The School Of Prayer: An Introduction to the Divine Office for All Christians

This....is a very comprehensive guide to The Divine Office. It explains and explores in detail why, what, where, when and who of The Office. It's incredible 😍 The research, resources and clear, concise information at your fingertips is a valuable treasure. I'm just a quarter of the way through it. So I'll write at length later. A side note: I've been reading the Office since I was exposed to it in England(I'm Catholic) but without transport as a child in the UK. The Anglican Church does The Divine Office also, I fell in love with it there. Anglican Churches were within walking distances for me. It was absolutely delightful 😊

I cannot recommend this book too strongly! It is more about formation in prayer than it is information about praying. It has helped me to gain a deeper appreciation for the Liturgy of the Hours, the Divine Office, Morning and Evening Prayer - whatever title you are accustomed to use for this ancient prayer of the Church. The author gives the theme for each of the psalms and canticles that will be prayed. This helps to refresh your memory so reading through the entire commentary each time is not necessary. Then follows a good orthodox commentary on each Psalm and canticle with a brief explanation of the seasonal antiphons that focus the prayer. There is a brief but good history about how the Divine Office developed in the Church going back to Jesus and the Apostles prayer together. There are commentaries on the Invitatory Psalms, the Magnificat, the Benedictus, and the Canticle of Simeon. There are excellent articles that thrill one's soul such "Christ in the Psalms", "Christ in the Divine Office" and several others. You will not regret buying this inspirational book. It makes an excellent gift for newly ordained priests, deacons, and for those coming into third orders that make praying the Divine Office part of their daily prayer.

Nice book, but I took one star off as it only had the commentary/exegesis on the morning and evening psalms (not all the offices. One reviewer said this was for the 4 volume Liturgy of the Hours). It also did not have anything on the readings for those prayers.Also, in the description it said there was a ribbon marker, which would be really nice, but that is not the case. This is a soft cover and no ribbon marker, so I was a little disappointed.It is a nice book though. The commentary is nice and straight forward. Obviously if you want a deeper exegesis you should look at different commentaries on the psalms and readings. What you get though is very usable.

Have you stumbled through the Liturgy of the Hours, struggling with the readings because you don't know who's doing what to whom? This small but thick book explains each reading in Morning and Evening Prayer. The explanations put into context who is speaking, and why. Many of the readings are repeated through the four-week cycle, so it won't take long for you to, well, pick up where you left off.

I purchased this book hoping to get some insite on what the different psalms in the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office)where all about.When I received it, and thumbed through it, I thought I had made a mistake in buying this book because the book is small and thick with small writing.But what a surprise to find that it really does give you lots of insite into just what the psalmist is saying. Each paragraph of the psalm is exlained. And you don't need to start at the very begining of this book either. Just go by the week where you are at in the Divine Office.It even explains the Invitatory Psalm, the Canticle of Zechariah and the Canticle of Mary.I've only had this book a few weeks and I already love it and highly recommend it to anyone who would like a better understanding of the different psalms in the Liturgy of the Hours.

This book is excellent and I highly recommend it. It gives a short history of the Divine Office, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours, and it provides commentary on each psalm used in the Office. Please note, that this is not the best book to learn HOW to read the Office. It IS a great book of commentaries on the psalm which dominate the Office.Another great book on the scriptural study of all the psalms is "Singing in the Reign" by Michael Barber. It is a study of both the Jewish and Christian aspects of the psalms which may be helpful background when praying the Office.

I highly recommend this excellent and simple treatise and commentary which is understandable by the lay person and especially Catholics who pray the Office. It explains the spiritual value of the Office and inspires one to want to pray it more often. The content warrants the price, however much the book per se is overpriced. Its small size permits carrying it with your breviary as a continuous reference for those scriptural selections encountered in the Office that one is not immediately capable of understanding to the degree necessary to properly pray the selection.

I keep it by my side when praying the Breviary!

If you were looking for only one introduction to the Divine Office and one set of commentaries on the psalms, this should be it. Of course there are plenty of other good introductions and commentaries and you should get those too, but if you *are* looking for one and one only introduction to the Divine Office, this is the one you want.

I wished to review teaching on the Prayer of the Church. This small publication is an ideal tool for those wishing to take up praying the Prayer of the Church and also for those who, whilst having long been able to pray the breviary throughout the day, wish to enhance their experience and to pray the prayer routine more spiritually and accurately.

The reason I bought this book is because I read the Psalms each day and I wanted to learn how to read them more prayerfully. This book was recommended by a colleague. I thought the price was a little steep but I am very satisfied with the book. I believe it will help me pray the psalms instead of just reading them.

Really useful. Gives an explanation of the psalms in the Jewish and Christian contexts. As the psalms are crucial to the Divine Office, an introduction to the psalms like this is an essential starting point.

This book is amazing. Although I have tried to say the Divine Office for years, this book has opened my eyes to the riches of the Office in an entirely new way and has made me more faithful and appreciative in my prayer life. A true gem!