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The Lord leads all persons by paths and in ways
pleasing to him, and each believer responds according to his heart's resolve
and the personal expressions of his prayer. |
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(Catechism of the Catholic Church #2699) |
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We decided to learn to pray the Liturgy of
the Hours during Lent. It has taken us awhile to figure it out! Thanks to a
little persistence and lots of help from friends, it is now obvious
and straightforward. It is also a lovely, faith-building prayer from
which we are learning so much.
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The Liturgy of the Hours |
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Background |
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From the time of the Exodus faithful Jews offered morning and
evening prayers and sacrifice. Gradually regular daytime prayers
developed, and this practice was carried on by early Christians.
Monastic and religious groups continued this practice throughout the
Middle Ages, and lovely illuminated manuscripts assisted the
faithful in their spiritual devotion. The structure of the Liturgy
of the Hours was established in the 11th century, and the modern
version, which was last revised in 1985, is consistent with this
ancient format. |
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The Hours |
| For much of its history the Liturgy
of the Hours was prayed over eight times throughout the day and night by
ordained and religious orders. The reforms of Vatican II consolidated the
prayers into five groups, making it convenient for the laity to join in this
devotion. Morning and Evening Hours are the most important parts of each
days' hours; it is acceptable to limit the devotion to just these two daily
prayer times. |
| Traditional Hours |
Modern Hours |
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Matins (after midnight) |
Office of Readings* |
| Lauds (praise upon rising) |
Morning Prayer |
| Prime (1st hour - 6:00 am) |
Daytime Prayer (any convenient time) |
| Terce (3rd hour - 9:00 am) |
| Sext (6th hour - noon) |
| None (9th hour - 3:00 pm) |
| Vespers (evening) |
Evening Prayer |
| Compline (completion of day's services) |
Night Prayer |
| *Currently the Office of
Readings can be prayed at any time of day. It consists of a Biblical reading
and an historical reading, either a reflection from saints or from early
Church fathers. |
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Sources for the
Liturgy of the Hours |
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Basic Instruction |
We found the easiest way to learn
this devotion is to use the St. Joseph Guide for Christian Prayer (above).
Just find the correct month at the top of each page. The numbers on the page
represent each date of the month. Abbreviations are as follows:
- MP - Morning Prayer
- DP - Daytime Prayer
- EP - Evening Prayer
- NP - Night Prayer
- OOR - Office of Readings
After each set of abbreviated letters are the page numbers in the book
Christian Prayer for the particular prayers for that hour of that day.
The numbers without parentheses are the specific psalms and readings for the
day. The pages within parentheses are the prayers which may be used for
special feasts and memorials. We usually read the special prayers so we can
become more familiar with the special people who have helped shaped our
Christian history. |
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Morning Prayer |
Invitatory - the invitation
to prayer for the first prayer of the day. The information below is
presented for private prayer. The prayer is slightly different for group
prayer - see notes in parentheses for each section.
- Begin with the sign of the Cross and by praying: "Lord, open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim
your praise."
- Pray the morning antiphon (see Christian prayer,
above)
- Psalm 95 (for groups, repeat morning antiphon between each stanza of
the psalm)
- Doxology: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
- Repeat morning antiphon
- (Hymn may be sung by group)
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Psalmody - follows the hymn
and consists of a morning psalm, an Old Testament canticle, a psalm of
praise, and interspersed by appropriate antiphons. Just follow along in the
book Christian Prayer, and it should make sense!
- Antiphon 1/Morning Psalm/Doxology/Psalm-Prayer/Repeat Antiphon 1
- Antiphon 2/Old Testament Canticle/Doxology/Psalm-Prayer/Repeat
Antiphon 2
- Antiphon 3/Psalm of Praise/Doxology/Psalm-Prayer/Repeat Antiphon 3
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Scripture Reading - includes
reading and responsorial psalm. For special memorials or saint's days use
the page numbers in parentheses.
- Reading
- Responsorial
- Doxology: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
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Gospel Canticle
- Antiphon
- Canticle of Zechariah
- Doxology: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
- Repeat Antiphon
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| Intercessions |
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| The Lord's Prayer (Our
Father) |
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| Concluding Prayer |
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| Dismissal - "May the Lord
bless, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life,"
followed by the Sign of the Cross. |
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Evening Prayer |
Opening Prayers (see Christian prayer,
above)
- Begin with the sign of the Cross and by praying: "God, come to
my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me."
- Doxology: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
- (Hymn may be sung by group)
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Psalmody - follows the hymn
and consists two psalms and a New Testament canticle, interspersed by appropriate antiphons.
Just follow along in the book Christian Prayer, and it should make
sense!
- Antiphon 1/Psalm/Doxology/Repeat Antiphon 1
- Antiphon 2/Psalm/Doxology/Psalm-Prayer/Repeat Antiphon 2
- Antiphon 3/New Testament Canticle/Doxology/Repeat Antiphon 3
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Scripture Reading - includes
reading and responsorial psalm. For special memorials or saint's days use
the page numbers in parentheses.
- Reading
- Responsorial
- Doxology: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
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Gospel Canticle
- Antiphon
- Canticle of Mary
- Doxology: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
- Repeat Antiphon
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| Intercessions |
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| The Lord's Prayer (Our
Father) |
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| Concluding Prayer |
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| Dismissal - "May the Lord
bless, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life,"
followed by the Sign of the Cross. |
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Under Construction - please check back next week!
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