But one of the topics I wanted to discuss with him was inspired by a post at his Catholic blog (Dave is presently an aspirant to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Knoxville), Operaria in vinus Domini, concerning the Office of the Hours.
Confession: I was once gifted a set of the Office of the Hours by my husband, but am inept at actually reading it, getting confused as to where to place the ribbons and what to read when, much less when to make the sign of the Cross. But - I like it better than prayers more traditionally said by the laity, as an example, the Rosary. Repetitive, contemplative prayer, while it work for some . . . just makes my mind wander. With the Office, it's a new outlook each day, even if some of it may be sen almost daily (good old Psalm 95, for instance).
Dave was kind enough to piint me in the direction of an invaluable website, DivineOffice.org, that does the parsing and ordering for you. It also features a podcast of the Divine Office (Office of the Hours, the two terms are synonomous) being prayed. That is helpful because as you read it - and it can be prayed alone - you do see that it really is meant to be a communal prayer, with a leader and repsonses from the group. Absent other people, at least with the podcast you can get the sense of a group prayer. Plus, as Dave pointed out to me, as with Mass, the Divine Office is being prayed somewhere at any time of the day on this Earth. If you pray it, then St. Paul's exhortation to "pray unceasingly" becomes fulfilled - and if there is a gap, you have filled it.
One thing I did not know was that priests, at their ordination, take a vow to pray it five times each day - the Office of Readings (Matins - I like the old Latin terms), Morning Prayer (Lauds), Daytime Prayer (Sext), Evening Prayer (Vespers - see, didn't you always wonder what that meant?), and Night Prayer (Compline). Deacons also have a requirement to pray three (Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer). The laity of the Catholic Church is not requireed to read it but are encouraged to do so.
I have begun trying to hit the three required of deacons in the Church because I am afraid not all priests are hitting their five. Yes, I know they are supposed to, but I also know that priests of today are often placed into situations for which they pretty much have to rely on "on the job" training, such as the administrative duties of running a parish. I suspect that with a day full of meetings, appointments, and Mass, Father may fall into a pattern of thinking, I'll just skip it this once . . ., which may well become the norm rather than the exception. Yes, I know I cannot pray it for them, but I have to think my praying even a part of it for the intention (among many) that they stick to the schedule can help.
A suggestion: Father, find out which of your parishioners pray the Office of the Hours. You might find that if you said, "Hey, if y'all want, be at the Church at 7:00 pm and we will do Vespers together," even if that was done once a month or once a week, people would show up. Lent is coming, hint, hint, and that would be a great thing to offer. If you are doing a noon Mass, invite those who can stay an extra 15 minutes to do the Daytime Prayer with you. Who knows, this may help you, Father, keep on track yourself.
When I was still living in Southern California, I had a very close relationship with my pastor. I wish now I had said to him, "Hey, let's do one of the Offices together now and then," to broaden, if not formalize, my prayer ritual. Missed opportunity - but I will plan to bring it up with my new pastor.
Now if you will excuse me, I've got some Matins to do . . .
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