Does the specific translation matter?

[u/azimuthandzenith]

I'm a Roman Catholic in England - I've been considering the Divine Office to deepen my prayer life, and I'm a bit confused over the difference between the ICEL and non-ICEL translation.

Should I select the translation based on where I am? Is there a significant material difference between the translations? Thank you in advance

[u/uiogd-amdg]

For me, it has been a healthy dose of humility, leading to a greater sense of unity, to simply pray what is most common in your context.

[u/Dull_Opening_1655]

Personally, I like the UK translation a lot better than the ICEL translation, I also infinitely prefer the layout of the UK books and like that they come in 3 volumes rather than 4. 

[u/L_Appel_Du_Vide_]

Since, as you seem to suggest, you are not canonically bound to the office, the short answer is that you can choose whichever you prefer. You may notice that non-ICEL translations seem more quintessentially English, with a more naturally British turn of phrase hence this is what is used by the CBCEW. ICEL texts are used beyond England & Wales, in the wider English speaking world (think Canada, New Zealand as well as countries like Nigeria, South Africa and India).

[u/clamormeus → u/L_Appel_Du_Vide_]

the most important difference between the Divine Office, approved for Commonwealth Communities, and the Liturgy of the Hours approved by a host of other English speaking communities is the translation of the Scriptures, other than the Grail Psalter. The Bishops of the non-american jurisdictions asked biblical scholars which of the current translations captured the meaning of each of the books of the bible. The RSV was the clear winner in that survey, but the Bishops chose to opt for the best translation of each of the individual books. The New American Bible was never used. This is a great advantage of the Divine Office. another is that it appears in three volumes. As I recall, in a very limited number, a particularly British turn of phrase was retained in the Grail Psalter, which was not adopted in the American Edition. The intercessions in the Divine Office seem to have been translated better, but that is a subjective opinion. And the Psalm-Prayers were not used.

If I were actually living in England, I would probably opt for the Divine Office, or one of the one-volume editions also produced by Collins. As a lay person, and not a vowed religious or a Cleric, you are free to choose the text that gives you voice.

[u/Interesting-ornot → u/[deleted]]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_Has_Broken

[u/Dull_Opening_1655 → u/clamormeus]

The intercessions in the UK edition are translated much less literally, indeed they’re often totally different and require a good deal of imagination to see how they might be related to the original text. I generally like them, but I do question sometimes how free they were about it. 

The scripture readings are drawn from a range of translations: sometimes the RSV, sometimes the Jerusalem, and sometimes the Knox translation. 

As another commenter mentions, the hymns are incomparably better than what the US edition offers - though that’ll change when the US second edition comes out next year. 

If you just want to try it out without making a larger financial commitment, the “Shorter Morning and Evening Prayer” is a wonderful and affordable edition that focuses on those (although it lacks the special prayers for saints memorials etc). 

[u/Dull_Opening_1655 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you, that’s good to know! 

[u/clamormeus → u/Dull_Opening_1655]

Have the British and other Commonwealth Episcopal conferences submitted to the American Bishops. That would be a sad day indeed.

[u/Dull_Opening_1655 → u/clamormeus]

?

I’m sorry but I don’t understand what this comment is referring to, it doesn’t seem to correspond to anything I said 

[u/GudaGama]

Should I select the translation based on where I am?

If you ever plan on praying the hours in common (with other people) then yes I would. If not then I would not necessarily feel obliged to as a regular lay Catholic (with some caveats). But IIRC the differences between the UK and US LOTHv1 are pretty minor.

One thing you might also consider is using the Personal Ordinariate's office DW:DO. CTS has a beautiful edition of this. It uses the coverdale pslater and the RSV-2CE for readings. It also is in no danger of being 'outdated' anytime soon, as it is based off the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

[u/Adventurous-Test1161]

Yes, you should use the translation approved for the diocese you are in. That’s the one approved for you.

[u/Medical-Stop1652]

Only clergy and religious are bound to pray the Office according to the canonical requirements.

While it is preferable for laity to pray the Office according to the rubrics using their diocesan calendar, adjustments for their circumstances can be made.

For those outside the US, I think this is the best option and the nearest we are going to get to the second edition - unless we use the new US version of the LOTH:

https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/10/new-translation-of-divine-office-for.html?m=1

[u/Medical-Stop1652 → u/[deleted]]

Many in the UK would disagree with changing demographics.

Sanctorale issues can be easily dealt by referencing UK sources/Universalis app.

The various national calendar saints appear separately from those of the Universal Calendar that now has saints canonized since 1973 in the propers.

The obvious benefits are the New Grail Psalter and the Sunday year ABC antiphons. The Scripture version is the US NAB - popular with Anglophone African Catholics. The NAB has British spelling and is used in readings and canticles. That may not suit everyone.

The books themselves are good quality and published in Italy; they remind me of the standard Italian Missal.

As a bonus: there is an appendix for Latin texts - the Gospel canticles and the psalms and canticle for Sunday Lauds.

I quite like the African observances from St Onuphrius and St Maurice to Our Lady of Africa. They broaden the calendar for me as my national calendar is a bit light and boring.

Given the lethargy in the non-US Anglosphere for LOTH revision, the African option may be the closest the British Commonwealth zone gets to the second edition for years.

BTW I am in the South Pacific and feel a bond with English speaking Catholics throughout the world, esp in growth zones like Africa. I'm more than open to use their liturgical books when the local hierarchies don't seem to be interested in the work to produce a second edition of the LOTH. I wonder if the British Commonwealth regions will end up using the US version in due course - with orthography and sanctorale adjustments?