Customer Reviews

The Divine Hours, Volume II: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime (Divine Hours) (v. 2)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Following even a modified version of the Divine Hours, especially those used by Benedictine houses, had led me to the choice of a vastly trimmed repetitive two-week cycle or the juggling act of Bible, Prayerbook and Hymnal. This series of Hours provides a somewhat short, but beautifully balanced, and easy-to-follow cycle for three of the major offices (Morning Prayer, noon and Vespers. Compline is shortened, but has retained the heart of the service.)

The layout is simple and logical, easy enough for even my morning-fogged eyes, and the the beauty of the clean design and plain focus on the Word adds much to both its utility and even its spirituality. It has taken away many of my "excuses" for skipping an office.

Since this book alone comes in at just under 700-pages, the decision was wise to break the year into three volumes, but therein lies my resentment. This volume ends January 31. February -- and Lent -- won't be out until March, and we'll see how quickly Amazon gets copies to stranded readers. I feel like I've got a "teaser" since the Summer version is also already out!

As someone who has worked with a good number of prayer books over many years including the old Roman Breviary (in Latin), Phyllis Tickle has produced a true trilogy masterpiece. It is extremely "user-friendly" with all prayer materials appearing in tight sequence on each page, eliminating the need to flip all over a book, searching for "what's next?" Thank you for making my life more simple, Ms. Tickle!! I now have more time for real prayer.
More importantly, the assigned prayers and reading selections for each day are very well chosen. They are all on the side of thoughtful brevity. This helps create that wonderful atmosphere prescribed by St. Benedict(father of western monasticism)who instructs "therefore prayer ought to be short and pure, except when it is occasionally prolonged by the inspiration of Divine Grace."

With the use of Phyllis Tickle's Divine Hours there is no excuse for not doing all of the prayers each and every time every day of the year. The prayers are outlined for morning, midday, vespers and compline with a complete and short understanding of each prayer time. They can be done quickly or with a lot of thought and consideration.i have never seen a better routine set up for accomplishing prayers for busy people. You will not have any excusae for not doing prayers with these books.

With this book and its companion books, prayer can become a part of daily life for even the busiest of people.The range of liturgical seasons, coupled with the a recurring format, makes even the short reading time valuable. I recommend having all three volumes.

This book of prayers (one of three volumes covering daily prayer for a year) taken in large measure from the Bible is a wonderful prompt in one's life-long conversation with God. It helps one come to words one didn't realize one meant or hadn't the aptitude to say before one began using it in one's daily devotions. In addition to Scripture, it employs prayers from "The Book of Common Prayer" and other standard resources. But one particularly delights in the additional readings taken from a wide range of meditative and inspirational literature. Examples are "Pied Beauty," by Gerard Manley Hopkins and "The Sacrament of the Present Moment," by Jean Pierre de Caussade. What a remarkable contribution to one's spiritual life!

I have to believe that this book, which I bought at Costco on a whim, will introduce many, many people to the spiritual fulfillment Praying the Hours.

The brief selections demand thought & uplift the soul, yet make the effort a joy, rather than a task. I now look forward to Morning, Midday, Vespers, & Compline. I find it calming & soothing. I am particularly pleased that she included the often omitted Midday Prayers. On those days when I know that Midday & Vespers will be difficult, I photocopy the pages & stick them in my pocket.

Having read some of the other reviews, I must comment upon on which may deter some Catholics. Lisa Marie Garcia wrote:

Readings are taken from the King James Version of the Bible and not the New Jerusalem Bible (used in Catholic Liturgy)....

However, Ms. Tickle states in her introduction:

Except where otherwise indicated, the texts for the sacred readings in this manual are taken from the New Jerusalem Bible.... On those few occasions when a sacred reading is from the King James Version rather than the New Jerusalem Bible, that change is noted at the reading's conclusion by the notation "KJV".

As a Protestant, I don't really care. Any work that brings one to a prayer & divine meditation has no denomination other than being of God.

I look forward to the next 2 volumes... Prayers for Christmastime & Prayers for Lent & Eastertime.

I've been using the 4 volumne Liturgy of the Hours for years now. The endless flipping back and forth can undermine devotion. Not to mention ribbon finding can distract from contemplation. This book (and kin) with its single ribbon is SUCH A JOY!

I wouldn't mention it, but with all the recent discussion about God in the classroom, I discovered the woman responsible for ousting prayer from schools was a Catholic woman who didn't want her child saying Protestant prayers. Readings are taken from the King James Version of the Bible and not the New Jerusalem Bible (used in Catholic Liturgy) and Psalm segments are those of the Protestant Book of Common Prayer, not the Breviary.

However, St. Paul tells us to pray always (1 Thess 5:17) also that we should NOT be divided (1 Corin 1:12-15) Jesus tells us to love one another as He loved us (John 13:34). And God, Himself, tells us not to fight with our brothers (2 Chron 11:4).

We are all brothers in Christ. If we harbor disdain for those not of our particular denomination, our Lord knows and is displeased. What He would be very pleased with is more prayers from all of us!

I love this series of prayerful daily readings. The combination of Psalms, prayers and spiritual songs is almost always helpful and inspiring. Best of all -- I use it and it helps me. Wow!

This book arrived in a very timely manner and was like brand new. I will not hesitate to order from this vendor again.

I use all three of Phyllis Tickles' "The Divine Hours" for my daily morning meditation. I can't start the day without it.