Liturgy of the Hours
One pillar of
Benedictine life is prayer in common, and that is the Work of God. Throughout
the day, Benedictines from around the world stop their normal, daily
activity to take time to praise God and to pray for the world. This
gathering for communal prayer is known as the celebration of the Liturgy
of the Hours.
Morning prayer was formally known
as Lauds from its Latin name, laus or laudare,
"praise" or "to praise." Lauds should be the initial prayer of the day
for the oblate. It should be offered as soon after rising from sleep
as possible. Sunrise has a special importance as one of the hinges of
the day; this light of the rising sun brings to life all that was quiet
in sleep. The dawn is a vivid image of the rising of the Sun of Justice,
Jesus Christ. And so we praise the new light, the new day, Christ's
coming again--Lauds.
The second hinge of the day is
sunset. The descent of darkness hints at the coming of the evening star--Vespers.
Vespers is the term used for evening prayer. We look back during the
evening prayer and give thanks for the day we have just lived, and we
look forward to welcome, even beyond the veil of sleep and death, the
morning's promised light--Jesus Christ--who is the light no darkness
can extinguish. Vespers--evening prayer--should be prayed before or
after the evening meal.
Compline
is the night prayer offered before we retire to the bed. This prayer
brings the day to a close. It gives us an opportunity to repent for
our sins and failures and still it renews our trust in the victory of
the light--Jesus Christ--over sin and death.
(The Saint Procopius monastic community also celebrates Noon Prayer at the middle of the day.)
Please address questions & inquiries to:
st_procopius_oblates@yahoo.com