THE DIVINE OFFICE A STUDY OF THE ROMAN BREVIARY BY REV. E.J. QUIGLEY



THE DIVINE OFFICE

A STUDY OF THE ROMAN BREVIARY

BY

REV. E.J. QUIGLEY

1920

PREFACE

In the studies preliminary to ordination, the greatest time and

attention must be given to the study of Dogmatic and Moral Theology.

Certain subjects, such as liturgy, are always in danger of being

shortened or of occupying a very small space in a college course. After

ordination, priests find that these subjects are things of daily and



hourly interest and importance. Who is it that does not know that the

study of the Mass and the Missal, of the Breviary, its history and its

contents are studies useful in his daily offering of sacrifice

and praise?

I hope that this book may serve as an introductory manual to the study

of the Breviary. It may be useful to junior students in colleges, in

giving them some knowledge of the Church's Hours, which they assist at

in their college choirs. It may assist them to know and love the

official prayers of the Church, and may help to form devout habits of

recitation, so that, when the obligation of the daily office is imposed

on them, they may recite it digne, attente et devote. The "texts and

intentions" may be an aid to them, and to students in Holy Orders, in

the great and glorious work of pious prayer.

Perhaps, this book may be a help to priests. It is an attempt to bring

into one handy volume many matters found in several volumes of history,

liturgy, theology, and ascetic literature. Much of it they have met

before, but some of it may be new and may enable some to pray more

fervently and to aid them in the difficult work of saying each Hour and

each part of an Hour with attention and devotion. Some of the pages may

be to them instructive, and may give them new ideas on such points as

the structure of the Hours, the Collects, the Te Deum, the Anthems of



the Blessed Virgin, etc.

No book is faultless. Of this one, I can say with the Psalmist, "I

studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight" (Psalm

72). And I can say it with St. Columban, _Totum, dicere volui in breve,

totem non potui_. In the book I quote Cardinal Bona. In his wonderful

_Rerum Liturgicarum_ (II., xx., 6) he wrote what I add as a finish,

to this preface:--

"Saepe enim volenti et conanti vel ingenii vires vel rerum antiquarum

notitia vel alia subsidia defuerunt; nec fieri potuit quin per loca

salebrosa in tenebris ambulans interdum offenderim, Cum aliquid

incautius et neglentius a me scriptum offenderit, ignoscat primum

lector, deinde amica manu corrigat et emendat et quae omisi suppleat."

E.J.Q.

ROCKCORRY, CO. MONAGHAN.

CONTENTS



PART I.

GENERAL QUESTIONS.

I. Idea of the Breviary

II. Short History of Divine praise in general,

of the Breviary in particular

III. The excellence of the Roman Breviary in

itself and in comparison with others

Respect due to the sacred volume

IV. 1. The contents of the Breviary

2. The ecclesiastical year and its parts; the

calendar

3. General Rubrics of the Breviary

Title

I. The double office

"

II. The office of a semi-double

"

III. The office of a simple

"

IV. The office of Sunday

"

V. The ferial office

"

VI. The office of vigils

"

VII. Octaves



"

VIII. Office of the Blessed Virgin for Saturdays

"

IX. Commemorations

"

X. The Translation of Feasts

"

XI. Concurrence of office

"

XII. The arrangement of the office

"

XIII. Matins

"

XIV. Lauds

"

XV. Prime

"

XVI. Terce, Sext, None

"

XVII. Vespers

"

XVIII. Compline

"

XIX. The Invitatory

"

XX. Hymns

"

XXI. Antiphons

"

XXII. Psalms

"

XXIII. Canticles

"

XXIV. Versicle and responds

"

XXV. Absolutions and Benedictions

"

XXVI. The Lessons

"

XXVII. The responses after the lessons

"

XXVIII. The short responses after the hours

"

XXIX. Capitulum

"

XXX. Oratio, collects

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