The Divine Office | Page 2

AND ASCETIC THEOLOGY FOR THE RECITATION OF THE BREVIARY.
Who are bound to say the office? Must every holder of a benefice read the office? What sin is committed by the omission of a notable part? What sins are committed by the omission of the whole office? What must a person do who has a doubt about omissions? Does a person, who recites by mistake, an office other than that prescribed fulfil his obligation? What causes justify an inversion of the hours? Is it a sin to say Matins of following day before finishing Compline of the current day? What is the time fixed for recitation of the Office? When may a priest begin the recitation of Matins and Lauds for the following day? What is true time as regards recitation of the office? Are priests bound to recite Matins and Lauds before Mass? At what time should the little hours be said? Where should the office be recited? What kind of verbal pronunciation should be attended to? May the recitation be interrupted? May Matins be separated from Lauds without cause? Is intention required in reading the hours? Is attention required? external? internal? superficial attention, literal attention? Opinions of theologians on necessary attention. Distractions, voluntary and involuntary. Does a person reciting the hours sin, if he have distractions? Causes excusing from reading the hours. Scruples and the direction of the scrupulous.
ART. I. RULES FOB PIOUS RECITATION OF HOURS.
1. The words read. 2. To whom we speak. 3. We pray in the name of the church. 4. Our associates on earth. 5. The purpose of our prayer. 6. It gives glory to God and draws down his blessings. 7. It brings help to those who recite it fervently.
ART. II. THE MEANS TO ADOPT OF PIOUS RECITATION.
A. Before Recitation.
1. Purify conscience. 2. Mortification of passions. 3. Guarding the senses. 4. Knowledge of the work that is to be done.
B. THE IMMEDIATE PREPARATION FOR THE RECITATION.
1. Reading the Ordo Recitandi officium. 2. To recollect ourselves. 3. To invoke God's aid. 4. To unite ourselves with Christ. 5. (a) Christ our model in prayer. (b) Our prayers to be offered through him. (c) Church wishes this and practices it ever. (d) Lives of saints show how they united with Christ in prayer. (e) Remembrance of the sublime work we engage in. (f) To propose general, special and particular intentions.
ART. III. AIDS DURING THE RECITATION OF THE HOURS.
(a) Suitable place. (b) Respectful and devout attitude. (c) Slow, deliberate pronunciation. (d) Distractions. (e) To apply the mind to what is read. (f) To read without critical judgments. (g) To think of Christ's Passion. (h) To think of the presence of God and of our Angel Guardian.
ART. IV. AFTER SAYING THE OFFICE.
1. Thanks to God. 2. Ask his pardon for faults. 3. Say the _Sacro-sanctae_. 4. The Sacro-sanctae.

PART III
THE CANONICAL HOURS.

CHAPTER I.
--MATINS (TITLE XIII).
Parts Pater Noster and Ave (Title XXXII) Credo (Title XXXIII) Domine labia mea--Deus in Invitatory (Title XIX) Hymns (Title XX) Antiphons (Title XXI) Psalms (Title XXII) Canticles Replies of Biblical Commission on Psalms Versicles and responds (Title XXIV) Absolutions and blessings (Title XXV) Lessons (Title XXIV) Responses (Title XXIV) Rubrics and Symbolism Te Deum (Title XXXI) Texts and Intentions
CHAPTER II.
--LAUDS AND PRIME TITLES (XIV AND XV).
Lauds. Etymology, Definition, Symbolism, Origin, Antiquity. Reasons for Hour, Structure, Rubrics Antiphons, Capitulum (Title XXX) Benedictus Oratio, Collect (Title XXX) Rubrics and explanation of Rubrics Texts and Intentions
Prime. Etymology, Origin, Contents, Structure Athanasian Creed (Title XXXIII) Reasons for the Morning Hour and Rubrics Preces (Title XXXIV), Confiteor Structure and Short Lesson Texts and Intentions
CHAPTER III.
--TERCE, SEXT, NONE (TITLE XVI).
Terce. Etymology, Structure, Antiquity. Reasons for Hour Texts and intentions
Sext. Etymology, structure, antiquity Reasons for Hour Texts and intentions
None. Etymology, structure, antiquity Reasons for Hour Texts and intentions
CHAPTER IV.
--VESPERS AND COMPLINE PAGE (TITLE XVII-XVIII).
Vespers. Etymology, structure, antiquity. Reasons for Hour Texts and intentions
Compline. Etymology, structure, antiquity Reasons for Hour Suffrages of the Saints (Title VII) Anthems of Blessed Virgin Texts and intentions
The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin (Title XXVII)

PART IV.
HEORTOLOGY.
CHAPTER I.
--A. PROPER OF THE TIME.
Advent Christmas St. Stephen; St. John; Circumcision; Epiphany; Septuagesima; Lent; Easter and Paschal Times; Ascension; Whit Sunday; Trinity Sunday
B. PROPER OF THE SAINTS.
December; January; February; March; May; June; July; August; October; November
ROGATION DAYS AND LITANIES
NOTE A. Breviary Hymns. NOTE B. Particular Examen. NOTE C. Bibliography.


PART I.
GENERAL QUESTIONS.

THE DIVINE OFFICE
CHAPTER I.
IDEA OF THE BREVIARY.
Etymology.--The word, Breviary, comes from an old Latin word, Breviarium, an abridgment, a compendium. The name was given to the Divine Office, because it is an abridgment or abstract made from holy scripture, the writings of the Fathers, the lives of the Saints. The word had various meanings assigned to it by early Christian writers, but the title, Breviary, as it is employed to-day--that is, a book containing the entire canonical office--appears to date from