Divine Office

"The Liturgy Of The Hours" “prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.” Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2559). The Divine Office is the former name for the official daily liturgical prayer by which the Church sanctifies the hours of the day. The “Office” is the full cycle of canonical “Hours”, the official daily public prayer of the Church. The term was borrowed from the custom of the Jews, and passed into the speech of the early Christians. In the Acts of the Apostles there is reference to prayer being designated by the hour at which it was said. In our Church today, when the Hours are prayed by clergy and lay persons alike, even in private, we are united in this beautiful prayer, and participating with fellow Catholics all around the world, praying the official prayers at the same time. What a powerful thing! Office of Readings – Three psalms or sections of psalms followed by a scriptural reading and a patristic reading. In contemplative communities this is to retain its “nocturnal character,” evoking the ancient Christian discipline of “keeping vigil” for the Lord’s return. For parish priests (and for active religious and laity who choose to say this Office), it may be celebrated the evening before, early in the morning or any time in the course of the day conducive to prayer and spiritual reading.

The Liturgy of the Hours The Second Vatican Council, valuing highly this long-standing custom of the Church and wishing to renew it, provided a new form for the prayer, revised so that it could more fittingly be used by all members of the Church in the circumstances of modern life. With Vatican II came the renamed Office – The Liturgy of the Hours. Matins: (from the Latin, matutinas vigilias, or “morning watches”) The hour of Matins was a nocturnal hour, it was celebrated at midnight onwards and often joined with Lauds as a continuing vigil of prayer. Within this is a great consolation, the realization that even now, in many parts of the world, midnight is the advent of the expectant new day... and "we do not know the hour when the Lord will come!"

The word Lauds is derived from the Latin word laus meaning, praise. This is always an hour of praise, as is clear from the Psalms chosen within the text, which recall the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and the gift of new life that comes to us in this new God's given day.

Latin: prima, first. It was originally the earliest Canonical Hour, prima hora, and the first hour of the Roman day. Prime is celebrated at 6 AM, an hour in which we consecrate the forthcoming day to God, giving thanks for the awakening to life and being open to God’s gift of Himself through his Word.

Latin: tertia hora. Called thus because the Romans celebrated it at what they regarded the third hour of their day, which was 9 AM in the morning. Terce is often called the golden hour, or the Hour of the Holy Spirit, recalling the hour when the disciples went up to the Temple to pray. It also commemorates the event at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and the Apostles at this hour. As did the Romans, we celebrate Terce at approximately 9 AM and it is, therefore, a prayer inspiring us to begin the day under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in union with Mary Our Mother. “Come Holy Spirit!”

This was the sixth hour of the Roman day, what is for us about Midday. At midday the time we recall the hour that Christ was raised upon the Cross of Salvation for us, and Mary His faithful Mother standing faithfully by Him in His suffering. This is midday, and this hour can be regarded as an oasis of prayer, a time to turn to Our Savior and pray in union with Mary for the suffering of the world.

Latin, nona hora. This hour was regarded by the Romans as the ninth hour, hence the Latin name nona, which for us occurs about three o'clock in the afternoon. It was at the ninth hour, we will remember, that Jesus cried out in his agony, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' which means, “My God, My God why have You forsaken me!” This is the hour of Crucifixion, the hour of Redemption, and in this hour we bring all our burdens to Christ on the Cross, praying for all poor sinners with and through Mary His Immaculate Mother.

It was a name given to the evening star of Venus, which rising in the evening was a call to prayer, a light in the Heavens announcing the drawing on of the day, Vespers is prayed anytime after the Hour of None and before Compline.

From the Latin word (Latin, complere, or to complete) so named because it is the last hour of the day to be prayed. Compline is a beautiful way to complete our day, to pray with Mary and to Mary for the dying and for all those upon whom the night either of the spirit or in fact will soon fall. We pray for Gods protection for the night, conscious of the many evils perpetrated in the nocturnal hours. It is an hour in which we commend everything , surrender everything to God. This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

V. Lord, have mercy.

R. Lord, have mercy.

V. Christ, have mercy.

R. Christ, have mercy.

V. Lord, have mercy.

R. Lord, have mercy.

V. Jesus, hear us.

R. Jesus, graciously hear us.

Response: Have mercy on us

God, the Father of Heaven – God, the Son, Redeemer of the world – God, the Holy Spirit – Holy Trinity, One God – Jesus, Son of the living God – Jesus, Splendor of the Father – Jesus, Brightness of eternal Light – Jesus, King of Glory – Jesus, Sun of Justice – Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary – Jesus, Most Amiable – Jesus, Most Admirable – Jesus, the Mighty God – Jesus, Father of the world to come – Jesus, Angel of Great Counsel – Jesus, Most Powerful – Jesus, Most Patient –. Jesus, Most Obedient – Jesus, Meek and humble of Heart – Jesus, Lover of Chastity – Jesus, our Lover – Jesus, God of Peace – Jesus, Author of Life – Jesus, Model of Virtues – Jesus, Zealous for souls – Jesus, our God – Jesus, our Refuge – Jesus, Father of the Poor – Jesus, Treasure of the Faithful – Jesus, Good Shepherd – Jesus, True Light – Jesus, Eternal Wisdom – Jesus, Infinite Goodness – Jesus, our Way and our Life – Jesus, Joy of the Angels – Jesus, King of the Patriarchs – Jesus, Master of the Apostles – Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists – Jesus, Strength of Martyrs – Jesus, Light of Confessors – Jesus, Purity of Virgins – Jesus, Crown of all Saints –

V. Be merciful

R. spare us, O Jesus!

V. Be merciful,

R. graciously hear us, O Jesus!

Response for following petitions: "Deliver us, O Jesus.

“From all evil – From all sin – From your wrath – From the snares of the devil – From the spirit of fornication – From everlasting death – From the neglect of your inspirations – Through the mystery of your holy Incarnation – Through your Nativity – Through your Infancy – Through your Most Divine Life – Through your Labors – Through your Agony and Passion – Through your Cross and Sufferings . . Through your Death and Burial – Through your Resurrection – Through your Ascension – Through your Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist – Through your Joys – Through your Glory – Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.

R. spare us, O Jesus! Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,

R. graciously hear us, O Jesus! Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,

R. have mercy on us, O Jesus! Jesus hear us.

R. Jesus, graciously hear us.

O Lord Jesus Christ, you have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you"; mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us the grace of your most divine love, that we may love you with all our hearts, and in all our words and actions, and never cease to praise you.

Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of your Holy Name, for you never fail to govern those whom you solidly establish in your love. You, who live and reign forever and ever.

R. Amen.