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The Habit of the Daily Office

A couple of years ago, George Sumner told the story at Regent College of how a friend of his had told him that he could tell a difference between priests who held the daily office in their parish and those who did not. There was a spiritual edge to those who did. I keep thinking about that.

Whether I gain a spiritual edge or not, I do not know, but I do know that when I keep to the daily office schedule that I do have (twice a week at the church and the rest of the week at the school) it makes a difference. Many times, I've held the service simply out of duty and found it redirecting my soul to better things than what it had been fooling around with.

I also prefer it to the "quiet time" as a way to get the day going. Frankly, while I used to live and die by the "quiet time," the whole thing now seems pitiful and anemic next to the divine office, gathered with God's people - even if it's just one other person.

By the way, I was amused not too long ago when I was asked how many attended our morning prayer service and the reply to the number was, "Well, that's about the same number at Westminster Abbey every day." Encouraging in its own way!

Of course I take time for private prayer at other times, but I deeply appreciate the liturgical spirituality inherent in the daily divine office. It's much more satisfying - and helpful, I believe - than the pietistic "quiet time."

Brothers - how about it?

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