It is perfectly conceivable that there is someone, somewhere, praying to God at this exact moment.  Moreover, it is perfectly conceivable that a human being is praying to God at every moment of the day.

The Liturgy of the Hours gathers the People of God at key moments of the day in order to focus and sing God’s praises.  We gather early in the morning, in the middle of the day, at the end of our workday, and before we go to bed, focusing and building our relationship with He Who Calls.

credit – www.motherearthnews.com

A very good friend of mine relates Divine Office to medicine.  “We are sick,” she says, “and Office is our medicine.  Taking our aspirin at regular intervals in order to keep us spiritually healthy.”

I’ve always loved that image.  It reminds me to stay humble, that I cannot do it on my own, and I will not ever do it on my own.  Rather, the Office is, in a way, that which sustains me in my relationship with God.

The General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours puts it this way: “The purpose of the liturgy of the hours is to sanctify the day and the whole range of human activity. Therefore its structure has been revised in such a way as to make each hour once more correspond as nearly as possible to natural time and to take account of the circumstances of life today.

“Hence, ‘that the day may be truly sanctified and the hours themselves recited with spiritual advantage, it is best that each of them be prayed at a time most closely corresponding to the true time of each canonical hour.’”

One of the reasons why I love the Divine Office is because it reminds me of my primary relationship.  We are to connect with the He Who Calls every moment of the day.  Since He had made the day, the entire day ought to be sacrificed to His service for the sake of His people.

Moreover, the Liturgy of the Hours reminds me that time itself is holy.  Every moment and breath will never be repeated.  While checking email, writing a post, curating Facebook material, at a meeting, getting ready for the day…while doing it with a mindful heart to God, that it is a holy act, in one way or another.

Wasting time with God is the best way to spend it.

If you would like to partake of the Liturgy of the Hours, please refer to the Parish Liturgical Schedule.

Holy Father Dominic, pray for us!