Morning Prayer (Lauds) later in the morning?

[R_C]

I am wondering if the Morning Prayer (Lauds), supposed to be prayed at sunrise, can in fact be prayed anytime before 12 noon…

The reason I ask is twofold: I am organizing a campus prayer group meeting at 9 AM and I’d rather do the longer Morning Prayer (with Invitatory) than the shorter Midmorning Prayer (Terce).

Second, I noticed that the online resource divineoffice.org/ only has the Midday Prayer (Sext) listed under “Daytime Prayer”.

Thanks!

 

[OraLabora]

I am wondering if the Morning Prayer (Lauds), supposed to be prayed at sunrise, can in fact be prayed anytime before 12 noon…

The reason I ask is twofold: I am organizing a campus prayer group meeting at 9 AM and I’d rather do the longer Morning Prayer (with Invitatory) than the shorter Midmorning Prayer (Terce).

Second, I noticed that the online resource divineoffice.org/ only has the Midday Prayer (Sext) listed under “Daytime Prayer”.

Thanks!

I think to get the other daytime prayers on divineoffice.org you have to pay for a subscription.

My own cut-off for Morning Prayer is 8:30 am. But that’s a personal interpretation, remembering that we have to respect the “verity of the hour”, because beyond that we encroach on the time of Sext. While Lauds was traditionally prayed at sunrise, practically speaking it’s somewhat later in most places. At our abbey, it’s 7:30 am. At the summer solstice, in our area, sunrise is at approx. 5 am.

Mid-day prayer, the longer version (not the complementary psalter) can be prayed at either Terce, Sext or None, so you can use the mid-day prayer from Divineoffice.org. at Terce.

 

[R_C]

Thanks!

 

[Sirach2]

Sometimes, it’s just not feasible to pray at dawn or early in the morning. In that case, I unite my prayer with the universal church who is praying Lauds at an hour that is perhaps three hours behind mine. Priests are not bound to a particular time frame, either, provided they pray it.

 

[mommyof4]

I pray the LOTH too, and the person in our diocese who taught me to pray them told me not to get too hung up about “when” you pray them- he said that sometimes when he’s busy with his family, he just combines morning and evening prayer together at night. This is obviously not ideal, but I wouldn’t worry about the exact time. On weekdays, hubby and I pray them about 6 am, on weekends, 7 or 8 am, sometimes later.

 

[Evan]

I believe that if you are to only say one prayer in the morning, it is to be Morning Prayer. If only one prayer in the afternoon/evening, it is to be Evening Prayer.

If you have time for another prayer, then you might say the Office of Readings, or, if it is late, Night Prayer.

The other prayers are said if you have the time.

The hinge prayers are Morning and Evening and these take priority over other prayers.

Of course, i could be wrong, but what are the chances of that?

 

[Bergon]

I am wondering if the Morning Prayer (Lauds), supposed to be prayed at sunrise, can in fact be prayed anytime before 12 noon…

The reason I ask is twofold: I am organizing a campus prayer group meeting at 9 AM and I’d rather do the longer Morning Prayer (with Invitatory) than the shorter Midmorning Prayer (Terce).

Second, I noticed that the online resource divineoffice.org/ only has the Midday Prayer (Sext) listed under “Daytime Prayer”.

Thanks!

Not any time before noon. First you’ve even then passed the time for Terce and are arriving at the time for Sext.

I think 9:00 AM is the latest time to consider it.

I do know of some cathedrals and churches where it’s recited at 9:00/9:15 AM.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

What is more important that you pray it or that you pray it at the precise time? What is the intention of your heart?

 

[OraLabora]

What is more important that you pray it or that you pray it at the precise time? What is the intention of your heart?

Precise? No, but the rubrics do encourage one to observe the truth of the hour:

1. Hence bishops, priests, and other sacred ministers, who have received from the Church the mandate to celebrate the liturgy of the hours (see no. 17), should recite the full sequence of hours each day, observing as far as possible the true time of day.

That said, there’s considerable latitude. For instance this morning I prayed Lauds at 5 am as I had to leave earlier than usual on my morning commute. It wasn’t dawn yet at that time in this part of the world. Sunday I slept in and prayed it at 8:30 am. Normally on work days I pray it at 7 am, and I do Vigils at 5:30 am. I think up to 9 am is pretty reasonable. Terce is normally at 9 am but I’ve seen it as early as 8 and as late as 10 am. Etc. I think “true time of day” would look roughly like this, though even this isn’t written in stone, again just personal opinion:

Vigils (if using the Office of Readings as Vigils): anticipated evening before, or any time between midnight and 7 am; but as Office of Readings, it can be said at any time

Lauds: 6-9 am
Terce: 8-10:30 am
Sext: 11-1:30 pm
None: 2-4 pm
Vespers: 4-8 pm
Compline: before bed

Mid-day prayer can be said at either Terce, Sext and None and if saying all three, the complementary psalter is used for the other two. I’ve mentioned this on other posts, and perhaps my times are off a bit each time… so again it’s only a rough guide. Obviously praying Lauds at the time of Vespers, or Compline when rising in the morning, wouldn’t do… Lauds is “Morning Prayer” and Vespers is “Evening Prayer”.

 

[R_C]

I really appreciate the feedback!

If it was for myself I wouldn’t be too concerned and simply pray Terce at 9, but this is for a campus event: students can go to Mass at 8.30 and then meet on campus for the Liturgy of the Hours, before beginning their day of work & study. That’s why I wished to pray the Lauds - it corresponds with the *beginning *of the day for us, in our setting

Since we talk about liturgy, I wonder if it is licit to pray Lauds around 9…I am the last person who wants to indulge in liturgical experimentation, believe me From some posts it seems so, and I think there is some degree of extra flexibility for laity:

1. Other religious communities and their individual members are advised to celebrate some parts of the liturgy of the hours, in accordance with their own situation …]This recommendation applies also to laypersons.

 

[OraLabora]

I really appreciate the feedback!

If it was for myself I wouldn’t be too concerned and simply pray Terce at 9, but this is for a campus event: students can go to Mass at 8.30 and then meet on campus for the Liturgy of the Hours, before beginning their day of work & study. That’s why I wished to pray the Lauds - it corresponds with the *beginning *of the day for us, in our setting

Since we talk about liturgy, I wonder if it is licit to pray Lauds around 9…I am the last person who wants to indulge in liturgical experimentation, believe me From some posts it seems so, and I think there is some degree of extra flexibility for laity:

It’s too bad you can’t get your priest to combine Lauds with the Mass. The rubrics allow for that. You can do the same for Terce too, it’s done in many abbeys.

 

[Bergon]

I really appreciate the feedback!

If it was for myself I wouldn’t be too concerned and simply pray Terce at 9, but this is for a campus event: students can go to Mass at 8.30 and then meet on campus for the Liturgy of the Hours, before beginning their day of work & study. That’s why I wished to pray the Lauds - it corresponds with the *beginning *of the day for us, in our setting

Since we talk about liturgy, I wonder if it is licit to pray Lauds around 9…I am the last person who wants to indulge in liturgical experimentation, believe me From some posts it seems so, and I think there is some degree of extra flexibility for laity:

Is Lauds your sole option? Could you split the day up into short periods of prayer? Perhaps after Mass when they meet on campus prior to the morning’s activities they could recite Terce. Then as the morning winds up before going for lunch they could recite the Angelus followed by Sext. None is also a possibility in the afternoon. It could break up the afternoon. Alternatively, if there’s a period of rest or recreation after lunch prior to any afternoon activities None could mark the boundary between this ‘siesta’ period and the afternoon’s activities. The three Little Hours of Terce, Sext and None only take about 10 minutes each. Just a few suggestions but, of course, I don’t know how you’ve planned the rest of the day after Mass.

 

[R_C]

It’s too bad you can’t get your priest to combine Lauds with the Mass. The rubrics allow for that. You can do the same for Terce too, it’s done in many abbeys.

Wow! If we had one solid prayer group, I would dare to ask for it! But we are still beginning, and the student presence at that Mass is limited.

Is Lauds your sole option? Could you split the day up into short periods of prayer? Perhaps after Mass when they meet on campus prior to the morning’s activities they could recite Terce. Then as the morning winds up before going for lunch they could recite the Angelus followed by Sext. None is also a possibility in the afternoon. It could break up the afternoon. Alternatively, if there’s a period of rest or recreation after lunch prior to any afternoon activities None could mark the boundary between this ‘siesta’ period and the afternoon’s activities. The three Little Hours of Terce, Sext and None only take about 10 minutes each. Just a few suggestions but, of course, I don’t know how you’ve planned the rest of the day after Mass.

That is one powerful prayer schedule that I wish I could implement! However, until a solid and committed prayer group comes to be, I only have permission for Liturgy of the Hours on Monday morning. I would love to pray this way myself, but I need to be more organized. I’ll keep praying “Come, Creator Spirit”, and let Him kindle the fire in everyone’s heart

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Precise? No, but the rubrics do encourage one to observe the truth of the hour:

That said, there’s considerable latitude. For instance this morning I prayed Lauds at 5 am as I had to leave earlier than usual on my morning commute. It wasn’t dawn yet at that time in this part of the world. Sunday I slept in and prayed it at 8:30 am. Normally on work days I pray it at 7 am, and I do Vigils at 5:30 am. I think up to 9 am is pretty reasonable. Terce is normally at 9 am but I’ve seen it as early as 8 and as late as 10 am. Etc. I think “true time of day” would look roughly like this, though even this isn’t written in stone, again just personal opinion:

Vigils (if using the Office of Readings as Vigils): anticipated evening before, or any time between midnight and 7 am; but as Office of Readings, it can be said at any time

Lauds: 6-9 am
Terce: 8-10:30 am
Sext: 11-1:30 pm
None: 2-4 pm
Vespers: 4-8 pm
Compline: before bed

Mid-day prayer can be said at either Terce, Sext and None and if saying all three, the complementary psalter is used for the other two. I’ve mentioned this on other posts, and perhaps my times are off a bit each time… so again it’s only a rough guide. Obviously praying Lauds at the time of Vespers, or Compline when rising in the morning, wouldn’t do… Lauds is “Morning Prayer” and Vespers is “Evening Prayer”.

In The Divine Office for Dodos, it states that current time of prayer for Morning Prayer/Lauds is 6:00am-11:00am. I don’t know the author’s source for that and I’m aware opinions on this book vary greatly, but it does carry a *Nihil Obstat *and Imprimatur.

Though I pray certain offices daily, I am not bound to the LOTH. I often don’t get to Lauds until 9:30am or 10:00am due to being at service for morning Masses six days out of seven; sometimes I just can’t get up early enough to pray Lauds before I head to the church (I’m usually out of bed between 4:00am and 5:30am as it is). There have been times that I didn’t complete it until 11:15am or 11:30am, but those were exceptional circumstances.

My priest recently told me of a situation in which he was unable to pray Vespers until 1:00am. Again, exceptional circumstances applied. Plus as a priest he is bound to the LOTH and thus cannot skip any office even if it means he prays it well outside the time frame for doing so.

It’s too bad you can’t get your priest to combine Lauds with the Mass. The rubrics allow for that. You can do the same for Terce too, it’s done in many abbeys.

Wow! If we had one solid prayer group, I would dare to ask for it! But we are still beginning, and the student presence at that Mass is limited.

I’ve attended Masses that were combined with Vespers. It’s lovely

I would love to pray this way myself, but I need to be more organized. I’ll keep praying “Come, Creator Spirit”, and let Him kindle the fire in everyone’s heart

Thank you for your prayers. I will pray for you to become more organized

 

[TrueLight]

Precise? No, but the rubrics do encourage one to observe the truth of the hour:

That said, there’s considerable latitude. For instance this morning I prayed Lauds at 5 am as I had to leave earlier than usual on my morning commute. It wasn’t dawn yet at that time in this part of the world. Sunday I slept in and prayed it at 8:30 am. Normally on work days I pray it at 7 am, and I do Vigils at 5:30 am. I think up to 9 am is pretty reasonable. Terce is normally at 9 am but I’ve seen it as early as 8 and as late as 10 am. Etc. I think “true time of day” would look roughly like this, though even this isn’t written in stone, again just personal opinion:

Vigils (if using the Office of Readings as Vigils): anticipated evening before, or any time between midnight and 7 am; but as Office of Readings, it can be said at any time

Lauds: 6-9 am
Terce: 8-10:30 am
Sext: 11-1:30 pm
None: 2-4 pm
Vespers: 4-8 pm
Compline: before bed

Mid-day prayer can be said at either Terce, Sext and None and if saying all three, the complementary psalter is used for the other two. I’ve mentioned this on other posts, and perhaps my times are off a bit each time… so again it’s only a rough guide. Obviously praying Lauds at the time of Vespers, or Compline when rising in the morning, wouldn’t do… Lauds is “Morning Prayer” and Vespers is “Evening Prayer”.

Hey Ora,

I’ve always loved how well-versed you are in the Office.

How about Prime?

 

[OraLabora]

Hey Ora,

I’ve always loved how well-versed you are in the Office.

How about Prime?

It’s no longer part of the LOTH but is still prayed in some monasteries and of course by those doing the pre-Vatican II Roman Office. “Prime” means the “first hour” of the day, which is roughly 6 am.

The reason it got eliminated is, well… let’s take a monastery: Vigils at 5 am, Lauds at 5:30 or 6 am, Prime at somewhere between 6 and 7 am (and often followed by Chapter) or any other similar combination. Three offices jammed together makes at least one of them somewhat redundant, and makes for a very busy morning. Typically in a monastery these days the time between Vigils and Lauds is used for lectio divina, which is an equally necessary part of the monk or nun’s vocation.

 

[Megan7]

Precise? No, but the rubrics do encourage one to observe the truth of the hour:

That said, there’s considerable latitude. For instance this morning I prayed Lauds at 5 am as I had to leave earlier than usual on my morning commute. It wasn’t dawn yet at that time in this part of the world. Sunday I slept in and prayed it at 8:30 am. Normally on work days I pray it at 7 am, and I do Vigils at 5:30 am. I think up to 9 am is pretty reasonable. Terce is normally at 9 am but I’ve seen it as early as 8 and as late as 10 am. Etc. I think “true time of day” would look roughly like this, though even this isn’t written in stone, again just personal opinion:

Vigils (if using the Office of Readings as Vigils): anticipated evening before, or any time between midnight and 7 am; but as Office of Readings, it can be said at any time

Lauds: 6-9 am
Terce: 8-10:30 am
Sext: 11-1:30 pm
None: 2-4 pm
Vespers: 4-8 pm
Compline: before bed

Mid-day prayer can be said at either Terce, Sext and None and if saying all three, the complementary psalter is used for the other two. I’ve mentioned this on other posts, and perhaps my times are off a bit each time… so again it’s only a rough guide. Obviously praying Lauds at the time of Vespers, or Compline when rising in the morning, wouldn’t do… Lauds is “Morning Prayer” and Vespers is “Evening Prayer”.

Thank you, God bless.