Liturgy Of The Hours Retranslation

[CountrySteve21]

IS anyone else excited about the new translation(for the US) of the Liturgy of the Hours!! :bounce:

 

http://dariasockey.blogspot.com/2012/11/vote-on-revised-breviary-proposal-done.html

 

Finally no more "Sion sing, break into song" Instead the beautiful Latin Hymns and revised Grail Psalms. 

 

[cmaD2006]

I'm sort of happy ... but sad at the same time.  Simple reason.  It will be a huge expense for most religious to replace their books.

 

Maybe, maybe the publishers will make the initial run cheaper since a whole large number of people (lay, religious, cleric) will be looking to replace the books.

[AnneLine]

Welllll.... I don't know.  I also see your point, but it has ALWAYS been a permitted option to switch the hymns to something else that is approved (but not the latest hits on the radio!)  I don't like the current translation of the psalms, but it is HORRIBLE to have to switch to the newer language in community.  Done that.  3 times.  It is hard.  It is frustrating.  If it happens, you will find out!   :)

 

I know the revised English breviary was very much front-burner during Pope Benedict's papacy; not sure how high a flame is under it at this point.  BUT the work has been started, and it would be nice to have the changes... but it will be expensive.  To be honest, I'm not holding my breath on this happening soon...We will have to stay tuned.  We may find that the changes are likely to be ON LINE rather than IN PRINT for a loooong time....

 

 

As far as the cost...   BE PREPARED TO SHELL OUT MAJOR $$$$$$  - because since people will HAVE to switch, more likely the books will cost MORE than you would expect, rather than less.  And... if past history repeats itself, there will be discounts available for CLERGY and possibly religious communities, but NOT for laity, including those in secular orders.  (Because we are rich, I guess!)

 

 

My current books are falling apart, and I don't know whether to replace them or not.  For now I am waiting and using rubber bands....

 

 

A couple of other 'old llama' thoughts - may be accurate and may not be....

 

Do count that the people who decide these things will make a major or minor change to these books about every 10 years.

 

Do NOT expect you will keep the same books for very long, ever!  Because they will fall apart after about 7 or 8 years.... so you will need to purchase a second (or third) set BEFORE the new one comes out.  Seems to be the unwritten rule!!!!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

In case you are curious how this plays out in a historical way:

 

Since 1968, I have purchased the following items to pray the Office/Liturgy of the Hours:

 

1)  1968.....................Little office of the BVM    (was replace by Interim Breviary in early 1970's)  

Cost - $5 or so?)

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1626203148/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

 

 

2)   1970.....................Short Breviary (kind of mix of Little Office and Simplified Divine Office, in English)  

Cost - $10 or so ( but they were being sold off, in expectation that they would be replaced... so discounted....)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Short-Breviary-Religious-Laity-Regular/dp/B006O5JGDW/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407277188&sr=1-5&keywords=Short+Breviary

 

 

3)  1971.......................Lauds, Vespers & Compline of the Divine Office in English and Latin

Cost - $10 or so ( but they were being sold off, in expectation that they would be replaced... so discounted....)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Vespers-Compline-English-Reprinted-Divine/dp/B001GO3WAY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407277098&sr=1-1&keywords=Divine+Office+in+English+and+Latin

 

 

4)   1972 ...................... Divine Office in English and Latin, 3 vols 

Cost - $5 for a 3 volume, boxed set!!!!(they were being sold off, in expectation that they would be replaced... wish I had invested in a bunch of them... they are worth 20 x that much now!!!!)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Hours-Divine-Office-English-Latin/dp/B001EEU2QI/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407277405&sr=1-15&keywords=Divine+Office+in+English+and+Latin

 

 

5a)  1972........................Interim Breviary    

Cost:  $21!!!!  (STICKER SHOCK!)

(if you think the current LOTH is bad, you should have seen THIS puppy!)

(it was required but only in use for about 5 years--everyone hated it!)

 

http://www.amazon.com/PRAYER-CHRISTIANS-AMERICAN-INTERIM-BREVIARY/dp/B000KIHA0A/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407277503&sr=1-4&keywords=Interim+Breviary

 

 

5b) 1973..........................Interim Breviary..................in Spanish (yup)  

(was given to me, cost unknown)

 

 

 

6)  1978 to now.......................... Christian Prayer - 1 vol with Morning, Evening and Night prayer    

$30 or so... prices vary

 

http://www.amazon.com/Christian-Prayer-Catholic-Book-Publishing/dp/0899424066/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407278191&sr=1-1&keywords=Christian+Prayer

 

 

 

6a)  1978 to now..........................Christian Prayer in Spanish (see 5 a)  

Current cost:  $59.95  (yup... imported!)

 

 

 

 

6b)  1978 to now..........................Christian Prayer in Italian       

Current cost:  $46.80 (and possibly more)  (yup... imported!)

 

 

 

7)  1978 to now..........................Liturgy of the Hours - 4 vols  (I have had to buy 3 sets of this, because the fall apart after about 7 years....)

 

 

 

AND... My current set is falling apart, but I don't want to buy one if there is ANY chance they will be reprinting it.

 

 

 

 

IF you belong to a Religious Order or a Secular Order, you have to factor in the Proper Offices:

 

1 ..... Carmelite Proper - First Version - Replaced by 2nd Edition

Cost was about $15

 

http://www.amazon.com/Discalced-Carmelite-Offices-Blessed-Liturgy/dp/B001HBBKIC/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407277840&sr=1-6&keywords=Carmelite+Proper+of+the+Liturgy+of+the+Hours

 

 

2 ..... Carmelite Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours - 2nd Edition - replaced by 3rd Edition

http://www.amazon.com/Carmelite-Proper-Liturgy-Hours/dp/8872880289/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407277908&sr=1-1&keywords=Carmelite+Proper+of+the+Liturgy+of+the+Hours

Cost was about $40

 

3 ..... Carmelite Proper for the Liturgy of the Hours - 3rd Edition - out of print and not going to be reprinted

Cost was about $60

 

http://www.amazon.com/Discalced-Carmelite-Proper-Offices-Promulgated/dp/B004LETHUA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407277937&sr=1-1&keywords=Carmelite+Proper+Liturgy

 

 

Currently we use what we have or use the generic Office Book commons... there are pamphlets with some of the official commons for the major days... but that is it..... not ideal but we're out of options.  

(Yes, there IS an on-line option for those outside the USA but technically we aren't supposed to know about those.  Wink    Wink )

 

 

 

So... my point is... this is VERY expensive, as CMAD2006 said, and I am not at all convinced that it will end up happening.  

 

We will see!!!!

Edited August 5, 2014 by AnneLine

[CountrySteve21]

wow  :eek:  Makes you just want to learn LAtin just to avoid all of this lol 

 

@Annline I found a couple of things that could make the Office 'better' 

 

Heres a link to the revised Grail Psalms, which after reading some of them are a huge improvement!  http://www.giamusic.com/sacred_music/RGP/psalmDisplay.cfm?psalm_id=263

 

There supposed to read more like the Latin originals are I think 

 

And I just found out about this http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2014/07/celebrating-liturgy-worthily.html#.U-InwNJDuSq

 

and decided to order it, all the Official Hymns translated to approved English, set to Gregorian Chant  :cloud9:

[LouisvilleFan]

iPad + Universalis = Semi-permanent, multi-purpose solution :saint2:

 

Just kidding... nothing lives up to having the physical book in hand, especially when it has that thin, crinckly paper that's so much fun to turn and gaze upon thoughtfully. Is there any possibility the publishers can recycle old brevaries to save money on new ones?

[AccountDeleted]

We reused our breviaries in Carmel - if they needed rebinding, a sister would do that. They actually lasted for a very long time - and the 3-volume UK version just seemed to go on forever and ever. Of course, the translation in that is the Grail Psalter. I don't know if they will have a new version of the Divine Office now that the Grail has updated.

 

 

[AnneLine]

Interesting, Steve.   I hadn't heard about that.   I think there are several other volumes of hymns that match the current LOTH -- looks like several Benedictine communities have versions of these.  Another option for those who want better hymns is the Summit Choirbook that Sr. Maria of the Cross, OP (RIP) from Summit (Sr. Mary Catharine's community) put together.  I have that one and it is excellent.  It includes hymns that are designed and appropriate for the Liturgy throughout the year... and of course, many specialized for Dominican Calendar if anyone has an interest in that.

 

 

I met Sr. Maria and she was a lovely lady and a beautiful Dominican.   She spent about 20 years putting it together, and it is a wonderful resoure.  Here's a link - you can get it from the Summit Dominicans:

 

http://summitdominicans.3dcartstores.com/The-Summit-Choirbook_p_75.html

 

Nunsense, I get the sense the British version is much better -- Grail psalms and better binding. :)   

 

Louisvillefan, I don't think that there is an interest on the part of the people who are publishing the books to do that.   :hehe:   I know in my Secular community we recycle the books in interesting ways.  Most of us have a cover for it, which will hold it together for about 2x its normal lifespan.   I like paper, too! :)

 

One of the Carmelite Fathers said that the LOTH books have a half life of about 7 years... and I think he was right!  They do hold together better now that they use the leather-like bindings.... the original plastic bindings in the 1970's looked beautiful, and the plastic held up... but it separated from the book and it became unusable about 6 years in....

 

Most of the Seculars hang on to the LOTH books long after they have grown sad and cracked.   And as we replace the volumes, we also have a custom of offering the tired but still intact books for nothing to the newest candidates, so they can use them while they discern if they are being called to be Seculars.   (We also tell 'em about Universalis, EBreviary and DivineOffice.org...   ;) )  Basically we want them to be sure they choose the 1 or 4 volume that will fit their needs.  They can pray from the internet or in a Latin version when they are by themselves, but they have to purchase either the 1 vol Christian Prayer or the 4 Vol. LOTH to use in community, and learn how to use it.  We need everyone on the same page, literally...

 

Will be interesting to see what ends up happening!  And when!

 

Edited August 6, 2014 by AnneLine

[Cherie]

Nope. Not happy. Well, kind of happy because the translation needed to be redone. But mad because it will be extremely expensive to replace. Sigh.

[CountrySteve21]

We reused our breviaries in Carmel - if they needed rebinding, a sister would do that. They actually lasted for a very long time - and the 3-volume UK version just seemed to go on forever and ever. Of course, the translation in that is the Grail Psalter. I don't know if they will have a new version of the Divine Office now that the Grail has updated.

 You all across the pond are lucky, you get the RSV Bible for your Lectionary I think? 

 

Interesting, Steve.   I hadn't heard about that.   I think there are several other volumes of hymns that match the current LOTH -- looks like several Benedictine communities have versions of these.  Another option for those who want better hymns is the Summit Choirbook that Sr. Maria of the Cross, OP (RIP) from Summit (Sr. Mary Catharine's community) put together.  I have that one and it is excellent.  It includes hymns that are designed and appropriate for the Liturgy throughout the year... and of course, many specialized for Dominican Calendar if anyone has an interest in that.

 

 

I met Sr. Maria and she was a lovely lady and a beautiful Dominican.   She spent about 20 years putting it together, and it is a wonderful resoure.  Here's a link - you can get it from the Summit Dominicans:

 

http://summitdominicans.3dcartstores.com/The-Summit-Choirbook_p_75.html

 

Nunsense, I get the sense the British version is much better -- Grail psalms and better binding. :)   

 

Louisvillefan, I don't think that there is an interest on the part of the people who are publishing the books to do that.   :hehe:   I know in my Secular community we recycle the books in interesting ways.  Most of us have a cover for it, which will hold it together for about 2x its normal lifespan.   I like paper, too! :)

 

One of the Carmelite Fathers said that the LOTH books have a half life of about 7 years... and I think he was right!  They do hold together better now that they use the leather-like bindings.... the original plastic bindings in the 1970's looked beautiful, and the plastic held up... but it separated from the book and it became unusable about 6 years in....

 

Most of the Seculars hang on to the LOTH books long after they have grown sad and cracked.   And as we replace the volumes, we also have a custom of offering the tired but still intact books for nothing to the newest candidates, so they can use them while they discern if they are being called to be Seculars.   (We also tell 'em about Universalis, EBreviary and DivineOffice.org...   ;) )  Basically we want them to be sure they choose the 1 or 4 volume that will fit their needs.  They can pray from the internet or in a Latin version when they are by themselves, but they have to purchase either the 1 vol Christian Prayer or the 4 Vol. LOTH to use in community, and learn how to use it.  We need everyone on the same page, literally...

 

Will be interesting to see what ends up happening!  And when!

 

Wow, that books sounds interesting; how its got hymns set to both Western and Eastern Chants is amazing! 

Nope. Not happy. Well, kind of happy because the translation needed to be redone. But mad because it will be extremely expensive to replace. Sigh.

 

Well my wallets not happy about it either. I guess will have plenty of time to save up, us Romans aren't known for our speed  :|

[Benedictus]

At a couple of monasteries I've visited they use printed 'sheets' for each service. The regular used parts are in plastic wallets. I wonder how that works with copyright :hehe2:  Far easier to navigate though.

[AnneLine]

Probably have a license agreement.   Or not.   :rolleyes:

[LadyOfSorrows]

What!! No! So expensive :ohno: I just got my set a few years ago...maybe there will be some sort of exchange program?