Daily Prayer in the Early Church: A Study of the Origin and Early Development of the Divine Office

by Paul Bradshaw

In liturgical study, and especially in English liturgical study, the subject of the daily office has always been something of the poor relation' writes the author in his preface. This volume aims to do something to fill that gap. It begins with a detailed examination of the Jewish background and of the practice of daily prayer in the first three centuries of the Church, and goes on to trace the evolution of the divine office in both its monastic and secular forms in East and West down to the time of St. Benedict. Intended as a replacement for The Influence of the Synagogue upon the Divine Office by C. W. Dugmore (Alcuin Club Collection No. 45), it not only incorporates the results of recent research by continental scholars and others but also challenges traditional assumptions at a number of important points, offering a fresh interpretation of the evidence.

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2008

About the author

Scottish reporter on children

Reviews

[Sasha Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative, but sometimes rather dry. I did not agree with Bradshaw's conclusions about the implications we should draw for the Office today, which I think serves its purpose better than he admits.

[Royce]

VERY detailed account of the origins and incarnations (no pun intended) of the daily office, from its Jewish antecedents (which are not what everyone might think) to a look at Eastern and Western monasticism and cathedral services. Unfortunately, there was still a lot unknown at the time of writing. I'm not sure if much more has been learned since. (book is from 1982, I believe)