There are many options, so I will simply highlight two of the most popular: “ ” and “ iBreviary.” In any case, if a person wants to get started praying the Divine Office, the easiest way in today’s world is to pray “digitally.” The time of day is less an issue for those in the world than it is for men and women of the cloister. For example, if a parish priest is in meetings all afternoon and evening, he will pray Evening Prayer and Night Prayer immediately following each other before retiring for bed. Currently it consists of a 4-Week Psalter where all the Psalms are prayed throughout a period of four weeks (if all of the “hours” of prayer are observed).Ĭontemplative monasteries keep to this rhythm of prayer, while priests and other active religious tend to “clump” the hours together. The Church spread out the 150 Psalms over the course of these hours and eventually created a cycle of prayer. Compline or “Night Prayer” (before going to bed, typically at 8 p.m.Vespers or “Evening Prayer” (around 6 p.m.).None or “Mid-Afternoon Prayer” (Ninth Hour, around 3 p.m.).Sext or “Midday Prayer” (Sixth Hour, around noon).Terce or “Mid-Morning Prayer” (Third Hour, around 9 a.m.).Prime or “Early Morning Prayer” (First Hour, around 6 a.m.).Lauds or “Morning Prayer” (at Dawn, or 3 a.m.).Matins (during the night, often at midnight) also called Vigils or Nocturns (Night Office).Eight is the biblical number of the “new creation” as Jesus rose from the dead on the eighth day, the day after the Jewish sabbath (which is Saturday).
Benedict of Nursia (who lived in the 6th Century) built upon these seven hours and added an eighth hour, which occurs in the middle of the night. Offer up your prayers in the morning, at the third hour, the sixth, the ninth, the evening, and at cock-crowing: in the morning, returning thanks that the Lord has sent you light, that He has brought you past the night, and brought on the day at the third hour, because at that hour the Lord received the sentence of condemnation from Pilate at the sixth, because at that hour He was crucified at the ninth, because all things were in commotion at the crucifixion of the Lord, as trembling at the bold attempt of the impious Jews, and not bearing the injury offered to their Lord in the evening, giving thanks that He has given you the night to rest from the daily labours at cock-crowing, because that hour brings the good news of the coming on of the day for the operations proper for the light. One of the earliest documents to have recorded these different hours to pray was the “ Apostolic Constitutions” written in the 4th Century (even though it only records six hours and omits the final “Night Prayer” known as Compline, seven hours becomes standard until the 6th Century). Seven is the biblical number for perfection and Christians saw this as the perfect number of times to pray.
In particular, they found this passage,įor thy righteous ordinances.” (Psalm 119:164)
Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to “ Pray without ceasing.” Christians then went back to the Old Testament for guidance. Over time, however, three times a day did not seem enough, especially after St. With the advent of Christianity, Jesus’ apostles at first continued to observe the traditions of the Jews and continued to pray at the appointed times. The practice was adapted from an ancient Jewish custom and had many developments over the centuries. The Jewish people had a tradition of praying three times a day: morning, afternoon and evening. It consists of praying the 150 Psalms of the Old Testament. Still, there are a few “tricks-of-the-trade” that are worth noting before you embark on praying the “public prayer of the Church.” Before we begin let’s “briefly” review what the Divine Office consists of and examine its ancient history.įirst of all, the “Divine Office” or “Liturgy of the Hours” is a liturgical prayer of the Church that priests and religious are bound to pray lay people are encouraged to participate as well. The thought of engaging in such a complex prayer as the Liturgy of the Hours can be daunting, but thankfully many individuals have made it as easy as clicking a button. Technology has simplified many activities and one of those is praying the Divine Office.
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