Liturgy of the Hours (4-Volume Set) [Imitation Leather]

Catholic Book Publishing Co (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0899424090 | ISBN-13: 978-0899424095 | Publication Date: July 1975

Each volume in this series is liturgically accurate, magnificently printed, and beautifully bound as befits its use for the Prayer of the Church. You will find this set ideal for both your private and your communal daily prayer.

Product Details

• Imitation Leather: 8160 pages
• Publisher: Catholic Book Publishing Company (July 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899424090
• ISBN-13: 978-0899424095
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 7.4 x 5.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Worship & Devotion > Prayerbooks
  • #73 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Practices > Ritual

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

317 of 317 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to live and grow with, June 19, 1999

By 

G. Jurczyk "[e-mail]" (Dearborn, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Liturgy of the Hours (Leather Bound)

I started with the one-volume "Christian Prayer" and moved to this four-volume "Liturgy of the Hours" after a couple of years at the advice of some beautiful, praying people I have met in the third order of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and on the internet.

The four-volume set has many more readings for the day and more prayers than "Christian Prayer" (which I've thought of as the Reader's Digest version of the Liturgy of the Hours). [On the other hand, "Christian Prayer" does have the music as well as the words for the songs (the Liturgy of the Hours has only words), so you can sound out songs you may not have heard before].

I'm glad I invested in the leather binding for the 4-vol. Liturgy of the Hours. It is more expensive, but worth it. The book lies flat without you holding it down. This has been useful when I have prayed in the hospital, while nursing a baby, or had to leave my prayers for a moment before coming back to the page.

The day prayers are brief and have provided me with a healing respite when in the middle of a hectic work day, stopping in a church to pray a bit, settle my heart and fears, and refocus on the Lord.

The Office for the Dead has consoled me recently, with its tender focus on the mercy of the Lord.

The poetry section has introduced me to poets whose work I never knew was so deeply influenced by their faith. (I'm carrying John Donne on my Palm Pilot right now.)

"Keep in mind that Jesus Christ has died for us and is risen from the dead. He is our saving Lord, He is joy for all ages." This book can remind you of that joy throughout your days and even during a sleepless night.

193 of 195 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best meditational pray book., March 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Liturgy of the Hours (4-Volume Set) (Imitation Leather)

This set of books, 4 in all follows the Catholic church's liturgical calendar. I started with the single volume, which only has morning and evening prayer. I was a bit disatisfied with that format so I sought this set. The single volume was a good start but I found myself desiring more. The books are broken down into the various seasons, at the time of this review we are currently in the largest volume, Lent. They are arranged to allow the reader some latitiude in how much prayer you wish to do for the day. I prefer to start with the Office of Reading (after the mandatory first prayer of the day, the Invitatory) and go directly to morning prayer. Most days, I don't have the opportunity to follow through with midmorning,midday and afternoon prayer although some people do. Next would be evening prayer (or more commonly known as vespers)followed just before bed with night prayer. While much of these prayers are from psalms, I prefer the office of readings as they are longer readings, currently from Exodus, which allows more material for meditation. The prayers are suitable for individual or group prayer, I've used them both ways. All in all a must have set of books, especially for anyone currently discerning a religious vocation.

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars get some help!, February 1, 2003

By 

"Bobby Wickham" (deep in the heart of Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Liturgy of the Hours (4-Volume Set) (Imitation Leather)

It takes a while to get the hang of using the Liturgy of the Hours, but it is well worth the effort. I highly recommend finding someone else who already prays the Hours to help you learn to navigate. The easiest way is to pray with them until you can find your way on your own. There would very likely be someone in your local Catholic parish who can help you.

The Liturgy of the Hours can be used for private prayer and meditation as well as for communal worship. Concentrating on the words, it is easy to lift one's heart to God. The translations of the Psalms and Canticles are beautiful.

The one-volume set has the music in the back of the book. The four-volume set assumes you already know the melody to the hymns. If you don't know the melody, you can read them as poems instead of singing them.