Morning & Evening Prayer

[St_Anthony_1]

Are there specific times when morning and evening prayer are supposed to be said?

Does it matter if the only chance you get to read it is on the bus on in the works canteen or in the lounge with the kids running around?

Trying to fit in as much of a prayer life as I can.

 

[Batfink]

Morning Prayer should usually be said first thing in the morning. No specific time but it is seen as a way of dedicating the day to God so should be prayed before starting the ‘official’ day. What that means for your individual circumstances is up to you. It doesn’t take long to pray, so it may be possible to get up 10 minutes earlier and pray it then.

Evening Prayer is even less ‘timetabled’. As, with Morning Prayer, it is one of the major offices, it is sometimes prayed in common at a time when one of the minor offices would still fit (I have prayed it in a parish as early as 3pm). On one’s own, well basically in the evening! I think most people would define evening as roughly 5.30-7.30 but it should be after your normal working day has ended (assuming your working day is a more or less 9-5 affair, this clearly wouldn’t work for someone on nightshift) as it is a thanksgiving to God at the end of the day.

In terms of distractions, the best way is to pray it in a quiet, contemplative atmosphere. If this is not possible as you are occupied all morning/evening with no time to yourself then praying with kids running around or on the bus would be better than not praying at all. People are different - some can shut themselves off and focus quite well even with a lot of external noise, others need to withdraw into a private space or they can’t concentrate.

There are other things you could do if you have no time to yourself. Night Prayer is said just before retiring for bed, maybe when your other distractions have also gone to sleep! And even if you don’t have the chance during the day to pray a whole office, you might be able to snatch a few moments to pray in another way. Raising your heart and mind to God even for a second while changing a nappy. It all helps!

PM me if you want. I’ve gone through all this, especially the only having time in the car or on lunchbreak or with a baby playing at my feet! Good on you for trying and may God bless your efforts.

 

[St_Anthony_1]

I work shifts 7am-3pm one week and 1pm-9pm the next week.

So at least one week of my evening prayers has to be done at work. Usually I use my lunch break to pray, I can normally find a reasonably quiet spot.

My daughter is normally up about 5:30 am so I’m not sure that getting any earlier wouldn’t finish me off! (I have another child on the way so I’m going to get even less sleep in the New Year!!! Although I must admit getting up earlier to do the morning office has been on my mind as of late.

Night prayers are the easiest as my wife likes to watch TV before bed and my daughter is asleep so normally finding a quiet hour to say the night prayers and the rosary is easier.

Thanks for the reply, glad I’m not alone here!

 

[Batfink]

My daughter is normally up about 5:30 am so I’m not sure that getting any earlier wouldn’t finish me off! (I have another child on the way so I’m going to get even less sleep in the New Year!!! Although I must admit getting up earlier to do the morning office has been on my mind as of late.

Thanks for the reply, glad I’m not alone here!

My daughter’s also up at 5.30 many days so I don’t follow my own advice here. I usually either say Morning Prayer with her cuddled up next to me in bed, as she’ll often sleep a bit longer that way (that’s a killer though because being in bed means you just keep drifting back off to sleep. It’s taken me an hour to say Morning Prayer before now ) or leave it till she has a nap. When I get to work I’m so incredibly lucky in that I have a Chapel all to myself…don’t know what I’ll do in 4 weeks’ time when I leave this job.

You’re definitely not alone. There are many of us trying to juggle work and family with a life devoted to God. Just do what you can and know that caring for your wife and kids is what God has called you to.

 

[DebChris]

The Liturgy of the Hours is meant to honor the hours of the day. It becomes continuous universal prayer as it is prayed around the world.
The general time given for praying Morning (Lauds) and Evening (Vespers) Prayer are 6am and 6pm respectfully. If you read the daily life of various religious orders, you will find some variation from this schedule. “It’s 5’oclock somewhere.” It is less important to be a stickler regarding the time, as it is to take the time to pray. Having a small child cuddle in your arms during prayer is a great way to convey the message that God is a loving Father.
When I had a vehicle, I kept a copy of Morning and Evening Prayer in my glove compartment so it would be available if I were not home during the prescribed time. Praying the LOTH while traveling has opened the door to evangelization. I have prayed the LOTH while commuting, both daily and long distance.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Are there specific times when morning and evening prayer are supposed to be said?.

There is no specific time, such as Morning Prayer at 7.00 am. But the liturgical books do encourage Morning Prayer to be in the morning, and Evening Prayer to be in the evening.

For example, in the General Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours: “39. Vespers is celebrated in the evening when the day is drawing to a close, …”.

The 1963 Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (at vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html ) includes:

“88. Because the purpose of the office is to sanctify the day, the traditional sequence of the hours is to be restored so that once again they may be genuinely related to the time of the day when they are prayed, as far as this may be possible. Moreover, it will be necessary to take into account the modern conditions in which daily life has to be lived, especially by those who are called to labor in apostolic works.”

Why would this need to be said? I think the practice was to anticipate the prayer. If a priest said Morning Prayer the night before, the he would have satisfied his obligation to say Morning Prayer, and have given himself extra flexibility the next morning.

Public prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours is encouraged in the General Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours:
“40. In the prayer of the Christian community, Lauds and Vespers are of the highest importance. Their public and common celebration should be encouraged especially among those who lead a common life. The recitation of these prayers is also recommended for the individual faithful who are not able to participate in a common celebration.” (Divine Office, published by E.J. Dwyer, Sydney, 1974, ISBN 085574233X, page xli.)

So public prayer will require a specific time. So in this sense a specific time is encouraged, without a particular time being given.