Liturgy of Hours explained

While the Liturgy of the Hours has been prayed by the clergy and members of religious communities for centuries, the teaching of the Second Vatican Council reminded the Church that all the faithful are encouraged to consecrate their day through prayer.

The two hinges of the day are morning and evening prayer. St. Cyprian said, "There should be prayer in the morning so that the resurrection of the Lord may thus be celebrated." Evening prayer is offered as a means of giving thanks for the gifts and works of the day.

The Liturgy of the Hours consists of hymns, prayers, readings and psalms. All but three of the 150 psalms are used throughout the four-week cycle. Not necessarily addressed to God, but sung in the awareness of His presence, the psalms speak from all levels of human experience: fear, contrition, joy, trust, hope, despair, praise. For example, bearing the full weight of the sin and suffering in the world, Christ uttered the words of Psalm 22 -- "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" -- as He was dying on the cross.

The Church has asked that "whenever possible, groups of the faithful should celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours communally in church. This especially applies to parishes [which] represent to some degree the visible Church established throughout the world." To that end, the Prayer and Spirituality sub-committee of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission will offer a workshop on the Liturgy of the Hours on Sept. 23, 9 a.m.þ12:30 p.m., at St. John/St. Ann's Church in Albany.

The program will consist of two experiences of praying the Liturgy of the Hours as well as an opportunity to learn more about the background and format of the prayer.

(To register for the workshop, call Maryanne Tuite at 370-0027 or the diocesan Office of Prayer and Worship, 453-6645. A $5 offering is requested. Mrs. Simcoe is director of the Office of Prayer and Worship.)

(09-14-00) [[In-content Ad]]