![]() ![]() Everything in the psalms is a mirror for us. If the Psalm laments, you lament, if the psalm exalts, you exalt. Augustine says, If the psalm prays, you pray. What does he say to you and how do you respond? What do you want to ask or say to Jesus? 6. Consider your emotions – What is it like to see Jesus or the Apostles or King David or Abraham or whoever is in the episode? 5. Take in your surroundings – What is the day like? What do you sense and feel? Who are the others around you? 4. Place yourself in the episode – who are you in the story? A bystander, one of the characters? 3. Pray to the Holy Spirit and then read a passage/episode twice. Remember God often responds to us in silence. LISTEN contemplatively for any response God might choose to make. During the second reading, pause whenever so moved and REFLECT on a word, a sentence or an image that strikes you. Having asked God for the grace to hear His Word, select a passage from scripture (usually a few verses or an episode). There are far too many to mention here, but we will look at a few. As noted previously, the Church has developed different methods of praying with the scriptures over the centuries. Now, I would like to look at some of the “How’s”. In Father Troy's Weekly Letter Dear Friends in Christ,įor the last few weeks, we have been exploring the “why” and the “what” behind praying with the scriptures. Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.And stay tuned for the next installment in this introductory “course”. I’ll do my best to answer all of them, based on long practice and careful study of the Church’s instructions regarding this prayer. ![]() Questions about the Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office are welcome in the comments section. Although I do write about other Catholic topics on this blog, its main purpose is to encourage and teach people to pray it, and to share some of the spiritual treasures I find in its pages every day. I have been praying the Divine Office for many years. For that reason alone, it is worth considering as an addtion to one’s prayer life. Thus, the Liturgy of the Hours is on a different level from the rosary, chaplets, novenas, and devotionals. When you pray the Liturgy of the Hours you are praying on in the name of the Church, and in union with the Pope, clergy, religious and laity throughout the world who are praying it. The Liturgy of the Hours is, as its name implies, liturgical prayer: along with the mass it forms the public worship of the Church. ![]() As recently as last November, Pope Benedict stated that he wishes all laity become familar with Morning, Evening and Night prayer. The revision of the Liturgy of the Hours that came after the Second Vatican Council was done partly with the aim of making it more accessible to the laity. There are additional variations for the liturgical seasons and/or feast days.Īlthough long perceived to be the territory of religious and clergy, the Divine Office is strongly recommended by the Church to us lay people. The psalms and readings of the Divine Office rotate in a four week cycle throughout the year during ordinary time. Daytime Prayer can be called Terce, Sext, or None, depending on whether it is prayed at Mid-morning, Noon, or Midafternoon. Lauds, Vespers, and Compline are the other names for Morning, Evening, and Night Prayer. You may also have heard other names for the liturgical hours, names derived from Latin. ![]()
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