Morning prayer catholic divine office today11/12/2023 ![]() ![]() The more you pray the Hours, the more the Bible saturates your mind and heart. “Its readings are drawn from sacred Scripture, God’s words in the Psalms are sung in his presence, and the intercessions, prayers, and hymns are inspired by Scripture and steeped in its spirit” ( General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours 14). Paul VI affirmed this in Marialis Cultus, calling it “the high point which family prayer can reach” (Paul VI, Marialis Cultus 54).įourth, the Liturgy of the Hours is thoroughly biblical. It’s also the supreme way to pray as a family. Why? Because the Liturgy of the Hours is not just the private prayer of some Christians, but the unified, sacred prayer of the whole Church, uniting all the faithful, from all vocations, in all countries, into one single prayer to the Father, echoing the very Word of God back to its source. Third, the Liturgy of the Hours is the highest form of prayer after the Mass. We join not only people from every tribe and tongue, every people and nation, but the entire communion of saints in heaven. Personal prayer is good and necessary, but when the Church offers praise to God through the Liturgy of the Hours, “it unites itself with that hymn of praise sung throughout all ages in the halls of heaven” ( General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours 16). Second, the Liturgy of the Hours allows you to pray with the Church. Few practices will draw you closer to Jesus. If you want to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ, and you already frequent the sacraments, your next step should be to begin praying the Liturgy of the Hours. As Vatican II taught, “It is the very prayer which Christ Himself, together with His body, addresses to the Father” ( Sacrosanctum Concilium 84). The Liturgy of the Hours joins us with Christ in singing an eternal hymn of praise to the Father. Paul VI especially emphasized the call for families to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, saying, “No avenue should be left unexplored to ensure that this clear and practical recommendation finds within Christian families growing and joyful acceptance.” Recent popes have repeated this invitation. The Second Vatican Council taught that “the laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually.” Permanent deacons are obliged to pray Morning and Evening Prayer.Īmong the laity, the Liturgy of the Hours has been less popular, but that is starting to change. The Liturgy of the Hours is well-known among clergy and religious, who are required to pray the five major Hours every day. In fact, the two main hours, Morning and Evening Prayer, take around fifteen minutes each, while Night Prayer takes only five to ten minutes. None of the liturgical hours takes anywhere close to sixty minutes. It doesn’t refer to the time it takes to complete each prayer, but to the hours of the day. The Word on Fire Liturgy of the Hours book contains the core Hours of Morning, Evening, and Night prayer.
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