Morning Prayer

The hundreds of priests who served the Temple in Jerusalem prayed at specific times throughout the day.  They prayed first thing in the morning, mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon, evening, and night.  These formal prayers pleaded with God to save His people.  From ancient times the Church has also had the custom of praying throughout the day. In this way the Church fulfills the Lord’s precept to pray without ceasing, at once offering praise to God the Father and interceding for the salvation of the world.

         

We refer to these prayers as the “Liturgy of the Hours,” but many know them as the “Divine Office.”  This is the daily prayer of the Church, marking the hours of each day and making them holy through our prayer. 

The Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the whole People of God. In it, Christ Himself “continues His priestly work through His Church.” The clergy and religious vow to pray these prayers throughout the day. Lay people are also encouraged to recite the Divine Office either with the clergy, among themselves, or individually.

The hymns and litanies of the Liturgy of the Hours integrate the prayer of the psalms into our age making them meaningful to us.  Through them we reflect upon the time of day, the liturgical season, or the feast being celebrated. In addition, the reading from the Word of God at each Hour with its response reveals the deeper meanings of the mystery being celebrated, assist us in understanding the psalms, and help us prepare for our own personal and silent prayer.

The Liturgy of the Hours is one of the three main liturgies of the Church.  The others being the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, which combined we know as Mass.

Unlike the Old Covenant which was celebrated by the Jewish Temple priests, the worship “in Spirit and in truth” of the New Covenant is not tied to any one place. The whole earth is sacred and Jesus is found everywhere and in every heart. As the sun rises from East to West voices are raised in prayer to the glory of God, a prayer for each of us. 

You are invited to join our staff as we pray Morning Prayer on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30 AM.  No experience necessary!