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Liturgy of the Hours
The Liturgy of the Hours, along with the Eucharist, has formed part of the Church's public worship from the earliest times. It consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings from scripture, recited and sung at prescribed times throughout the day (the Canonical Hours). The Liturgy of the Hours forms the basis of prayer within Christian monasticism. Christians of both Eastern and Western traditions (including the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Anglican churches) celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours under various names. Within Roman Catholicism, the Liturgy of the Hours is contained within the Roman Breviary. In Eastern Christianity the corresponding services are found in the Horologion, meaning Book of Hours. Within Anglicanism, the Liturgy of the Hours is contained within the book of Daily Prayer of Common Worship and Book of Common Prayer. Other names for the Liturgy of the Hours within the Latin Rite include the Divine Office, the Diurnal and Nocturnal Office, Ecclesiastical Office, Cursus ecclesiasticus and Opus Dei.
The practice of daily prayers grew from the Jewish practice of reciting prayers at set times of the day: for example, in the Book of Acts, Peter and John visit the Temple for the afternoon prayers (Acts 3:1). Psalm 119:164 states: "Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws." This practice is believed to have been passed down through the centuries from the Apostles, with variations from place to place. As monasticism spread, the institution of specified hours and liturgical formats began to develop and become standardized. In 525, St. Benedict of Nursia wrote the first official western manual for praying the Hours.
A system of daily, cyclical prayer such as the Liturgy of the Hours enables individuals to join monks, nuns and priests and other Christians worldwide in the continuous effort to heed St. Paul's exhortation: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:11).
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