Review on Premium Leather Liturgy of the Hours: Crafted for Devotion by Gelin Battle

I will leave other wonderful comments to share the need and history of the clock in prayer life explain and focus on the tool and imagine the thinking necessary to comprehend all that it contains. Anyone who chooses to purchase these books has made a significant investment and also made a strong personal commitment to advance their prayer life. You are scary. They look (and are) "official" and complex. They are clearly not for easy reading. They are not easy to use and there is no easy way to learn them. These are earnest, lifelong tools used for spiritual formation and soul growth. With the shortest volume at just over 1,700 pages and the longest at nearly 2,400 pages, The Hours requires attention, dedication, study, and slow, steady immersion in this rich resource. It is impossible to say enough that you should acquire some knowledge of how to use these books and have the discipline to follow the path of prayer. It takes some time to get used to the books as they are set up. The volumes are well structured for their purpose, making it easy to navigate from section to section as you learn the flow of Office. Your prayer will unfold from the center of the book outward into prayers for that office, back and forth as needed, each section containing the content required for that office. It will take time to learn the method of prayer combined with reading the Office. But the price you pay for the discipline required to learn how to use this tool comes with a lifetime (and beyond!) reward. The books are voluminous with many sections to refer to during the lessons and it takes some time to get used to the transitions between sections required at different times. Even when changing sections, the book remains comfortable and comfortable for both right and left hands. The volumes themselves are little more than a large paperback novel. The first thing that strikes you is how well the book feels in your hand. One reason to use a book for prayer instead of an electronic version is for the intimate tactile connection. When you pray, the feel of the book in your hand and the turning of the page connects you with the words, draws you to prayer. Even skipping to a different section of the book provides a momentary pause to reflect and continue a thought that can get lost in electronic versions of Office. The paper is high quality and lightweight, with a soft ivory color with low glare. , emphasizing the black writing and instructions printed in red without showing through on the pages. Font size and type are pleasing to the eye and easy to follow. The soft and flexible covers are colour-coded to match the seasons and are comfortable to hold when sitting or walking. In practice, a commonly recognized problem is the lack of a single authoritative manual that easily teaches how to "use" books properly. in prayer and "instructions" like this are not really clear and can be confusing when it comes to explaining the steps of how to pray on the different ranks, holidays and seasons. A valuable resource that I highly recommend is Daria Sokka's short and very well written book, The Everyday Catholic Liturgy Guide to the Hours, and a visit to her very helpful blog. Web sites with helpful how-to guides are also easily accessible. Every prayer requires effort, especially here in this highly structured method of prayer. It is important to take the time to study the arrangement of the book, the form of the offices, and the workings of weekly and liturgical calendars. As you begin to pray with these resources, do so slowly and easily, digging a little deeper in the discipline of prayer as you become accustomed to each ministry and its content. Don't do too much or you will become frustrated and work against progress in your prayer. This is a hearty meal - eat small bites and savor each one. The advantage of having lay people say this prayer on behalf of the whole Church is that we are not bound to any particular form but can adapt to our own circumstances and pray as little or as much as we like. . This can help us grow slowly and surely in our prayers and methods, expanding our capacity as our need to draw closer to the Lord grows. as circumstances required. The single volume is a great starting point and mentor on how to follow the office structure. The four-volume set is a treasure trove of tradition and the living word that will accompany you for a lifetime. May the Lord bless your endeavors and your journey to Him.