ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Eastern forms of daily prayer which may be said to share a deeply rooted common theology in both cathedral and monastic forms of office. It demonstrates that a similar theology was found in the Old Spanish tradition and, originally, in that of Milan. However, the Roman and Benedictine offices appear to be very different forms which, with their heavy emphasis on reciting the Psalter and other scriptures, may be perceived as having a more monastic and meditative or edificatory style. The chapter also examines these traditions to see if they originally had more in common with the rites of the East and the non-Roman West. Paul Bradshaw has outlined the history and background of the Roman monastic office, and Robert Taft noted how little the basic structure changed from the time of St Benedict to Vatican II. The common Western style of hymn appears to have originated with Ambrose of Milan, Benedict even calls the hymn 'ambrosian'.
