To the Editor:
The article by Father Bill Kneemiller regarding the value of The Liturgy of the Hours (in the Feb. 26 issue), reminded me of a kind gift from Msgr. Marvin Mottet to several members of the Young Christian Students in June of 1960 (between our junior and senior years at Assumption High School in Davenport): the presentation of A Short Breviary published by The Liturgical Press of Collegeville, Minn.
I still have that well-worn book, although I graduated to the full four-volume alternative in 1981. Since 1960 it has been my daily practice to thoughtfully take in the lovely psalms (in which I sometimes find them speaking for my own situation and, other times, picture myself in the position of the one offering praise or sad laments). I also relish the expanded texts of the Office of Readings (prior to Morning Prayer) that feature — for each day of the year — a rich assortment of readings from Scripture with accompanying commentaries by “fathers” or “doctors” of the church.
For all who love the expanded daily and Sunday lectionary texts for the eucharistic liturgy, I strongly recommend investigating the more expansive version of the Liturgy of the Hours, as the selections therein harmonize with the liturgical seasons of the year.
Through the inevitable vicissitudes of life, my practice of each day taking the time to read these texts has served as a critical anchor, reminding me of where I came from as well as of the kind of person I hoped someday to be.
Greg Cusack
Portland, Ore.
