Prayer of the Church:The Laity Too!

 Photo by Holy Cross Office of Vocations

The Liturgy of the Hours (LOTH), also known as the Divine Office or Breviary, is the "official prayer of the Church" (EWTN). The LOTH contains a collection of prayers, psalms and readings used for allotted times of the day. As official representatives of the Church, clergy and religious are required to pray the Divine Office throughout each day. Lay people, though not required, are encouraged to pray the "prayer of the Church." In fact many parishioners who attend daily mass will join their parish priests in praying the morning prayers. You can join in the prayers anywhere you pray.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1174-1178) explains:

The Liturgy of the Hours is intended to become the prayer of the whole People of God. In it Christ himself "continues his priestly work through his Church." His members participate according to their own place in the Church and the circumstances of their lives: priests devoted to the pastoral ministry, because they are called to remain diligent in prayer and the service of the word; religious, by the charism of their consecrated lives; all the faithful as much as possible: "Pastors of souls should see to it that the principal hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated in common in church on Sundays and on the more solemn feasts. The laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually." (1175)

According to the Apostolic Constitution - Canticum Laudis:

“The purpose of the Divine Office is to sanctify the day and all human activity. The Office is... the prayer not only of the clergy but of the whole People of God.” 

It would be easy to get overwhelmed with the details of the LOTH. Which section do I pray? When do I pray? Which book do I use? I recommend putting all that aside and that you just begin to pray the LOTH in the format that is comfortable for you. Some days I only read the Morning Prayers also referred to as Lauds. Other days I may only read the Evening Prayers called the Compline.

Below I list a number of good online resources to help you begin praying the LOTH. If you scroll all the way to the bottom, I have included a brief YouTube video as well. I would recommend reading the post on Catholic Tide first because it contains a good overview on diving into the Divine Office. They recommend downloading the free PDF booklet entitled Discovering Prayer.

RESOURCES

Print Copies:

• Aquinas and More

Online Tools:

• Divine Office
• eBreviary
• Universalis

Mobile Apps:

• iBreviary
• Divine Office
• Universalis