The Liturgy of the Hours (also called the Divine Office or Breviary) is the official daily prayer of the Catholic Church. It sanctifies different parts of the day with prayer, primarily consisting of psalms, scripture readings, hymns, and prayers. Clergy, religious, and many laypeople pray it daily as a way to unite themselves with the universal Church and offer praise to God.

What Does the Liturgy of the Hours Contain?

The Liturgy of the Hours is divided into canonical hours, each designed for different times of the day. The major hours include:

Office of Readings (Matins) – Can be prayed at any time; includes extended scripture readings and writings from saints or Church Fathers.

Morning Prayer (Lauds) – Prayed at dawn to give thanks and offer the day to God.

Daytime Prayer (Terce, Sext, None) – Prayed at mid-morning (Terce), midday (Sext), or mid-afternoon (None), focusing on dependence on God throughout the workday.

Evening Prayer (Vespers) – Prayed at sunset, giving thanks for the day and reflecting on God’s mercy.

Night Prayer (Compline) – Prayed before bed, asking for God’s protection during the night.

Each hour consists of:

Opening verse (e.g., "O God, come to my assistance…")

Hymn (specific to the time of day or feast)

Psalms and Canticles (from the Book of Psalms and other scriptures)

Scripture Reading (a short passage from the Bible)

Responsory (a short prayer response)

Gospel Canticles (Benedictus for Morning, Magnificat for Evening, Nunc Dimittis for Night)

Intercessions (prayers for the Church and the world)

Concluding prayer and blessing. How to Use the Liturgy of the Hours?

Choose the Right Version

The full version is in the 4-volume Breviary.

A shorter version is Christian Prayer (1-volume).

Apps like iBreviary, Universalis, or Divine Office provide digital versions.

Follow the Liturgical Calendar

The prayers change based on the liturgical season (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time).

Feast days and solemnities have their own special prayers.

Pray at the Appointed Times

Laypeople can pray as much as they can. Morning and Evening Prayer are the most encouraged.

It can be prayed alone or in a group.

Use It as an Offering to God

The Liturgy of the Hours is not just personal devotion but an extension of the Church’s prayer.

Ribbon Placement: Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II: Ordinary: 1054 Complementary Psalmody: 1655 (Midafternoon) Proper of Seasons: 64 (antiphon, reading, concluding prayer)

Midafternoon Prayer for Thursday after Ash Wednesday, using Complimentary Psalmody

God, come to my assistance. — Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

(please note that this is not the original musical score, it is only meant to help along with the spirit and form of the song.) HYMN

O God, creation’s secret force, Thyself unmoved, all motion’s source, Who from the morn till evening's ray Through all its changes guid’st the day:

Grant us, when this short life is past, The glorious evening that shall last; That, by a holy death attained, Eternal glory may be gained.

O Father, that we ask be done, Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son; With the Holy Spirit and Thee, Shall live and reign eternally.𝄞"

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Armed with God’s justice and power, let us prove ourselves through patient endurance.

Psalm 126 Joyful hope in God Companions with him in suffering, you will share his over-flowing happiness (2 Corinthians 1:7)

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs.

The heathens themselves said: “What marvels the Lord worked for them!” What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land. Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

They go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing: they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm 127 Apart from God our labors are worthless You are God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:9)

If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor; if the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.

In vain is your earlier rising, your going later to rest, you who toil for the bread you eat, when he pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber.

Truly sons are a gift from the Lord, a blessing, the fruit of the womb. Indeed the sons of youth are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.

O the happiness of the man who has filled his quiver with these arrows! He will have no cause for shame when he disputes with his foes in the gateways.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm 128 Happiness of family life rooted in God “May the Lord bless you from Zion,” that is, from the Church (Arnobius)

O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!

By the labor of your hands you shall eat. You will be happy and prosper; the wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house; Your children like shoots of the olive, around your table.

Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life! May you see your children’s children in a happy Jerusalem!

On Israel, peace!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: — as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Armed with God’s justice and power, let us prove ourselves through patient endurance.

READING Hebrews 10:35-36

Do not surrender your confidence; it will have great reward. You need patience to do God’s will and receive what he has promised.

Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) A moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.

My sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit. — A humble, contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray, O Lord, and further them with your constant help, that all we do may always begin from you and by you be brought to completion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. — Amen.

ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community)