Ahead of a new translation of the Liturgy of the Hours, Father Matthew S Ernest, director of the Office of Liturgy for the Archdiocese of New York, and other liturgical experts are encouraging parishes and other Catholic communities to embrace this public prayer of the whole church.
The Liturgy of the Hours, or the Divine Office, is the daily prayer of the church and sanctifies the day with prayer.
The standard Liturgy of the Hours in the Latin Church is divided into five “hours” or parts prayed at different times each day: the office of readings; morning prayer or lauds; daytime prayer; evening prayer or vespers; and night prayer or compline.
These parts, which draw from Scripture, particularly the Psalms, usually take less than 20 minutes to pray.
Father Ernest suggested parishes introduce evening prayer during special occasions, such as a church’s patronal feast day.
Christopher Ferraro, director of music and liturgy at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Bay Shore, New York, encouraged parishes to incorporate the Liturgy of the Hours into their regular schedules, like praying it before or after parish meetings.
Carolyn Pirtle, program director of the Notre Dame Centre for Liturgy in the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, said the Liturgy of the Hours is “a way to keep the graces of the Mass overflowing throughout the hours of the day” and recommended that Catholic communities find a rhythm that works for them.
