And, although the Apostles no longer shared in the Temple sacrifices-they had its fulfillment in the 'breaking of the bread' (the Eucharist)-they continued to frequent the Temple at the customary hours of prayer (Acts 3:1). The Acts of the Apostles notes that Christians continued to pray at these hours (Third: Acts 2:15 Sixth: Acts 10:9 10: 3, 13). We know that in addition to Morning and Evening Prayer to accompany the sacrifices, there was prayer at the Third, Sixth and Ninth Hours of the day. 1:2).Īfter the people returned to Judea, and the Temple was re-built, the prayer services developed in Babylon for the local assemblies (synagogues) of the people were brought into Temple use, as well. 119:164), as well as, 'the just man mediates on the law day and night' (Ps. The inspiration to do this may have been fulfillment of David's words, 'Seven times a day I praise you' (Ps. During the Babylonian Exile (587-521 BC), when the Temple did not exist, the synagogue services of Torah readings and psalms and hymns developed as a substitute for the bloody sacrifices of the Temple, a sacrifice of praise. God commanded the Aaronic priests (c.1280 BC) to offer a morning and evening sacrifice (Ex. The Divine Office owes its remote origin to the inspiration of the Old Covenant. The Divine Office is also called the Opus Dei (Work of God).

Liturgy of the Hours - From liturgia horarium (L) and the Greek litourgia, a service performed by an official.ĭivine Office - From officium divina ( L.), a divine service or duty.īreviary - From breviarium (L.), a compendium (of the canonical hours). Increasingly, the laity are also praying it, though they do not do so in the name of the Church. Clergy and religious have a canonical obligation to pray the Liturgy of the Hours as official representatives of the Church. All three names refer to the same reality, the official prayer of the Church offered at various times of the day in order to sanctify it.

Divine office liturgy of hours