The Liturgy of the Hours has formed part of the Church’s public worship from the earliest days of Christianity and continues to be celebrated by Christians of both Eastern and Western traditions. Its origins come from the Jewish practice of reciting prayers at certain hours of the day. Early Christians continued this practice, with Acts recording that the Apostles prayed at the third, sixth and ninth hours and at midnight. These prayers originally consisted of reciting or chanting psalms and reading from the Old Testament. Readings from the New Testament and canticles were soon added. As monasteries were formed, the Liturgy of the Hours took on a more defined form. By the 5th century, it was composed of seven hours each celebrated at a specific time: Matins (during night or at midnight), Lauds (at dawn or 3 AM), Terce (3rd hour, approx. 9 AM), Sext (6th hour, approx. Noon), None (9th hour, approx. 3 PM), Vespers (“at the lighting of the lamps,” approx. 6 PM), and Compline (before retiring, approx. 9 PM). In the 6th century, St. Benedict added an eighth hour – Prime (1st hour, approx. 6 AM).
While the psalms and prayers recited during the Liturgy of the Hours were adjusted over time, the basic structure of hours of the Traditional Roman Breviary remained unchanged until Vatican II. After Vatican II, Pope Paul VI promulgated a new Roman Breviary which modified the structure of the hours and the distribution of prayer and psalms. It also introduced the idea of “major” and “minor” hours. Major hours contained more psalms and prayers and took longer to recite than minor hours. The new structure consisted of the major hours – Office of Readings (formerly Matins), Lauds or Morning Prayer and Vespers or Evening Prayer – and minor hours – Daytime Prayer (consisting of one or all of Terce or Mid-Morning Prayer, Sext or Midday Prayer and None or Mid-Afternoon Prayer) and Compline or Night Prayer.
The beauty of the Liturgy of the Hours comes from its continuous nature. Following the cycles, it reflects the rhythm of the day from praise in the morning to thanksgiving in the evening and self-examination at night. It is truly one of the most beautiful prayers of the Church. It truly is the Church constantly praying for the entire world.