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The Liturgy
At the heart of each day lies the liturgy: the daily celebration of the Mass and Divine Office. The Eucharist - our "daily bread" - is the centre and summit of our Carmelite life. We gather together each morning to listen to the Word of God and to receive the Bread of Life that nourishes our souls and fills us with the strength we need to pursue our vocation faithfully.
The praise and thanksgiving celebrated at the Eucharistic Sacrifice continues through the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church’s official prayer, which we sing as a community. Over the years we have built up a rich heritage of music from many different sources, including chants from the Church's ancient tradition.
“The Church needs people who pray, who are willing to remain on the mountain top to be struck by the light of the Word of God and who will, from their illumination, send light and grace over the whole Church.”
~ Pope St Paul VI
The Divine Office
The Divine Office is the name given to the seven periods of common worship that punctuate our day and give it focus.
The Divine Office, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours, is the daily prayer of the Church. It marks the significant hours of each day and sanctifies the day with prayer. The most important Offices Lauds in the morning, Vespers in the evening and the Office of Readings at night. Four other, shorter Offices, known as the "Little Hours", bring us together for prayer during the course of the day.
Our liturgical prayer constantly renews our communion with the Church and enables us to share deeply in its salvific work.
Lauds
Lauds
Also known as Morning Prayer, Lauds takes its name from the Latin laudes meaning ‘praises’. It celebrates the goodness of God as the new day begins. It is one of the major hours, (omit ‘usually … early morning hours’) and consists of a hymn, two psalms and a canticle from the Old Testament, a reading, a Gospel canticle (the Song of Zechariah), and prayers of intercession where we consecrate our day and our work to God and pray for the Church and the world. It ends with the Our Father and a benediction as we start our day.
“My heart is ready, O God; I will sing, sing your praise. Awake, my soul; awake, lyre and harp, I will awake the dawn.”
~ Psalm 107(108):1-2
Little Hours
Little Hours
The Little Hours of the day are known as Terce, Sext and None, from the Latin for the third, sixth and ninth hours of the day. They all consist of a hymn, psalms, a reading and a concluding prayer, and are celebrated respectively in the morning, around midday, and in the afternoon.
“Your word, O Lord, for ever stands firm in the heavens: your truth lasts from age to age.”
~ Psalm 118(119): 89-91
Vespers
Vespers
Also known as Evening Prayer, Vespers derives its name from vesper, the Latin for ‘evening’. It takes place at the end of the working day, when we give thanks for the day just past and make an evening sacrifice of praise to God. Its structure is similar to that of Lauds, but it contains a New Testament canticle and its Gospel canticle is the Magnificat (the Song of Mary).
“He destined us in love as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace.”
~ Eph 1: 5-7
Office of Readings
Office of Readings
The Office of Readings consists of three psalms or portions of psalms, followed by two readings, the first of which is taken from Scripture (assigned…).
“O sing to the Lord, make music to his name…Rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.”
~ Psalm 67(68): 4, Office of Readings for Tuesday Week 3 of Advent
Compline
Compline
Also known as Night Prayer, Compline is the last of the Little Hours and is the final Office of the day. It starts after a short period of silence with a penitential rite, which is followed by a hymn, psalmody, a reading, and a Gospel canticle (the Song of Simeon). After the concluding prayer and benediction we sing a Marian antiphon according to the season (e.g. Ave Maria, Ave Regina Caelorum, or Regina Caeli).
“Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you. I say to the Lord: You are my God, my happiness lies in you alone.”
~ Psalm 15(16): 1, Thursday Compline