The beginning of the hour or Introduction to Daily OfficeĪntiphon 1, Psalm, Glory Be, repeat Antiphon (Psalm Prayer optional)Īntiphon 2, Canticle, Glory Be, repeat Antiphon (Psalm Prayer optional)Īntiphon 3, Psalm, Glory Be, repeat Antiphon (Psalm Prayer optional) For Morning Prayer the basic structure is as follows: The structure for each prayer is similar. Prayer During the Day – Before Noon (Terce) So what exactly does the the Liturgy of Hours consist of? (Note: Latin words in parentheses are the traditional name for that particular hour.) You can also find the Liturgy of the Hours online, for example, at eBreviary which offers Liturgy of the Hours prayers in Adobe Acrobat formats for prayer groups or for personal use. There are also different companion books that you can use with the two above books such as the Carmelites’ People’s Companion to the Breviary (two volume set). Many people use Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours which can be considered a short version (1 volume) of the 4 volume set.
The complete Liturgy of the Hours (with prayers, readings, instructions, hymns, feast days, etc.) is found in a 4 volume set. Parishes, families and individuals are also encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Some religious communities are required to pray the Liturgy of the Hours as part of their constitutions or rule of life however all religious are highly encouraged to make this prayer part of their daily life. Ordained ministers are required to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. (To read the General Instruction, click here.)īecause the Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the Church, all members of the Church are encouraged to pray it either in common with others or by themselves.
Indeed, it is the prayer of the Church with Christ and to Christ. This liturgy of the hours or divine office, enriched by readings, is principally a prayer of praise and petition. Such prayer in common gradually took the form of a set cycle of hours. The prince of the apostles “went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour” (10:9) “Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour” (3:1) “about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (16:25).Ģ. There we read of the disciples gathered together at the third hour. These were seen by the Fathers as foreshadowed in the Acts of the Apostles. In the course of time other hours came to be sanctified by prayer in common. Then, in different places, it soon became the established practice to assign special times for common prayer, for example, the last hour of the day when evening draws on and the lamp is lighted, or the first hour when night draws to a close with the rising of the sun.
The witness of the early Church teaches us that individual Christians devoted themselves to prayer at fixed times. The Acts of the Apostles give frequent testimony to the fact that the Christian community prayed with one accord. From the very beginning those who were baptized “devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the community, to the breaking of the bread, and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Public and common prayer by the people of God is rightly considered to be among the primary duties of the Church. The General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours explains the origin of the Liturgy of the Hours and its importance:ġ. Plus, there is a wonderful rhythm of repetition (the Liturgy of the Hours is based on a four-week cycle) which helps one to deepen one’s encounter with God and God’s Word. What is cool about the Liturgy of the Hours (as with the Eucharist) is that the whole Church is praying the same basic form, so it has this deeply universal character to it. The chanting of psalms makes up a major portion of each of hours of prayer. The Liturgy of the Hours is made up of specific prayers said at various times (“hours”) during the day and night. The Liturgy of the Hours, which is also called The Divine Office or the Breviary, is the public prayer of the Church to praise God and sanctify the day. Where can you find these prayers? Is there a tradition about who prays them and when? I see references to these prayers, and am not sure what they are. I was wondering if you could explain Liturgy of the Hours, Matins, praying the Office? (I hope I have these names right). I had a question from Jackie that I thought I’d respond to in a post:
0 kommentar(er)
