Day two was much smoother. I actually remembered all of the time of prayer, even if a few were a bit late.
Monday, December 4
Matins 12:01 am
The best and worst thing about me is that I am a creature of habit. I’m using the same matins video from last night. I liked it. It is one for a Sunday, but I’m not confident enough in my ability to do this myself yet, so here we are.
Tonight was harder. The house wasn’t as quiet because I opted for midnight instead of 2:00 am. I couldn’t sink into it quite the same. Mainly because my dang dog kept barking at the sounds of the voices chanting like there were a bunch of monks just outside our door. This is the same not-too-bright side of her that was terrified of the light up corgi Christmas lawn decoration we put out—thinking it was a real dog. Still, by the end of it, people and things quieted down around me and I was able to get into it. I would really love this practice, if only I could sleep in until 10!
Lauds 12:59 am
I really love this YouTube channel. If nothing else comes from this project, it’s learning about this channel. His voice is absolutely beautiful, but sing-alongable too. It’s not like I’m trying to do any vocal acrobatics at 1 in the morning. He releases new videos to Sing the Hours daily, so the liturgy keeps up with the season. It’s lovely. I will keep this in my back pocket well after this project ends for personal meditation but also as a resource for anything that might come up in church. Deciding to lump it in with Matins was a good idea, it’s a very quiet time, but I’m still awake enough to be present. I don’t think I could be as present at dawn.
Prime 8:08 am
Not gonna lie, Prime is a struggle. It might be better when I don’t have sick kids at home and have to be up and moving anyway, but on a morning when I could sleep in, this is a struggle. I watched a video in bed and mouthed the words. That’s it. Functioning in the morning is not my forte.
Terce 9:00 am
Similarly, I was still in bed for Terce. Very grateful for the online community that records their observance of the divine office so I can just follow along before I’m actually fully human.
Sext 12:01 pm
This one was all read without singing. I am tempted as I try doing this myself to read only, but I really appreciate the psalmody. Am I going to have to go out of my comfort zone and sing in order to do this thing right by myself? I also love when it’s in Latin, and I don’t speak Latin. I don’t read latin. I know just enough of how to pronounce things to get by. Definitely rethinking my decision not to take any languages in seminary, but also not regretting. I remember the pain of German II in undergrad.
None 3:08 pm
That….that was rough. Not my favorite. (hey, I’m getting to the point where I have a preference!) It brings up a point though, if you’re just reading through and clearly trying to get to the end (this guy’s “lordhavemercylordhavemercylordhavemercylordhavemercylordhavemercy” was like a race to the finish) is there anything transformative or contemplative taking place, or are you just reading along?
Vespers 6:03 pm
The challenge with vespers seems to be that it takes place at dinner time. I had to take my little candle and go outside to get away from my husband’s kitchen karaoke and the sounds of Bob’s Burgers in the living room, as well as the dog barking, and probably a billion other things that could have been distracting. Outside, I was accosted by the cat, who needed all the love, but she kept my lap warm through the whole of Vespers. Used Sing the Hours again. So good.
Compline 7:08 pm
Our internet went out seconds before compline. I found a shorter service to watch on my phone, and Dot joined me because it’s not like her tablet was good for anything with the internet. The 5 minute Compline doesn’t quite have the same feel.
End of the Day Thoughts
I am getting the rhythm. Thinking that I will be ready to give it a go without a video by Wednesday. We’ll see. I am trying to stay true to the project goals—of following the medieval order, and there are some pieces I’ll need to figure out and make sure I know what to do with them. This is a lot for my brain to juggle, and I’m excited by it, but also intimidated. Realizing I should have gotten a hard copy of the divine office as well as a psalter because I struggle with reading from screens, but I’ll figure that out as I go along. Or not. It’s an experiement, not an assessment and I need to keep reminding myself to take any learning about myself as a serious and valid part of this journey as well.
Busy Little Sunshine 