We have a few times of the year when Liturgy of the Hours, and prayer in general, become incredibly popular. One of the times for that is the summer–and we have plenty of options for you!
Of course, we proudly carry the complete 4-volume set of The Liturgy of the Hours, available for purchase in individual volumes. We also are extremely glad to be one of the few local retailers to carry Christian prayer in two different options.
If either of these are too much for you, we also carry Shorter Christian Prayer, which contains only Morning & Evening Prayer formats, along with the Night Prayer (also known as Compline). These options are among our most popular, since that’s when most people have time to pray.
In previous posts, I’ve talked about the compilation of Thomas Merton’s work that was put into Morning & Evening prayer format, collectively titled A Book of Hours. That single volume has become incredibly popular for us, as has its companion book by semi-local author Macrina Wierderkehr, Seven Sacred Pauses. We’ve been very pleased to hear how these books have become popular among our priestly friends, as well as small groups in different parishes, as well as a number of individuals!
But the two books I’m intrigued by today regarding Morning & Evening prayer are not quite what people would expect.
First, something incredibly simple to follow, fantastic for regular use, and jusr the right size to keep by the bedside, Everyday Catholic Prayer by Angela Tilby. This book is designed to be used by those of us who find ourselves hurried, busy, and frantically struggling for a little peace of mind. These very short formats of prayer provide both structure and adequate materials to give you a few moments of centered quiet, but are in no way overhwelming.
It also includes a few little extras that I find to be useful. First, it includes an introduction by the author that explains how this talented woman and writer came to develop this collection. In this introduction, readers will also find some great material about making prayer a useful, integrated daily habit. Second, the text contains a very useful and concise introduction regarding the divine offices. For anyone looking to learn the basics of structured prayer, this is a good starting place. A third extra I’m sure many of our customers will enjoy is the intentional blank pages left by the author so that readers can add their own thoughts and insights gained by praying.
A second book–and one for the ages!–is definitely a great gift idea. Sounds of the Eternal is a Celtic Psalter, fully illustrated. J. Philip Newell has expertly tied together calligraphy, traditional Celtic art, and the beauty of the Psalms included in a single, compact volume. The shortened prayer format provides both words and art on each page.
Please be aware that each day’s format does include the basic essentials known commonly to Liturgy of the Hours and other similar prayer formats. You will find with each day’s prayer times the inviatory, opening prayers, scripture and meditations, as well as closing prayers. But in the abbreviated form, it is both a simple way to get started with structured prayer and a beautiful gift book!
Browse through our site if you want to find more options for the Liturgy of the Hours. We are sure you can find something to give your prayer life a little spark.