The Liturgical Year - Vol. I Advent

The Liturgical Year #1

by Prosper Guéranger

Includes the four Sundays of Advent and the sanctoral cycle from November 30 (St. Andrew the Apostle) to December 24 (Vigil of Christmas).

Genres: Religion, Catholic

536 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1845

About the author

Dom Prosper Louis Pascal Guéranger, Servant of God, was a Benedictine priest, abbot of Solesmes Abbey (which he founded in the disused priory of Solesmes) and founder of the French Benedictine Congregation (now the Solesmes Congregation). Dom Guéranger was the author of The Liturgical Year, which covers every day of the Catholic Church's Liturgical Cycle in 15 volumes. He was well regarded by Pope Pius IX, and was a proponent of the dogmas of papal infallibility and the Immaculate Conception. Dom Guéranger is credited with reviving the Benedictine Order in France, and revitalizing the Tridentine Mass.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosper...

Reviews

[Aaron Crofut · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem; a beautifully written commentary on the Advent liturgy of the Church. It is not the type of book one sits down and reads cover to cover, though the first section on the history and purpose of Advent certainly reads like that. The other two sections cover the propers of Advent and the Feast days that fall within Advent; both are detailed and helpful for daily meditations. The third section could be used as a solid stand alone Lives of the Saints. With that much information at hand, I can't say I read every page; there's just too much to keep up with, because this is volume 1 of 15 for the year! Heck, there are 120 pages of details describing tomorrow's liturgy alone, and I don't think I'll be able to spend all of Christmas just reading about Christmas. This is, however, an incredible auxiliary in keeping up with the Church's daily celebration.

As a still fairly recent convert, I find myself in the strange position of finding some things familiar while needing an introductory lesson on others. I have great respect both for Dom Prosper Gueranger and his translator in weaving together such in-depth explanations with material that would easily guide in a neophyte and having them blend as seamlessly as they do. He describes the Liturgy, both of the Mass and the Divine Office, as milk for those who are children and meat for those who are grown in the faith, and manages to make it so for the reader. While primarily drawing from the Latin liturgy, Dom Gueranger was a scholar of liturgies and is able to incorporate hymns, prayers, and traditions from a wide range of rites within the Church.

There's the history of Advent, there's poetry of the prayers, there's philosophy concerning the role of time in proper worship (every season, every day, every hour has a unique sacred meaning requiring its own expression in worship)...this book is sadly underutilized today. I highly recommend finding a download online unless you happen to have a few hundred dollars to toss about in buying a hard copy!

[Mary Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

an Enormous work

Very detailed. Gives an account of pre-Vatican 2 liturgy. One can see the continuity and the change since Vatican II.

[Miss Karen]

Very beautiful and informative! The liturgy is deeply philosophical and spiritual.

[Raul · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read to start the new liturgical year. I will be coming back to this book next year.