The Rule of our Order calls for the daily observance of the Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer.
These offices are intended to be prayed with others (in community), but for many of us we have to pray them alone.
Ordinarily, (though not stated in the Rule) the form for these services would be taken from the Book of Common Prayer.
The idea of the daily offices is to keep holy time - that is to base our daily schedule around prayer and our commitment to Christ and not merely to include Christ and prayer when time allows.
The full Anglican office also includes the noonday office and compline though these are not required by the rule.
What is your experience of praying the office? What is most difficult about it? Has there been any "benefit" for you in doing it?
Please post your comments and feel free to respond to others comments as the week progresses.
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In my early days as an Episcopalian, when I was gaining familiarity with the BCP, and the Offices (about which I knew nothing), I was taught that one benefit to them is that in saying them at the appropriate times, we are in communion around the world with others who are using the same source for the same purpose at roughly the same times. Most of my Offices come from the BCP, but tend to be a modification of the Individual/Family offices found in the BCP. My modifications have been committed to memory, so I can say my Offices without having to use the BCP; however, I benefit much more when I also include the daily readings from the Lectionary in my prayers. In doing so, I know that I am with you all and so many others around the world, in spirit. As I said in an earlier message, I "suffer" when I do not do the Office.
Peace,
Br Michael B
I too take comfort in the community aspect of the office. I also find that in those times that I really don't feel up to saying the office, the habit of doing so brings me back to where I need to be.
My rector once said that when she said the offices she liked to think that the communion of saints are with her and therefore she is not alone. I believe that as well as know that when I am praying the Office perhaps one or more of my brothers and sisters are doing likewise.
One of my early hurdles is actually a pathetic whine, too many books (never that good at Episcopal Gymnastics). I am much better now that I have a Daily Office prayer book (from the BCP) and can cart it around.
Here is the link
http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=525974
Br Carl
The daily ringing of bells reminded early communities of the times for prayer. Today, the fortunate few live in or near churches that ring in the hours; the vast majority of us, hoever, need to tie in saying the offices and the hours to occurrences in our own lives. I try to tie in my prayer practice to definite changes in the order of my life. For instance, I say the noon offices before lunch, compline right before I sleep, the phos hilaron when I turn on the first light of the evening.
Sr. Jackie says:
I have a "prayer chair" for morning prayer. We have Evening Prayer at church, but I can only attend once or twice a week. However, I carry my BCP in my dance bag and try to take the time for EP. There are times I cannot because of my teaching schedule. However, I try to make up for it at bedtime. I always pray the Compline and the
Rosary. I find I sleep great when I've connected with God. There are nights when I carry the load of a lot of work problems, I just turn them all over to Jesus and feel comforted.
Anyone willing to take confession? I have had great difficulty developing the habit for Morning Prayer. I do the Daily Office Readings and Compline but have struggled with getting up early enough to do Morning Prayer before going to work. After reading your postings, I am encouraged to make another run at it. Your appreciative wayward Brother Phil
I have been regularly praying the offices since I was in highschool when my parish priest gave me his set of Daily Office books.
It has become habitually and simply part of what I do - there are times where I occasionally miss, but quite seldom, if anything on a bad day I wimp out and instead of praying the full office pray just a couple of prayers or do the "Devotions for Individual Families"
As an Order of Preachers I think it is essential that we all read a full office whenver possible, esp. the lectionary readings of the day. As we are to be men and women immersed in the Holy Scripture.
Brother Phil the struggle is part of the novitate! We all struggle with it from time to time, but esp in the begining.
Saying the Daily Office is like a hot shower for the soul. When we forget it our soul starts to smell. Nothing quite like a religious standing in line at a liquor store waiting to buy booze and smokes covered in the smell of two day old sin!
I start the day off with the lectionary readings. Then I run up to church where we say Morning Prayer from the Benedictine Breviary. I don't care much for the BCP offices. As often as possible i then return home for about half an hour to forty-five minute prayer time with my wife. We have a long prayer list in addition to our children and family. So basically there's some personal time, some community time (either MP or Daily Eucharist is required for all staff) and then some couple time.
During Lent and Easter especially we often have some regulars from the parish for MP and Daily Eucharist. Many of the volunteers coming through say they're envious and wish they had at their home parishes.
Have to admit that by the end of the day i'm too wiped for EP (we say on Wednesday Nights at the church). If I had an evening partner that might help but my wife doesn't approve of the breviary because it's "too catholic!"
Please keep us in your prayers we may soon be bugging out.
Brother Jerry and others,
Our Rule is certainly open to use of other forms of the Daily Office - they should probabbly be (at least for life professed members) full forms of the office.
However, those in the novitate or in scholastic status have a freer discipline regarding the office - though of course at least as far as the novitate is concerned its purpose is to get you ready for the fuller committment at life profession.
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