Monday, August 11, 2014

Quick Question for Brits, Canadians, Aussies...

...and other assorted users of the Harper Collins breviary, three volume edition.
When I wrote my book two years ago, I stated that the Harper Collins breviary takes its scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible. That was my memory from using the HC single-volume edition for a while back in the early 80s.

Since the book came out, I've seen it noted in several places that in fact, the HC reaadings come from a  variety of Bible translations: some from the Jerusalem, some from the RSV, and even some from the "Good News" bible of the 1970s.

Can anyone here who uses HC clarify this for me, and also give an estimate on the ratios of the various translations used? E.g., does any one translation predominate, or is it a three way split?

I ask because one American reader wants to purchase the HC based on my saying it used the Jerusalem Bible. I don't want to have him lead astray. HC breviaries are pretty expensive when purchased here in the states, so we have to make sure it's worth his while to do so.

Enchanting Chant Resources

Memorial of St Clare of Assisi. Don't miss her letter today in the Office of Readings. picture credit: prayerflowers.com


I was fooling around on the internet this morning and came across a few more chant resources.

Chanting the Liturgy of the Hours is something I love more in theory than in fact these days, but once the school year starts and I have a little more peace, quiet, and actual time to do it, I hope to get back to chanting Lauds a few days a week.

This link gives various Sunday lauds and vespers chants for the liturgical seasons and ordinary time.


This blog post on the Walking With God blog has many, many links for chant and music sources, both Latin and English. I've only just begun checking some of them out  myself.

I think I've mentioned Musical Breviary before.  The gentleman who runs this site has accomplished the seemingly Herculean project of recording podcasts of daily chanted lauds and vespers for the entire year. Due to copyright issues he uses a public domain version of the psalms and readings.