Morning Prayer, or Lauds, is one of the principal hours of the Liturgy of the Hours. It is prayed at the beginning of the day to give thanks to God, to seek His guidance, and to offer the first fruits of our time and attention. As part of the public prayer of the Church, Morning Prayer unites you to the entire Body of Christ in a continuous offering of praise. The following steps explain how to pray Morning Prayer using a breviary in simple, clear terms.
1. Begin with the opening verse
Turn to the Ordinary section of your breviary. Begin with the words, “O God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.” Then pray the Glory Be to the Father. During most of the year, except in Lent and certain penitential days, you add “Alleluia” after the Glory Be. This opening sets your focus on God and prepares you to enter prayer.
2. Sing or recite the hymn
Next, pray the hymn for the day. The hymn can usually be found in the Psalter section for the current day or in the Proper of Seasons or Proper of Saints if it is a special feast or celebration. If a specific hymn is not given, you may choose a traditional morning hymn that is appropriate for the season. The hymn sets the tone for prayer and helps you raise your heart and mind to God. You may sing the hymn or simply recite it slowly and thoughtfully.
3. Pray the three-part psalmody
Now begin the psalmody, which is made up of three sections: a psalm, a canticle from the Old Testament, and another psalm. Each of these is preceded and followed by an antiphon. The antiphons and psalms for each day are found in the Psalter, which follows a four-week cycle. On solemnities and feast days, you may be directed to use psalms from the Proper of Saints or the Commons. As you pray each psalm or canticle, take your time and let the words speak to your soul. The psalms express every emotion and longing of the human heart and teach us how to speak to God in every circumstance.
4. Read the short scripture passage
After the psalms, read the short Scripture passage appointed for the day. These readings are usually just a few verses long and are chosen to provide encouragement, instruction, or reflection. They are not meant for study but for prayer. Read the passage slowly, then pause for a moment in silence to allow the meaning to settle in your heart.
5. Pray the responsory
Following the reading, pray the short responsory that responds to the Scripture. This usually consists of a short verse or phrase repeated in a simple, poetic form. The responsory highlights a spiritual truth drawn from the reading and prepares your heart for the Gospel canticle that follows. It can be said aloud or quietly, depending on whether you are praying alone or with others.
6. Recite the Canticle of Zechariah
Now recite the Canticle of Zechariah, also known as the Benedictus. This canticle is taken from the Gospel of Luke and is the song of praise spoken by Zechariah when his son, John the Baptist, was born. Begin with the antiphon assigned to the day, then pray the canticle slowly and with devotion. The Canticle of Zechariah proclaims God’s faithfulness, His promise of salvation, and the coming of the Savior. When you have finished, repeat the antiphon at the end.
7. Offer the intercessions
After the canticle, pray the intercessions that are given for the day. These petitions are offered for the needs of the Church, the world, and your community. Each intercession is followed by a simple response such as, “Lord, hear our prayer,” or the phrase printed in the text. You may add your own personal intentions at this time, either silently or aloud.
8. Pray the Our Father
Now pray the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father, just as Jesus taught us. This prayer is a perfect summary of all that we hope for and ask from God. It unites us with the whole Church in the one prayer that belongs to every Christian. Pray it slowly and intentionally, remembering that you are speaking to your Father in heaven.
9. Conclude with the final prayer
After the Our Father, pray the concluding prayer for the day. On ordinary weekdays, this prayer is found in the Psalter section. On feast days and during special seasons, it will be found in the Proper of Saints or Proper of Seasons. This prayer gathers together the themes of Morning Prayer and entrusts your day to God’s guidance and protection.
10. End with the blessing and dismissal
Finally, end Morning Prayer with the blessing. If you are praying alone or with others who are not ordained, you may say, “May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.” If a priest or deacon is present, he will give a formal blessing and dismissal. This sends you forth into the day with God’s peace.
Praying Morning Prayer each day helps you begin with purpose, peace, and praise. It teaches you to bring everything—your thoughts, your work, your hopes and struggles—to God at the start of each new morning. Over time, the rhythm of the prayer will become familiar, and you will come to treasure this daily meeting with the Lord. If you are still learning, consider using a ribbon or marker to hold your place in the Ordinary, Psalter, and Proper sections, and don’t hesitate to start slowly. What matters most is not speed or perfection, but the sincere offering of your heart to God in prayer.
Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
