What is the Daily Office and how has it been practiced throughout the Church’s history? Here is the basic history, theology and practice of a foundational spiritual practice that has enriched the lives of countless followers of Jesus throughout the centuries.

History

The people of God have long considered ordered prayers during the day a practice that pleases God, as the psalmist declares: “Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.”Along with the Lord’s Supper, fixed-hour prayer is considered the oldest form of Christian spirituality. The apostles used psalms in their prayers and the psalms remain the backbone of the Office today. Many of the church fathers of the second and third centuries taught the practice of morning and evening prayers, as well as prayers at the third, sixth, and ninth hour. In his Rule, Benedict formalized the Offices for his monks, which have continued in this basic form ever since.

Theology

As is clear from preceding history, fixed-hour prayers has been a part of the Christian tradition since its inception. Early practitioners were trying to follow Paul’s exortation to “pray without ceasing,” in addition to the psalmist’s example to pray to God seven times a day. A theological uniqueness is the God-centered orientation; whereas many prayers are rightly petitionary or intercessory, fixed-hour prayers always are and have been exclusively an offering to God. Like the sacrifices of the Old Testament, these are prayers of praise offered as a sacrifice of thanksgiving and faith to God and as a sweet-smelling incense of the soul before the throne of God.

Practice

Observing the Office is, obviously, a routine that takes an amount of discipline and commitment. This particular Office provides sacred space during the morning, afternoon and evening hours everyday of the week. The 15 minute service is composed of prayers and lectio divina, or sacred readings. Our world is speeding up, people are busy, and worship is considered a waste of time. novus•lumen hopes this space will be an oasis in this chaos, and help you reorient your life around the eternal.