I love these prayers. I just thought of this analogy (perhaps it's been made before): if the Office gives us the privilege of having a formal audience in the heavenly Court of our King, the Aperi and Sacrosanctae are kind of like the preliminary letters humbly asking for that audience, and the thank-you notes following up afterward. You wouldn't just barge into an earthly Court unbidden, nor leave ungrateful, so how much more does the same apply to our heavenly Sovereign! I think it's very telling that they're making a comeback despite their suppression in 1955.
Tom B.: Interesting; see p. 207, title 4: https://ia801403.us.archive.org/19/items/TheNewLiturgyDocumentationSeasoltzR.K.3860/The%20New%20Liturgy_%20Documentation%20-%20Seasoltz%2C%20R.K._3860.pdf
Good resource. And yes, the Aperi + Domine in unione, and Sacrosanctae + responsory, were never actually formally part of the Office to begin with; these were always optional, while the Pater+Ave(+Credo) were considered to be part of the actual hours, and it was these that were suppressed by Pius XII.
I love these prayers. I just thought of this analogy (perhaps it's been made before): if the Office gives us the privilege of having a formal audience in the heavenly Court of our King, the Aperi and Sacrosanctae are kind of like the preliminary letters humbly asking for that audience, and the thank-you notes following up afterward. You wouldn't just barge into an earthly Court unbidden, nor leave ungrateful, so how much more does the same apply to our heavenly Sovereign! I think it's very telling that they're making a comeback despite their suppression in 1955.
ReplyDeleteTom B.: Interesting; see p. 207, title 4:
Deletehttps://ia801403.us.archive.org/19/items/TheNewLiturgyDocumentationSeasoltzR.K.3860/The%20New%20Liturgy_%20Documentation%20-%20Seasoltz%2C%20R.K._3860.pdf
Good resource. And yes, the Aperi + Domine in unione, and Sacrosanctae + responsory, were never actually formally part of the Office to begin with; these were always optional, while the Pater+Ave(+Credo) were considered to be part of the actual hours, and it was these that were suppressed by Pius XII.
DeleteGood stuff, I try to pray these before and after the Office as well.
ReplyDeleteRecently I've also been trying to recite one of the poems from the back of the LOTH as well.