www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology do byzantine catholic priests pray the divine office?

Dr John:

I too see the need to be Christ to our brothers and sisters who are less off or in need in some way.

That being said, however, does not preclude, nor supercede the very real need for conversation with God; that is, prayer -- liturgical, formal, and ejaculations of varying length.

It is much like the puritanical Christian who tells his fellow man in the street as he passes him buy that he needs to have faith in God and rejoice, but then fails to give him a cloak for to warm the body.

In truth, oral prayer (liturgical, formal, and ejaculations) and physical prayer (corporeal works of mercy, paid labor, and personal labor) are two sides of the same coin; you can not have the one without the other.

I myself do volunteer for the local homeless shelter and women's center for abused women and children. I also give alms whenever I am in a position to do so.

However, all of my charitable works are not so much a burden, for lack of a better term, as to preclude me from conversing with the One who sought me, the One who bought me, and the One who taught me. It just so happens that I prefer to start, close, and season my day with the Divine Office. As a Latin Rite Catholic, I also include the Angelus at 6, 12, and 6. And my personal, ejaculations help me when I find myself most assuredly in need to talk to Him. I finish my day by taking an hour to simply reflect in quiet meditation. None of these things ever interferes with my paid labor, personal labor, or volunteer labor. In fact, I would say the opposite has occurred. In my own life I've found that I am more able to live at peace and with less stress since I developed my prayer life. Coincidentally, this also happens to be much the same for my tithing.

I would humbly suggest that one in fact pray their daily prayer, whatever that may be, as well as give alms to the poor.

Why should it be an either/or? Why not a both/and?

Donnchadh

Donnchadh, good answer!

Angela, as those who know me well here will tell you, that I conceded some use, based on extraordinary need, for extraordinary ministers in the Latin Church is a tribute to your winning personality. Finally saw Donnchadh's thread saying hello, where you said you are an adopted Scot. I wondered how I'd missed that before. You say you are a convert: were you C of E (high? low? broad? indifferent?), free church or other/nothing? When did you become Catholic? (I hope you don't mind the questions.) One of the leading lights on this forum was a "nothingarian' who was baptized, chrismated and communed about four or five years ago.

http://oldworldrus.com

Dear Irish, Scots and Russian Friends . . .

Yes, we need to pray to obtain the grace and love of God so that we may pour it out over our neighbours and those in need around us.

There is much in the ancient Celtic Christian ways that relate them to the Eastern Church. There is even the devotion to the "Seven Coptic Monks" buried in Ireland and mentioned in an old litany.

The Celtic Church was the only western Church that did prostrations and other practices that St John Cassian especially brought with him from Egypt and the East.

A warm welcome to our Celtic friends, Angela of Glasgow and Dunchaddh of Iona.

Thank you, Serge, for your warm and thoughtful points!

Alex

Dear Friends,

I am just wondering about Dr. John's latest posts.

If he is serious about the suggestion that the Rites are not important, does this mean that he will now be amendable to incorporating statues, rosary-beads and scapulars into his own devotional life?

Something tells me that this would not be so.

So the Rite and method of prayer is important after all . . .

Alex

Alex:

Thank you for your welcome. I have been very welcome here and I appreciate it.

Just wanted to let you know that I am not from Ia (Iona), but from the USA.

My great granddad was from the border area of Muineachan (Monaghan) and Ard Macha (Armagh) in Ulaidh (Ulster), Ireland (just north of Castleblayney, Monaghan and east a bit to the border of Armagh; we come from a long line of ranchers/farmers). Some of the family was in Armagh and some in Monaghan. He was involved with an Irish independence movement and left when it was too much.

Naturally, our Irish traditions (religious and cultural) are very much kept and celebrated.

Donnchadh

Dear Donnchadh,

Some would say that Iona and the U.S. have a lot in common, being an island unto itself etc. (kidding, kidding).

My own interest in Celtic history and traditions have led me to be invited to give two public lectures on the same.

The Irish monks, to be sure, would put to shame many strict Eastern monastics, as Brendan would agree (you see, I'm very careful about not getting you Irish upset . . .).

An Irish Orthodox friend once got me to do a Cross Vigil with him.

As you know, this involves saying Psalm 118/119 with a prostration every two verses and continuing into the next two or so Psalms until 100 prostrations are made.

I think I've still yet to fully recover from that exercise.

Keep up the excellent work on maintaining your traditions. And please share them with us so that we may see parallels and learn from them as well.

Alex