a
3 -day
prayer retreat
Use the Liturgy of the Hours to build a supportive structure of prayer, finding God and a sense of peace in your busy day.
he idea of mindfulness is not a new one. In fact, the Church has practiced a version of it since ancient times in the Liturgy of the Hours, which marks the hours of the day and fills them with prayer. For many people, the term conjures up images of monks in religious communities waking in the middle of the night to chant in chapel. But in truth, it is the prayer of the whole Church, and the Second Vatican Council encouraged us all to take up the practice. This article presents a three-day structure for prayer in the style of the Liturgy of the Hours. It is intended to be prayed amid weekday life during the main hours of morning, evening, and night. Also called the Divine Office, the Liturgy of the Hours in its fullest form includes morning prayer on first awakening (lauds); daytime prayer at midmorning, noon, and midafternoon; evening prayer at the end of the workday (vespers); night prayer right before going to sleep (compline); and the Office of Readings (formerly called matins), which can be done at the most convenient time of day. Many priests and deacons pray them all, but for most of us, an abbreviated version is more accessible.
When you first look at the breviary, which is the book of instruction and rubrics for the Liturgy of the Hours, it can seem overwhelming. Each of the hours includes psalms, prayers, Scripture readings, and writings from Church fathers. The daily format is the same, but the readings and Scriptures change every day and for every hour that is prayed. The readings are available in print as both full and abbreviated versions, online, and even on apps for smartphones and tablets. This mini retreat will introduce you to the ritual, giving you a better sense of how the Liturgy of the Hours is prayed. I have opted to do three weekdays so you can see how the prayers will fit into your own unique workday schedule, but you can choose any three days that are convenient for you. Although we will follow the basic format, it is not an exact replica since I have chosen the prayers and readings. It is meant to whet your appetite for this peaceful rhythm of prayer. By the end of your three days, you will have a deeper understanding of the process and a new hunger to learn and practice this ancient devotion.
20 • August 2020 | StAnthonyMessenger.org
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6/25/20 11:03 AM
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RIBBON: SEREZNIYISTOCK
By Colleen Arnold, MD
