The Divine Hours

The Divine Hours

by Phyllis Tickle

When Phyllis Tickle's marvelous devotional trilogy The Divine Hours TM appeared, readers responded with gratitude, praise, and a great many requests for an edition of hourly prayers that they could easily carry with them--an edition that would make this ancient form of Christian worship compatible with the pace and mobility of modern life.
Now, in The Divine Hours Pocket Edition TM, Tickle has gathered one full week of fixed-hour prayers, providing an ideal companion for travelers, office-workers, people on retreat or pilgrimage, as well as newcomers to this age-old spiritual practice. As Tickle writes in her introduction, "prayer is always a place as well as an action, and the daily offices are like small chapels or wayside stations within the day's courses." Seven of these daily offices are offered for each day of the week, and each office contains the Call to Prayer, the Request for Presence, the Greeting, the Reading, the Gloria, the Psalm, the Small Verse, the Lord's Prayer, the Petition, and the Final Thanksgiving. Tickle draws her texts primarily from the Book of Common Prayer and the writings of the Church Fathers, and includes memorable devotional and meditative poems by Cleland McAfee, Charles Wesley, and others. Tickle also provides a chapter of "Traditional, Seasonal, and Occasional Prayers" in order to
accommodate special dates like Advent, Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving; major life-changes such as marriage, birth, death, and illness; and moments of special petition or thanksgiving.
For all those who want to carry a "small chapel" of prayers with them, The Divine Hours Pocket Edition TM offers a convenient, easy-to-use, and deeply spiritual guide to a devotional practice that extends all the way back to Christ and the twelve Apostles.

Genres: Prayer, Religion, Theology, Spirituality, Christian, Christianity, Nonfiction

127 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2006

About the author

Phyllis Natalie Tickle was an American author and lecturer whose work focuses on spirituality and religion issues. After serving as a teacher, professor, and academic dean, Tickle entered the publishing industry, serving as the founding editor of the religion department at Publishers Weekly, before then becoming a popular writer. She is well known as a leading voice in the emergence church movement. She is perhaps best known for The Divine Hours series of books, published by Doubleday Press, and her book The Great Emergence- How Christianity Is Changing and Why. Tickle was a member of the Episcopal Church, where she was licensed as both a lector and a lay eucharistic minister. She has been widely quoted by many media outlets, including Newsweek, Time, Life, The New York Times, USA Today, CNN, C-SPAN, PBS, The History Channel, the BBC and VOA. It has been said that "Over the past generation, no one has written more deeply and spoken more widely about the contours of American faith and spirituality than Phyllis Tickle." A biography of Tickle, written by Jon M. Sweeney, was published in February 2018. Phyllis Tickle: A Life (Church Publishing, Inc), has been widely reviewed.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep this charming little book on my night stand for those overfull days when I return home late and exhausted, ready to fall into bed. Rather than skip my Evening Prayer altogether, I pick up this little gem and read one of the prayer sequences from here.

The book is divided into the seven days of the week and then each day is further divided into the following offices and their approximate times: 1) Midnight (10:30-1:30); 2) Night Watch 1:30-4:30am); 3) Dawn (4:30-7:30am); 4) Morning (6-9:30am); 5) Midday (11am-2pm); 6) Vespers or Evening (5-8pm); 7) Compline or Night - to be observed before retiring. This is the one I usually do if I have missed my Evening Prayer.

The wording is more modern than my usual Divine Office, but it is lovely and ‘just enough’ right before going to sleep, a wonderful way, to say Good Night to God. And because I am Catholic, I have made a copy of the Magnificat Prayer, so I can also ‘say Good Night to Mary’. Aside from that one small addition, I follow the prepared text exactly as it is.

Recommended for all Christians.

[Missa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book of prayers given to me by a former classmate, now minister. We became praying cousins, both linked by simultaneous ailing family and adjacent bedside vigils. It felt powerful to know I was praying alongside someone who was going through what I was at the same time. Appropriate for any Christian denomination.

[Paul Dubuc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good, compact edition of Phyllis Tickle's Divine Hours that can substitute for the 4 volume larger edition when traveling, or when just getting started in praying the hours. This book doesn't follow the liturgical year like the larger edition does, but it does have prayers for all seven hours (including the night time hours) for each day of the week. I've enjoyed using it very much when the larger edition is not convenient.

[Trey Herweck · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is so good. so often we struggle to pray or what to pray and it keeps us from praying. Scripture is the great antidote! bask in it! read it! meditate on it! I am enjoying reading through this often.

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tiny little rascal arrived in the world in 2007. I have used it -in varied and modified ways - off and on throughout the years. It follows the traditional, simple format of 7 times of prayer for each day of the week. It is a handy, pocket-sized manual that can easily be carried in a purse and lightly held in a hand. Each portion is short, and yet has plenty of material from the Psalter, Scriptures, hymns, canticles, and litanies.

"The Divine Hours" could be used by prayer-communities for corporate prayer; but it is also ideal for personal devotions. It can be employed in multiple ways to fit within busy schedules or to help people who have overly active minds that flit about. It can be supplemented or followed rigidly. If looked on as a tool, it will be found a tutor; and if used as an amenity, it will be found an ally.

As I write this short review, it is Lent (2018). It would make a nice aid to Lenten contemplations and preparations (there are even prayers at the back for the various seasons in the Church year). If you've been thinking to yourself, "Self, I need a little help here" then let me encourage you snatch up a copy and dive in.

[David S Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guidance for your daily prayers

Tickle’s work on prayers is well known, but this is a really helpful little book. Grouping together 7 days of prayers, this is a resource that you can carry on you everywhere - especially the digital versions.

Simply choose the prayer that equates to the day and time you are currently at and pray through those prayers.

For people new and old to prayer liturgies this book is helpful. Much less daunting than the Book of Common Prayer, but roots you into those traditions. There’s even some helpful extra prayers for particular holy days.

[Susan Mansfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book. I've been drawn to the cover for years but been put off because it seemed such a short and small book.

It is short and it is small. But it's perfect. The layout and content (and size) of the book are just right for dipping into throughout the day. I'm so glad I finally bought this book - wish I'd got it years ago.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy to use, pocket-size prayer book provided by Phyllis Tickle with prayers for hours throughout the day and night. I encourage everyone who is inclined towards the Liturgical to try it!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

[Rev Ricky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I want to start praying the hours but I didn’t know where to start. This primer was perfect.

As I get older I find myself in prayer but not sure what to say. These psalms, hymns and poems give expression to the desires of my heart. It has been a great blessing to me.

[David Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quote = “…you have brought me in safety to the beginning of this day: Preserve me with your mighty power that I may not fall into sin nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purposes; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.”

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful prayer book.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

My school uses this prayer book for daily chapel and we all love it. I've enjoyed it so much that I purchased my own copy.

[Booklass Garrahan]

A short version of the longer prayer books. They are beautiful.

[Dawn Dishman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book for praying the Daily Office. Full of Scripture, prayers, readings, and hymns. I enjoy having this pocket edition in my kindle so I can access it on my phone and kindle.

[Riley Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, wonderful breviary, I can use time and time again.

May Phyllis Tickle rest in peace and rise to glory!

[cynthia Trotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to use and very helpful guide for marking the day with prayer. I have the Kindle edition and easy to find the days and times.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful traveling companion size of daily offices that captures Tickle's special approach to this life of prayer, The Pocket Edition is lean, but rich in the textual gems chosen. I will now also recommend this edition as an introductory way to start praying the christian offices for those considering it, because it is so easy to use. After the form is understood, prayers who want to add the seasons and daily readings, and aren't traveling around may wish to pick up the other books of hours that Tickle has created.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I don't pray all the hours, I've found this is a lovely way to begin and end each day. It's especially calming in the morning when I know it's going to be one of those days. I've used both this book and one for Advent/Christmas. This one has the benefit of repetition so over a few weeks, I found I'd memorized much of it, but I prefer the seasonal one, purely because the verses and readings change over the days.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book as a Lenten discipline this year, but have continued to use it in the months since Lent ended. It is a lovely condensed version of the daily offices, or "fixed-hour" prayers. Perfect for adding more structure to one's daily prayer life and very spiritually focusing.

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

These prayers are like breathing. Phyllis Tickle reminds us to pause and take a breath of the Lord Jesus' presence often during each day of the week.

[Auspicious Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I great resource!

[Darlene Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the rhythm of praying the hours, even though, as a Protestant, it's not really part of my culture. These books make it so easy! I love these books.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a pocket size version of the Divine Hours prayer books. Great for travel for one week, wash, rinse, repeat.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who enjoys the "full" Divine Hours, this pocket edition is great for vacation or retreat take-alongs

[Philip Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, short devotions to read through out the day.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful and generally ecumenical prayer office manual.

The author sets forth prayers at the standard hours of prayer throughout the day and night; prayers for special occasions are also listed.

Most of the prayers feature Scriptural passages or useful apocryphal material.

The prayers reflect a theology which affirms prayer for the dead; some prayers elevate the saints and the idea of Sabbath beyond their station. Nevertheless, in general, a beneficial guide to the daily office.