English Breviaries

The breviary is a Christian book which contains all the liturgical and canonical hours. It originated as a Jewish practice of reciting the Psalms, often by memory. The first book to carry the name of 'breviary' was first approved by the Vatican in the Thirteenth Century. Today there are many versions in several languages with an array of editions from the neophyte to the dedicated devotee. Below are English editions which are generally available either in new or used condition and listed by liturgical experience. This is not a comprehensive list, but those I have had experience with. No review is provided as to publisher, price, source, psalm version, scripture origin or prayer ordering.

Shorter Christian Prayer

Abridged Four-Week Psalter of the Liturgy of the Hours Containing Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayers. Has the Four-Week Psalter and selected texts for the Seasons and Major Feasts of the year. This is the starting point for many beginning a prayer schedule in either a private or group setting. Ideal for Parish use.

Lauds and Vespers

Latin/English, 1600-page prayer book contains the texts from the Liturgy of the Hours for Lauds (Morning Prayer) and Vespers (Evening Prayer) for the entire liturgical year.

Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a shorter form of the Divine Office in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Little Office of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

The Little Office of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel appeared in 1975. and has had two reprints, in 1985 and the latest, in 1991.  It was prepared during 1973-1974  in the English Province of the Calced Carmelites under the supervision of Fr. Hugh Clarke, O. Carm.   The original printing was done by the Carmelite Press in Faversham, Kent.


Originally intended for the Order's tertiaries (lay Third Order members), the book was and is being used by others, as well, some of them not directly associated with the Order, at all. The psalms, readings and prayers are primarily from the offices of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the current Liturgy of the Hours; the rest of the material,  "Carmelite" in its nature, was added from Carmelite tradition (e.g., the praying or singing of the Salve Regina -or Regina Caeli, during Eastertide- after each of the hours).  Carmelite feasts from the then liturgical calendar of the Order were included, as well (several new feasts have since been added).  There is also some additional devotional material.

Christian Prayer

Unabridged one volume edition of The Liturgy of the Hours containing the Morning and Evening Prayer for the entire year.

Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours

Morning - Evening - Daytime - Night Prayer / Office of Readings
(Selection) / Revised by decree of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and Pope Paul VI by the Daughters of St. Paul. Hardbound and preferred over the above, but more portable than that below.

Liturgy of the Hours

Complete 4 volume  set of the official English edition of the Divine Office. Available in small and large print.

The Monastic Diurnal Revised

Episcopal/Catholic Breviary based upon the 1932 Monastic Diurnal and the 1979 Book of Common Prayer for the recitation of the Divine Office.

Benedictine Daily Prayer

Everyday edition of the Divine Office in the Benedictine monastic tradition, With hymnody, psalmody, and Scripture for all hours

Monastic Diurnal

Monastic Diurnal, or Day Hours of the Monastic Breviary, according to the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict. Original Breviary from 1960.

Monastic Duirnal Reprint

Reprint of the 1963 edition of the Benedictine hours of Prime, Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline, in Latin and English in parallel columns for all the feasts and seasons in the traditional Benedictine calendar. Ideal for novices, monks and nuns when travelling, Benedictine oblates, guests at monasteries, and all who wish to draw upon the riches of the ancient and traditional Benedictine office.

I personally use the Liturgy of the Hours in 4 volumes because it is the public prayer of the Church and in it I am praying in communion with the Pope, clergy and religious. Occasionally, I will use the pre-Vatican II Monastic Diurnal on Benedictine, Cistercian and Carthusian feasts although the latter have their own Duirnal. These orders have their own calendars, but the one I follow is the General Roman Calendar.

Brother Mordecai