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IAmBlessed2
Guest
I am a new convert, can someone explain the Liturgy of the Hours, and the process ?
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ziapueblo
Guest
The Liturgy of the Hours are a daily cycle of hours of prayer in the Church. Here is an example of the daily cycle that we have in the East:
https://www.orthodoxprayer.org/Hours.html
It’s similar to the West.
ZP
https://www.orthodoxprayer.org/Hours.html
It’s similar to the West.
ZP
po18guy
Well-known member
You are brand new. I would say to take your time absorbing and practicing the essentials of the faith. Personal and private devotions can come later, as the Spirit leads you. One need not dive into the deep end of the pool - not just yet.
If anything, I would dive into Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Time in Christ’s presence is the best time on earth. Even 5 minutes! An hour will bring immense spiritual benefit.
If anything, I would dive into Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Time in Christ’s presence is the best time on earth. Even 5 minutes! An hour will bring immense spiritual benefit.
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SuscipeMeDomine
Guest
The Liturgy of the Hours is a series of prayers you can pray to sanctify the day. As a layperson you can choose to pray whatever hours fit your schedule and desire.
For myself, I like to pray morning prayer as a way to start the day and make it holy. Evening prayer comes at the end of the day when the busy-ness of the day turns into the quiet of the evening. And night prayer comes just before bedtime. I find it’s a way to keep pulling myself back to God, and back to my spiritual side.
Some people pray many more hours than I do and many others pray less. It’s a question of what fits your life.
I think the best way to learn how it all works is to pray with someone who is already familiar with how things are structured. I learned from others and have enjoyed teaching other people how to do it.
For myself, this is a form of prayer that just draws me in. I love the idea that I’m praying the Psalms as have so many generations before me. I’m part of a line of people ranging from Jesus himself to my favorite saints to people living today who are offering the same prayers all around the world. They’re ever ancient and ever new.
For myself, I like to pray morning prayer as a way to start the day and make it holy. Evening prayer comes at the end of the day when the busy-ness of the day turns into the quiet of the evening. And night prayer comes just before bedtime. I find it’s a way to keep pulling myself back to God, and back to my spiritual side.
Some people pray many more hours than I do and many others pray less. It’s a question of what fits your life.
I think the best way to learn how it all works is to pray with someone who is already familiar with how things are structured. I learned from others and have enjoyed teaching other people how to do it.
For myself, this is a form of prayer that just draws me in. I love the idea that I’m praying the Psalms as have so many generations before me. I’m part of a line of people ranging from Jesus himself to my favorite saints to people living today who are offering the same prayers all around the world. They’re ever ancient and ever new.
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Dlee
Guest
I just purchased the Shorter Christian Prayer (Catholic Book Publishing) and can’t make a lick of sense out of it. I do have the AP on my tablet, but I like books better. I’m going to have to sit down with someone and have them show me. I even purchased the St. Joseph Guide for Christian Prayer - might as well be a foreign language!
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Titivillus
Guest
Unless things have changed since the last time I looked at one, that guide will not help you with Shorter Christian Prayer since it is tuned for the single volume Christian Prayer.
Without a more specific question, at this time the best help I can give you is that today, 2019-11-08T05:00:00Z, is Friday of the 31st Week of Ordinary Time, so you should be praying Morning and Evening Prayer from Friday Psalter Week III.
Scary Details
The Psalter week can usually found by dividing the week of the season (in this case, 31) by 4 and the remainder (in this case, 31 / 4 = 7, remainder 3) is the Psalter week. (A remainder of 0 is Psalter Week IV).
There are a couple of exceptions: You have to consider Ash Wednesday ff as the “0th” week of Lent, leading to Psalter IV; there is apparently some legitimate uncertainty/variation in the weeks of the Christmas Season.
That sounds like a good idea.
ralfyman
New member
I found a guide here:
and the Divine Office link shared earlier.
I’m not sure, but I think here’s the process.
Morning Prayer:
P. 13 gives the structure of the prayer, which consists of the ff.
A. Introduction:
a. Ordinary Time:
Sunday Evening Prayer, Monday to Friday, Saturday Morning Prayer: the Four-Week Psalter Section (p. 15 and 35 gives instructions for getting the correct week), or
Sunday Morning Prayer or Christ the King: p. 503 onward (see TOC, p. 6)
b. Seasons (Advent, Christmas, etc.) pp. 356 onward (see TOC, p. 5)
c. Proper of Saints, pp. 543 onward (see TOC, p. 6)
d. Office for the Dead
e. Memorial for the BVM (for Saturdays).
For example, for Week I, Monday, go to p. 54. Notice that on that page, the Invitatory and Antiphon repeat what was given on p. 18.
B: Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer:
It’s the same process. The structure is given on p. 13, the intro on p. 30, etc.
Night Prayer (before one goes to bed):
Go to the section given in the TOC, p. 5.
In general, as shown on p. 13, the prayers consists of an Introduction (an invitatory, an invitatory psalm with antiphon, and the Glory, on pp. 18-34) and the prayer itself (psalms, canticle, antiphons, reading, responsory, Gospel canticle, intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer, and concluding prayer, from the appropriate section following instructions on p. 15 and 35 for Ordinary Time or the current date or season).
and the Divine Office link shared earlier.
I’m not sure, but I think here’s the process.
Morning Prayer:
P. 13 gives the structure of the prayer, which consists of the ff.
A. Introduction:
- Invitatory (p. 18) - “Lord, open my lips…”
- Invitatory Psalm (p. 22, or any of the three alternative Psalms), with the antiphon after each stanza (choose from pp. 18-22, depending on the day)
- Glory to the Father…
a. Ordinary Time:
Sunday Evening Prayer, Monday to Friday, Saturday Morning Prayer: the Four-Week Psalter Section (p. 15 and 35 gives instructions for getting the correct week), or
Sunday Morning Prayer or Christ the King: p. 503 onward (see TOC, p. 6)
b. Seasons (Advent, Christmas, etc.) pp. 356 onward (see TOC, p. 5)
c. Proper of Saints, pp. 543 onward (see TOC, p. 6)
d. Office for the Dead
e. Memorial for the BVM (for Saturdays).
For example, for Week I, Monday, go to p. 54. Notice that on that page, the Invitatory and Antiphon repeat what was given on p. 18.
B: Morning Prayer
- Select the hymn mentioned (the page numbers are given).
- Psalmody
- Ant. 1, or the alternative if it’s Easter season
- Psalm (with Ant. 1 read between stanzas)
- Psalm-prayer
- Ant. 2 (or alternative)
- Canticle 1
- Ant. 3 (or alternative)
- Psalm (with Ant. 3 read between stanzas)
- Psalm-prayer
- Reading
- Responsory
- Canticle (front cover, inner page or p. 27)
- Ant.
- Intercessions
- Our Father
- Concluding Prayer (p. 29, as indicated)
Evening Prayer:
It’s the same process. The structure is given on p. 13, the intro on p. 30, etc.
Night Prayer (before one goes to bed):
Go to the section given in the TOC, p. 5.
In general, as shown on p. 13, the prayers consists of an Introduction (an invitatory, an invitatory psalm with antiphon, and the Glory, on pp. 18-34) and the prayer itself (psalms, canticle, antiphons, reading, responsory, Gospel canticle, intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer, and concluding prayer, from the appropriate section following instructions on p. 15 and 35 for Ordinary Time or the current date or season).
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Dlee
Guest
Yes, I figured out that guide wasn’t what I needed. I think it will be a matter of getting familiar with everything and actually having someone show me where parts are in the book. Thanks for your help.
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Dlee
Guest
Thank you - this does help. I appreciate the time you put into explaining the process.
Don’t worry if you struggle at first…it can get verrrrrrry complicated.
When I learned it, I had the advantage of being in a seminary where we prayed it in common. Frequently I missed the first half of the psalms because I was lost and had to look at the guy next to me to see what page we were on…
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DoGodsBidding1
Guest
My story is similar. My wife had given me the one volume Prayer Book as a Christmas present but I had no clue how to use it. I tried for a while on Friday nights when I would go to Adoration. It wasn’t until I was in Diaconate formation that I learned. I do remember the wise words of our wonderful Sister who was part of the formation team, when asked about which pages to pray on a Saint day she said you can’t do it wrong, either way you are praying. Just pray.
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Dovekin
Guest
About 1000 years before Jesus was born, people began singing psalms in Jerusalem. King David was credited with writing some of these songs, so it is likely that the identity of Israel as a kingdom was formed by the act of gathering together to sing to God.
These songs were gathered together into the collection of songs that became the core of the bible. The Torah may be more important, but the psalms are the context for hearing the Torah. They formed the gatherings of people to praise God that continue in the Church today. The Liturgy of the Hours is truly the prayer of the Church.
It is daunting to learn because it is so widely used and adapted. In the Middle Ages, learning to pray meant memorizing the psalms, in Latin which may not have been your first language. No one had 1 or 4 volume sets to carry around. Anything they could carry they likely had copied themselves. Learning your way around is hard, but try memorizing all 150 psalms plus a couple of dozen canticles.
Start by learning two songs. The song of Zechariah, Luke 1:68-79, which welcomes his son into the world with joy and hope, is used at Morning prayer every day to welcome the day that God has given us. And the Song of Mary, the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55, is Mary’s response to her cousin Elizabeth, expressing her gratitude and hope for her pregnancy. It is one of the greatest Christian prayers, expressing faith in the Lord who has done great things for us, lifted up the lowly and brought justice to Israel and the whole world. Every evening people throughout the world recite this song, or sing it, grateful for the great things done for us and for the Lord who brings them to us.
If you learn these songs and love them, you will be prepared to learn more, even how to find your way through the mazes of the books.
These songs were gathered together into the collection of songs that became the core of the bible. The Torah may be more important, but the psalms are the context for hearing the Torah. They formed the gatherings of people to praise God that continue in the Church today. The Liturgy of the Hours is truly the prayer of the Church.
It is daunting to learn because it is so widely used and adapted. In the Middle Ages, learning to pray meant memorizing the psalms, in Latin which may not have been your first language. No one had 1 or 4 volume sets to carry around. Anything they could carry they likely had copied themselves. Learning your way around is hard, but try memorizing all 150 psalms plus a couple of dozen canticles.
Start by learning two songs. The song of Zechariah, Luke 1:68-79, which welcomes his son into the world with joy and hope, is used at Morning prayer every day to welcome the day that God has given us. And the Song of Mary, the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55, is Mary’s response to her cousin Elizabeth, expressing her gratitude and hope for her pregnancy. It is one of the greatest Christian prayers, expressing faith in the Lord who has done great things for us, lifted up the lowly and brought justice to Israel and the whole world. Every evening people throughout the world recite this song, or sing it, grateful for the great things done for us and for the Lord who brings them to us.
If you learn these songs and love them, you will be prepared to learn more, even how to find your way through the mazes of the books.
D
Diaconia
Guest
The Liturgy of the Hours is the official prayer of the Church that all of the clergy and those in Consecrated Life pray each day.
It is called the Liturgy of the Hours because it sanctifies time throughout the day by praying at specific times.
In monastic settings monks and nuns rise very early and pray all or most of the Hours together, in common. Typically “choirs” on opposite sides of a church or chapel alternate chanting the stanzas of the Psalms back and forth, and pray some portions together. It is very moving and soul-filled to pray with them and hear the cadence and attention they provide to the Divine Office, which is another name for the Liturgy of the Hours.
Since most diocesan clergy do not live and pray in common, they often pray a shorter version of the Divine Office, a briefer version, which we call the Breviary.
At Vatican II, the Council Fathers encouraged the Laity to pray the Liturgy of the Hours as well. The most important Hours are Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, and are a good place to start for beginners.
Night Prayer is short and simple, and is prayed before retiring for the night.
You can find a small book called Shorter Christian Prayer, which is a simplified version that teaches the basics of the Hours. It highlights Morning and Evening Prayer and, I believe, also contains Night Prayer (Compline).
What is most important, especially for beginners, is to get in the habit of praying at specific times: Morning Prayer has a joyful character to it, thanking God for a new day, and starts your day off well. Evening Prayer is more reflective, helps shape our life by scrutinizing areas for improvement. Night Prayer is penitential, and reminds us of our mortality, and prays for a peaceful death to meet the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are a proliferation of apps that can be used, some for free, that offer the Divine Office.
My delight is the law of the LORD, and I meditate on it day and night,
Deacon Christopher
It is called the Liturgy of the Hours because it sanctifies time throughout the day by praying at specific times.
In monastic settings monks and nuns rise very early and pray all or most of the Hours together, in common. Typically “choirs” on opposite sides of a church or chapel alternate chanting the stanzas of the Psalms back and forth, and pray some portions together. It is very moving and soul-filled to pray with them and hear the cadence and attention they provide to the Divine Office, which is another name for the Liturgy of the Hours.
Since most diocesan clergy do not live and pray in common, they often pray a shorter version of the Divine Office, a briefer version, which we call the Breviary.
At Vatican II, the Council Fathers encouraged the Laity to pray the Liturgy of the Hours as well. The most important Hours are Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, and are a good place to start for beginners.
Night Prayer is short and simple, and is prayed before retiring for the night.
You can find a small book called Shorter Christian Prayer, which is a simplified version that teaches the basics of the Hours. It highlights Morning and Evening Prayer and, I believe, also contains Night Prayer (Compline).
What is most important, especially for beginners, is to get in the habit of praying at specific times: Morning Prayer has a joyful character to it, thanking God for a new day, and starts your day off well. Evening Prayer is more reflective, helps shape our life by scrutinizing areas for improvement. Night Prayer is penitential, and reminds us of our mortality, and prays for a peaceful death to meet the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are a proliferation of apps that can be used, some for free, that offer the Divine Office.
My delight is the law of the LORD, and I meditate on it day and night,
Deacon Christopher
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TheMortenBay
Guest
I recommend starting praying with the app you have, just until someone can show you your way around your book. That way you’ll become familiar with the way the LotH is structured before you try to find your way around the book.
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InThePew
Guest
The liturgy of the hours (or, more precisely, Morning and Evening Prayer) are “the hinges on which they day rests”. For me, it’s a regular form of prayer which my day is structured around from first thing in the morning to last thing at night. I enjoy the rhythm and familiarity of the psalms and canticles as well as the spiritual insights on offer in the readings.
Disclaimer: I’m an unrequited monastic!
Disclaimer: I’m an unrequited monastic!
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OraLabora
Guest
I’m a Benedictine oblate and use the LOTH exactly as you do. It is the framework of my day!Disclaimer: I’m an unrequited monastic!
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Tota_Tua1
Guest
Me too - I use the Farnborough Monastic Diurnal at home, the Laudate app when I’m out and about, and when I’m at the Abbey where I’m an Oblate, I use their Latin/English Divine Office booklets.
I’m not saying I manage every Office but yes, it is a terrific framework!
I’m not saying I manage every Office but yes, it is a terrific framework!
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