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 EVENING
PRAYER
USUAL FORMAT
&
some extras:
MORNING PRAYER
INVITATORY 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.)
HYMN
PSALMODY (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 VERSESGLORIA 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 ANTIPHONALLYGLORIA 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 CROSS
WHILE 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 CanticleIntercessions-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 OF
LITURGY OF THE HOURS
PRAYER BOOKS
OR
A ONE VOLUME
BOOK OF CHRISTIAN PRAYER
MAY BE PURCHASED
AT THE DIOCESAN BOOK STORE