Christian Prayer

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I am trying to pray the shortened version of the Liturgy of the Hours but I am really lost. I understand the order but I don't understand Morning, Afternoon, and Night prayer.

-- Scott (papasquat10@hotmail.com), October 21, 2003

Answers

Scott, the best possible thing you can do is to find someone (priest, monk at a monastery/abbey, or nun) who would be willing to teach you one on one, because teaching a person to pray the Liturgy of the Hours (from scratch) is a complex subject that is not easily and quickly done at a forum like this.

The second-best thing you can do is to get someone to help you over the phone. I learned to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, back around 1989, in several days of classes offered at a parish by a few laypeople who were part of a group called "Our Lady's Missionaries of the Eucharist." (The foundress, Sister Joan Noreen, now gives talks about Eucharistic spirituality on an EWTN series.) These "OLME" people may be willing to help you in a big way via e-mail (sea@olme.org) or by phone (610-797-1950). Back in the 1980s, they were teaching us to use the one-volume prayerbook (which you probably have).

The third-best thing you can do is to get a book that will try to teach you how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. I have noticed that many Catholic bookstores and online services are selling (for under $3) something called "How to Pray the Liturgy of the Hours." If you go to this page and scroll down, you'll see it.

A problem you may encounter with trying to learn from a priest/nun in person is that he/she is probably using (as I do) the four-volume, full Liturgy, rather than the abridged one-volume ("Christian Prayer") version that you probably have. It would take some extra work for a person using the four-volume to help you. (For example, you could not refer to specific page numbers to "jump" to.) I don't know if the book I mentioned above is for helping a person with the one-volume, or four-volume, prayerbook(s).

If you actually are not having major difficulties getting under way, but only a few specific, quick-to-answer problems with which you hope that I can help you here, please "fire away."

-- (Willing@To.Help), October 21, 2003.


>I am trying to pray the shortened version of the Liturgy of the >Hours but I am really lost. I understand the order but I don't >understand Morning, Afternoon, and Night prayer. >

Not sure what your questions are. Can you be more specific? Here is a 'stab' at what you might be asking:

Morning Prayer: This hour is prayed at sunrise or in the early morning. It is one of the two most important (hinge) hours of the Office and, if possible, should be prayed in common. This is the prayer that sets the 'tone' for your day.

Daytime Prayer (Terce, Sext, None) ~ In the post-Vatican II reform of the office, it is suggested that one of these hours, that which is most convenient for the individual, be prayed. The daytime hours are

~Midmorning ~Midday ~Midafternoon

This prayer allows you to break up your day, pause, and think about God.

Night Prayer (Compline), my personal favorite ~ This is the "bedtime" hour of the Church's daily prayer and is ordinarily prayed just before retiring. It is to set your mind on God and Mary as you go to bed.

In Christ, Bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45@hotmail.com), October 21, 2003.


Scott,

Go to this page: http://www.monksofadoration.org/audiolit.html

The Liturgy of the Hours in Real Audio daily with The Monks of Adoration

They helped me learn how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. They pray the Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer. They will give you the pages for the One Volume (most of the time) and for the Four-Volume (every time).

It can be done!

-- james (elgreco1541@hotmail.com), October 21, 2003.


Great post, James. I had no idea that the Monks had this available.

-- (Willing@To.Help), October 22, 2003.

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