As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the sinner to die but to turn back to me and live. This is the daily antiphon from the Liturgy of the Hours for Lenten daytime prayer. Lent is the perfect time to enter into the beautiful cycle of prayer known as the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Office.
What is the Liturgy of the Hours?
The Liturgy of the Hours is part of the daily prayer of the Church. Although the Mass is the highest prayer of the Church, the Church continues its praise of Christ throughout the day in the Office. Priests are required to pray it, most religious are either required or asked to pray it (depending on the order), and the laity are strongly encouraged. Its purpose is to consecrate the day to God’s glory. The faithful who pray these hours spend their day alternating between their work and prayer. Those communities who pray the entire office rise from sleep to pray. Different from those who pray devotional prayers such as the rosary or litanies, those who pray the Divine Office are joined together throughout the whole world. Jesus himself took part in public prayer and daily prayer. In a sense the Office is Christ continuing to pray through the Church and the faithful are invited to join him in this sacrificial prayer to the Father.
What does the Liturgy of the Hours consist of?
The hours consist mostly in the recitation of the psalms, a short Scripture verse, intercessions, the Our Father, and a daily prayer. The main hours, the ones generally prayed by the religious and laity, are Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer. These are written in a way to correspond with the day’s cycle: prayers to offer up the day in the morning, prayers to bless the work accomplished in the evening, and shorter prayers for protection in the night.
What opportunities are there in Lincoln for taking part of the Divine Office?
The Office may be prayed privately, but its greatest beauty is when prayed in common with others. Those who are praying at the Pink Sisters in Lincoln at 5:45 am will hear the Sisters pray Morning Prayer. For an opportunity to pray with others, St. Teresa Church (616 South 36th Street) holds a parish recitation of Morning Prayer at 6:15am. For yet another opportunity to experience the Divine Office, tune in to Spirit Catholic Radio (102.7 FM) at 6:20 and 9:20 for Morning Prayer and 10:20 for Evening Prayer.
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