The Little Office of Baltimore: A Traditional Office for American Laity

Wow this is an amazing little book. It is so good I now have both the Leather edition and the eBook. I picked up the eBook version for when on the go. And use the leather one at home. But before we get to the contents of the book. The leather edition is very well made. I have used it every day for a few months now and you cannot even tell it has been used. No spine cracking, or splitting. Excellent stitched pages, with cloth spine and headband. Gold gilded fore edge. And very nice thick heavy weight pages. No onion paper here that will tear and get damaged easily. It is a beautiful book made with skill and care. But stepping aside from the physical production to the contents. The subtitle of this book is ‘Traditional Catholic Daily Prayer’ and it is a wonderful prayer book. The description of the book is: “The Baltimore Catechism formed generations of Catholics and provided a solid foundation in the faith for millions. In recent decades, it has enjoyed a renaissance among traditional-minded Catholics, yet few know that the Plenary Council which produced it, the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, also produced a Manual of Prayers (Imprimatur 1888). This present volume, based on the prayers in that manual, bears the newly-coined name Little Office of Baltimore. With its peculiarly and unmistakable American pedigree, coupled with the fact that it preceded the extensive changes to the Divine Office that occurred throughout the 20th century, it is sure to be welcomed by today’s more traditional-minded English-speaking laity as well as those interested in historical Catholicism. It retains a strong connection to the traditional Roman office which can be traced back, in its essentials, to Saint Benedict. Relying principally on the prayers found in the Manual, when necessary the compiler supplemented with material gleaned from the English translation of the Roman breviary by the Marquis de Bute (Imprimatur 1903). The result: a beautiful new resource for those seeking to deepen their prayer lives or just a greater connection to Traditional American Catholicism.” And the chapters are: Introduction Daily Offices Matins Lauds Prime Terce Sext None Vespers Compline Propers Of The Season Advent Christmastide Epiphany Post-Epiphany And Septuagesima Lent And Passiontide Eastertide Ascensiontide Pentecost Trinity Sunday Corpus Christi Post-Pentecost Thanksgiving For Saints And Angels For The Blessed Virgin For The Holy Angels For The Church And The Saints Psalms For Various Occasions During Sickness Sorrow For Sin Confidence In God Bewailing Our Miseries Prayer For Deliverance Praise Songs Of Joy Thanksgiving In Trouble For Superiors In Disquietude Of Mind Shortness Of This Life The Good And The Wicked Excellence Of God’s Law Historical Seeking After God For Holy Communion This is one of those books I know I will be using for years to come. I have a few other prayer books in both physical and eBook edition. But this one with the Daily office is much more in depth than either of the others. The Little Office of Baltimore is based on the prayers found in the Manual of Prayers (Imprimatur 1888) and from the Bute Breviary (Imprimatur 1903) which was produced by the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore. The book is infused with faith. It looks and feels like a prayer book your grandparent or even great grandparent would have handed down. This is a wonderful book. I am certain it will be a blessing to you if you pick it up and use it.

I grew up with this book many years ago and lost track of my copy. Not sure if I lost it but was so happy to find it and purchase once again and have it in my possession and on my library shelf have a good reading. Don’t miss this one great little book to have. !!!

This was a great book, helps much with prayer , though I will say it can be overwhelming at first but just look up videos on YouTube

This beautiful little book is an answer to a prayer:”…an easier way to respond to those moments of grace…”. Thank you Claudio Salvucci and TAN. ?

This little office of Baltimore is a treasure to have in my library with the traditional prayers I never knew of.

It provides a treasure of stability and prayerful support.

This is a beautiful devotional book kept near for frequent use . Grateful for this resource?

This is a wonderful prayer book. I ordered 2 more to give as gifts.

Each book I purchase through Tan books is a wonderful addition to the new Catholic library I am building. As a 2022 convert this newbie is reading as much as possible and your books are my favorite additions amd teach me as I walk more closely with God’s plan.