Daily Prayer & Liturgy of the Hours

Daily Prayer Helps

  • As we practice social distancing, it is good to remember that there is no distancing in prayer. When we pray the aim is emotional and spiritual intimacy with God and each other, the communion of saints and angels in heaven. See a Prayer Practice resource from L.J. Milone’s March 10, 2020 Lenten lecture, ”Awakening to the Presence of God: Prayer in Lent.” Adopting these Christian prayer practices can deepen our relationship with God. L.J. in his talk cited acclaimed Jesuit theologian, Karl Rahner (paraphrasing): 'many have entered the kingdom without the sacraments, but none without prayer.' 
     
  • St. Ignatius Loyola's Examen is an ancient yet flexible and adaptive prayer that can help us discern God’s presence in our lives and find our growing edge. This version from Ignatian Solidarity Network is adapted for life during the #covid19 pandemic.
     
  • For your daily prayer life we recommend either a digital or print version of the excellent Give Us This Day, or Magnificat, two popular prayer resources. Both Magnificat and Give Us This Day are currently offering free access to their online daily prayer subscriptions. Magnificat also currently offers free access to MagnifiKid with an online Sunday missalette for children ages 6 through 12.  
     
  • You may wish to explore Lectio Divina as a form of praying over a particular scripture passage that can be practiced individually or in a group (covered in the Prayer Practice resource mentioned above). Hallow (some features are free) is a Catholic meditation app that includes Gospel contemplation.

Liturgy of the Hours

  • If you have never prayed the Liturgy of the Hours (praying the Breviary), this is a great time to explore the ancient prayer of the Church that marks the hours of each day and sanctifies the day with prayer. Divine Office, a Catholic ministry that provides the prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours online and in audio, is opening registrations temporarily to allow people in the United States to join in prayer. Register for a free account. Those who are visually impaired or blind can benefit from using a screen-optimized version of the prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours. You may also download the prayers on your iPhone or iPad using iBreviary or other apps. Once the Cathedral reopens to public liturgies, Morning Prayer, one of the offices of the Liturgy of the Hours, will resume on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 7:30am in the St. Anthony Chapel.