The Liturgy of the Hours is the official daily common prayer of the Catholic Church. It is a prayer that allows Catholics to sanctify the entire day by praying specific prayers along with the Church at different hours.
The Liturgy of the Hours is also known as the Breviary, the Divine Office, or the Universal Prayer of the Church. This prayer has been described as an extension of the Mass which reveals how highly it is regarded.
This work of prayer throughout the day is comprised of prayers, writings and short reflections by saints and theologians, canticles, hymns, petitions, and readings from Sacred Scripture, especially the psalms.
The very first daily prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours is the Invitatory. Prayed at dawn, the Invitatory sets the tone for the faithful to pray and to worship God with an antiphon and verses from a psalm.
The invitatory is followed by Morning Prayer (Lauds), Mid-Morning Prayer (Terce), Midday Prayer (Sext), Afternoon Prayer (None), Evening Prayer (Vespers), and Night Prayer (Compline).
The Office of Readings consists of three psalms, a reading from Sacred Scripture, and another reading from a saint, Church Father, or Doctor of the Church. It is typically prayed before Lauds but may be said at any time of the day.
Ideally the Liturgy of the Hours is sung or chanted with other people, but it can be prayed alone in silence.
Catholic bishops, priests, deacons, and consecrated religious take a vow to pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day, but lay Catholics can join their prayers with the many Catholics who pray the same prayers all over the world.
The official prayer of the Catholic Church:
The public prayer of the people of God:
A prayer of Jesus the High Priest:
The Divine Office, because it is the public prayer of the Church, is a source of piety, and nourishment for personal prayer. And therefore priests and all others who take part in the Divine Office are earnestly exhorted in the Lord to attune their minds to their voices when praying it. The better to achieve this, let them take steps to improve their understanding of the Liturgy and of the Bible, especially of the Psalms. In revising the Roman office, its ancient and venerable treasures are to be so adapted that all those to whom they are handed on may more extensively and easily draw profit from them.
Pope Paul VI, Sacrosanctum Concilium, December 4, 1963
A rhythm of prayer throughout the day:
Stopping to pray seven times every day:
Seven times a day I praise Thee for thy righteous ordinances.
Psalm 119: 164
A type of prayer much older than Christianity:
Unending chants and praise influenced by Jewish tradition:
The use of the Liturgy of the Hours grew in monasteries:
The Liturgy of the Hours is intended to become the prayer of the whole People of God. In it Christ Himself “continues his priestly work through his Church.” His members participate according to their own place in the Church and the circumstances of their lives: priests devoted to the pastoral ministry, because they are called to remain diligent in prayer and the service of the word; religious, by the charism of their consecrated lives; all the faithful as much as possible: “Pastors of souls should see to it that the principal hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated in common in church on Sundays and on the more solemn feasts. The laity, too, are encouraged to recite the Divine Office, either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually.”
Catechism of the Catholic Chuch 1175
The Divine Office is not just for priests:
Sanctifying the day with prayer:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
Leaving fame and fortune for God:
Share this page with friends and family to start a conversation about your faith.
Don’t miss a post. Learn more about the Catholic Church and strengthen your Catholic faith.
Find more Fiercely Catholic video issues here.
Subscribe here.
