Liturgy of the Hours Cover | Monastic Diurnal Cover

Liturgy of the Hours Cover | Monastic Diurnal Cover

• Cover made of faux leather/synthetic leather.
• Zip closure.
• Case in black color.
• 19.5 cm (7.68 in) in height.
• 13.5 cm (5.31 in) in width.
• 6 cm (2.36 in) in depth.

What is the Monastic Diurnal?

The Monastic Diurnal is a liturgical book used as a tool for praying daytime prayers that are part of the Liturgy of the Hours (or Divine Office).

The Monastic Diurnal includes only:

• Lauds: Morning prayer, when the sun is rising.
• The Minor Hours:
  • Prime: The first hour after sunrise.
  • Terce: The third hour after sunrise.
  • Sext: The sixth hour after sunrise.
  • None: The ninth hour after sunrise.
• Vespers: Evening prayer, when the sun is setting.
• Compline: Prayer before going to rest.

Each of these parts has a specific structure formed by psalms, hymns, biblical readings, and prayers. Lauds in the morning and Vespers in the evening are the main canonical hours.

The practice of the Liturgy of the Hours has been a cornerstone of Catholic spirituality since ancient times, fostering constant connection with God.

The Monastic Diurnal: Structure and Content

The Monastic Diurnal consists of the canonical prayers said during the day. Each of these prayers contains:

• Psalms: Distributed over a four-week cycle.
• Hymns: Designed for each specific hour.
• Biblical readings: Extracts from Sacred Scripture for meditation.
• Prayers: Liturgical texts that foster spiritual connection.

What is the Liturgy of the Hours?

The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is a set of prayers organized by the Church to be recited at specific hours of the day. Along with the Holy Mass, it forms the public prayer of the Church.

Priests and religious are obliged to recite the Divine Office, and all the faithful are invited to participate.

The Liturgy of the Hours comprises all the canonical hours, including those of the Monastic Diurnal (Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline), plus the Office of Readings, formerly known as Matins. It was a prayer recited during the early hours of the day, shortly after midnight.