![]() The other man makes a point of spending time with his wife several times each day-morning coffee and a short conversation, quick phone call at lunch, longer conversation at dinner, and a final word and kiss goodnight. In one, the man only spends time with his wife when he feels moved to do so. But spontaneity is unreliable as a daily rhythm. Spontaneous prayer is indeed a gift, and in fact I find that the more I pray these psalms, the more I am moved to spontaneous prayer. Many priests have said, “As soon as I got out of the seminary I never opened that book again!” They feel that this rote recitation conflicts with a more personal, spontaneous style of prayer. I know of others who object to praying the breviary at all. This is like the son who said, “I will go” into the field, but he never does. Sadly, now and then, I miss almost the whole day. I’m shooting baskets in my driveway, a proud amatuer at this. They know the chants, the cadence and the choreography-bowing, standing, processing-in elegantly effortless rehearsed synchronization. Praying with Benedictines is the difference between shooting baskets alone in your driveway and playing with an N.B.A. Benedict organized the psalms as we know them today-into liturgical seasons, chants and time periods. These monks are the black-belt ninjas of the breviary. I have been on retreat with Benedictines at Conception Abbey in Missouri and at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut. I have seen families pray night prayer at bedtime young kids can learn the responses quicker than many adults: “Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake, watch over us as we sleep.” I often pray midday prayer with my college-age staff they love the idea of praying with monks, priests and Christians around the world. Peter calls us to “love one another from the heart,” apt advice for a family or a Jesuit community (1 Pt 1:22). I know couples who pray evening prayer after dinner. The Second Vatican Council encouraged lay people to pray the breviary, too. Psalm 23 proclaims “the Lord is my shepherd.” Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd, guarding and guiding me (Jn 10:11). In the Temple, they might have prayed Psalm 122, “I rejoiced when I heard them say, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Faithful Jews prayed the psalms in the centuries before Jesus was born, and still pray them today.įor Christians, the psalms are interpreted through the life of Christ. What were they praying? The psalms, most likely. In the Acts of the Apostles, the early Christians are seen praying communally several times each day. Friday midday prayer brings Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” I recall Jesus crying out to his Father from the cross (Mk 15:34). On Sunday, I begin with Psalm 63: “O God, you are my God, for you I long for you my soul is thirsting.” My first conscious thoughts are centered in the Lord and my need for his grace. Instead of rushing from one event to the next, I am called to sit and reflect when I wake up, after lunch, before Mass, after dinner and at bedtime. When I am praying it well, the breviary brings me a quiet spiritual pause at several points during my day. That is 13 psalms each day it takes 45 to 60 minutes to pray it all. Morning prayer takes about 10 minutes-eight if you are precise and efficient, and five if you rush through it. Many religious orders also pray it according to their own rules. Priests are called to pray the breviary five times each day. And yes, there is an app for that: iBreviary. For convenience, these texts are arranged into a set of several printed books commonly called a breviary. ![]() Morning prayer includes an introductory psalm, a song, three psalms, a short reading from Scripture, the Canticle of Zechariah from Luke 1, petitions, an Our Father and a closing prayer. Morning prayer, daytime prayer, evening prayer and night prayer are meant to be prayed at particular times each day. Also sometimes called the Divine Office, it is a collection of psalms, prayers and other texts arranged for daily prayer throughout the church’s liturgical year. This reflection is about praying the Liturgy of the Hours badly, but still praying it. An even older Jesuit once said, “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly.” He was right, too. In Australia, it is tomorrow morning.Īn old teacher once said, “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” She was right. “Lord open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise.” Well, Lord, it is morning somewhere. ![]() After dinner in my Jesuit community, I am in my room, sitting in my recliner, watching the sun go down. Another busy day: Zooms, meetings, emails and two Masses. ![]()
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