The Divine Office (also called the Liturgy of the Hours, or the Opus Dei --- the "work of God" ) means certain psalms, prayers, hymns, and Biblical readings to be recited at fixed hours of the day or night according to a general and ancient structure.
An example of a Liturgy of the Hours for the morning prayer (Lauds) is as follows, however many forms of the Liturgy of the Hours (LOH) are much simpler.
Likewise, the actual texts/Psalms/prayers/Litany, etc. to be read or sung will be different from the one given here.
However, the overall structure and sequence of the elements in a Divine Office are fairly standard — having an ancient history. But don't think that everything that is stated in this example will apply to other hours or in every situations, exceptions and special practices abound.
Usually you will take 25 minutes to pray the morning prayer, which along with its companion anchor "Hour" (Vespers or the evening prayer), are the longest Divine Offices of the day (the others take about 15 minutes):
If you are reading this with the question of whether you could do this, you can -- it is not difficult. Find a form of the Liturgy of the Hours that you like and that fits your schedule and spirit. A monk might pray seven times a day, but a monk does not have a child to care for. Be gentle on yourself, this is for freedom in God's strength, not a further burden in your life. A parent up all night with a sick child is also fulfilling a Divine Office.
Lauds — Morning Prayer
O
God, come to my assistance
O Lord, make haste to help me
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Psalm 67
A Hymn
Antiphon 1
(An antiphon is typically one Psalm verse from the Psalm to be read/sung. The antiphon is read/sung before the Psalm and then repeated after reading/signing the Psalm. An antiphon usually summaries the main thought of the Psalm.)
Psalm 5
Antiphon 1
Antiphon 2
Canticle
(Typically a canticle is a song that is not a Psalm. Canticles can be from the Old Testament or the New Testament)
Antiphon 2
Antiphon 3
Psalms 148-150
Antiphon 3
A Short Reading from the Bible
A Responsory
V. O Lord, rescue my soul from death
R. And keep my feet from stumbling
A Benedictus Antiphon
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free.
Benedictus
(Luke 1:68-79)
Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David,
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.Amen
A Litany
Praise to you, God of mercy who is ever faithful to your love and care for us. Give us strength and hear us as we pray: LORD COME TO OUR AID.
Let us look only to your love this day and may others see only Christ in us.
LORD COME TO OUR AID.
Keep our hearts free from the darkness of the world as we walk in the love of your son Jesus who is the light of the world.
LORD COME TO OUR AID.
Lord let us come into your rest today with all thankfulness and may your love in us give comfort to those who have lost their way.
LORD COME TO OUR AID.
Have mercy on those who died, especially ____________. Grant them your eternal peace as they find your love in your kingdom.
LORD COME TO OUR AID.
We will now pray as the Lord taught us: Our Father....
A Concluding prayer
A Final Blessing
May the peace of God, which passes all understanding,
be with us now and throughout this day.
Amen
A Final Responsory
V. Let us bless the Lord
R. Thanks be to God
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At the end of the Divine Office you should be best prepared for silent contemplation with God.
Some material in the above example was taken from:
"Benedictine Daily Prayer,” (BDP) Maxwell E. Johnson, Editor, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 2005.
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Seven Divine Offices
Vigils (after midnight) Lauds (morning) The Little Hours:
Vespers (evening) Compline (night, last prayer of the day) Read Christ in the Desert Monastery's web site on the Opus Dei for an overall description of the Divine Office and its long history going back to Jewish Old Testament traditions. |