The Liturgy of the Hours has a rich and diverse history. One of the oldest written instructions about Christian prayer forms, the Didache, directs Christians to pray the Lord's Prayer three times a day. As Christian congregations grew, there developed a practice of gathering daily with the pastor of a community (usually a bishop), for prayer at the beginning and again at the closing of the day. This "Cathedral Office" employed a selective use of the Psalms, as well as prayers of praise and intercession. The Western Monastic movement spread the practice of praying the whole 150 Psalms of the Psalter as a way of sanctification and union with God. This "Monastic Office" was often recited privately, in contrast to the communal celebration of the "Cathedral Office."

The Liturgy of the Hours which we use today is a combination of these various historical influences. Morning Prayer is a service of praise to God, the Creator, for the gift of a new day. In Morning Prayer, the Church consecrates the day, offering to God the work of the day. Traditional themes for Morning Prayer include praise, thanksgiving for the day, renewal, creation, hope and offering/dedication. Evening Prayer is a service of praise which gives thanks to God for the blessings received throughout the day, and asks protection throughout the evening. Traditional themes for Evening Prayer include praise, thanksgiving, trust, forgiveness and seeking God's peace and protection.

The Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of all the Church. While clergy are required by Church Law to recite the Hours every day, pastors are strongly encouraged to promote this prayer form among the faithful in their parish. The Church most clearly expresses her self identity when the faithful, and their pastors, join in communal prayer. As Jesus tells us, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst" (Matthew 18:20). Even if one prays alone, however, one's prayers are joined with the whole Church in her vocation to "pray continually" (I Thess. 5:17).

"The Liturgy of the Hours" is actually the title of the complete set of prayers which begin each day with the Invitatory and include Morning Prayer (Lauds), the Little Hours (Terce, Sext, None), Evening Prayer (Vespers), Night Prayer (Compline), and the Office of Readings.

Detailed instructions for praying the Liturgy of the Hours are found in the Ordinary,which is located in the center of the volume.

There are three different publications that present all or some part of the Liturgy of the Hours: "Shorter Christian Prayer", "Christian Prayer", and "The Liturgy of the Hours" (4 Volumes).

"Shorter Christian Prayer" is the smallest and least expensive of the three. It includes the four week cycle of psalms for Morning and Evening Prayer, and some of the Propers for the more important Saints, Feasts, and Liturgical seasons as well as Night Prayer. The price of this version is about $10.

"Christian Prayer" is the next in size. It contains all of the Propers including the Saints, Feasts, Liturgical Season and Commons for Morning and Evening Prayers and selections from Day Prayer and the Office of Readings. The cost of this version is about $26.

"The Liturgy of the Hours," sometimes called a breviary, is the complete four volume set. Volume I is for the Christmas and Advent Season, Volume II for Lent and Easter, Volume III for the first 17 weeks in Ordinary time, and Volume IV for the last 17 weeks. The four volume set costs $104.

Invitatory

The first Hour recited in a day begins with the Invitatory: "Lord, open my lips, And my mouth will proclaim your praise."

Prayer begins with the singing of a Hymn. The Office of Readings (or Morning Prayer, if the Office of Readings is omitted), begins with an Antiphon and a Psalm of Praise, usually Psalm 95. This Antiphon, and all subsequent ones, are specific to the season. This, and all Psalms and Canticles (with the exception of Canticle of Daniel 3:57-88,56 which is said as part of Sunday Morning Prayer Week I and III), end with the Doxology: "Glory be 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."

Office of Readings

The Office of Readings may be said in conjunction with any of the Hours or by itself anytime during the day. If the Office of Readings is done first in the day it must be preceded by the Invitatory. Otherwise it begins with "God come to my assistance, Lord make haste to help me" and then a Doxology. The format of recitation of the Office is described in the Ordinary found in the center of the book.

According to the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer are the two "hinges" of the day. These two primary Hours are recited daily, even if the other Hours are not prayed.

Morning Prayer

If the Invitatory has been done as part of the Office of Readings, begin Morning Prayer by saying: "God come to my assistance, Lord make haste to help me." and then the Doxology. Please note: this formula is used to begin all subsequent Hours.

Following an opening Hymn, the recitation of the Psalter begins. A seasonal Antiphon is said at the beginning of the Psalm, and again at the end of the Psalm, following the Doxology and Psalm Prayer.

The format of recitation for Morning Prayer is:

Opening Hymn

Antiphon 1
Psalm A
Doxology
Psalm Prayer
Antiphon 1 (Repeated)

Antiphon 2
Canticle (always from the Old Testament for Morning Prayer)
Doxology
Antiphon 2 (Repeated)

Antiphon 3
Psalm B
Doxology
Psalm Prayer
Antiphon 3 (Repeated)

Reading
Responsory

Antiphon
Gospel Canticle (Luke 1:68-79)
Doxology
Antiphon (Repeated)

Intercessions

Our Father (w/o doxology)

Closing Prayer

Dismissal - Individual Recitation: "May the Lord Bless, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life."

The order for reciting Evening Prayer differs only in a few details:

Opening Hymn

Antiphon 1
Psalm A
Doxology
Psalm Prayer
Antiphon 1 (Repeated)

Antiphon 2
Psalm B
Doxology
Psalm Prayer
Antiphon 2 (Repeated)

Antiphon 3
Canticle (Always taken from the New Testament for Evening Prayer)
Doxology
Antiphon 3 (Repeated)

Reading
Responsory

Antiphon
Gospel Canticle (Luke 1:46-55)
Doxology
Antiphon (Repeated)

Intercessions

Our Father (w/o doxology)

Closing Prayer

Dismissal - Individual Recitation: "May the Lord Bless, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.