Aug 03 2009
Old vs. New
I will state up front, I tend to gravitate towards the old when it comes to many things. Even when I buy things new, I look for things that look older than they are.
This is especially true when it come for Catholicism. I prefer the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (also known as the Latin Mass or Tridentine Mass) and have started looking into some of the older devotions and indulgences that have fallen to the wayside after Vatican II.
One thing that I have been hoping to explore is the older Divinum Officium, that is the Divine Office (or Liturgy of the Hours or Breviary), before it was drastically changed in the early 1970’s. Until recently, I thought I would have to wait until Baronius Press published the older version. That has changed since a link was posted to the older office on-line. I have been exploring it further and, to tell you the truth, I prefer it to the newer Divine Office except for one minor thing so far.
What I like about it is the length. It is much longer than the current Divine Office and more of the Psalter is said at each hour. This is especially true with Compline (or night prayer) since it only takes about five minutes in the current version.
I also like that the on-line, and the edition to be put out by Baronius, has the Latin side by side with the English. Currently, I am only doing the English until I improve my pronunciation and knowledge of Latin.
Another thing that I like is that the Intercessions in the Lauds and Vespers (Morning and Evening Prayer), just like the Old Mass, are not there as it is in the current versions of both. Although I see the power in intercessory prayer, I do not see it as an essential part of those prayers. I prefer to keep intercessory prayer separate, private, and have the ability to add customize them if needed.
The only thing I do not prefer is that you cannot always tell where the Readings in the Matins (now known at the Office Readings) which are outside of scripture come from. Yes, they are commentaries, but from where. In addition to knowing where the Second reading is from in the newer version, you also get a wider variety, it appears, than in the older version. This will take a little getting use to since I use the Office Readings, when I do them, as part of my additional Spiritual Reading. I will probably still use the newer Office Readings as part of my additional Spiritual Reading, probably as part of my Evening Prayers instead of Morning Prayers.
Essentially, I probably will be gradually making the move to the old Divine Office when possible and, most likely, completely when the printed version finally comes out. It also makes my more interested in exploring other Prayers and Devotions that have fallen into disuse in recent time. Hopefully, they will catch on with others and become commonplace again.
