Psychological Healing
in the Roman Catholic Mystic Tradition

A Guide to the
Liturgy of the Hours

 
Introduction
Preliminary Remarks (Sections of the LOH, Glory to the Father,
Postures, Sign of the Cross, Languages)
General
Invitatory
Office of Readings
Morning Prayer
Daytime Prayer
Evening Prayer
Night Prayer
Memorials
Invitatory
Office of Readings
Morning Prayer
Daytime Prayer
Evening Prayer
Night Prayer
Feasts
Invitatory
Office of Readings
Morning Prayer
Daytime Prayer
Evening Prayer
Night Prayer
Solemnities
Invitatory
Office of Readings
Morning Prayer
Daytime Prayer
Evening Prayer
Night Prayer

Also available in a book

 
Memorials

There are two kinds of memorials: obligatory and optional. In private recitation, the optional memorials can be celebrated or not according to personal preference.

	Optional memorials are indicated in the SJG by listing first the current day followed by an “OR:” with the listing for the optional memorial.
	Sundays are always celebrated as solemnities, so any memorial that falls on a Sunday is disregarded.

I will use the Presentation of Mary, November 21, from Volume IV, as an example.

Remember: At the beginning of each day, check the day in the SJG, and orient yourself to the day’s location in both the Psalter and the Proper of Seasons. Then check the day’s calendar date with the Proper of Saints; if the day is a memorial, as in this example, then you will have the ribbon in place there for the rest of the day’s prayer. And place a ribbon in the appropriate section of the Commons—the Proper of Saints will tell you which Common to use.

 
The Invitatory (on Memorials)

 Graphic Summary

The invitatory belongs at the beginning of each day of prayer. (You should have a permanent ribbon marking the page.) It begins as follows:

Lord, open my lips. —And my mouth will proclaim your praise.   (Make the sign of the cross on your lips with the side of your thumb as you say these words, per GILH 266.)

Then Psalm 95 (or, if preferred, Psalm 100, 67, or 24) and its antiphon follows.

•	The antiphon is taken from the Commons (or the weekday, if you prefer), unless it is given in the Proper of Saints. In our current example, the antiphon can be found in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on page 1628. Notice how SJG says “Com of BVM 1628” to indicate this.
•	The antiphon is recited and immediately repeated, then the psalm is said, followed by the Glory to the Father, and then the antiphon is recited again at the end of the psalm.
•	In individual recitation, the antiphon need not be said after each strophe of the psalm as indicated in the ordinary.

 
The Office of Readings (on Memorials)

 Graphic Summary

The hymn is taken from the Commons (or the weekday, if you prefer), unless it is given in the Proper of Saints.

	In our current example, the hymn can be found in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on page 1628. Notice how SJG says, “From Com of BVM” plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Commons.
	When the Office of Readings comes immediately before Morning Prayer, the hymn designated for the latter may be used in place of the hymn at the beginning of the Office of Readings. (See GILH 99.)

The psalmody, antiphons, and verse are found in the Psalter under the current weekday.

	Notice how SJG says, “OOR” plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Psalter.
	Notice how the Commons have psalms and antiphons for the Office of Readings. You must disregard them all, because the Ordinary says that on memorials “the psalms and antiphons are taken from the current week of the Psalter, unless there are proper psalms and antiphons.”

The first reading and responsory are found in the “Office of the day” (i.e., in the Proper of Seasons). The second reading, its responsory, and the prayer are found in the Proper of Saints.

	In our current example, the first reading is found in the Proper of Seasons (according to the weekday on which the memorial falls), the second reading is found in the Proper of Saints, and the prayer is found in the Proper of Saints. Notice how SJG says “Rd xxx & 1572” and “Pr 1575” to indicate this.
	When Morning Prayer follows immediately, the prayer and acclamation at the end of the Office of Readings are not used. (See GILH 99.)

 
Morning Prayer (on Memorials)

 Graphic Summary

Morning Prayer begins as follows, while making the sign of the cross (from forehead to breast and from left shoulder to right) at the words, “God, come to my assistance,” and while bowing the head at the words, “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”:

	When Morning Prayer follows immediately after the Office of Readings, the introductory God, come to my assistance and the Glory to the Father are omitted, as per the Ordinary.
	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. For musical purposes, the invocation "God" may be expanded, for example, “O God,” etc. as per the Ordinary. Alleluia is omitted during Lent.

The hymn is taken from the Commons (or the weekday, if you prefer), unless it is given in the Proper of Saints. (The hymn is omitted here, of course, if the hymn for Morning Prayer was sung at the beginning of the Office of Readings immediately prior to Morning Prayer.)

The psalmody and antiphons are usually taken from the Psalter. Sometimes, on rare occasions (for example, the memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, November 11, and the memorial of Saint Agnes, January 21) the psalmody and antiphons are given in the Proper of Saints.

	Notice how SJG says "Ps" plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Psalter to take the psalms and antiphons.
	Notice how the Commons have psalms and antiphons for Morning Prayer. You must disregard them all, because the Ordinary says that on memorials, “the psalms, canticle, and antiphons are taken from the current week of the Psalter, unless there are proper psalms and antiphons.”

The reading, unless it is proper, may be taken from either the Commons or the weekday.
 
The antiphon for the canticle of Zechariah is taken from the Commons, unless there is a proper antiphon.
 
The intercessions, unless they are proper, may be taken from either the Commons or the weekday.
 
The concluding prayer is taken from the Proper of Saints.

	In our current example, the reading, responsory, and intercessions are found in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, beginning on page 1640, and the canticle of Zechariah and the prayer are given in the Proper of Saints, page 1575. Notice how SJG says, “MP” plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Commons, and “Ant & Pr” plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Proper of Saints.
	When you’re reading the psalms in the Psalter, there will be no clue that you have to go to the Commons for the reading, responsory, etc. of the rest of the celebration, rather than just continue reading along in the Psalter. This is why you must understand the rules for the Liturgy of the Hours and react to them automatically.
	The sign of the cross is made at the beginning of the canticle of Zechariah, and the canticle concludes with Glory to the Father.

In the absence of a priest or deacon, the conclusion (as found in the Ordinary) is as follows:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. —Amen.

 
Daytime Prayer (on Memorials)

 Graphic Summary

Daytime Prayer begins as follows, while making the sign of the cross (from forehead to breast and from left shoulder to right) at the words, “God, come to my assistance,” and while bowing the head at the words, “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”:

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. For musical purposes, the invocation "God" may be expanded, for example, “O God,” etc. as per the Ordinary. Alleluia is omitted during Lent.

The hymn is found in the Ordinary. Everything else is found in the Psalter.

	Notice how SJG says, “DP” plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Psalter.
	The memorials of saints are not celebrated at Daytime Prayer, so everything comes from the Psalter.

The conclusion (as found in the Ordinary) is as follows:

Let us praise the Lord. —And give him thanks.

 
Evening Prayer (on Memorials)

 Graphic Summary

If a solemnity follows the current day, then Evening Prayer I of the solemnity is celebrated, not the Evening Prayer of the current day. Remember, Sundays are always celebrated as solemnities, so Evening Prayer on Saturdays is always Evening Prayer I of the following Sunday.

Evening Prayer begins as follows, while making the sign of the cross (from forehead to breast and from left shoulder to right) at the words, “God, come to my assistance,” and while bowing the head at the words, “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”:

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. For musical purposes, the invocation "God" may be expanded, for example, “O God,” etc. as per the Ordinary. Alleluia is omitted during Lent.

The hymn is taken from the Commons (or the weekday, if you prefer), unless it is given in the Proper of Saints.

In our current example, the hymn can be found in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on page 1648. Notice how SJG says, “EP 1648” plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Commons.

The psalmody and antiphons are usually taken from the Psalter. Sometimes, on rare occasions (for example, the memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, November 11, and the memorial of Saint Agnes, January 21) the psalmody and antiphons are given in the Proper of Saints.

	Notice how SJG says “Ps” plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Psalter to take the psalms and antiphons.
	Notice how the Commons have psalms and antiphons for Evening Prayer. You must disregard them all, because the Ordinary says that on memorials “the psalms, canticle, and antiphons are taken from the current week of the Psalter, unless there are proper psalms and antiphons.”

The reading, unless it is proper, may be taken from either the Commons or the weekday.
 
The antiphon for the canticle of Mary is taken from the Commons, unless there is a proper antiphon.
 
The intercessions, unless they are proper, may be taken from either the Commons or the weekday.
 
The concluding prayer is taken from the Proper of Saints.

	In our current example, the reading, responsory, and intercessions are found in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, beginning on page 1648, and the canticle of Mary and the prayer are given in the Proper of Saints, page 1575. Notice how SJG says “EP” plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Commons, and “Ant & Pr” plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Proper of Saints.
	When you’re reading the psalms in the Psalter, there will be no clue that you have to go to the Commons for the reading, responsory, etc. of the rest of the celebration, rather than just continue reading along in the Psalter. This is why you must understand the rules for the Liturgy of the Hours and react to them automatically.
	The sign of the cross is made at the beginning of the canticle of Mary, and the canticle concludes with Glory to the Father.

In the absence of a priest or deacon, the conclusion (as found in the Ordinary) is as follows:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. —Amen.

 
Night Prayer (on Memorials)

You should have a permanent ribbon marking this section.

Night Prayer begins as follows, while making the sign of the cross (from forehead to breast and from left shoulder to right) at the words, “God, come to my assistance,” and while bowing the head at the words, “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”:

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. For musical purposes, the invocation "God" may be expanded, for example, “O God,” etc. as per the Ordinary. Alleluia is omitted during Lent.

A brief examination of conscience may be made as one reviews the events of the day.

Everything is found in the Night Prayer section, according to the day of the week.

	If the following day is a solemnity, use the section of Night Prayer called “After Evening Prayer I on Sundays and Solemnities.”
	Notice how SJG says “NP” plus a number referring to the appropriate page of the Night Prayer.
	The sign of the cross is made at the beginning of the Gospel canticle, and the canticle concludes with Glory to the Father.

The conclusion for Night Prayer is as follows:

May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. —Amen.

Then one of the antiphons in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary is said; these antiphons are found at the very end of the Night Prayer section.

Graphic Summary

INVITATORY
Memorials

 
OFFICE OF READINGS
Memorials

 
MORNING PRAYER
Memorials

 
DAYTIME PRAYER
Memorials

 
EVENING PRAYER
Memorials

Also available as a book