The Divine Office: A Study of the Roman BreviaryQuigley, Edward J.
Religion
The Divine Office: A Study of the Roman Breviary
Quigley, Edward J.
Catholic Church. Breviary; Divine office
(3) The administration of the sacraments--even the administration of
Extreme Unction, the form of which is a prayer--with full voluntary
distractions is valid; so, too, should be the recital of
Breviary prayers.
(4) In the other opinion it is hard to see how, if voluntary
distractions destroy the substance of prayer, involuntary distractions
do not produce similar effect, and hence, there can be no prayer if
there be distraction of any kind.
This opinion was held by Lugo (1583-1660), Gobat (1600-1679), Sporer
(1609-1683), St. Antonnius (1389-1459), and other eminent men. It is
quoted by St. Alphonsus, as _satis probabilis_. Of it, Lehmkuhl writes,
"Quae ad substantiam divini officii dicamus satis probabiliter
sufficere cum intentione orandi observasse attentionem externam"
(II. 635).
What are the divisions or kinds of internal attention?
I. Objectively they are (1) spiritual attention, (2) literal attention,
(3) superficial or material attention. Spiritual attention is that
advertence of soul which tends towards God, the Term of all prayer, when
the soul meditates on the power, wisdom, goodness of God, on the
Passion, on the Mother of God, on God's saints. Literal attention is
that which strives to lay hold of the meaning of the words said in the
office. Superficial attention is that advertence of soul which applies
itself to the correct recitation of the words, avoiding errors of
pronunciation, mutilation, transposition, etc., etc.
II. Subjectively, virtual attention suffices; habitual is divided into
actual and interpretative. Actual attention is that which exists at the
moment--e.g., the attention paid by a pupil to a question put by a
teacher. Virtual attention is attention which was once actual, but is
not such at the time spoken of, but which lives virtually. Habitual is
attention which once was actual, which does not remain in act, but which
was not retracted. Interpretative attention is that which never existed
at all, but which would have existed if the agent had adverted.
Which kind of internal attention is required in the reading of the
Office? I. Objectively, material, or superficial attention is necessary,
since the Breviary is a vocal prayer, and therefore it is necessary to
pronounce distinctly all the words of the day's office and to observe
the rubrics. But this suffices; it is not necessary that a priest
reciting his Hours should carefully notice each word, it is sufficient
to have general and moral attention to recite every part well, and with
the intention of praying, "Sed sufficere moralem et generalem qua quis
curet bene omnia dicere cum intentione orandi" (St. Alphonsus).
Hence, objectively, neither attention, which is called spiritual,
because it is not easy to attain, nor the literal attention, which
religious who do not understand Latin strive after, is needed for valid
recitation. By this, it is not meant to convey that spiritual attention
is not very excellent and very commendable and praiseworthy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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