Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer -no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
The Divine Office for Dodos: A Step-By-Step Guide to Praying the Liturgy of the Hours Paperback – January 1, 2008
Additional Details
The Divine Office for Dodos 978-0-89942-482-8
The Divine Office for Dodos from Catholic Book Publishing is a step-by-step guide to praying the official prayer of the Church, theLiturgy of the Hours. For those who want to pray theLiturgy of the Hours correctly and completely,The Divine Office for Dodos contains over 90 detailed lessons with questions, helpful hints, and practice sessions presented in a simple style. This book includes everything you need to know to be able to pray theLiturgy of the Hours with confidence.
Check out more Catholic resources in our catalogue at www.catholicbookpublishing.com
Among the features of The Divine Office for Dodos:
- Illustrations
- Durably sewn hardcover binding
- East to read text and explanations of the Liturgy of the Hours
- The Prayers of the Church
- Special 'call out' boxes for 'self-check.'
- High-quality paper
- Glossary
- Multiple Appendices
- Conveniently sized to accommodate pocket or purse
- Nihil Obstat
- Imprimatur
- Portable and Convenient - A 'pocket' book is easy to carry, allowing you to access important information, prayers, or inspiration anytime, anywhere.
- Encourages Frequent Reading - Having a small book on hand makes it more likely that you'll read regularly, whether for spiritual growth, learning, or reflection.
- Quick Reference Guide - Whether it's a prayer book, inspirational quotes, or key teachings, apocket book serves as a handy resource for moments of need.
- Promotes Mindfulness - Carrying apocket book encourages moments of quiet reflection, helping you stay grounded and connected to your faith or personal growth.
- Distraction-Free Learning - Unlike digital devices, apocket book allows you to focus without the distractions of notifications, social media, or screens.
- Great for Sharing - Apocket book can be easily shared with others, offering wisdom, encouragement, or comfort to those in need.
- A Personal Companion - Whether for prayer, journaling, or inspiration, apocket book becomes a trusted source of guidance and reassurance throughout daily life.
The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office, is a vital part of Catholic prayer life, sanctifying the day through structured moments of worship, scripture, and reflection. Rooted in ancient tradition, it allows clergy, religious, and laypeople to unite their prayers with the universal Church, fulfilling the biblical call to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
This daily rhythm of prayer--encompassing Morning Prayer (Lauds), Daytime Prayer (Terce, Sext, None), Evening Prayer (Vespers), Night Prayer (Compline), and the Office of Readings--ensures that every part of the day is dedicated to God. It deepens one's spiritual life by fostering a habit of consistent prayer and meditation on scripture, particularly the Psalms.
The Liturgy of the Hours strengthens personal devotion while also emphasizing communal prayer. By praying these prayers, Catholics join in a continuous offering of praise to God alongside clergy, religious orders, and faithful across the world. It creates a profound sense of unity within the Body of Christ.
Ultimately, the Liturgy of the Hours serves as a source of grace, drawing believers closer to God. It transforms ordinary daily life into an opportunity for worship, strengthening faith and sustaining spiritual growth through consistent, sacred prayer.
The Liturgy of the Hours consists of prayers, psalms, and scripture readings designed to be prayed throughout the day. It follows a cycle of prayers that unites the faithful in praising God worldwide.
The Main Hours:
- Morning Prayer (Lauds) - Start the day with praise and thanksgiving.
- Daytime Prayer (Terce, Sext, None) - Short prayers for midmorning, midday, and midafternoon.
- Evening Prayer (Vespers) - Thanksgiving and reflection at day's end.
- Night Prayer (Compline) - Entrust yourself to God before sleep.
- Office of Readings - Longer readings from scripture and Church writings.
- Begin with Morning and Evening Prayer--the two most important hours.
- Use a prayer book for guidance.
- Don't stress! Just pray what you can and grow over time.
By understanding and praying the Liturgy of the Hours, you join millions in an ancient tradition of sanctifying each day with God's presence.
- Print length272 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherCatholic Book Publishing
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 2008
- Dimensions5.32 x 0.56 x 7.7 inches
- ISBN-100899424821
- ISBN-13978-0899424828
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more.Read it now.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
- A Layman's Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours: How the Prayers of the Church Can Change Your LifeFr. Timothy GallagherPaperback$8.24 shipping
- Companion to the Liturgy of the Hours: Morning and Evening PrayerShirley Darcus SullivanPaperback$8.19 shippingGet it as soon asFriday, May 23Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Product details
- Publisher : Catholic Book Publishing; 47204th edition (January 1, 2008)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0899424821
- ISBN-13 : 978-0899424828
- Item Weight : 9.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.32 x 0.56 x 7.7 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #342,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #207 inChristian Hymns & Hymnals
- #448 inChristian Rites & Ceremonies Books
- #891 inPrayer (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book provides comprehensive explanations and instructions for learning the Divine Office, with one noting it's broken down into easily manageable lessons. The book's tone receives mixed reactions, with several customers finding the author's tone cloying, while one customer appreciates its conversational style. The book's humor also gets mixed reviews.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Select to learn more
Customers find the book helpful, with comprehensive explanations and understandable directions. One customer notes that the content is broken down into easily manageable lessons.
"I'm finding thebook very helpful. Maybe I'm a nerd, but I actually appreciate the humor. Other people complained about it, but I find it relaxing...."Read more
"...of the Hours consists of canticles and hymns, antiphons,readings from the Old Testament and the non-Gospel sections of the New Testament, and other..."Read more
"...It is a friendly andvery detailed explanation of each office and great summaries and listings that you can actually clip and insert in your Office..."Read more
"...It is clear to the point and I enjoy thewriting style of the author. This can be a very dry subject and is a simpler outline / instruction...."Read more
Customers have mixed reactions to the book's humor, with some appreciating its light tone while others find it too cutesy or condescending.
"...Maybe I'm a nerd, but I actuallyappreciate the humor. Other people complained about it, but I find it relaxing...."Read more
"...wanted to like this book but found myself getting annoyed at thelame jokes and the disjointed way that the author set up teaching the different..."Read more
"...Thecorny jokes and conversational style were charming to me. Who wants to read through boring, dry formulas for page-turning?..."Read more
"I enjoyed thelight humor and the lesson-based approach the author took. I found it very easy to follow...."Read more
Customers have mixed reactions to the tone of the book, with several finding it cloying, while one customer appreciates its humorous approach.
"...written for children, but alas, it would appear theauthor simply cannot write to her audience...."Read more
"...The corny jokes andconversational style were charming to me. Who wants to read through boring, dry formulas for page-turning?..."Read more
"...As others have reviewed, theauthor's tone can be a bit irritating. But please don't hold that against Ms. Nugent...."Read more
"...Like many of the other reviews, I found thestyle of writing to be a bit childish, unnecessary, and distracting...."Read more
Images in this review
Reviews with images
Poor condition
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2010I'm finding the book very helpful. Maybe I'm a nerd, but I actually appreciate the humor. Other people complained about it, but I find it relaxing. It is so much more complicated to learn how to pray the Divine Office than I ever imagined it could be. I have a Ph. D., and it's still complicated! This book is definitely helping. I haven't ordered the bookmarks she talks about in her book, but I think I'm going to have to because it is just that complicated to learn to pray the Divine Office and I don't really have time to make my own what with the Ph.D.-related job and the toddler. But she does give detailed instructions on how to make your own in case you'd like to save yourself the $10 for the bookmark and ribbon system. Anyway, I think this is a really great book for learning how to do this. I can't imagine a book doing a better job. I'm grateful that someone has written a book like this or I would be completely lost in learning how to do thi.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2023As a lifelong Catholic I was surprised at how difficult it was to follow and participate in the liturgy of the hours. It is frustrating that the church continues to make something so beautiful,… so difficult. This book helps Navigate the legalism of the liturgy of the hours. I would highly recommend this book to help you in enjoying and discerning the liturgy of the hours to its fullest.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2007This book IS wonderful and a great purchase! And I had no problem obtaining it from Amazon. I do NOT understand the FEW Negative Nancies who did not like this book! Two reviewers seemed to have big-time problems with the ribbons...Look, if you have difficulties with putting ribbons in books, you might have bigger concerns than learning the Divine Office! Some reviewers also seemed to have an issue with Nugent's tone and/or humor. I found her delightfully refreshing, and tastefully sweet and appropriate- especially when one considers the context. She makes learning a very serious subject like the Divine Office more light-hearted and fun. I mean really, what did these guys want or expect? The author to be a combination of Bill Cosby and Aristotle? An author like that would detract from the subject matter- lighten up!
Before I found out about "The Divine Office for D.O.D.O.S," I had purchased another guide to praying the Divine Office that Amazon also sells, entitled "Lord, Open My Lips." It is more concise than "The Divine Office for D.O.D.O.S," but NOT necessarily more clear. I thought the author to "Lord, Open My Lips" was competent, but had the personality of a plate. Consequently, I quickly grew bored with "Lord, Open My Lips," and as a result, did not learn to pray the Divine Office. With "The Divine Office for D.O.D.O.S," I learned to pray the Divine Office. Objective achieved. I agree with all the compliments and positive comments about this book which is given in the editorial review and customer reviews. Enjoy, and God Bless! - Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2012The Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours (technically, the former name applies to the official prayer for the hours) is an ancient practice of Christian prayer that evolved from the even older Jewish tradition of reciting psalms at set hours of the day. Along with psalms, the Liturgy of the Hours consists of canticles and hymns, antiphons, readings from the Old Testament and the non-Gospel sections of the New Testament, and other prayers. Priests, deacons, and religious orders of men and women in both Catholic and Orthodox traditions are under obligation to recite the Office; monastic orders chant and sing the Liturgy of the Hours and their day is structured by them. Although the Eucharist is the primary sacramental focus of the lives of Orthodox and Catholic Christians, the laity, too, is encouraged by the Church to pray the Office.
A person who is considering taking up this beautiful mode of Christian prayer will see the challenges immediately. There is, first of all, something of a time commitment. Prayerful recitation of any of the three major hours (there are also two to four minor ones) can take 15-20 minutes or more, and although a secular lay person is not obligated to pray all (or any) of the hours even a small personal commitment can test one's time management.
The biggest challenge, though, in praying the Office is that the elements change from day to day. A publisher that attempted to take into account all the permutations of the Office to print each day's complete set of prayers as a unit would have to produce an Office in numerous volumes. The commonly used four-volume version of the Liturgy of the Hours is manageable, but requires moving between sections and volumes; a one-volume version of the Office is even more condensed and so requires considerable "flipping around" to use. Unfortunately, publication notes give the reader little help in how to pray the Office. Hence this book.
Madeline Pecora Nugent's "The Divine Office for Dodos" is a course in how to navigate the Divine Office. The author breaks down the lessons into small, easily digestible bites. If one is new to the Office, one would do well carefully to study the lessons and follow all of Nugent's directions for practicing. I had had some experience with the Office, having figured out how to piece together each day's prayers with the minimal guidance provided by the publishers of my one-volume Office (the popular "Christian Prayer"), so I perused Nugent's book to check to see that I was praying the Office correctly. I found her guide very useful, even indispensable, especially in dealing with the sometimes complicated situations of solemnities, feasts and memorials. Especially helpful are the appendices that provide complete examples of key types of hours and occasions.
An irritating aspect of "The Divine Office for Dodos" is the tone the author affects. Attempting to reassure the reader that the Divine Office can be mastered, Nugent's text is often cute, cloying, and chatty (e.g., "Are you ready, really ready? Because you are going to begin to pray Morning Prayer for Ordinary Time. When? Right now!" [p. 64]). It's like being taught by Mister Rogers. Admittedly, the basic material is dry and needs some humor, but this just wasn't the right approach, at least for me.
In any case, this is probably the best book out there on how to pray the Divine Office. (It is, admittedly, not a large field.) As corny as the writing is, Nugent does explain the process for praying the Liturgy of the Hours exceedingly clearly, despite her advice of all the crazy ribbons and bookmarks. One has two other options: to attempt to figure out how to pray the Office from the publication notes in one's version of the Office (difficult but not impossible) or to subscribe to an online service that takes the work out of figuring out a particular day's prayers.
Top reviews from other countries
- MCHReviewed in Canada on September 17, 2014
5.0 out of 5 starsThe Divine Office for Dodos: A Step by step Guide
I found this book exceptionally helpful in learning to pray the Liturgy of the hours. This lady knows how to approach the difficult lay out of the Liturgy of the hours. The tab system is a bit awkward but you may discover you don't need every one. - Miss CReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2009
5.0 out of 5 starsmust have book
If you are new to the divine office and are finding it difficult to learn then this is a must have book, it takes you though step by step, it also gives a quiz after each stage so when you have learned a particular section and passed the test you can then continue to the next stage, this allows you to go at your own pace. It also gives background and a brief history of the divine office throughout the book, i found this book simple and easy to follow and a big help. - Amber FaganelloReviewed in Canada on November 4, 2019
5.0 out of 5 starsI loved it!
So detailed and perfect for helping understand how to pray the divine office! - Chelsea MikeReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2012
5.0 out of 5 starsit's much easier now....
This is a perfect book to bridge any gap between a lack of understanding of how to use the Divine Office prayer structure with actually 'praying' it.... i once found the Divine Office a mystery of difficulty, and was perplexed with intrigue at how others in community used it with such charisma and ease.... after reading this book, and checking my learning as i progressed through the chapters, i too am managing my prayer with grace and ease.One person found this helpfulReport - STEWARTReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2014
5.0 out of 5 starsSimply The Best Guide
I needed a step by step guide on how to use the Divine Office as I have nobody to ask. This guide covers everything and does not leave you with unanswered questions. If you work your way through this book, you will become very proficient within a short period of time. Its simply the best there is. If you want to pray the Divine Office then you simply must have this guide.
