What does it mean to "pray the office?"

  • Thread starter Thread starter onegirlinchrist
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
O

onegirlinchrist

Guest
Hi All,

I’m a newb to liturgy. Happened to be at church for Eucharistic Adoration, when they passed out booklets and commenced:

“Praying of the Office of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”

according to the Church bulletin. I have heard terms like Vespers and Compline, etc. How would this relate to the Divine Office? I’m further confused because today was the feast day of the Immaculate Heart of Jesus. Mary has her own special day tomorrow; seemed like the church is ahead of schedule.

It’s safe to say that I’m intrigued by the Liturgy of the Hours and have wanted to participate in it and experience it at some point. Is that was this was?

Thanks!!
 
onegirlinchrist said:
Hi All,

I’m a newb to liturgy. Happened to be at church for Eucharistic Adoration, when they passed out booklets and commenced:

“Praying of the Office of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”

according to the Church bulletin. I have heard terms like Vespers and Compline, etc. How would this relate to the Divine Office? I’m further confused because today was the feast day of the Immaculate Heart of Jesus. Mary has her own special day tomorrow; seemed like the church is ahead of schedule.

It’s safe to say that I’m intrigued by the Liturgy of the Hours and have wanted to participate in it and experience it at some point. Is that was this was?

Thanks!!
Click to expand...
The Liturgy of the Hours is more or less synonymous with the Divine Office, which are a set of prayers specific for each day within the Catholic Church.
‘To pray the offices’ is to pray the prayers of the Divine Office.

The Divine Office is, nowadays, split into 7 different prayer times or hours:
  • The Office of the Readings (sometimes called Matins) - can be prayed at any time of the day
  • Morning Prayer (often called Lauds) - is usually prayed in the morning at around 6am
  • Prayers during the Day:
  • Mid-morning Prayer (often called Terce) - 9am
  • Midday Prayer (often called Sext) - 12 noon
  • Mid-afternoon Prayer (often called None) - 3pm
  • Evening Prayer (often called Vespers) - 6pm
  • Night Prayer (often called Compline) - 9pm
‘Prayers’ generally consist of a hymn, three psalms/canticles and a reading from Scripture. Different times of the day will call for different lengths of readings, added intercessions and prayers, etc.

universalis.com/
divineoffice.org/liturgy-of-the-hours/?date=20140603

P.S. Praying the Office of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is to pray through these 7 ‘hours’ (not actually an hour in length!) which are specific to the Feast/Memoria of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - this will include antiphons specific to the Virgin Mary along with readings, intercessions and prayers towards the Immaculate Heart
 
onegirlinchrist said:
Hi All,

I’m a newb to liturgy. Happened to be at church for Eucharistic Adoration, when they passed out booklets and commenced:

“Praying of the Office of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”

according to the Church bulletin. I have heard terms like Vespers and Compline, etc. How would this relate to the Divine Office? I’m further confused because today was the feast day of the Immaculate Heart of Jesus. Mary has her own special day tomorrow; seemed like the church is ahead of schedule.

It’s safe to say that I’m intrigued by the Liturgy of the Hours and have wanted to participate in it and experience it at some point. Is that was this was?

Thanks!!
Click to expand...
There is a Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=853340
 
tommydude2112 said:
The Liturgy of the Hours is more or less synonymous with the Divine Office, which are a set of prayers specific for each day within the Catholic Church.
‘To pray the offices’ is to pray the prayers of the Divine Office.

The Divine Office is, nowadays, split into 7 different prayer times or hours:
  • The Office of the Readings (sometimes called Matins) - can be prayed at any time of the day
  • Morning Prayer (often called Lauds) - is usually prayed in the morning at around 6am
  • Prayers during the Day:
  • Mid-morning Prayer (often called Terce) - 9am
  • Midday Prayer (often called Sext) - 12 noon
  • Mid-afternoon Prayer (often called None) - 3pm
  • Evening Prayer (often called Vespers) - 6pm
  • Night Prayer (often called Compline) - 9pm
‘Prayers’ generally consist of a hymn, three psalms/canticles and a reading from Scripture. Different times of the day will call for different lengths of readings, added intercessions and prayers, etc.

universalis.com/
divineoffice.org/liturgy-of-the-hours/?date=20140603

P.S. Praying the Office of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is to pray through these 7 ‘hours’ (not actually an hour in length!) which are specific to the Feast/Memoria of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - this will include antiphons specific to the Virgin Mary along with readings, intercessions and prayers towards the Immaculate Heart
Click to expand...
Thank you, that was very informative. Thanks for taking the time to type that all out. I bet we did the “Office of the Readings”👍
 
onegirlinchrist said:
Hmm, that’s interesting. Do you happen to know off hand why it is called “Little”?
Click to expand...
Baronius Press states: “The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a shorter form of the Divine Office in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It has long been the Church’s daily liturgical prayer to Our Lady, and these hours of praise have been used by Priests, religious and the laity throughout the centuries. Lay people used to flock to the great Cathedrals to publicly recite The Little Office during the Middle Ages, and during the great persecution, when the practice of the Catholic Faith was illegal in Great Britain, Bishop Challoner commended The Little Office to his flock.”
 
Vico said:
Baronius Press states: “The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a shorter form of the Divine Office in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It has long been the Church’s daily liturgical prayer to Our Lady, and these hours of praise have been used by Priests, religious and the laity throughout the centuries. Lay people used to flock to the great Cathedrals to publicly recite The Little Office during the Middle Ages, and during the great persecution, when the practice of the Catholic Faith was illegal in Great Britain, Bishop Challoner commended The Little Office to his flock.”
Click to expand...
Fascinating history, thank you!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top