Many Catholics are not aware that the Catholic Church has arranged a system of prayers, readings, and songs for all Catholics to recite throughout the day, every day of the year. The Liturgy of the Hours is the official daily prayer of the Catholic Church and is intended for all Catholics.
In the past, laymen made use of simple devotions while the priests, monks, and nuns of the Church prayed the “Divine Office”. In the old Divine Office, the Psalms were recited every week, following a strict schedule of prayer times, which was very demanding. After the Second Vatican Council, the Divine Office was revised so that the Psalms were recited every month, and the hours of daily prayer were made more flexible so that all Catholics could participate in this one common prayer together.
In modern society, our lives can feel chaotic. The Liturgy of the Hours provides us with a meaningful order to our day, focused not on our daily work, or our meal schedule, but on prayer. It’s peaceful just thinking about that, isn’t it?
The Liturgy of the Hours leads us to focus on two key hours of prayer: Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. These hours should be our priority. To recite Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer provides each day with a beginning and end, dividing the day into several parts. During these hours, the Church has arranged readings, Psalms, and prayers that are appropriate for the morning and evening hours, bringing our souls into harmony with the natural world, from which we can easily be disconnected in modern society.
At bedtime, the Church provides us with a Night Prayer that brings a peaceful end to our day. Consider the comfort found in reciting this canticle each night before bed:
“Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.”
followed by the closing prayer,
“May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death.”
In addition to these hours of prayer, another, the Office of Readings, provides a set of Psalms to recite with two daily readings: one from Sacred Scripture and one from the Church fathers! What is great about these readings is that they not only come from the most trustworthy sources, but they relate to the Church calendar, bringing us into closer unity with the Church throughout the world as we read and pray together.
If you are a Catholic looking for meaningful order in your daily routine, the Liturgy of the Hours can provide that order. It can serve as a source of Catholic culture for all areas of your life. Best of all, it’s already organized for you, ready for you to begin at any time.
While the Liturgy of the Hours is normally prayed from a prayer book called a “breviary” (which takes some getting used to), I recommend that you get started by using an app on your phone or website. If you go to divineoffice.org, you can simply select the current hour of prayer (see below) and recite the text provided. It’s very, very simple.
If there’s one thing you can do to order your life meaningfully-right where you are, right now–it would be this: to begin reciting the Liturgy of the Hours. Get started today.
If you have any questions about the Liturgy of the Hours, I am happy to help you. Please send along any questions you have and I’ll help you get started.
Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.
Headmaster
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
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