The Liturgy of the Hours
Compiled by Fr. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.


The Ordinary of the Liturgy of the Hours

Overall Structure of Each Hour

Detailed Structure (1971 revision)

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Introduction
   Dialogue (omitted if MP begins with the Invitatory, given above)
      “God, + come to my assistance.” / “Lord, make haste to help me.”
      “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit. /
       As it was in the beginning, is now, * and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.”
       [the final "Alleluia" is omitted only during Lent]

   Hymn

Psalmody
   Psalm
      Antiphon (presider or cantor alone)
      Psalm (alternating A/B)
      “Glory to the Father…”
      [Psalm Prayer - optional]
      Antiphon (repeated by all)
   OT Canticle
      (same sub-structure as first Psalm)
   Psalm
      (same sub-structure as first Psalm)

Word of God
   Brief Reading
      (pause for silent reflection)
   Responsory
   Gospel Canticle: Benedictus (Canticle of Zechariah)
   Intercessions: Invocations
      (optional: add personal intentions)
   Our Father

Conclusion
   Concluding Prayer
   Dismissal
      (by Clergy: “The Lord be with you…”)
      (by Laity: “May the Lord bless us…”)
 

Evening Prayer (Vespers)

Introduction
   Dialogue
      “God, + come to my assistance.” / “Lord, make haste to help me.”
      “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit. /
       As it was in the beginning, is now, * and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.”
       [the final "Alleluia" is omitted only during Lent]

   Hymn

Psalmody
   Psalm
      Antiphon (presider or cantor alone)
      Psalm (alternating A/B)
      “Glory to the Father…”
      [Psalm Prayer - optional]
      Antiphon (repeated by all)
   Psalm
      (same sub-structure as first Psalm)
   NT Canticle
      (same sub-structure as first Psalm)

Word of God
   Brief Reading
      (pause for silent reflection)
   Responsory
   Gospel Canticle: Magnificat (Canticle of Mary)
   Intercessions: Petitions
      (optional: add personal intentions)
   Our Father

Conclusion
   Concluding Prayer
   Dismissal
      (by Clergy: “The Lord be with you…”)
      (by Laity: “May the Lord bless us…”)
 

Daytime Prayer (Terce/Sext/None)
(Midmorning, Midday, or Midafternoon)

Introduction
   Dialogue
      “God, + come to my assistance…”
      “Glory to the Father…”
   Hymn

Psalmody
   Psalm
      Antiphon (presider alone)
      Psalm (alternating A/B)
      “Glory to the Father…”
      [Psalm Prayer - optional]
      Antiphon (repeated by all)
   Psalm
      (same sub-structure as first Psalm)
   Psalm
      (same sub-structure as first Psalm)

Word of God
   Reading (very brief)
      (pause for silent reflection)
   Responsory

 

Conclusion
   Concluding Prayer
   Acclamation
      (“Let us praise the Lord.” – “And give him thanks.”)

Office of Readings (Matins)
(at any time during the day)

Introduction
   Dialogue (omitted if OR begins with the Invitatory, given above)
      “God, + come to my assistance…”
      “Glory to the Father…”
   Hymn

Psalmody
   Psalm
      Antiphon (presider alone)
      Psalm (alternating A/B)
      “Glory to the Father…”
      [Psalm Prayer - optional]
      Antiphon (repeated by all)
   Psalm
      (same sub-structure as first Psalm)
   Psalm
      (same sub-structure as first Psalm)

Word of God
   Verse (transition from Psalmody to Readings)
   First Reading (biblical)
   Responsory
   Second Reading (non-biblical)
   Responsory
   Hymn: Te Deum

Conclusion
   Concluding Prayer
   Acclamation
      (“Let us praise the Lord.” – “And give him thanks.”)
 

Night Prayer (Compline)
 

   Introductory Dialogue
   Examination of conscience (done privately, or with a communal penitential act)
   Hymn
   Psalmody (only one or two Psalms, on a one-week cycle)
   Reading & Responsory (both very brief)
   Gospel Canticle: Nunc Dimittis (Canticle of Simeon; Luke 2:29-32)
   Concluding Prayer & Blessing
   Marian Hymn: Ave Regina Caelorum (or another Marian hymn or antiphon)
 

 


Invitatory Psalms:

Psalm 95 (Venite, exultemus)

Come, let us sing to the Lord
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving
and sing joyful songs to the Lord. (repeat Antiphon)

The Lord is God, the mighty God,
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
and the highest mountains as well
He made the sea; it belongs to him,
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands. Ant.

Come, then, let us bow down and worship,
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker,
For he is our God and we are his people,
the flock he shepherds. Ant.

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did in the wilderness,
when at Meriba and Massah they challenged me and provoked me,
Although they had seen all of my works. Ant.

Forty years I endured that generation.
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.
So I swore in my anger,
“They shall not enter into my rest.” Ant.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever, Amen. Ant.

Psalm 24 (Domini est terra)

The Lord's is the earth and its fullness,
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the waters he made it firm. (repeat Antiphon)

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things,
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor. Ant.

He shall receive blessings from the Lord
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob. Ant.

O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory! Ant.

Who is the king of glory?
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant,
the Lord, the valiant in war. Ant.

O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory! Ant.

Who is he, the king of glory?
He, the Lord of armies,
he is the king of glory. Ant.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen. Ant.

Psalm 67 (Deus misereatur)

O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help. (repeat Antiphon)

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you. Ant.

Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth. Ant.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you. Ant.

The earth has yielded its fruit
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him. Ant.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen. Ant.

Psalm 100 (Jubilate Deo)

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy. (repeat Antiphon)

Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock. Ant.

Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name. Ant.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age. Ant.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen. Ant.

 


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