EDITED: Specific hours to pray the Litugry of the Hours?

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Are there specific hours to pray the Lituirgy of the hours? For example, praying Evening prayer at 9pm.

Thanks!

Viva Cristo Rey!
 
Actually, yes.

6:00 A.M.Divine Office and Morning

.Noon

6:00 P.M. Evening

9:00 Night

This is the time we used in the seminary.
 
There is some flexibility allowed. If you look at various monasteries’ websites you can get an idea, they usually post their monastic day.
 
it is called the monastic diurnal, or monastic “daybook” and each monastery sets the hours, based on the seasons of the year and the routine of their house. The Rule of St. Benedict took into account the times of sunrise and sunset for instance.

the ordo for each diocese covers it now, and it is pretty flexible; in general morning prayer being before the work of the day begins, or before the morning Mass, evening prayer at the normal close of the work day, and the other hours accordingly.
 
Actually, yes.

6:00 A.M.Divine Office and Morning

.Noon

6:00 P.M. Evening

9:00 Night

This is the time we used in the seminary.
It doesn’t have to be at those particular times. Whatever fits into your schedule. I usually pray Morning Prayer about 5:30 a.m., but Evening Prayer can be anywhere between 6 and 8 p.m., depending on when I get home from work. Night Prayer is right before bedtime, which is usually later than I would hope. 🙂
 
The Rule of St. Benedict allowed for variation according to the seasons as well. Lauds was to be at sunrise, therefore shorter readings were allowed at Vigils. Vespers was to be completed before dark, and Compline was said from memory each day shortly before bed, in the darkness. This was in the era when the sun regulated the day.

Now we have the Offices at fixed hours in religious communities. For those of us in the secular world the only requirement is to respect the verity of the hour. Thus Lauds can legitimately be said at 5 am or 8 am depending on individual schedules. But to say Lauds at noon would not respect the verity of a morning prayer.

For my case I am flexible with Vespers as my arrival time at home depends on my evening commute (traffic) and can be anywhere from 6:15 pm to 7 pm.
 
As a layperson, all you have to do is respect the intention of the particular office - so don’t pray Morning Prayers at 9pm 🙂

I pray:

6am Morning Prayer
12pm Midday Prayer
6pm Evening Prayer

Nice easy way to break it up; takes 5-10 minutes each time.
 
For the midmorning prayer and midafternoon prayer, if prayed, are they to be prayed between 6am and noon and themn noon and 6pm? Thanks for the answers!
 
For the midmorning prayer and midafternoon prayer, if prayed, are they to be prayed between 6am and noon and themn noon and 6pm? Thanks for the answers!
When they fit into your schedule. As other posters have said there’s no fixed times. You say the hours at the appropriate time of day for the Office in question. So midmorning prayer - in the middle of your morning. Midafternoon prayer - in the middle of your afternoon. Obviously 1 p.m. is too late for midmorning prayer; 7 p.m. would be too late for midafternoon prayer. Likewise, midday prayer need not be exactly at 12 noon; it could be somewhere between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
 
It is required that morning prayer not be said before you go to bed (like 2 AM when you get in real late). Instead, wait till you rise in the morning.

Also, I have read that Evening prayer should not be said before 4 PM.

I don’t remember where these came from. 🙂
 
It is required that morning prayer not be said before you go to bed (like 2 AM when you get in real late). Instead, wait till you rise in the morning.
I don’t understand what you’re saying here…
 
He’s saying that if you get home in the wee hours you shouldn’t pray Lauds even though it is technically morning, if you are going to bed. You should in fact pray Compline and then Lauds after rising (provided you don’t wake too late)
 
He’s saying that if you get home in the wee hours you shouldn’t pray Lauds even though it is technically morning, if you are going to bed. You should in fact pray Compline and then Lauds after rising (provided you don’t wake too late)
Exactly. I think this may be noted in Morning Prayer for Easter. Where you might get home from the Easter Vigil after midnight. At that time you do NOT say Easter Morning Prayer, but wait till you get up on Easter. You could say Night Prayer (Compline) only.

In general you never say Compline then immediately start Lauds.
 
It doesn’t have to be at those particular times. Whatever fits into your schedule. I usually pray Morning Prayer about 5:30 a.m., but Evening Prayer can be anywhere between 6 and 8 p.m., depending on when I get home from work. Night Prayer is right before bedtime, which is usually later than I would hope. 🙂
Yes. I know. I’m just giving a generalized answer. Flexibility is allowed, but it is strongly encouraged to keep the same hours as those in your community. I read mine when I can. I’m married with children and not always able to be prompt. However, if you read the requirements of being a seminarian, missing more than 3 hours will get you put out of the seminary because you’re not taking discernment seriously.
 
Yes. I know. I’m just giving a generalized answer. Flexibility is allowed, but it is strongly encouraged to keep the same hours as those in your community. I read mine when I can. I’m married with children and not always able to be prompt. However, if you read the requirements of being a seminarian, missing more than 3 hours will get you put out of the seminary because you’re not taking discernment seriously.
Let me clarify. Seminarians are required to meet in community at designated times. Not remaining faithful to meeting in prayer with the community of seminarians as prescribed by the Seminary will get you booted. Daily mass is also required. Each seminarian is also required to perform so many hours of community work, usually an “old folks home” or RCIA, CCD, or where ever the assigned parish needs you.

As an individual, you are encouraged to try to read it at the same time everyday and preferably with the local ordinary’s prescribed schedule from what I understand. However, there is no requirement that you have to do it at a certain time. Thus, I often find myself reading it very late at night after my children finally go to sleep.
 
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