Liturgy of the Hours

Austria - Heiligenkreuz Abbey - 1585

Liturgy of the Hours (also known as the Divine Office or the Work of God) is the official set of prayers "marking the hours of each day and sanctifying the day with prayer". It is a major component of the Christian liturgical tradition within the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and other Christian denominations. It consists of a series of prayers, psalms, hymns, scripture readings, and writings of the Church Fathers to be recited at fixed prayer times.

History

The origins of the Liturgy of the Hours can be traced back to Jewish prayer traditions. Early Christians continued this practice, and by the 4th century, the structure of the office began to take shape within monastic communities. Saint Benedict of Nursia played a significant role in the formalization of the Liturgy of the Hours in the West, with his Rule of Saint Benedict prescribing a detailed schedule of prayer for his monks.

Structure

The Liturgy of the Hours is divided into several canonical hours:

• Matins or the Office of Readings (a night time prayer, often recited before dawn)
• Lauds or Morning Prayer (at dawn)
• Prime (first hour of daylight, traditionally at 6 AM but now often omitted)
• Terce (mid-morning, around 9 AM)
• Sext (midday, around 12 PM)
• None (mid-afternoon, around 3 PM)
• Vespers (evening prayer, around sunset)
• Compline (night prayer, before retiring)

Each hour consists of a specific set of components, including psalms, antiphons, a short reading, responsories, a hymn, a Gospel canticle, intercessions, the Lord's Prayer, and concluding prayers.

Observance

The observance of the Liturgy of the Hours is considered both a duty and a privilege for clergy in the Roman Catholic Church, and it is also strongly encouraged among the laity. In monastic communities, the complete cycle of hours is observed, while diocesan clergy, other religious, and laypeople may recite a smaller number of hours.

Significance

The Liturgy of the Hours extends the worship of Jesus Christ beyond the Eucharist and Mass, integrating prayer into daily life. It sanctifies the day and night and ensures that the praise of God is unceasing. Through its prayers, the Church unites itself with Christ's own prayers to the Father.

Variations

While the basic structure of the Liturgy of the Hours is consistent, there are variations in texts and rituals among different Christian traditions. The Roman Breviary is the version used by the Roman Catholic Church, while the Liturgy of the Hours in the Anglican Communion and the Divine Office in the Eastern Orthodox Church have their own distinct elements and emphases.

See also

• Christian prayer
• Canonical hours
• Breviary
• Monasticism