The liturgy of the hours, also known as the Divine Office or the breviary, is a set of prayers and readings organized into large periods of the day and night, celebrated by certain religious and clerical groups, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church.
It is a structured form of communal prayer, traditionally practiced by monks, nuns, and members of religious orders, but also by some laypeople and clergy. The liturgy of the hours consists of a series of prayers and readings that are recited or chanted throughout the day at specific times known as "hours" or "offices." These hours include Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline.
Each hour typically comprises psalms, hymns, canticles, antiphons, Bible readings, and various prayers. The liturgy of the hours serves as a way to sanctify time and consecrate each part of the day to God, offering continuous praise and thanksgiving while also seeking spiritual nourishment and guidance.
The liturgy of the hours is a powerful means of nourishing individual and communal spirituality, as it fosters a deepening of the contemplative life, strengthens communal bonds, and enables individuals to participate in the universal prayer of the Church. It reflects the biblical injunction to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and serves as a form of spiritual discipline that helps individuals to orient their lives towards God and live in constant awareness of his presence.
