The Little Office of Baltimore: Traditional Catholic Daily Prayer Imitation Leather – April 27, 2021

TAN has done an amazing job with this publication. Accolades are also due to Claudio Salvucci, editor/compiler and in a way Baronius Press who is raising the bar for Catholic publications worldwide (and, in turn, raising customers' standards which have been--in my opinion--too low in the Western Catholic world after strange and poor-quality aesthetics and materials flooded the market after Vatican II).The book is a constructed office. It is not the organic development of any rule or community and is not, strictly speaking, a communal undertaking which would unite one to the 'prayer of the Church' or the Mystical Body when prayed in private. In reverent imitation of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin--an esteemed and ancient treasure in our Western Christian patrimony which should be guarded jealously--this volume as a little office stands on its own two legs amidst a venerable cadre of little offices in the liturgical cycle of the church of Rome.Interestingly, it takes its material from literature produced after the meeting in Baltimore which also produced the eternal Baltimore Catechism, the book(s) which imparted orthodox belief to a generation of American Catholics. This book too is also distinctly "American" in that it only contains English, no Latin.It has excellent, traditional material. The hymn at compline includes one of my favorite prayers (a rather rare one I've only ever seen in the Fr. Lasance Missal): "Keep us, like shrines, beneath Thine eye, pure in our foes' despite." One prayer I wish was present which is not is the Te Deum. Prime contains the Athanasian Creed, a welcome and interesting edition to a small prayer book, but I would prefer the more often used and treasured Te Deum. I'm not sure if the slightly odd choice for the Athanasian Creed came from the Baltimore documents, or the author/compiler's own judgement.As for the binding, this book is well bound as smyth sewn with black and red bands on the top and bottom. There is a tasteful royal red endpaper under each cover. The page edges are gold gilded and there are three (!) bookmarks--a wonderful surprise which I would love to see more bookmark generosity from Catholic publishers. The cover material is a type of faux leather, but in great execution with a very elegant and beautiful Holy Name monogram in the bottom right corner of the cover. I cannot stress enough how appreciative I am of publishers releasing books that revitalize or nod to the devotional material of the 30s and 40s of American Catholicism, which this book very much does.The only things I found odd were the 'pirate'-like font used for major headings throughout the book. Perhaps more of an art deco-inspired font would have fit more. What was chosen appears to be something one would find on the menu of a pirate-themed restaurant or fake treasure map, but it is passable. Otherwise, an excellent volume and highly recommended to anyone with a growing prayer book collection, an interest in liturgical material or history, or just a desire to pray more regularly.

I have had this for a few days, now, and am extremely pleased with it. It’s a beautiful, clear, simple, but rich and faithful, office for those of us who are particularly pressed for time or for the mental wherewithal to figure out and keep up with a fuller version. The size is small and easy to carry. The binding is nice, paper is heavy, and the layout and printing are clear.Excellent book. It’s a real gift to find something so carefully produced, that fits between the *extremely* simplified and pared down versions, and the challenging-to-utterly-overwhelming ones, I have previously owned. I am very glad I went ahead and gave it a chance.

Ill only be speaking to the physical quality of this book. The binding, cover and paper quality is very good. It has a nice yap to protect the pages and overall feels extremely durable and well made.I am astonished by the price of this book as the craftsmanship is that of something double or even triple its price, easily. Frankly id buy two in case one is misplaced.

This is a small prayer book to pray the liturgy of the hours. Compiled in 1888 and 1904 by the plenary council of Baltimore. This is where the Baltimore catechism was compiled. Older language but easily understood.

Rec'd in good order, as described and pictured. Fast delivery, well packaged. Thank you and God bless. Br. Anthony Augustine, OSB

This is an excellent, American traditional Catholic prayer book. While the focus is mainly the hours of Prime and Compline, the other hours are well done as well. A great prayer book for any Traditional Catholic looking for traditional prayers and for those who want to pray the hours but are overwhelmed by the LOTH or Monastic Diurnals.

This little breviary will get you started in a good direction, but it still leaves some things to be desired.Highlights:1. Visually pleasing binding.2. Sturdy, quality paper for pages.3. Nice typesetting with rubrics in red.4. Generally easy-to-follow format for beginners.5. Conveys a low-stress prayer session.6. Nice gold gilding.7. Rubrics are *generally* clear and is ordered logically. Again, *generally*.Misses:1. Binding, while nice, is only printed in gold. It will eventually rub off, and you won't be able to tell what book it is.2. Some rubrics are unclear, such as how to end the collect.3. Common prayers are not located in the beginning or end of the Office; you'll need to find them in their proper hour.4. Aside from the rubrics in red, there are no instructions for praying this office, so if you get lost, you'll just have to power through it.5. Not in Latin-English, only English.6. Not bound in leather.This little Office has been perfect as my EDC prayer book. It is easy enough to follow, had decent rubrics, and feels nice in the hand. Its well worth the price.

I prefer this one.