The Anglican Breviary

[Secundulus]

I found this site which is selling a reprint of the old Anglican Breviary. It contains all eight daily offices for the whole year. The Anglican Breviary (http://www.anglicanbreviary.net/)

From the website: The Anglican Breviary incorporates the King James Bible translation for scriptural readings, the matchless Coverdale Psalter, the Prayer Book collects and canticles, and various dignified translations of the office hymns where necessary. Moreover, the Breviary combines all the elements necessary to say the full Office, on every day of the year, according to a complete western sanctoral Kalendar, in one volume. No other book can claim to be as comprehensive and accurate a recension of the western Divine Office.

A review is here: “Prayer Rhythms” Redivivus (http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=15-05-046-b)

[AngCath]

I have one of those.

[Secundulus]

Does it take a long time to figure out how to use it properly?

[TomUK]

I don't have a copy but personally i find those 'mega-volumes' to be too cumbersome to use effectively daily. I think that to enter into an effective pattern of daily prayer you need to keep the office simple and to a certain extent repetitive.

[JasonV]

I'm very tempted to pick up a copy. It looks very nice.

[Secundulus]

I ordered one. The fact that there ia an entire linked tutorial on that site on how to use the Breviary tells me its a complicated thing.

[AngCath]

It is a wonderful resource. It is also exceedingly complicated for one not well familiar with a breviary. I found it enriching, though I don't use it for my daily prayer life because for some offices it takes longer to figure it out than to actually read it.

[ContraMundum]

It's very pricey but worth it. It is difficult to use but at the same time really, really good. I used it for my offices for a time, but went back to simpler set up. I really like it though.

[JasonV]

I went ahead and ordered one yesterday.

[AngCath]

please do tell us your experiences with it

[higgs2]

... I think that to enter into an effective pattern of daily prayer you need to keep the office simple and to a certain extent repetitive.

Not to get off track, but I would like to find a way to enter into "an effective pattern of daily prayer" and the way you have describe it is inspiring to me. I might have to find the time to start a thread on this.

Unless someone else does first... <hint hint> ;) LOL! Seriously, I would like to have this discussion.

[Secundulus]

This is an excellent Anglican book on how to establish a disciplied Spiritual Rule.

Thornton, Martin. Christian Proficiency. Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications, 1959.

His method is to start simple and build from there as desired. He builds upon a threefold model that includes Mass, Daily Office (from the Prayer Book) and Private Prayer.

The author was an Anglican Priest and spiritual director in England.

[JasonV]

I wonder how this one (http://www.andrewespress.com/md.html) compares to the OP? Anyone have it?

[Secundulus]

I wonder how this one (http://www.andrewespress.com/md.html) compares to the OP? Anyone have it?
It does not contain all the lessons of Matins.

[AngCath]

I wonder how this one (http://www.andrewespress.com/md.html) compares to the OP? Anyone have it?

I have it. It is nearly identical except that it does not contain the night office of Matins. Diurnals only contain the day offices.

[JasonV]

Got my copy in the mail today. What a monster! Far more complex than anything I'm used to in my tradition.

My only initial complaint is the cover of the text. It's pretty cheap and feels like I could tear it if I tried. But the pages are of good quality, and if one wanted to, could probably recover this thing in a nice leather binding for years of use.

[Secundulus]

Got my copy in the mail today. What a monster! Far more complex than anything I'm used to in my tradition.

My only initial complaint is the cover of the text. It's pretty cheap and feels like I could tear it if I tried. But the pages are of good quality, and if one wanted to, could probably recover this thing in a nice leather binding for years of use.
I got mine last week. I agree that the cover is kind of cheap, but given the size of the book and its limited publication, a leather cover would probably have increased the price another $30 or so.

If you didn't do it already, I recommend that you download the instructions for using the book from the site you bought it from. They are helpful. Also, the yahoo group listed on that site has a bunch of people that can answer any specific question about the Breviary.

I have found that although it looks very complicated, it begins to fall into a comfortable routine within just a few days.