Since the earliest centuries of the Church, Christians have gathered at morning and evening to sing God’s praise in the ancient words of the Book of Psalms. In early monastic communities, these times of prayer were called “Hours” because they accompanied the community through the hours of the day.
The custom of singing or reciting psalms during the day was a gift from our ancestors in faith, the Jewish people. The psalms were written for the Temple in Jerusalem where Jews worshiped daily—not only on the Sabbath, but every day of the week. Jesus would have heard these sacred songs in the Temple and, wherever he traveled, in the local synagogue.
Many psalms are songs of praise, but also of lament and longing, of exile and return, of fear and hope, of anger and repentance. More than any other book of Scripture, they reflect the light and darkness of the human condition. There is praise breaking forth from pain, comfort from anxiety, joy from despair. They are the prayers of the community addressed to God in all the changing circumstances of our lives.
Beginning in the fourth century, psalms were sung daily in public services of morning and evening prayer. This practice, together with the older custom of regular times of prayer observed by individuals and families, was the origin of the Hours, also known as the “Liturgy of the Hours,” the “Daily Office” or the “Divine Office.” When monastic communities appeared early in the history of the church, the Hours accompanied them through the daily round of work and prayer. This is still the pattern of monastic worship today.
With the advent of printed Bibles during the Reformation, psalms became widely available in the language of the people—for study, devotional reading, and prayer. The Church of England’s Book of Common Prayer (1549) included a complete psalter with daily services of Morning and Evening Prayer. At the same time, singing psalms in metrical paraphrase became a common practice in the churches of the Reformed tradition. In Puritan New England it was customary for families to read or sing psalms daily along with their evening prayers.
The Puritans believed that personal and family prayer was a daily offering or “sacrifice” that connected daily life with the congregation’s worship on Sunday. This tradition sought to “rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:16-18), a spiritual practice that closely resembled the ideal of early monastic prayer.
Sanctification of time
The Hours sanctify time by inviting the church to prayer, scripture and silence throughout the day. They can be prayed by individuals who are seeking quiet times to enter into God’s presence, and by prayer groups, congregations and other communities. But even when praying alone, Christian prayer is never a solitary experience: our prayer always participates in the universal prayer and praise of Christ’s church in every time and place. When we pray, the communion of saints prays with us.
When seeking God in daily prayer, the Hours are not a “time-out” from the struggles of daily life. By praying the Hours, we open ourselves to God’s sanctifying presence in all of human experience—in its tragedies, losses, injustices and conflicts. We pray in the moment, aware of the flow of sacred time from the past through the present to the future.
Praying the ancient Hours in daily life
Some Christians, especially those close to monastic communities, seek to replicate the monastic pattern of at least four daily times of prayer—morning, noon, evening and night. But this practice may not be a realistic option in a busy life. An alternative is to choose just one or two times of prayer, perhaps in the morning and before sleep at night.
The structure of the Hours can be very simple:
- Centering to welcome God’s presence.
- Opening praise (often praise of the Holy Trinity).
- Psalm or psalms, followed by silence.
- Short reading from scripture, followed by silence. For those practicing Lectio Divina, this can be an extended time of silence.
- Thanksgiving or one of the “Gospel Canticles” from Luke: the Benedictus at Morning Prayer (Luke 1:68-79) or the Magnificat at Evening Prayer (Luke 1:46–55).
- Free intercessory prayers.
- The Lord’s Prayer, possibly in an inclusive paraphrase.
Resources
Taizé Morning Prayer with the Open and Affirming Family
Zoom and Facebook
Offered by the Open and Affirming Coalition at 9 am Eastern, this livestreamed service includes a psalm, short reading, silence, a Taizé chant and intercessory prayer, along with an icon from African or Eastern European traditions. Write Andy Lang at langohio@sbcglobal.net for a link to the prayer community on Zoom, or watch the livestreamed service at www.facebook.com/hours.of.prayer.
The Work of God: Benedictine Prayer
Judith Sutera, OSB, editor
Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press
This simple form of the daily office provides psalms, readings and prayers for a two-week cycle. The psalms are generally in inclusive language. Available from Amazon.
Dominican Praise: A Provisional Book of Prayer for Dominican Women
Adrian, MI and Grand Rapids, MI: Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic, and Columbus, OH: Dominican Sisters of Peace.
Like “Work of God,” this comprehensive prayer book sought to reclaim the ancient style of daily prayer in inclusive language, with services for morning, evening and night and offering many options for the historic Church Year. It is available only in Kindle format from Amazon.
An Everyday Book of Hours
A Seasonal Book of Hours
William Storey, editor
Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications
These two paperback volumes provide complete services for Ordinary Time and the seasons of the Church Year. Language is generally inclusive. Available from Amazon.
The Word is Very Near You: A Guide to Praying with Scripture
Martin L. Smith
Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications
This book by a former monk in the Episcopal Church is a practical how-to guide for Christians trying to integrate ancient forms of prayer into their busy lives. For anyone who tries to balance contemplative prayer with family and professional responsibilities, Smith’s book is a valuable resource. Available from Amazon.
The Hours of Prayer: An Inclusive Breviary for the Ecumenical Church
Andrew G. Lang, editor
Publisher to be determined
Scheduled for publication in 2025, this book will provide daily services for morning, noon, evening and night throughout the Church Year. Please email Andy Lang at langohio@sbcglobal.net to be informed when the book is published.