The Divine Office - Liturgy Of The Hours
One of my favorite forms of prayer is The Divine Office - Liturgy of the Hours. These prayers, originally called The Divine Office, are known as the official daily prayer of the Church and are a way to keep prayer foremost in our mind throughout the day. Traditionally, the collection of psalms, readings, and prayers that comprise The Liturgy of the Hours was recited at specific times of the day and night by priests and religious from a book called a breviary. The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) expanded and revised the prayers in an effort to encourage all people to join in this fruitful practice. The name was also changed to “Liturgy of the Hours”. The prayers are divided into the following sections: Morning Prayer (also called Lauds), Midday Prayer, Evening Prayer (also called Vespers), and Night Prayer (also called Compline). If you are interested in joining with the Church in this ancient form of prayer there are many resources available. Most common are the comprehensive four volume set, or the compact Christian Prayer - Liturgy of the Hours.