The Liturgy of the Hours
"What is the Liturgy of the Hours?"
The Short Answer
The Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) is the Church's official daily prayer, sanctifying each part of the day with psalms, hymns, Scripture, and intercessions. While obligatory for clergy and religious, all Catholics are encouraged to pray it.
Quick Overview
The Liturgy of the Hours (also called the 'Divine Office') is the Church's official daily prayer. It includes psalms, hymns, Scripture readings, and prayers for different times of day: Morning Prayer (Lauds), Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer (Vespers), and Night Prayer (Compline). Priests and religious are required to pray it daily, but anyone can join. It's beautiful because when you pray it, you're joining your voice with the whole Church worldwide, all praying the same prayers. Apps make it easy—no complicated books required. Start with Evening Prayer (Vespers) or Night Prayer (Compline); they're short and peaceful.
Biblical Evidence
What the Scriptures say
What the Church Teaches
Official Catholic doctrine
The Catechism calls the Liturgy of the Hours 'the prayer of Christ with his Body, to the Father' (CCC 1174). It extends the praise of the Mass throughout all hours, sanctifying the day.
Common Objections
Questions answered
Early Church Fathers
What the first Christians believed
Hippolytus of Rome
c. 215 AD
"If there is an instruction in the Word, each one should prefer going there... Let him pray at the third hour, the sixth, the ninth, at bedtime, at cockcrow."
— Apostolic Tradition, 41
St. Cyprian
c. 250 AD
"Besides the hours of old appointed for prayer, new times and reasons have been added... We must pray in the morning, at midday, at evening."
— On the Lord's Prayer, 35
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