主播大秀

(If something is bold and italicized in any of my posts I've linked it to a webpage - just put the curser over the word and click.)

For the past ten years I have been drooling over the four volume set of the Liturgy of the Hours in leather covers. (Leather lasts a LOT longer then the plastic covers!)

This four volume set of the (I finally figured out how to linhk!!) contains the prayers for all 8 prayer times throughout the day plus all of the readings. I have been using a small 1-volume book for years and while it's lovely it has its disadvantages.

I was given a 4-volume set of the while staying with Nuns in Chicago and I used it all of the time in America. However, it's falling apart and I thought that perhaps, now that I can afford it, I would invest in a new set and keep the older set to share with others if they ever wanted to join me in prayer. Or I could give it to someone if they very seriously wanted to pray the LOH. (These sets aren't cheap! Nearly 拢100 !! So it's not something to just give away to a person that won't ever use it.)

This new set will last a long time - longer still if I can figure out how to keep the leather covers hydrated. Does anyone know how to keep the leather covers of books healthy??

I don't pray the LOH in order to somehow save my soul or make me holier then everyone else. I'm obviously Christian so I'm going to engage in Christian-oriented ways of taking a wee meditative break through the day in order to de-stress and refresh myself. Taking a few minutes to step aside from the stress and busy-ness of life gives me this time to let go, relax and take a breather - both physically and, since I am relgious, spiritually as well.

The works the same way. (This linking stuff is SO COOL!)

It is a nice 15 - 20 minute meditative prayer. I am not worshipping Mary as I pray the Rosary - as I say the "Hail Mary" prayer I am meditating on specific sections of the New Testament. The Rosary is made up of five sets of ten beads. These sets of ten beads are called a "decade" and each decade has a passage from the New Testament attached to it. There are four different sets of five New Testament passages. Each set is assigned to a specific day. So on Tuesdays and Fridays I would meditate on the "Sorrowful Mysteries" which are passages from the New Testament that focus on Christ's agony in the garden, His being whipped at the pillar, His being crowned with thorns, His carrying the cross and His crucifixion.

So even though I am honoring Mary the main focus remains on meditating on the life of Jesus.

"And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Luke 1:28

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee...

Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Luke 1:41-42a

...Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus...

"And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" Luke 1:43

...Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.