I want to report on a curious phenomenon in the life of Catholic priests. We are issued a prayerbook upon ordination called “the breviary,” which we promise to pray faithfully every day. We carry this book, usually in a leather cover, with us everywhere, and many priests refer to it affectionately as "my wife." It is called the “breviary” because it is a “briefer” form of the monastic liturgical office. Monks pray from it eight times a day for a total of about three hours, while we parish priests commit to five times a day totaling about an hour. The first of these “liturgy of the hours” (the prayers punctuate our day, sanctifying the “hours”) is called lauds, or “praises.” We begin the day praising God. Lauds consists of three psalms, a scripture reading, the “Benedictus” from Luke 1, and the Pater Noster, among other scriptures. I’ve been praying these same prayers every morning for 30 years, and you would think they would bore me by now. But—and here’s the curious phenomenon—they grow more fresh and thrilling year by year. Why am I not weary of the same old words?
St. Augustine described Scripture as a limitless well. We peer into this well, we become dizzy gazing into the depths, and we never tire of discovering new beauty in these life-giving waters. Each morning the Scriptures in my breviary restore me to life. As I get older, a good night's sleep comes less easily. After a fitful night, who can face the day’s troubles? But every morning, no matter how difficult the night has been, the breviary recovers the joy of a new day. Each morning, in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, "His mercies are renewed," and each morning our praises are renewed with them.
I can hardly believe my good fortune: I’ve been issued a device that restores my vitality every morning. Lauds only takes about ten minutes, and I usually pray it with the other priests in the church at 7am, but I can pray it anywhere, every day. Wherever in the world I am, simply taking that ten-minute soak in the Word of God restores the joy of my youth. We will run, and not grow weary, as the Prophet says in Isaiah 40:31. The Lord will renew their strength every morning, and they will soar like eagles. This is my personal experience of praying the breviary, and I find it amazing.
St. Augustine described Scripture as a limitless well. We peer into this well, we become dizzy gazing into the depths, and we never tire of discovering new beauty in these life-giving waters. Each morning the Scriptures in my breviary restore me to life. As I get older, a good night's sleep comes less easily. After a fitful night, who can face the day’s troubles? But every morning, no matter how difficult the night has been, the breviary recovers the joy of a new day. Each morning, in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, "His mercies are renewed," and each morning our praises are renewed with them.
I can hardly believe my good fortune: I’ve been issued a device that restores my vitality every morning. Lauds only takes about ten minutes, and I usually pray it with the other priests in the church at 7am, but I can pray it anywhere, every day. Wherever in the world I am, simply taking that ten-minute soak in the Word of God restores the joy of my youth. We will run, and not grow weary, as the Prophet says in Isaiah 40:31. The Lord will renew their strength every morning, and they will soar like eagles. This is my personal experience of praying the breviary, and I find it amazing.
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