The Divine Office And Little Offices

[Not The Philosopher]

A quick question: does praying something like the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary 'count' as praying the LOTH? Say, for example, you were a Lay Dominican. Would it cover your obligations?

[An Historian]

A quick question: does praying something like the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary 'count' as praying the LOTH? Say, for example, you were a Lay Dominican. Would it cover your obligations?

 

The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary said according to their respective norms under the provisions of SP and UE is liturgical prayer.  However in the case of whether or not it would fulfil your obligations... I don't know.  You would need to check the provisions of your constitutions and read very carefully to see if there's any wiggle room.

 

Or failing that you could just have your confessor/superior permit it explicitly as fulfilling your obligation.  It should do, as it worked for Dominican Tertiaries for the centuries before the Council.

[AnneLine]

Can't say for sure for the Dominican Laity, but most of the Secular Orders and religious communities that used to do the Little Office (or praying the Rosary) now require people to pray Morning and Evening Prayer (and perhaps Night Prayer) from the actual Liturgy of the Hours.  The Little Office really is just the Proper of the Blessed Virgin Mary... and the other gives the one praying a lot more variety, exposure to the Old and New Testament Scriptures, and an excellent framework for the day's liturgy as it moves through the liturgical seasons.   The additional richness really  makes praying this (and other hours if possible) a better option for most people.

 

For a good reason (someone with poor eyesight or something) permission to use the Little Office might be granted, but they would probably be encouraged to use the audio portion of DivineOffice.com or something If possible.  We have also had Seculars who were given permission to just use the 'Shorter Christian Prayer' which is really the 4 week psalter by itself with just little bits of the Propers of the Season.

 

Do we have any Dominican Laity on Phatmass who could answer this?