The Liturgy of the Hours

The Liturgy of the HoursThe Liturgy of the Hours

Mr. Pablo CuadraReligion Class

What is the Liturgy of What is the Liturgy of the Hours?the Hours?

The Liturgy of the The Liturgy of the hours is the official hours is the official public prayer of public prayer of the Church.the Church.

What is the Liturgy of the What is the Liturgy of the Hours composed of?Hours composed of?

The Liturgy of the The Liturgy of the Hours is composed Hours is composed of:of:

A. HymnsA. Hymns B. PsalmsB. Psalms C. Scripture C. Scripture

ReadingsReadings D. PrayersD. Prayers E. DoxologiesE. Doxologies F. AntiphonsF. Antiphons G. Spiritual Readings G. Spiritual Readings

What forms of prayer What forms of prayer composed the Liturgy of the composed the Liturgy of the

Hours?Hours? The Liturgy of the The Liturgy of the

Hours is a prayer Hours is a prayer of:of:

A. Thanksgiving to A. Thanksgiving to GodGod

B. Reparation B. Reparation C. AdorationC. Adoration

What grace does the What grace does the Church ask through Liturgy Church ask through Liturgy

of the hour?of the hour? The grace to The grace to

continue Christ’s continue Christ’s work on earth.work on earth.

What Jewish practice did the What Jewish practice did the Apostles continue to observe in Apostles continue to observe in

their prayer?their prayer? The early Christians The early Christians

continue the Jewish continue the Jewish practice of reciting practice of reciting prayers at certain prayers at certain hours of the day or hours of the day or night. night.

Jews prayed at the Jews prayed at the third, sixth and ninth third, sixth and ninth hour of the day. The hour of the day. The Apostle continue this Apostle continue this practice Acts of the practice Acts of the Apostles 10:9Apostles 10:9

The Liturgy of the HoursThe Liturgy of the Hours The Liturgy of the The Liturgy of the

hours is rooted in hours is rooted in Jesus’ example in Jesus’ example in perseverance in perseverance in prayer.prayer.

Jesus commands his Jesus commands his disciples to praydisciples to pray

““You must pray at all You must pray at all times and not lose times and not lose heart”heart”

Luke Luke 18:118:1

The Practice of Prayer in The Practice of Prayer in Early Christianity Early Christianity

By the end of the fifth By the end of the fifth century, the Liturgy of century, the Liturgy of the Hours was composed the Hours was composed of a Vigil or Night Service of a Vigil or Night Service and seven day offices, of and seven day offices, of which Prime and which Prime and Compline seem to be the Compline seem to be the last to appear, since the last to appear, since the fourth-century Apostolic fourth-century Apostolic Constitutions VIII, iv, 34 Constitutions VIII, iv, 34 does not mention them in does not mention them in the exhortation: "Offer up the exhortation: "Offer up your prayers in the your prayers in the morning, at the third morning, at the third hour, the sixth, the ninth, hour, the sixth, the ninth, the evening, and at cock-the evening, and at cock-crowing".crowing".

What are the seven What are the seven canonical hours?canonical hours?

Pre-Vatican IIPre-Vatican II Post Vatican IIPost Vatican II Time of DayTime of Day *Matins or Vigils Office of Readings Any time of day*Matins or Vigils Office of Readings Any time of day Lauds Morning Prayer At dawnLauds Morning Prayer At dawn Prime Prime Abolished Abolished First hour 6:00 a.m. First hour 6:00 a.m. Terce Mid-morning prayer Third hour 9:00 a.m.Terce Mid-morning prayer Third hour 9:00 a.m. Sext Midday Prayer Sixth hour 12: p.m.Sext Midday Prayer Sixth hour 12: p.m. None Mid-afternoon prayer Ninth hour 3 p.m.None Mid-afternoon prayer Ninth hour 3 p.m. Vespers Evening prayer Sunset Vespers Evening prayer Sunset Compline Night Prayer Before bedtimeCompline Night Prayer Before bedtime

Note:Note: The canonical hour of The canonical hour of PrimePrime has been retainedhas been retained in the in the monastic monastic traditiontradition of of

Church. Church. MatinsMatins or or Vigils or NocturneVigils or Nocturne are continue to be recited about are continue to be recited about 2:30 or 3: 00 a.m. in the monastic tradition.2:30 or 3: 00 a.m. in the monastic tradition.

General Instructions for the General Instructions for the Liturgy of the Hours No 22Liturgy of the Hours No 22

““Hence, when the Hence, when the people are invited to people are invited to the liturgy of the the liturgy of the hours and come hours and come together in unity of together in unity of heart and voice, they heart and voice, they show forth the Church show forth the Church in its celebration of in its celebration of the mystery of the mystery of Christ.” Christ.”

Pope Paul IVPope Paul IV ““Christian prayer is Christian prayer is

primarily the prayer primarily the prayer of the entire of the entire community of community of mankind joined to mankind joined to Christ himself. Each Christ himself. Each individual has his part individual has his part in this prayer” .in this prayer” .

Apostolic Apostolic ConstitutionConstitution

“ “Laudis Canticum”Laudis Canticum”

Vatican II Vatican II (1962-1965)(1962-1965)

The Fathers of the Council The Fathers of the Council wanted to emphasize the wanted to emphasize the communal dimensioncommunal dimension of the of the Church’s prayerChurch’s prayer

The prayer of the Church is The prayer of the Church is not just not just confinedconfined to the to the clergy or religious; the clergy or religious; the laity is call to play an laity is call to play an important aspect in the important aspect in the iinvigorationnvigoration of this of this ancient tradition of prayer.ancient tradition of prayer.

The practice of Liturgy of The practice of Liturgy of the hours can be a catalyst the hours can be a catalyst of renewal in the of renewal in the community of faith (parish, community of faith (parish, local church).local church).

The Liturgy of the Hours and the ClergyThe Liturgy of the Hours and the Clergy

According to According to Canon no. Canon no. 11741174

The The clergyclergy: Bishops, : Bishops, priests and deacons are priests and deacons are obliged to celebrate the obliged to celebrate the liturgy of the hours daily.liturgy of the hours daily.

This obligation extends to This obligation extends to a certain degree to those a certain degree to those in the religious life, in the religious life, example: example: nunsnuns and and brothersbrothers..

The Community of Faith The Community of Faith (parish)(parish)

The communal aspect The communal aspect of the Liturgy of the of the Liturgy of the hours has many hours has many advantages for the advantages for the parish.parish.

A. Greater participation A. Greater participation of the Laity in the life of of the Laity in the life of the church.the church.

B. An ongoing spiritual B. An ongoing spiritual renewal invigorated by renewal invigorated by the power of the the power of the Church’s prayerChurch’s prayer

C. An opportunity for C. An opportunity for instruction in the faith instruction in the faith (catechesis)(catechesis)

The new era of The new era of EvangelizationEvangelization

To To learn morelearn more about the Liturgy of about the Liturgy of the hours or to pray the liturgy of the hours or to pray the liturgy of the hours online, please visit the the hours online, please visit the following link: following link:

http://www.universalis.com/http://www.universalis.com/

The EndThe End

Prayer does not change God, but it Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.  ~Søren changes him who prays.  ~Søren

KierkegaardKierkegaard