LITURGY OF THE HOURS….…. A GUIDE TO

PRAYING THE DIVINE OFFICE

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT STYLES OF PRAYING.

THE ONE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY IS COMFORTABLE WITH IS THE BEST ONE FOR YOU.

DIALOGUE WITH OUR GOD IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL.

MORNING AND EVENINGPRAYER

USUAL FORMAT&

some extras:

MORNING PRAYERINVITATORY AND PSALM 95 (ALL STAND)(ANTIPHON MAY BE SAID AT THE BEGINNING AND AFTER EACH GROUPING OF VERSES OR JUST AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END FOLLOWING THE GLORIA PATRI- “Glory to the Father…”when done by individuals.)HYMNPSALMODY (ANTIPHON-PSALM VERSES-GLORIA PATRI-PSALM PRAYER-ANTIPHON) The leader gives the antiphon. The group does not repeat it until the end.CANTICLE (ANTIPHON-CANTICLE VERSES-GLORIA PATRI-ANTIPHON)PSALMODY (ANT.-PSALM VERSES-GLORIA -ANT.)

MORNING PRAYER CONTINUED:• SCRIPTURE READING• (A SILENT REFLECTION OR HOMILY MAY BE GIVEN BEFORE THE

RESPONSORY)

• RESPONSORY • STAND FOR GOSPEL CANTICLE “ZECHARIAH’S

CANTICLE” (ANTIPHON-THEN ALL VERSES ARE PRAYED TOGETHER BUT SOME DO IT ANTIPHONALLY-

GLORIA PATRI - ANTIPHON)• INTERCESSIONS (OR LITANY OF PRAISE)-NOTE:

PRAYER RESPONSE MAY BE SAID BYALL AFTER EACH INTERCESSION IS FULLY PRAYED BY THE PRESIDER OR JUST AT THE BEGINNING. THE LEADER MAY PRAY ONE PART AND ALL MAY RESPOND WITH THE CONCLUSION OF EACH INTERCESSION.

EXAMPLE:• Leader-Honor and glory to God for ever and ever. May

he make us rich in hope and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray:

• People-Lord, come to our aid and save us.• Leader-Almighty Father, you know that we are weak,

even when we pray,• -give us your Spirit on our behalf.• People-Lord, come to our aid and save us.• Leader- Send forth your Spirit,light of radiant joy,• -to take possession of our hearts.• People-Lord, come to our aid and save us. (OR)...

EXAMPLE OF 2ND METHOD:

• Leader-Honor and glory to God for ever and ever. May he make us rich in hope and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray:

• People-Lord, come to our aid and save us.• Leader-Almighty Father,you know that we are weak,

even when we pray,• People-give us your Spirit to pray on our behalf.• Leader-Send forth your Spirit, light of radiant joy,• People-to take possession of our hearts.

Following the intercessions:The Lord’s Prayer Concluding Prayer

Dismissal by deacon or priest:The Lord be with you.

May Almighty God Bless you, The Father, and the Son,and the Holy Spirit.(Other forms may be used.)Go in peace.In absence of a deacon or priest or in individual recitation, one uses: May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.

ONE MAKES THE SIGN OF THE CROSSWHILE SAYING:

“GOD COME TO MY ASISTANCE”“LORD MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME”

All stand while the hymn is sung.

Antiphons are recited along with the psalm verses just as in morning prayer.

Everything else would follow as in morning prayer: Psalm prayers-Canticle-Responsory-Gospel Canticle-

Intercessions-The Lord’s Prayer-Closing Prayer-Dismissal

Please note: If The Liturgy of the Hours is being

done by an individual, it is not necessary to stand during the

appropriate times as for communal prayer.

A FOUR VOLUME SET OFLITURGY OF THE HOURS

PRAYER BOOKS OR

A ONE VOLUME BOOK OF CHRISTIAN PRAYER

MAY BE PURCHASED AT THE DIOCESAN BOOK STORE