Questions about Traditio

What is Traditio?

Traditio is an iPhone app that brings together the traditional Divine Office, according to the Roman Breviary from before the reform of 1970, and the traditional Latin Mass of each day, in Latin and the vernacular.

The name is the Latin word traditio, what is received and handed on. The app exists so that this prayer of the Church may still be prayed today as it was received, whole and within reach of all.

Is it the Liturgy of the Hours?

No. The Liturgy of the Hours is the Office as reformed after the Second Vatican Council. Traditio contains the Office from before that reform, with all eight hours, Matins and Prime among them.

Which rubrics are available?

15 versions are available: Tridentine (1570, 1888 and 1906), Divino Afflatu (1939 and 1954), the reform of 1955, the rubrics of 1960, which correspond to the 1962 Missal, and their 2020 version for the United States, Monastic (1617, 1930 and 1963), Le Barroux 1963, Cistercian (1951 and Altovado) and Dominican 1962.

The default is Divino Afflatu 1954, the last version before the reform of 1955. It can be changed at any time.

Does it have the 1962 Missal?

Yes. The rubrics of 1960 correspond to the 1962 Missal and the Breviary that goes with it. The Mass follows the rubrics chosen for the Breviary, unless others are set.

What does each hour contain?

All eight hours are complete: Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline, with their psalms, antiphons, hymns, readings and prayers. Prime includes the Martyrology.

Does it have the Little Office and the Office of the Dead?

Yes. The Little Office of Our Lady and the Office of the Dead are available beside the Office of the day.

What does the Mass include?

The proper and the ordinary of the Mass of the day, in Latin with the translation alongside. On days with more than one Mass, such as Christmas and All Souls, all of them are included.

Which languages is it available in?

Latin, English, French and Portuguese. The text can be read in Latin alone, in translation alone or in both side by side, and tapping a Latin verse shows its translation below. The app’s menus are in English and Portuguese.

Can I use my diocese’s calendar?

Yes, if it’s one that Divinum Officium has: Rome, Munich, Passau, Regensburg, Speyer, Brazil, Utrecht and Groningen. Otherwise the app uses the general calendar. We are planning to add more.

Which prayers does it include?

It includes 59 prayers, among them the Angelus, the Rosary, the litanies, the prayers before and after Mass, the prayers for confession and the blessings of the Ritual.

Does it work offline?

Yes. It is possible to pray with no internet connection, in church or on a plane.

Is it free?

The Office and the Mass are free, with no ads or account. Traditio+ is coming soon with more features.

Is it the Divinum Officium app?

It isn’t made by the project. Traditio uses Divinum Officium’s texts, calendars and rules, in an app built from scratch for the iPhone so that it works offline.

Where do the texts come from?

The texts, calendars and rules come from the Divinum Officium project. What was missing in Portuguese was translated from the Latin by Editora Per Ipsum. The sources for each language are listed in the app, under Settings. In all that binds, the Church’s liturgical books prevail.

Is there a version for iPad or Android?

For now Traditio is for iPhone only.

When can I get it?

Soon, on the App Store.