The Roman Breviary

The Roman Breviary
Question from on 07-31-2007:
I know that Summorum Pontificum gives priests the option of using the 1962 Breviarium Romanum to satisfy their Divine Office requirements, but does that also limit the laity.

Would it be licit for the laity to recite the Hours publicly according to the '62 Breviary (I am asking because I was thinking of suggesting it for a Young Adults retreat I'm participating in this Sept.). Would it be okay to use to the St. Pius V Breviary in private because of the Benedictine psalter.

I own a copy of the Anglican Breviary, which is essentially the 1911 Breviarium Romanum with certain interpolations from the Sarum and Dominican Uses, because it's the closest thing to the old Breviary that I have seen in print. Do you know of anywhere else I could obtain a reprint of the old Breviary in English, considering I don't read Latin?
Answer by Colin B. Donovan, STL on 08-01-2007:
Since there are now recognized to be two forms, an ordinary form and an extraordinary form of the Latin Rite, one of those two forms must be used. The extraordinary form is the Missal and other elements of the Roman Ritual and breviary in place in 1962, and of the ordinary form, that of today. The Missal, Ritual and Breviary of 1962 represents organic litrugical development to that day, and so reversion to an earlier version would not seem to be legitimate, but chaotic. Is every missal ever used in the Roman Rite now approved for use? Certainly not. Similarly, the current misaal is that of 2002. Presumably priests are not free to use the features of the 1970 Missal, or the 1975 Missal, if the 2002 Missal prescribes something different rubrically or textually. Only necessity - unavailability of the new Missal in impoverished or persecuted areas could justify such use.

Since the laity have no obligation, there would not seem to be any prohibition of using earlier Catholic breviaries to pray with privately, but at the same time, I would hesitate to call it anything but private prayer. The idea of unity with the living Church through her approved liturgical prayer

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