The Invitatory Psalm is the traditional entrance into the Church’s daily liturgical prayer. It is prayed at the very beginning of the first Hour you recite each day—whether that is the Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, or, in some cases, Midmorning Prayer. Its purpose is to “invite” the soul to prayer and to awaken the heart to praise. In both monastic and lay practice, the Invitatory sets the tone for the day, proclaiming the greatness of God and calling the soul to listen to His voice. The most commonly used Invitatory Psalm is Psalm 95, though Psalms 100, 67, or 24 may also be used as alternatives.
1. Begin with the opening verse
When you begin your first Hour of the day, start with the standard opening verse:
“Lord, open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim your praise.”
As you say these words, you may make the sign of the cross over your lips as a symbolic way of consecrating your voice to the praise of God. These words come from Psalm 51 and serve as a humble petition to begin the day not with your own words, but with the praise God inspires.
2. Recite the Invitatory antiphon
Next, you say the antiphon for the Invitatory Psalm. This short verse sets the spiritual theme of the day and is often drawn from Scripture or the liturgical season. For example, in Ordinary Time you might say,
“Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come,” during Advent,
or
“The Lord is risen, alleluia,” during Easter.
This antiphon is recited before the psalm begins, repeated after each stanza (optional when praying privately), and then said once again at the end. In private prayer, it is sufficient to say it once at the beginning and once at the end.
3. Pray the Invitatory Psalm
Then you pray Psalm 95, or another of the traditional Invitatory Psalms such as 100, 67, or 24. Psalm 95 is the most commonly used and is beloved for its rhythm and depth. It calls the faithful to worship and listen:
“Come, let us sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.”
It praises God as Creator and Shepherd, but also warns the heart to remain faithful:
“Oh, that today you would hear his voice: harden not your hearts.”
This psalm can be recited slowly and prayerfully, either by yourself or responsively in a group. You may repeat the antiphon after each stanza, especially when praying with others, but in private it is usually said just at the beginning and end. The psalm typically ends with a Glory Be:
“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…”
4. Repeat the antiphon
After finishing the psalm and the Glory Be, conclude by repeating the antiphon one final time. This return to the antiphon reinforces the spiritual theme and brings the Invitatory to a fitting close. At this point, you move directly into the Hour you are praying—Office of Readings or Morning Prayer—continuing the psalms and prayers of that Hour.
5. Use the proper psalm and antiphon for the day
The Invitatory antiphon often changes based on the liturgical season, feast, or solemnity. During Lent, for instance, the antiphon may emphasize repentance. During Easter, it will focus on the Resurrection. On solemnities, a unique antiphon may be provided in the Proper of Seasons or the Proper of Saints. If no specific antiphon is given, one of the general ones may always be used. The proper psalm is almost always Psalm 95, unless the breviary suggests or allows an alternative.
6. Mark your breviary ahead of time
To pray the Invitatory smoothly, mark your breviary in advance. You will need a ribbon or bookmark in the Ordinary for the opening verse, one in the Proper of Seasons or Saints for the day’s antiphon (if specific), and one in the section of Psalms for Psalm 95 or the other Invitatory psalms. In the Christian Prayer book, Psalm 95 is printed in full at the start of the Psalter.
The Invitatory Psalm is more than a preface to prayer—it is itself an act of praise. It prepares your soul for the day’s work of prayer and opens your heart to God’s Word. When prayed with attention and reverence, the Invitatory sets the tone not only for the Hour that follows, but for the entire day, calling you again and again to hear His voice and worship with joy.
Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.
Headmaster
Classical Liberal Arts Academy