Monastic Diurnal: Lancelot Andrewes -vs- St. Michaels Press

A reader writes:

I have a question about the Monastic Diurnal: Contents aside, which of the two editions out there is better quality as far as durability is concerned? (One thing that concerns me, for example, about the LA Press edition is its location of the Psalter - similar to the Anglican Breviary). I have read mixed reviews of both books on that subject and was wondering what your experience with each of them has been in that area. Thanks!

It is tough to discuss the two editions without touching on some of the content. There are folks out there that will purchase based on quality alone but be disappointed later on. I want them to have a better idea of what they might be purchasing but I'll try to keep it short.

Here are the two diurnals again, with a pen in front (my Red Pen of Doom, used to grade papers, mwuhaha) to give you some perspective on the size. The Lancelot Andrewes Press edition is noticeably thinner and slightly taller. However the thinness of the Andrewes edition means that it can easily fit in your back pocket. I have done this several times. Just try not to sit down on it because the cover takes a bit to get its shape back... The cover is the same material as the Anglican Breviary. It feels like a hard but flexible shell, not imitation leather.

I got my copy on eBay, so I don't know how long it has been in use. Nevertheless you can see here that because the Andrewes edition uses a stiff-shell material its end papers want to pull away from the cover . When this happens it reveals that the stiffness is not a result of undercover boards but the material itself. This is easy enough to glue for a quick fix. Yes it is a lesser quality than leather, but it adds to the durability because it isn't so delicate. This is a tough material.

Here we see the print in the Andrewes edition. The text is good size and bold. Keep in mind that both of these editions are reprints of revisions of books going back to the first half of the 20th Century. So the text formats in both represent that time period. Take a look at the collects here and you will three present for St. Luke. There is a fourth on the next page. This is pretty common and is done to accommodate Anglicans and Catholics of different stripes. The introduction to the book gives a good indication of how to tell the difference.



The Andrewes editions gives you the prayers before and after the Divine Office, as well as the Ave. Pater. Credo. previously said before each hour.

Here is the St. Michael's Abbey Press Monastic Diurnal. I bought mine some time ago. In fact is it one of the first books I ever mentioned on this blog. The cover is a flexible Moroccan Leather previously used by Baronius Press back in the day to clothe their Missals and Bibles. It is really nice and getting better with age. Hands down, this cover is more elegant than the Andrewes edition.   I tried to take a photo that would show you the quality, which I hope you can see. I hope they are still printing this book with the same material.

Here is the psalter. I like having the Latin and English. This is the Vulgate translation of the Psalms and a proprietary English. A benefit of this edition is that if you visit a traditional Benedictine monastery or convent then you can use this to participate. You can't do that with the Andrewes press, at least as a Catholic.  [I stand happily corrected!  Comment from Brian M:  Dear Matt, you may wish to note that the All Saints Sisters of the Poor, a former Anglican sisterhood in Catonsville, MD, which recently converted en masse to the Church and was established as a priory of Diocesan right, uses the Andrewes Press edition of the Diurnal for their daily office.] 



Here is the psalter, in the middle, where all breviary psalters should be placed.

Here is the Andrewes Press psalter placement. Up front. I find it a bit more confusing than the the St. Michael's edition. This photo also shows the shorter ribbons and the thinness of the cover material. I think the gilt edges are better on the Andrewes edition though.

The St. Michael's edition comes with cheater cards to help you find your way around the Office.

The Catholic St. Michael's edition has an updated table of moveable feasts until 2066.

I hope this helps. Quality wise I think this is a toss up. The Lancelot Andrewes edition is more of a workhorse. It is slightly more portable. Both versions have beautiful English. The Anglican one has the Coverdale Psalter. If it helps you to know which one I prefer, it is the Catholic St. Michael's Abbey edition because I appreciate having the Vulgate and English side by side.

First Anglican Use Experience

Yesterday evening I attended my first Anglican Use liturgy for the Vigil of the Ascension with some friends who just moved back into the area. My first reaction was that this liturgy is absolutely recognizable as being within the Roman liturgical tradition. There were a few differences of course. For instance the readings were read (I have come to hate the word 'proclaimed') facing the congregation and the Gospel was read by the priest in the middle of the nave. They used the "Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again" thing that was inserted in our English Novus Ordo Masses.

One thing I liked was that instead of a Responsorial Psalm in place of the Gradual, they sang an entire Psalm. (Huzzah for Coverdale!) The choir did the singing but the congregation was allowed to sing along. Having a Responsorial Psalm in some way makes the congregation sing their part, rather than allowing them to participate as the Anglican Use liturgy does. The Novus Ordo forces them to. You may participate -vs- You will participate. At least this was my impression of that part of the liturgy.

The people were friendly and there seems to be a good zeal for evangelism at the parish. This was a good experience and I look forward to returning.

Un-Christianizing Baptisms

I saw this on the "Acts of the Apostasy" blog. This is tantamount to apostasy. How any practicing Christian can remain in communion with the C of E is beyond me if this actually goes through.

From the Daily Mail:

Church of England baptism services may be re-written to remove some references to Christianity.

The plan for a new ‘baptism lite’ service designed to make christenings more interesting to non-churchgoers will be considered next month by the Church’s parliament, the General Synod.

Supporters say the baptism service should be ‘expressed in culturally appropriate and accessible language’ that is readily understood by ‘non-theologically versed Britons’.

But traditionalist clergy said the idea amounted to ‘dumbing down’.

Read the rest here...

Thoughts on Some Anglican Patrimony

I have been reading a lot of blogs lately by Anglicans who are discerning entry into visible union with the Catholic Church. It is really interesting to watch this play out online. There is excitement, hope, sadness, anxiety, distrust, anger, compassion, joy, and of full range of human emotions one would expect. There is thoughtfulness and frank intellectual discussion going on too.

Because of my reading about all of this I have taken some interest in this thing they are calling "Anglican Patrimony". And indeed there is a lot to be cherished in many of their traditions. On the American side of Anglicanism there is an love for the Prayer Book that will be greatly appreciated by those of us who are attached to the Divine Office in whatever form it is said. This is the place where my interest in their patrimony has settled. The Anglican office, when sung, has a great and unique quality to it. The English harmonies, along with the language used in the Coverdale psalter, are enough to soften even the coldest heart to be moved to prayer.

The reason I'm putting this post up is because one of the things I've read from some Anglicans and some Catholic traditionalists online is that some trads are not so open to Anglicans coming in without renouncing everything about Anglicanism. Even though I consider myself a traditionalist, I think it is important to realize that position is not the one the Holy Father has taken. He is a merciful and kind father and has asked the Anglicans to bring with them the good things they can.

In my experience as a convert I was never, ever, asked to leave behind or renounce anything good about my protestant past. Nor will they be. Nor will anyone ever be. This should be a great comfort to those discerning.

Ut unum sint!

Anglican Breviary Review: Part 1

Last week I received my copy of the Anglican Breviary. Book reviews have become the most popular feature of this blog and so I wanted to spend some time with it in order to provide a fair review.

This first part deals only with the physical aspects of the Anglican Breviary. I am still pondering the contents. But if you only ever see this part before you make a purchasing decision rest assured that it is Catholic. If fears of fidelity are what is holding you up from adopting the Anglican Breviary then you can put them at ease. I will have more on this in my next part of the review.

Let's begin.

First, the outside of the book. Size and portability are important considerations when choosing a breviary or prayerbook. Afterall, you don't want to be toting around a prayerbook the size of your family bible to Mass or even to work or on vacation.

On the left is the Anglican Breviary, on the right is Baronius Press '62 Missal

You can see the AB is larger than your average hand missal. It is essentially the size of your standard Bible. The AB website says it is 7.75 x 5.75. It is slightly larger than Volume II of the Liturgy of the Hours from CPBC. The following photo will give everyone a better idea.

Now that we have dealt with the size of the book, lets turn to the gilt edging. It is better than most modern edging. I have an old breviary from 1958 and the edging is still in tact. No so with my well loved Monastic Diurnal or much abused and equally loved Baronius hand missal. The edging on the Anglican Breviary is not the same. It seems to be of stronger stuff. Definitely more reflective. That said, it did come with two small nicks and already is showing slight wear after just a week. Still, I think it will hold up. Talk to me in a year for the final verdict.

The top book is the *Baronius hand missal, bottom is the Anglican Breviary.

Top edging and ribbons of the Anglican Breviary

Shiny!

There is one potential flaw that came with the book, and I suspect it is just my copy. On the bottom binding of the book the glue is protruding and is visible.

[Update 6/15/09: At the spot where the glue is coming out, the binding has now separated somewhat from the pages. I'm going to try and take some glue to it today and see if I can stop the bleeding before it gets bad. The book isn't falling apart but its definitely getting worse. I might contact the publisher for a repair or exchange...]

I read a review online saying the book was too stiff to lay open by itself. Perhaps that was an issue with an older printing or something, but that does not seem to be the case.

A word on the cover. It is slightly stiff. The texture feels sort of like a shell or a plastic bottle in your hands which isn't bad but I've never had a book with anything quite like it. It is strangely comfortable. I can't describe it any other way. For sure the cover is decent and even looks like leather but certainly doesn't feel like it.

Let's have a look now at the inside. The Breviary makes use of different font sizes to fit the whole Office into one totum. (A single volume copy of the entire office.) The rubrics in this totum are copious and in clear red text. All of the text is exceptionally clear. I have shown it to a few people, including a priest, and that was among the first comments. The clarity and quality of the printed word in the book was my first impression as well upon cracking it open. Here is an example of text from the psalter. I hope this does it justice.

An example of the copious rubrics. They are very useful. However they also tend to get in the way once you know what you are doing. Then again, the Ordinary of any of the hours easily memorized so flipping to this section becomes less necessary with time.

Thanksgiving after Mass. There are actually 2 sets of Thanksgivings. Graces before and after meals, additional prayers, preparations before Mass, the Itinerary, etc etc...

For the most part, the text size is identical to that of the Monastic Diurnal.

The common prayers, ordinary, and psalter of the Anglican Breviary are printed at the beginning of the book. Which, due to its thickness makes flipping back and forth a little akward between parts of the Office. Most modern breviaries print their ordinary in the middle to facilitate ease of use and tender care for the spine of the book. But some prefer the arragement presented so that is mere preference.

Even with a few slight issues, the Anglican Breviary is really a gem. I find myself unable to put it down in my spare time. I hope the pictures I have provided are helpful to anyone considering this great resource.

The next part of the review, forthcoming, will deal with the contents. I need more time to consider some of the things going on with the rubrics, calendar, and translation."

Related reviews:

Monastic Matins Review

Monastic Diurnal Review

Blessed Be God Review

Baronius Press Missal and Douay Bible mini-review

*My Baronius Press 1962 Missal is the first edition, not the Motu Proprio edition. The scuffs you see on the edging are from over two and a half years of use and abuse. That is something to consider.

New Arrival in the Mail

Today I received my copy of the Anglican Breviary, an Anglo-Catholic translation of the Roman Breviary.  Its beautiful.  My initial impressions of the book are extremely favorable.  Expect a full review after I get better acquainted with it. 

 

By the way, there are no photos of it on the internet that do it justice.  I’ll do my best to bring you some that show its quality.