How do you do the Divine Office daily?

[Luigi_Daniele]

I have prayed the LoTH before. Now, I pray morning and evening prayers with my family (teen children) and Magnificat is perfect for us.

And that is fantastic. I hope that I didn’t come across as being preachy

I just really love the LotH, and can’t imagine life without it.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

And that is fantastic. I hope that I didn’t come across as being preachy

I just really love the LotH, and can’t imagine life without it.

Not at all preachy! I love LoTH also, but for those of us with many duties in the world, it is not a requirement. I try to encourage people in regular prayer without making them think they have to say the entire Divine Office every day.

We have always prayed as a family, and the Magnificat also offers daily reelections and beautiful art for them to contemplate.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Not at all preachy! I love LoTH also, but for those of us with many duties in the world, it is not a requirement. I try to encourage people in regular prayer without making them think they have to say the entire Divine Office every day.

We have always prayed as a family, and the** Magnificat also offers daily reelections and beautiful art for them to contemplate**.

Agreed! I’m glad that I didn’t offend you

 

[agnes_therese]

To begin praying the divine office ,how many books does it come in or how many books would i have to buy?

And is there a new set every year or do you just buy it once to use forever?

There are two versions of the Liturgy of the Hours in book form: the 1-volume Christian Prayer, and the 4-volume set. Christian Prayer is, I believe, around $35. No, there’s not a new set every year, buy it once and you’re done (unless/until the translation is revised, which doesn’t seem to be coming any time soon).

 

[Batfink]

Just build it up gradually, that’s what I did. Started with Morning and Evening Prayer and, once I wsa regular in them, took up saying the full Office for Lent.

It took some time to get into, but well worth it. The biggest help I found was ‘forcing’ myself to say the Office at more-or-less the correct time (this still gives a lot of leeway) as I started out by not making time and then saying three or more offices run together and it wasn’t beneficial at all. Regularity is the key!

I say Office of Readings and Morning Prayer as soon as I wake, before getting out of bed (Invitatory whilst taking temp for NFP, it reminds me!);
Prayer during the Day usually as the baby goes down for a nap
Evening Prayer after coming home from work and before making supper, or if I don’t get time then when putting the baby to bed
Night Prayer just before going to sleep (this is the one I most often forget, and then turn the lamp back on and pray it when I remember, sometimes half way through the night!)

Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the app reviews too - I’m hoping to get an iphone next week and it’s good to see what’s on offer.