Slow going, and short article

It's been slow going this week. I have some other things going on which are taking most of my time right now. That being said, I did manage to get the propers for Feb 11 done, and a good portion of the 12th. Unfortunately the next few weeks could prove to be even busier. I'll make another post when I know more

I'm going to include part of a work written by St. Alphonsus Liguori. He has another work where he expands a little more on some of these themes, and I may post that in the future. But for now, this one makes for a good start.

By the divine Office God is honored, the fury of the enemy is repelled, and the divine mercies are obtained for sinners. But to attain these ends it is necessary to recite the Office in a proper manner: it is necessary to say it "carefully and devoutly," as the fifth Council of Lateran has taught, in the celebrated Canon Dolentes.
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Carefully, by pronouncing the words distinctly; devoutly, that is, with attention, as Cassian teaches: " Let that be considered in the heart which is uttered by the lips." How, asks St. Cyprian, can you expect that God will hear you when you do not hear yourself? Prayer made with attention is the odoriferous incense that is most agreeable to God, and obtains treasures of grace; but prayer made with voluntary distraction is a fetid smoke that provokes the divine wrath, and merits chastisement. Hence, while we recite the Office, the devil labors strenuously to make us say it with distractions and defects. We should, then, take all possible care to recite it in a proper manner. We here give some practical advice:

1. It is necessary to enliven our faith, and to consider that in reciting the divine Office we unite with the angels in praising God." We begin here upon earth the office of the inhabitants of heaven," says Tertullian. We then perform on earth the office of the citizens of heaven, who unceasingly praise God, and shall praise him for eternity. Hence, as St. John Chrysostom remarks, before we enter the church or take up the breviary we must leave at the door and dismiss all thoughts of the world.

2. In reciting the divine Office we must take care that our affections accompany the sentiments contained in what we read. It is necessary, says St. Augustine: "We must pray when the Psalmist prays, sigh when he sighs, hope when he hopes.

3. It is useful to renew our attention from time to time; for example, at the beginning of every psalm.

4. We must be careful not to give occasion to mental distractions. How can he who recites the Office in a public place, or in the midst of persons who are jesting and amusing themselves, how, I ask, can he say it with piety and devotion ?

Oh! what treasures do they lay up who daily recite the divine Office with devout attention ! St. John Chrysostom says that they are filled with the Holy Ghost. But, on the other hand, they who say it negligently lose great merits, and have to render a great account to God.