The Fullness of Divine Worship

"The Liturgy of the Hours... was seen as a kind of necessary complement to the fullness of divine worship that is contained in the Eucharistic sacrifice, by means of which that worship might overflow to reach all the hours of daily life."
​- Apostolic Constitution promulgating the Liturgy of the Hours

Each day, the community gathers to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, the prayer of the Church. In keeping with the Church's emphasis on Lauds and Vespers as the principle Hours and in accord with our manner of life as contemplative-active religious, we pray with loving care the Hours of Lauds, Vespers, and Compline. 

The purpose of the Office is two fold: the sanctification of the day, and the sanctification of all human activity. The schema of Hours deliberately spaced throughout the day is designed to allow the Office pervade the whole of our life and to shape our prayer. It give life to our personal prayer and directs it in accord with the Liturgy. In this way, the Office strengthens and supports the unceasing prayer to which we are called.

Our praying of the Hours is an act of spiritual maternity: in it, we bring souls to God. The Office is the very prayer of the Church, the spouse of Christ, expressing the hopes and desires of all His people and presenting the petitions of all mankind. Our participation in the Liturgy of the Church is our most universal exercise of spiritual maternity.

Entering into the prayer of the Church, we not only offer the prayer of the spouse of Christ, but the very prayer of Christ Himself. His own prayer and voice is raised on behalf of His people, our voice simply joins with and echos His most eloquent prayer, giving efficacy to our prayer.

Through integration, the prayer of the Church becomes our own personal prayer. It becomes the prayer of the bride of Christ to her Bridegroom and a loving exchange between spouses. ​

May Mary, Mother of the Church, teach us to pray with her dispositions!