Question about praying the Hours

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twk001

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Okay all- bare with me here…I’m a cradle Catholic but all my life I’ve heard various religious refer to praying of the hours. I have a vague idea of what exactly this is, and I would like to try and start it. I’m familiar with some of the terms but don’t exactly know WHAT this is all about. Some insight and references would be hugely appreciated! thanks-twk
 
The Hours refers to “The Liturgy of the Hours”, also called at times “The Divine Office.” The actual book containing the prayers is also sometimes referred to as a “breviary”.

The LOH is a centuries old tradition of prayer in the Church. Basically, it consists of a 4 week cycle of psalms that are prayed (the principal hours being: Office of Readings (aka “Matins” in traditional Latin terminology), Morning Prayer (“Lauds”), Daytime Prayer (can pray once or subdivided into 3 times–midmorning, midday, and midafternoon [called terce, sext, and non? for the 3rd, 6th, and 9th hour]), Evening Prayer (“vespers”), and Night Prayer (“compline”).

All priests, and religious women and men pray the LOH (sometimes different orders have slightly different versions of the office)… traditionally meant to be prayed in community/choir style, but can also be prayed individually. Vatican II stressed that the LOH is the prayer of the whole Church, so it is also very fitting for the laity to pray (though, it is no obligation as in the case of priests and religious).

A good website to get your feet wet:
universalis.com/
 
These psalms are prayed throughout different hours of the day in order to sanctify the day. Also, besides psalms, the LOH includes long readings from Scripture and the saints or church fathers (in the Office of Readings), short Scripture readings (as at mass), intercessions, Gospel Canticles (the Benedictus, or canticle of Zechariah, from Luke in the morning and the Magnificat, or canticle of Mary, from Luke 1 in evening), and the Our Father.
Beautiful form of prayer.
 
I started praying the Hours using universalis.com. It was very helpful in learning how to pray them. But it is missing the antiphons; and they use a different translation. I finally ‘graduated’ to Christain Prayer which is the condensed version of the LOH. It doesn’t have the full Office of Readings. But is very good to start with. And is affordable. And then there is the full 4 volume set "Liturgy of the Hours’’ I just recently aquired after pinching my penny’s. It is a wonderful devotion. And extremely beneficial.
 
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