Resurrection Propers (and Office Propers in General)

There is great confusion amongst Maronites as to where do we get our seasonal propers from for the office. As I have mentioned previously, this is an erroneous assumption in itself. We do not have seasonal propers. What we do have is proper offices for particular days.

Christmas Sooghito

Christmas is an extremely important feast in all of Christendom but especially in Syriac Christianity - why? Whereas the Latins emphasize the Passion and the Greeks the Glorious Resurrection (both of which are essential to the faith and should be properly commemorated), we Syriacs focus on the Incarnation which begins with the birth of Christ. Our theology is an "incarnational" one - God has become man so that man may become God, having assumed what is ours and giving us what is His. Volumes could be written on the subject, so I shall just leave a Sooghito from the Christmas office in which Mary praises her newly born Son. How amazing is the self-abasement of Christ in His Incarnation - the Sustainer of the Ages condescends to be fed by a woman, the Bearer of Worlds is borne by a virgin, He who moves all things crawls on the ground, He who governs all things is directed by a human, and He, before whom fiery angels shudder and hide their faces from His blaze, is embraced by a lady.

Let us pray for peace this Christmas for Christ has brought peace between heaven and earth - between whom can He not bring peace?

Sootoro of Friday

What is stressed in this office is the reality of those things that are unseen - primarily the efficacy of prayer and the harm of demons contrary to the ideas of modernity.

3rd and 6th Hours of Thursday

I have just completed the minor offices of Thursday. They're posted below and on the 'Office Texts' page for access as usual.

For access to the 3rd Hour, click here.

For access to the 6th Hour, click here.

Our Lord, accept our service, our prayers, come to our aid and have mercy on us!

Safro of Thursday

Another morning office available!

To access this office, click here.

Our Lord, accept our service, our prayers, come to our aid and have mercy on us!

Wednesday Ramsho and Sootoro

A belated blessed feast of Denho (Epiphany) to all my blog readers. Nothing new, but I've been a bit busy. This post contains the links for Wednesday's ramsho and sootoro that I finished quite a while ago but never got the chance to post.

Sootoro of Monday posted

I've just finished the Sootoro of Monday. There is a particularly strong bo'oto in the office, which I will discuss below a bit.

Midday Office of Sunday

I have finished the Midday Office of Sunday. All the seven offices of Sunday have been uploaded.

Safro of Sunday finally completed and uploaded!!!

So with great joy, I'm happy to announce I've completed a translation of Sunday's Safro. I've been reflecting on individual parts progressively since I've started, so I think I will just use this reflection to analyze one of the lines in the Bo'oto.