A Three-Day Prayer Retreat

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.

By Colleen Arnold, MD

The 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.

SETTING THE SCENE

Although you can pray the Liturgy of the Hours without much advance preparation, there are several things that will make these three days more retreat-like. • A candle that is as simple or extravagant as you like— a simple white candle, a fragranced candle, or even a colored candle to match the setting cloth. • A bell or wind chime that will signal the start and finish of each prayer session. • Anything else that may increase the spiritual sense of your time. I often add a seashell or a piece of greenery from the yard. • A printout or a photo on your cell phone of the prayers and readings for each day of the retreat. You will also need your Bible to look up the words to each psalm. • Assemble your supplies ahead of time and keep them in a bag that is convenient to carry throughout the day. Remember, though, only your Bible and printout of prayers and readings are required. You can pray the

Liturgy of the Hours on a park bench or in your living room if that works best for you.

A few other caveats: Each of the Hours includes a hymn. In private prayer these are optional, so I left them out, but feel free to sing your own favorites if you feel so inclined. Also, for both morning and evening prayer, there are two psalms, separated by a canticle from the Old Testament in the morning and the New Testament in the evening. For purposes of our retreat, I have omitted the second psalm. The scriptural sources for all readings are listed in parentheses, but you don’t have to recite them as part of the prayers. Finally, start and end each Hour with the Sign of the Cross. Now let’s get started!

STRUCTURING YOUR RETREAT morning prayer evening prayer (lauds) (vespers)

Begin each morning of your retreat with the following: • Invitatory: Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise. • Recite the Glory Be. • For each day, recite the antiphon before and after the psalm, and read and reflect on the Scripture reading. After each morning’s readings, continue with the following: • Responsory (recite twice): “Blessed is the name of God forever” (Dn 2:20). • Canticle of Zechariah (also known as the Benedictus):

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people. He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy to our fathers and to be mindful of his holy covenant and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father, and to grant us that, rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Lk 1:68–79). • Intercessions: Present your petitions to God; ask him to bless your day and keep you close to him. • Recite the Lord’s Prayer. • Closing blessing: May the Lord bless us, keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. Begin each night of your retreat with the following: • Versicle: Lord, come to my assistance, make haste to help me. • Recite the Glory Be. • Do an examination of conscience, then recite an act of contrition. For example: O my God, I am so sorry for having offended you, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.

Amen. • For each day, recite the antiphon before and after the psalm, and read and reflect on the Scripture reading. Begin each evening of your retreat with the following: • Versicle: Lord, come to my assistance, make haste to help me. • Recite the Glory Be. • For each day, recite the antiphon before and after the

psalm, and read and reflect on the Scripture reading. After each evening’s readings, continue with the following: • Responsory (recite twice): “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 5:18). • Canticle of Mary (also known as the Magnificat):

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever” (Lk 1:46–55). • Intercessions: Present your petitions to God; ask him to bless your evening and keep you close to him. • Recite the Lord’s Prayer. • Closing blessing: May the Lord bless us, keep us from all

night prayer (compline)

evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. After each night’s readings, continue with the following: • Responsory (recite twice): “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46). • Canticle of Simeon: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the gentiles, and glory for your people Israel” (Lk 2:29–32). • Final prayer: Lord, give our bodies restful sleep, a perfect end, and let the work we’ve done today be for your glory, through Christ our lord. Amen.

day 1

MORNING

† Psalm 96—antiphon: Great is the

Lord and highly to be praised! † Canticle: “The beauty of the celestial height and the pure firmament, heaven itself manifests its glory. The sun at its rising shines at its fullest, a wonderful instrument, the work of the Most High!” (Sir 43:1–2). † Scripture: “Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare” (Is 55:2).

EVENING

† Psalm 138—antiphon: O Lord, our

Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth! † Canticle: “So submit yourselves to

God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (Jas 4:7–8). † Scripture: “Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says,

‘In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:1–2).

NIGHT

† Psalm 16—antiphon: Keep me safe,

O God; in you I take refuge. † Scripture: “Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the

Lord, your God. For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment” (Jl 2:13).

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day 2

MORNING

† Psalm 8—antiphon: O Lord, our

Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth! † Canticle: “God indeed is my salvation; I am confident and unafraid.

For the Lord is my strength and my might, and he has been my salvation” (Is 12:2). † Scripture: “Know, then, that the

Lord, your God, is God: the faithful

God who keeps covenant mercy to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments” (Dt 7:9).

EVENING

† Psalm 46—antiphon: Be still and know that I am God. † Canticle: “God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus

Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9–11). † Scripture: “Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of

God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom 12:2).

NIGHT

† Psalm 23—antiphon: The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack. † Scripture: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you” (Jer 1:5).

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day 3

MORNING

† Psalm 146—antiphon: I shall praise the Lord all my life, sing praise to my God while I live. † Canticle: “Blessed be the name of

God forever and ever, for wisdom and power are his. He causes the changes of the times and seasons, establishes kings and deposes them.

He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who understand” (Dn 2:20–21). † Scripture: “Today is holy to the

Lord your God. Do not lament, do not weep! . . . Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:9–10).

EVENING

† Psalm 103—antiphon: Bless the

Lord, my soul; all my being, bless his holy name! † Canticle: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the

Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph 5:8–9). † Scripture: “Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through him” (Col 3:17).

REFLECTION: _______________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ NIGHT

† Psalm 91—antiphon: My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom

I trust. † Scripture: “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and

God in him” (1 Jn 4:16).

A REST STOP

The Liturgy of the Hours provides a strong and soothing backdrop for the struggles of daily responsibilities, grounding us in the confidence of God’s presence.

Sometimes, in our busy world, we get so caught up in doing, we forget about being, and we forget about the One who brought us into being.

Colleen Arnold, MD, is a physician and writer residing in Lexington, Virginia. She also holds a master’s degree in pastoral ministry. Learn more about her at her website, ColleenArnold.org.