As I mentioned Easter has come to an end, we are now in what is called Ordinary Time ( more of which another time). For those who pray the Divine Office is also means we change volumes…..
As a priest I am obliged to say the Divine Office every day. This is a series of set prayers corresponding to the different hours of the day – Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer etc. Each hour – as they are called – follow a similar patter: Opening hymn, psalms, a short reading from scripture, prayers and a concluding prayer. Morning and Evening Prayer are longer than some others, as is what is called the Office of Readings. Part of the history of all this is all 150 psalms would be said over a given period. For a long time it was over a week, at the moment they are spread over 4 weeks, and we no longer say all 150 psalms – that is another blog post someday!
Under the present arrangement this is all divided into three volumes. Volume 1 covers Advent, Christmas and the early part of Ordinary Time. Volume 2 covers Lent and Easter. Volume 3 covers Ordinary Time that corresponds with summer and autumn. All volumes have feast and saints days as well.
That is just the briefest of introductions to the Divine Office. It is also known as the Liturgy of the Hours and Prayer of the Church.
Fr Paul Harrison' Blog. 