The Divine Office | Page 2

Preces "
XXXV. The suffrages of the saints " XXXVI. The antiphons of the
Blessed Virgin " XXXVII. The little office of the Blessed Virgin

PART II.
RULES FROM MORAL 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.