The "Liturgy of the Hours" (a.k.a. "The Divine Office" or "Breviary") is the daily prayer of the universal Church, with different "hours" prayed at various times of the day and night. It is based primarily on the Psalms, but also incorporates other biblical texts, canticles, hymns, prayers, and even some non-biblical readings. The three "major hours" are Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and the Office of Readings (prayed at any time during the day). Other hours include "Daytime Prayer" and "Night Prayer."
Basic Terminology:
"Ordinary of the Liturgy of the Hours" - the overall structure of the various periods of prayer, from the Introductory Dialogue to the Concluding Prayer and Blessing, with various sequences of Hymns, Psalms, Canticles, Antiphons, Readings, Responses, and Prayers in between.
"Four-Week Psalter" - the arrangement of the biblical Psalms and Canticles that is used on most days and weeks throughout the Liturgical Year.
"Proper of Seasons" - texts that are used in the various "seasons" of the liturgical year, from Advent and Christmas, to Lent and Easter, and all of "Ordinary Time."
"Proper of Saints" - special texts used only on the more important feast days of the Lord Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or other Saints.
"Commons" - additional texts that could be used, mostly on an optional basis, on the feasts and memorials of lesser-known saints.
Charts and Overviews:
The materials gathered in this section of the "Catholic Resources" website are intended primarily to provide overviews of the biblical and non-biblical texts used throughout the Liturgy of the Hours.
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