The
Roman Breviary

Nihil Obstat.

Imprimatur.

Die 31 Mar. 1909

Contents

• Translator’s Preface
• Introduction

• Part I—The Patristic Period
  1. The Ante-Nicene Epoch

     The Apostolic Church—The Second and Third Centuries—The Commencement of the Third Century—The Liturgcial Year in this Period

  2. The Post-Nicene Epoch

     The influence of the Monks upon the Development of the Divine Office—The Divine Office in the East and West—Outline of the Evidence furnished by the Patristic Period.

• Part II—The Middle Ages
  1. The Formation of the Breviary in its Early Stages

     From St. Gregory the Great to Charlemagne.

     • Section 1. St. Gregory the Great—The Romman Office at St. Gregory’s Accession—St. Gregory’s labours in the Domain of Liturgy.

     • Section 2. Diffusion of the Roman Office after St. Gregory.

     • Section 3. Development of the Office and Formation of the Roman Breviary—The Structure of the Office and the Distribution of the Psalms—The Lections from Holy Scripture and from other Sources—Festivals and the Liturgical Year.

     • Section 4. Some Peculiarities in the Office.

  2. From Charlemagne to the End of the Fourtheenth Century
     • Section 1. Alterations in the Roman Breviary during the Ninth and Tenth Centuries—The Transformation of the Responsory—Modifications of the System of Lections—Additional Liturgical Texts.

     • Section 2. The Divine Office from St. Gregory VII. to Innocent III.—The Roman Office realy has a History during this Period.

     • Section 3. The Roman Breviary in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries—History of its Formation—The Breviary in the Thirteenth Century—The Roman Breviary from the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries.

  3. The Roman Breviary from the End of the Fourteenth Century to the Middle of the Sixteenth
     • Section 1. The Effects of the Great Schism.

     • Section 2. Attempts at Reform before the Council of Trent—Efforts made by the Popes‐Individual Efforts—Cardinal Quignonez and the Breviarium Sanctæ Crucis.

• Part III—The Modern Period
  1. The Council of Trent and the Breviary of St. Pius V
     • Section 1. Preparation for the Reform of the Breviary—The Theatines and Caraffa—The Council of Trent.

     • Section 2. The Reform of the Breviary carried out—The Roman Commission and its Labours—The Publication of the New Breviary—The Reception accorded to the New Breviary.

  2. The Roman Breviary from St. Pius V. to the End of the Eighteenth Century
     • Section 1. Alterations effected by the Popes in the Roman Breviary at the End of the Sixteenth and during the Seventeenth Centuries—Changes in Matters of Detail and immediately after St. Pius V.—Under Sixtus V. and Gregory XIV.—The Work of Clement VIII.—Changes made by Urban VIII.—The Successors of Urban VIII. to the End of the Seventeenth Century.

     • Section 2. Liturgical Developments outside Rome, and especially in France.

     • Section 3. Attempt at Reform of the Roman Breviary under Benedict XIV.

  3. The Roman Breviary in the Nineteenth Century
     • Section 1. The Period after the Death of Benedict XIV.

     • Section 2. Attempts at Reform in the Nineteenth Century, and especially at the Vatican Council.

     • Section 3. Additions and Alterations under Pius IX. and Leo XIII.

• Conclusion
• Appendix
• Addenda
• Index