Quantum Leap

4:15 AM is a Quantum Leap.  It doesn't get much earlier than this.
I'll let you know how it goes.
One thing is to focus on the 6:00 AM start for Lauds.
That's all for now.

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

"Saint Aloysius Assists Victims of the Plague" 

We're moving in the right direction.

Getting more practice.  One benchmark has been to begin Prime at 7:00 AM.  This has been successful now for going on two weeks.

I like this idea of "lavishing minutes" on the Lord's work.  Confer the first and second versions of the third verse of "America the Beautiful."  The third version conveys it in different words, but also nicely.

Saint John tells it best in Revelation: "Love for life did not deter them from death."  It's this idea of cherishing more intensely the things that should be more intensely cherished.  In Revelation it refers to gaining the victory in the angelic warfare over satan by the Blood of the Lamb.  In my recitation of the Divine Office, it refers to gaining the victory over my laziness, my lack of diligence and my desire to cheat God by the Blood of the same Lamb for the sake of the faithful.

So, even if my own "free time" (whether there should even be such a thing is a different story) is something I cherish, how about cherishing the Lord's work more and not deterring myself from it for any lesser good.

One goal that has begun to emerge has been Matins at 5:00 AM, Lauds at 6:00 AM, Prime at 7:00 AM, Mass at 8:00 AM, Terce at 9:00 AM.

For this, Reveille will really probably need to be at 4:15 AM.  If it's at 4:30 AM, 5:00 AM won't happen.  Not the end of the world.  But I do want to get Lauds situated at 6:00 AM just like I've been managing to do with Prime at 7:00 AM.  This will allow the 30 Minutes of mental prayer to lead up to Prime after Lauds.  It will free up the time leading up to Mass, perhaps for confessions.

It will allow the Lord's Work time to breathe, instead of piling it up one hour upon the next non-stop. The whole thing, if I'm not careful—Matins through Terce (including Mass)—can all happen in pretty much one  uninterrupted stream of recited prayers.  Which  means, about 120 minutes of non-stop recitation.  That's a lot.  And if I'm hurrying at all, it's gross and not at all pleasing to the Lord. Putting a "scourge" into the hand of the Divine Master, a la Tra le Sollecitudine.

Lavishing the minutes so that the Lord's Work is spread out more, gives it a chance to breathe.  Makes it real nice.  Something you can invite folks to pray.

4:30 AM

The thought has occurred to me to give this a try, soon

This morning

Matins started at 6:05 AM.

"The Presentation of Christ" (From the Altar of Phillip
the Bold), Melchior Broederlam, 1399

I took my time, "lavishing" precious minutes on the Lord's work—without looking at the clock until it was done.
I finished at 6:59 AM.
I started Prime at 7:00 AM.
After Prime, about 7:11 AM, I set up for Mass including prepping the linens for Jane and started 30 Minutes of Mental Prayer.  This took my right up to 8:00 AM Mass.
I should say, I bumped up the Martyology reading up one minute, and tomorrow I'll bump it up another minute, this, so I can begin Mass punctually at 8:00 AM instead of 8:02 AM.

I'm keeping  in my back pocket the ideas of sliding the whole thing 15 minutes earlier again, but what will this gain?

This morning it would've gained 15 minutes before the start of 7:00 AM Matins.  But what for?  Coffee?  That doesn't sound right.  A "head call?" That could actually be reasonable some mornings.  Longer Matins?  That will be the case on greater feasts.   A prompt 6:00 AM start could help there, too.

Let's finish this week, including Sunday with the current plan.  And let's try the 5:00 AM reveille next week and compare.  Note, this also means 8:30 PM Compline, as opposed to 8:45 PM which it's been this week.  This'll also mean being strict regarding ending it all at the end of the day.  I foresee, for instance, Sunday evenings having to be dome with dinner with the guys and walking out the door at 8:15 PM.  That's way (by almost 30 mins) earlier than usual.  It could be good though.  One of the guys does it already to make it back for his 8:00 PM TV show he likes (lame, but at least he makes it out to begin with).

Keep in mind, this is about doing the Lord's work, the "Divine Office."

Canonical Hours

"Christ and the Adulteress" Lorenzo Lotto, 1528

I love it.  It's been hard getting the exact schedule that works.
Wouldn't you know, what's been working lately has been 6,7,9,12,3,6,9—more or less.

Going public with it in the parish will add an extra dimension of accountability.

So far, I've also needed to get used to the Latin, too.  That's taken some time.

Looking ahead, a daily posted announcement of when which hours will be recited publicly could be very useful for me and them.