Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 188 - Part II.

YOUCAT Question n. 188 - Part II. What is the Liturgy of the Hours?

(Youcat answer - repeated) The Liturgy of the Hours is the universal, public prayer of the Church. Biblical readings lead the person who prays it ever deeper into the mystery of the life of Jesus Christ. Throughout the world this gives the Triune God the opportunity at every hour of the day to transform gradually those who pray and also the world. The Liturgy of the Hours is prayed not only by priests and religious. Many Christians who take their faith seriously join their voices with the many thousands of praises and petitions that ascend to God from all over the world.   

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 1175) The Liturgy of the Hours is intended to become the prayer of the whole People of God. In it Christ himself "continues his priestly work through his Church" (SC 83). His members participate according to their own place in the Church and the circumstances of their lives: priests devoted to the pastoral ministry, because they are called to remain diligent in prayer and the service of the word; religious, by the charism of their consecrated lives; all the faithful as much as possible: "Pastors of souls should see to it that the principal hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated in common in church on Sundays and on the more solemn feasts. The laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually" (SC 100; cf. 86; 96; 98; PO 5). 

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) The seven “hours of prayer” are like a treasury of the Church’s prayers. It also loosens our tongues when we have become speechless because of joy, sorrow, or fear. Again and again one is astonished in reciting the Liturgy of the Hours: an entire reading “coincidentally” applies precisely to my situation. God hears us when we call to him. He answers us in these texts—often in a way that is so specific as to be almost disconcerting. In any case he also allows us to have long periods of silence and dryness so that we can demonstrate our fidelity. The seven times for prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours are: Matins (Office of Readings or Vigils, in the early morning hours) Lauds (Morning Prayer) Terce (9:00 a.m., Midmorning Prayer) Sext (12:00 noon, Midday Prayer) None (3:00 p.m., Midafternoon Prayer) Vespers (Evening Prayer) Compline (Night Prayer).  

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 1178) The Liturgy of the Hours, which is like an extension of the Eucharistic celebration, does not exclude but rather in a complementary way calls forth the various devotions of the People of God, especially adoration and worship of the Blessed Sacrament.

(This question: What is the Liturgy of the Hours? is continued)