Over the course of the second Christian millennium, the liturgical hours moved from the public sphere into the domain of the clergy and religious orders. Up through the Middle Ages, laymen would regularly gather at the nearest church or monastery to participate in Lauds, Vespers and Compline (now called Morning, Evening and Night Prayer). This collection of psalms, Bible readings and prayers, keyed to liturgical seasons and feasts, has been around in various forms since the earliest days of the Church. The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office. He expressed the hope that it be promoted as "the prayer of the whole people of God."Īnd this hope echoes that of the Second Vatican Council, which more than three decades ago simplified it, largely to make it more accessible to the laity. In his 1998 apostolic letter Dies Domini, he asked that it especially be done on Sunday evening in parishes and homes. He has spoken about it during many of his Wednesday audiences since March 2002. Pope John Paul II has a suggestion to enrich the prayer life of the laity. This article first appeared in the August 8-14, 2004 edition of National Catholic Register. Simply Divine Office The Liturgy of the Hours makes a comeback
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |