The Little Office of The BVM – Book Review
Today I will be comparing three Little Offices to make it easier for you to know which publisher to buy from. This review will not be in pros and cons form, since a pro for one person could be a con for another. The three Little Offices that I will be comparing today are the Angelus Press book, the Baronius Press book, and the Catholic Church and Caritas Publishing book.
The Angelus Press Little Office
Text is in both Latin and English.
Black synthetic soft cover.
Gold wording on the cover.
Thin bible paper
No gold edges.
This book also contains the Office of The Dead.
This book is fully updated to comply with the editio typica of the Breviary (1961)
“Updated punctuation and slight rewording of some familiar passages in English.”
Includes a few other additional prayers.
Changes for liturgical seasons are directly above the antiphons.
Costs about $15.50.
Size: 4×6 in.
Buy it here.
The Baronius Press Little Office
Text is in both Latin and English.
Blue leather cover with stitched edge.
Marbled paper on the inside cover.
Includes two ribbons.
Thin bible paper.
Gold wording on cover.
Gold edges.
Psalms are from the Vulgate.
“Updated punctuation and slight rewording of some familiar passages in English.”
Costs about $35.
Book is divided into three parts based on the liturgical season.
Includes chant notation for the Little Office.
Size: 4×6 in.
From the Baronius Press Website
- Based on an edition published just after the Reform Act in 1850 (allowing English Catholics to openly practice the Faith).
- English translation uses traditional language – with scripture taken from Bishop Challoner’s version of the Douay-Rheims Bible.
- Meditations before each hour from the mediaeval Mirror of Our Lady.
- Preface by the Very Reverend Fr. Berg, superior of the FSSP.
Buy it here
Catholic Church and Caritas Little Office
In English only.
Fake cyan leather cover.
Gold edges.
One ribbon.
Gold lettering on cover.
Thick “almost waxy” feeling pages.
Full color.
Book is divided into three parts based on the liturgical season.
Costs about $16.
Contains other Catholic prayers that are not related to the Little Office.
Size: 5×8 in.
The book’s description says “The text uses the traditional language from the Douay-Rheims Bible.” However, the psalms seem to be a more modern translation.
Buy it here
Summary And Thoughts
Hopefully I did not down play any of the books, I can only go on my limited knowledge of the Little Office and the publishers descriptions.
That said, my personal favorite is the Baronius Press Little Office. The quality of the book itself is the best. I like the old translation of the Psalms. It is divided into three books based on the liturgical season (this makes it so much easier to read.) It includes chant notation, extra “prefaces,” and meditations. Of course, it is the most expensive o{]:~(
The Angelus Press Little Office is my second favorite. I like the translation of the Psalms and it contains the Office of the Dead. It can be slightly hard to read at times and it does not contain as many extra goodies as the Baronius Office does. It does have a black cover, however which I know some people like a lot when it comes to books.
For young children, I would recommend the Catholic Church and Caritas Little Office. It is easy to read, in both layout and psalm translation. It also has many color pictures. Finally, it is fairly inexpensive.
Here is a post I wrote last year about the Little Office. I is not that good and I hope to publish a more in depth post in the near future. Here.
Beatae Mariae Virginis, Ora Pro Nobis!
-The Catholic Newsboy.
