The Breviary, that is the Liturgy of the Hours, is a book of prayers in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.

The four volume set follows the Liturgical Calendar of the Church. Volume I Advent to Christmas, Volume II Lent and Easter, Volume III Ordinary Time, Volume IV Ordinary time.

The Breviary is a collection of prayers, hymns, psalms, Bible readings, and readings from the Church Fathers and Saints.

Note: All Volumes have the main Table of Contents in the front. At the back are: Appendix I – Canticles and Gospel Readings for Vigils; Appendix II – Shorter forms of the Intercessions to be used at Evening Prayer; Appendix III – Additional prayers for use at the Liturgy of the Hours; Appendix IV – Poetry; Appendix V – Feast Days for use in the diocese of the United States or other particular countries. These Appendices are followed by Indices of Psalms, Canticles, Biblical Readings, Hymns, and the Alphabetical Index of Celebrations.

Volume I begins by giving The Decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship, The Apostolic Constitution Promulgation, Table of Liturgical Days, Principal Celebrations of the Liturgical Year, and the General Roman Calendar.

Now specific to the recitation of the daily Liturgy –

Volume I – starts the liturgical cycle of the Catholic with the Advent / Christmas season.

All prayers, readings, homilies and reflections focus on the age old, always fresh constant hope – the Coming Of The Lord.

The soul centers its daily prayer and meditation on this glorious, joyful expectation and its fulfillment.

The Christmas Season continues the celebrations with deep abiding thanksgiving through to the feast of Mary, Mother of the Holy Child our Lord on January first then on to Epiphany on the twelfth day of Christmas. The Baptism of Jesus on the sixth of January closes this cycle and the first Volume.

Volume III is used from January seventh to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday – approximately ten weeks of Ordinary Time. (in simplest terms – the variations are determined by the date of Ash Wednesday which in its turn is determined by the date of Easter, a movable Sunday in the calendar. For interests sake: Easter is calculated to be on the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the first day of Spring in the Gregorian Calendar.

To continue: The Psalms, the Readings from both The Old and New Testaments of the Bible, from the Saints lives or their writings, the hymns and prayers continue in the accustomed way. The emphasis is on faithful daily obedience to the demands of the First Commandment: ‘Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole mind…’. Regular prayers of praise, adoration, thanksgiving, petition and contrition are our response to this Commandment, the cornerstone of Christian living.

Volume I – Continues with the Easter Season. This begins on Holy Saturday at the Vigil Mass of the Resurrection and ends fifty days later at the Feast of Pentecost. The songs of the Liturgy, the psalms, the readings all tell the marvels of the Love of God for His people – “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light you have dawned.” Matthew 4:16

Volume III – Returning to the liturgical cycle Ordinary Time resumes at week ten through to week seventeen in the same rhythm – ever ancient ever new.

Note that these cycles of the seasons vary slightly. The last week of Ordinary Time before Lent, and the last week of Ordinary Time before Advent are not constant.

Check online or with a priest to find the correct day if you would like to join the Church in the prayer life of the Breviary. The practice of the Liturgy Of The Hours is a voluntary commitment. It is prudent to undertake this with guidance from a priest, religious or lay person familiar with the practice..

Volume IV – contains the Liturgy from week eighteen to week thirty-four and completes the cycle of the liturgical year with the celebration of the feast of Christ The King on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time.

The first Sunday of Advent then begins the cycle again with Advent – Christmas in Volume I.

The simple pattern of prayer is constant. Variations are in selected content only according to seasons and feasts.

the hour means the time spent praying the specific section of the liturgy of the day; it is not usually a sixty minute hour.

The prayers of the seven daily hours are usually prayed by cloistered religious, monks and nuns. All Persons with the necessary time can certainly pray them. The five liturgical hours are typically prayed by active clergy and the laity. Ordained ministers – bishops, priests, and deacons are required to pray the Daily Office. Religious Orders follow their formats, usually in the Roman Rite. Lay people pray the Liturgy of the Hours as they are able.

For those who would like to adopt this Prayer Of The Universal Church but have not enough time the Book Of Christian Prayer gives the Morning and Evening Prayer called the cardinal or hinge prayers of the Breviary.

Every Hour always begins with “God Come To My Assistance, Lord Make Haste To Help Me…” followed by the Gloria, a hymn, the antiphons recited or sung, the psalms with responses, the Gloria and the Psalm Prayer. Continuing in this way all three psalm recitations are prayed with their antiphons and psalm prayer (if present) finishing with the last Gloria at the close of the third psalm. Readings from the Bible followed by the Responsory prayer, the Antiphon, the Canticle of Zachariah in the morning, Antiphon with Canticle of Mary in the evening continue then the Intercessions follow – the Church Universal prays for all peoples, then the Lord’s Prayer, the closing prayer and a short sentence of praise, or petition. “Let us Praise The Lord and give Him thanks. Amen” or “May The Lord Bless us, Protect us from all evil and bring us to Everlasting Life. Amen”

The daily varying cycle:

Office of Readings(30 minutes), Morning Prayer – before noon(15-20 minutes), Daytime Prayer – noon or early afternoon(10 minutes), Evening Prayer – after 4 pm (15-20 minutes), and Night Prayer on retiring (5-10 minutes). Daytime Prayer is recited three times by those who pray the seven Liturgical Hours – once at mid-morning, once at mid-day, and once at mid-afternoon. The Office of Readings may be prayed at any time of the day.

If any or all Hours are sung the time spent with God in prayer is beautiful and longer.

The Liturgy of the Hours prayed by the Universal Church in all parts of the world unites the faithful in an unending ever new work of piety. This form of prayer is not necessarily personally deeply felt or understood until many days have been spent in faithful commitment. The realization of unity in prayer and purpose grows and deepens with devout practice.

‘May the Lord bless us protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life’ – so pray final benedictions of the Morning and Evening Hours.