The Work of God: Benedictine Prayer

Rating:
Summary: Prayerful...
Review: As Judith Sutera, OSB, states in her introduction, Benedictine prayer is not something reserved for monks and nuns in monastic settings, but rather can be shared by people of spiritual practice regardless of their community background and situation. The technical term for a book such as this is the Divine Office - Benedictines in monastic settings follow a particular order of daily prayer and work. This is modified for use for those outside such communal settings (particularly as ordinary work-day schedules rarely structure 'prayer' times).

This is in modern, updated language. The psalms follow the ICEL translation, and the overall text is in keeping with the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, to give a more inclusive feel.

Sutera gives a brief biography of St. Benedict, born about the year 480, who is the great monastic founder and author of the Rule, a code of life practice still in practice to this day. The Rule of St. Benedict underpins this prayer book at every turn. Life is sacred, and all practices and pieces of life are to be sanctified - this is one of the intentions of Benedict, who had a care for balance, for community, for godliness, and for attentiveness. The very first word of the Rule is 'Listen!'

Sutera continues with a brief description of the Benedictine oblate movement - those who incorporate Benedictine practices without joining residential monastic communities. There are literally millions of oblates in the world today, a great cloud of witnesses with whom to pray. Even when one does the Offices alone, one can rest in confident assurance that somewhere else in the world, others are joining in.

Sutera gives a brief description of the structure of the Offices for this book, which are arranged on a bi-weekly cycle of morning and evening prayers (the monastic offices have more times than this, but again, it is difficult to incorporate in daily life). There are pieces for practice of the Lectio, the holy reading for spiritual uplift and enlightment, taken from the Rule, as well as other Benedictine prayers to be found between the weeks. At the end of the text are lists of the major feast days of the church, as well as the Commons for these (apostles, martyrs, Mary, etc.). There is also a form of Compline service concluding the book.

This is a handy little book to have, and a good devotional tool.

Rating:
Summary: Unreadably Awful Psalm Translation
Review: This book uses an indescribably vapid Dick-and-Jane Reader translation of the psalms, one that's utterly devoid of poetry, music and majesty -- a translation even less beautiful than the Roman breviary's "Grail" translation, if that can be imagined.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful & Compact Book of Offices
Review: This is a devotional book outlining two weeks' worth of separate daily devotions, with a morning and evening office for each day. In addition to the two week cycle, there are separate offices for saints' days and other special occasions.

Each office contains the appropriate prayers as well as two Psalm readings per office and another inspirational reading from either the Old or New Testaments. Following the Benedictine approach, the love of God is emphasised throughout the offices and places are indicated for silent refection using the "lectio divina" approach to meditation.

This book would probably not be adequate for an entire year's daily devotions, but it has several attributes that I like. It is small and compact making it a perfect travel companion. Scripture readings are printed inside the book making the transport of a bible unnecessary. All passages of scripture are in a modern, inclusive-language translation.

Finally, I would like to note that unlike some Catholic devotional books, I have found this one to be "Protestant-friendly" to this Methodist. Outside of the offices for the feasts of Mary and the saints, the daily prayers do not include references to the saints.