www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Dear Patrick,

You are absolutely correct, and the Little Office is in no way a private devotion, but a form of celebrating the Prayer of the Church.

It has been used by laity for hundreds of years to participate in the Prayer of the Church. As you know, it contains Psalms and in other ways is structured to reflect the daily Office.

Whatever consensus there is here about it, it is clearly wrong .

Alex

Dear Vito,

Jacopone da Todi is venerated locally as "Blessed" as you know.

He was very much into the classics and was conversant with Eastern spirituality.

But because he signed a petition against the Pope of his day, that constituted a "black mark" against his otherwise unsullied reputation and so he will probably never be formally beatified or canonized.

Pity!

Alex