breviary, the Divine Office, the official prayer of the Church. He also says mass daily.
Previously, it took at least an hour, but was shortened by the Vatican Council. It consists of hymns psalms, lessons, antiphons and special prayers. The prayer of the Divine Office is the prayer of Christ, praying through his new body, the Church, to his Father in heaven.
The Divine Office has its roots in the Old Testament, where the psalmist proclaimed: seven times a day, I will praise thee, O Lord. This was taken up by the very early Church with official morning and evening prayers, and then with the dawn of monasticism, the mass and Divine Office became the very heart of the monks day. Everything rotated around these.
The monks still rise at 4 a.m. to chant the office of readings, followed by morning prayer. The rest of the day is punctuated by the Divine Office.
For the parish clergy, the Divine Office nowadays is divided into five sections:
1.The office of readings—a hymn, three psalms and two readings, one from scripture, and usually one from the early fathers of the Church or from the writings of the saint of the day. It provides thought for extra prayer and meditation.
2. Morning Prayer—a hymn, three longish psalms, short readings from scripture, anitphons, the recitation of the Benedictus (the prayer of Zachary after the birth of his son, John the Baptist), prayers of intercession, and the prayer of the mass of the day.
3, Midday Prayer—this consists of a hymn, three psalms, a short scripture reading, and the prayer of the day.
4. Evening Prayer—this is usually said in the early part of the evening, and again consists of a hymn, three psalms, antiphons, the Magnificat (the prayer of Our Lady visiting her elderly cousin, St. Elizabeth), prayers of intercession and the prayer of the day.
5. Compline, or night prayer— a hymn, three psalms, the recitation of Simeons prayer in the temple (nunc dimittis), anitphons, night prayers and the blessing.
In the monasteries, the monks gather round the statue of Our Lady and sing the Salve Regina, (Hail Holy Queen). The abbot sprinkles everyone with holy water, and then the monks retire for the night.
As well as the Divine Office being Christ’s continuous prayer through his Church to honour his Father, it is also a means for the priest to pray for those who recommend themselves daily to his prayers.
Fort William Pilgrimage
to Lourdes
Celebrating the 150th. anniversary
of Our Lady’s apparitions
Departing 14th May, 2008
Returning 23rd May, 2008
By coach from Fort William
Schedule
Overnight on North Sea Ferries from Hull to Zeebrugge
2nd Night: DBB in Nevers
3rd Night: DBB Rocamadour
4 nights: Full board in Lourdes
1 Night: DBB Orleans
Overnight on North Sea Ferries to Hull
Cabin accommodation, Dinner & Breakfast
Arriving Fort William 23rd May.
Cost approx. £600
If you are interested in joining the pilgrimage, please phone 01397-
There are still a few places left, so phone as soon as possible to make sure of a booking