A breviary is a concise book of prayers, psalms, religious readings, and hymns used in private and liturgical worship. It includes information on conducting ceremonies and is useful for religious leaders on long journeys. Both Protestants and Catholics use breviaries, and they have been in use for centuries in different versions and languages. The Divine Office, inspired by Old Testament rites, was once included in Catholic breviaries but was reformed in 1974 as the Liturgy of the Hours.
The Latin word brevis means “concise” or “short.” It is from this Latin root that the word breviary was created. A breviary is a book of prayers and other religious texts used in both private and liturgical worship. In addition to prayers, breviaries include psalms, religious readings, and hymns. The lyrics also include notes on how and when to use the steps. The reason such a text is called a breviary is that it is a compendium of a number of books.
The breviary is and very often has been a very useful text for religious leaders and itinerant missionaries. Because missions often took such individuals on long and difficult journeys, it was often difficult to transport numerous religious tomes. A breviary does, however, include information about the conduct of ceremonies such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals. A breviary also includes everything needed to conduct religious services for the community. Thus, the text covered all the basic needs of a religious leader, including passages he could use in his personal devotions, no matter where he was in the world.
Both Protestants and Catholics often use breviaries in their daily devotions. Religious leaders also use these books as a guide for daily ceremonies and practices. Catholic breviaries published before 1974 included information on what was once known as the Divine Office. This information included guidance on what prayers should be said at each hour of the day. In 1974, however, Pope Paul VI reformed this text. Today it is known as the Liturgy of the Hours.
The specific hours to be devoted to prayer and devotion are the result of an ancient practice. In the Old Testament, God commanded Aaron’s priests to offer sacrifices to Him in the morning and in the evening. The Divine Office is believed to have been inspired by these rites. Also, in the Psalms, David speaks of praising God seven times a day. These Psalms probably also reinforced the practices described in the Divine Office portion of the breviary.
Because breviaries have been in use for centuries and by different religious sects, there are many different versions of them. They have included different combinations of information and instructional texts and have been translated into many different languages. The breviaries were printed in very elaborate and highly drawn versions; they existed even in the simplest formats. Despite the many different versions of the breviary, their overall purpose of providing information on basic religious practices has remained the same.
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