Morning Prayer at Church - what do they do?

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Amy1965

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For lent this year, I’ve committed myself to go to daily mass everyday. But because it’s holy week next week, instead of daily mass, it’s morning prayer.

What happens during this time? I just want to make sure I’m prepared.
 
Hard to answer - there are several possibilities. It could be that your parish has a certain set of prayers that they do when there is not a Mass. Or they could have a prayer service that has Mass readings but no consecration - like a Mass without the consecration part. Or they could be praying the morning Liturgy of the Hours prayers.
 
Sunbreak said:
Hard to answer - there are several possibilities. It could be that your parish has a certain set of prayers that they do when there is not a Mass. Or they could have a prayer service that has Mass readings but no consecration - like a Mass without the consecration part. Or they could be praying the morning Liturgy of the Hours prayers.
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I’m guessing it’s Liturgy of the Hours.

In my parish the two sides of the Church form the two “choirs”. Various parishioners handle readings.

In our case we have Morning Prayer lead right in to morning Mass. A priest might be there the whole time but often he doesn’t show up until it’s almost time for Mass so he just quietly slips into place.
 
Amy1965 said:
For lent this year, I’ve committed myself to go to daily mass everyday. But because it’s holy week next week, instead of daily mass, it’s morning prayer.
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Wait … rather than have Mass – on the Monday through Wednesday of Holy Week – they’ve decided to have only Morning Prayer instead?!? Oh brother… :nope:
 
Sorry I wasn’t clear but they’re doing morning prayer only on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday in substitution of the morning daily mass.
 
Amy1965 said:
Sorry I wasn’t clear but they’re doing morning prayer only on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday in substitution of the morning daily mass.
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Aah, got it. That’s because the only Parish Mass on Thursday is the (evening) Mass of the Lord’s Supper, and there’s no Mass on Good Friday, and the only Mass on Holy Saturday is the Easter Vigil. So, there’s no communion service at these times - just the Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, as SMHW mentioned…
 
it’s Liturgy of the Hours.

God Bless your Pastor for doing this on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
 
Make some time to attend the triduum liturgies. You may also attend Morning Prayer
 
Agreed most likely Morning Prayer (Lauds) from the Liturgy of the Hours.

The thing is that a priest is not necessary. The Liturgy of the Hours is part of the liturgy, that is official prayer, of the Church. In a parish where a priest is not available for weekday Mass, it is laudable (no pun intended) to pray Lauds instead, as someone from the laity is licitly able to lead it. In fact the Church prefers that on weekdays Lauds be held instead of a communion service, if no priest is available. There is no obligation to receive on a weekday, but having an official liturgy instead is most beneficial.

I’m all for the Liturgy of the Hours being more frequently prayed in public in parishes. Note that even prayed privately, the LOTH is the public prayer of the Church, but to pray it in public is most desirable, when feasible.
 
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