Praying LOTH for first time:

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I’m trying to start praying the LOTH but I’m confused. Could someone help explain how I do this? I have the iBreviary app. It says

“God, + come to my assistance. – Lord, make haste to help me.”

What do the + and - mean?

Overall I am completely confused…Could someone help guide me?
 
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The markings are there to help indicate the dialog/responses as well as chant tone inflection changes. For the most part, when you’re reciting privately/solo, you can disregard.

The first + however is a reminder to make the Sign of the Cross at that point.
 
There are a few of us on the site here that have LOTH as one of our primary devotions and know it well - some by personal choice, others as oblates or by religious profession/ordination. Ask away! We enjoy helping others along. Start slow and don’t worry…you’ll get it with practice.
 
Do the asterisks in the psalmody man that is when I say the antiphon?

O Lord, you search me and you know me, †
you know my resting and my rising, *
you discern my purpose from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down, *
all my ways lie open to you.
 
I think the easiest way to learn and pray the LOTH’s is to pull it up on your computer an pray along with the hours of the day and with your book. You will very soon get the gist-tone-rythm-and the meaning of the symbols. Don’t be afraid to vocally with your book. Just Google it up. Peace.
 
Here’s the step-by step process for Evening Prayer, Thursday, October 18th @ ibreviary.com
  1. Say the INTRODUCTION
  2. Sing or say one HYMN: Either “Holy and learned, great Saint Luke…” OR
    “The eternal gifts of Christ the King…”
  3. Begin the PSALMODY
  • Psalm 1
    –First, say Ant. 1 “My life is…” (Note: Ant. = Antiphon)
    –Second, say Psalm 116:10-19 (Starts with “I trusted, even when I said…”)
    –Third, say “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen”. (Note: this prayer isn’t included in the text)
    –Fourth, say the Psalm Prayer (optional)
    –Finally, say “Ant” (which is really Ant. 1 from above)
  • Psalm 2—Same structure as for Psalm 1
    –First, say Ant. 2 “I do all this…”
    –Second, say Psalm 126 (Starts with, “When the Lord…”)
    –Third, say “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen”.
    –Fourth, say the Psalm Prayer (optional)
    –Finally, say “Ant” (which is really Ant. 2 from above)
  • Canticle (similar structure as for Psalms 1 & 2 above)
    –First, say Ant 3. “This grace has been…”
    –Second, say “Canticle: Ephesians 1:3-10 (Starts with “Praised by the God and Father…”)
    –Third, say “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen”.
    –Fourth, say “Ant” (which is really Ant. 3 from above)
  1. Say the READING (Colossians 1:3-6a: “We always give thanks…”)
  2. Say the RESPONSORY (Note: the first two lines are the same, so you only have to say one of them)
  3. Say the GOSPEL CANTICLE
    – First, say the Ant. (“The holy evangelist Luke…”)
    – Second, say the “Canticle of Mary” (Luke 1:46-55, which starts with “My soul proclaims…”)
    – Third, say “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen”.
    – Finally, say “Ant” (which is really the same Antiphon from before the “Canticle of Mary”)
  4. Read the INTERCESSIONS (beginning with “Our God is the Father of light…”)
  5. Say THE LORD’S PRAYER
  6. Read one of the two CONCLUDING PRAYERS (either “Father, you chose Luke…” or “Lord God, who chose Saint Luke…”)
  7. End with the DISMISSAL called “In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Evening Prayer concludes” ("May the Lord…”)
It might seem intimidating at first, but with a little practice, you’ll be all set. And as @Cor_ad_Cor said, Ask away!
 
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Thank you. It is intimidating, I’m trying to build devotion though, as I develop my knowledge of the Church.
 
I’ve been trying to pray the evening prayer in the Magnificat and it just seems kinds of - not much? I want to develop a more Catholic prayer life (as opposed to former Baptist). LOTH seems overwhelming. Do you pray the prayers/readings out loud or silently?
 
The + here means make the sign of the Cross.

The - means nothing except it’s a new prayer, so if reciting in a group one recites one part and another the other part.
 
You’re welcome! It IS intimidating at first, but you’ll learn quickly.

The best advice I got about getting started was to start slowly–an office or two at first, and then build up from there. The good news is that Morning & Evening prayer are ALMOST identical structurally. The big difference is how Morning Prayer starts, but it’s pretty straight forward.
 
Dlee said:
Do you pray the prayers/readings out loud or silently?
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Personally, I like to say them out loud when its possible. It helps me to slow down and to take in what I’m reading at a deeper level.
 
One of the best things about iBreviary (other than it’s price) is that it updates the correct prayers every day, so there’s not flipping around to be on the right page like with a paper breviary 🙂
 
Oh okay. But I couldn’t find psalm 116:10-19 anywhere in the vespers. That’s why I’m confused. Thank you
 
It’s probably switched to Friday, October 19 at this point. You can go back or forward a few days as needed. Click on the “More” button, then in the left most field at the bottom of the screen, change the date to 18, and then click on the “ok” button over to the right. When you do so, the information next to “Day:” above will update. Then when you go to the desired office, you’ll be good-to-go!

Edited to add: At least, this is what it looks like on my laptop. Based on Cor_ad_Cor’s great graphic below, the controls might be different on a phone.
 
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Dlee said:
LOTH seems overwhelming.
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Another key piece of advice that I received is that it’s ok to make mistakes along the way. It’s the official liturgy of the Catholic Church, so our intention should be to learn it completely and to do it correctly, but even experts will confess to making the occasional mistake.
 
@Jerzy Thanks. Turns out it is still Wednesday…
 
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You have to sometimes give the iBreviary home screen a moment or two to update to the current date. You can also adjust the settings to download more than the current day for a little faster switching.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Also, you will undoubtedly run into a situation sooner or later (especially if you do any comparisons or start praying with others) that some days have more than one option… there’s a slider to make the choices.

{I can send you a video clip of the slider if you like.}
 
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