The Everyday Catholic's Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours

by Daria Sockey

Overview

You don't live in a cloister or a monastery, but you take your prayer life seriously and want to explore ways to pray regularly and better. The Liturgy of the Hours is one of those ways—but for those of us who find it a little intimidating, Daria Sockey provides a solid overview to this ancient prayer practice. The Everyday Catholic's Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours will answer questions like: What is the history of the Liturgy of the Hours? How can the Liturgy of the Hours fit into a busy schedule? Why is the Liturgy of the Hours relevant today? Print or online resources: Which is better? There is a rhythm of prayer, not just throughout the day, but throughout the year. Sockey explores the spiritual riches of the seasons, the saints, and special feast days, which add depth and variety to prayer. She also addresses the practice of praying the Scriptures, especially the psalms, and helps the reader to appreciate the universal beauty of these ancient prayers.

Don't let concerns about "what page am I supposed to be on?" scare you away. Sockey will be your guide to answer common questions and overcome common fears. Your prayer life will never be the same!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781616365288
Publisher:	Franciscan Media
Publication date:	02/22/2013
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	498,031
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Daria Sockey is a freelance writer, mother of seven children, and experienced homeschooler who lives in the Pittsburgh area. Daria has a B.A. in education and has taken graduate courses in moral theology, Christology, Mariology, and the psychology of spiritual development at St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York. Her articles appear regularly in Catholic Digest, National Catholic Register, and Lay Witness. This is her first book.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Introduction xi

Part 1 1

Chapter 1 So, What Exactly Is This? 2

Chapter 2 Why Pray the Liturgy of the Hours? 14

Chapter 3 Breviaries and Other Resources 28

Part 2 41

Chapter 4 "Seven Times a Day I Praise You": The Liturgical Hours at a Glance 42

Chapter 5 Taking It Piece by Piece 49

Chapter 6 Hour by Hour 71

Chapter 7 Praying the Calendar: Seasons and Feasts 84

Part 3 93

Chapter 8 Common Quibbles With the Psalms 94

Chapter 9 More Help for Making the Liturgy of the Hours Your Own 104

Conclusion 114

Notes 116

Interviews

 Pittsburgh, PA

Editorial Reviews

The Everyday Catholic’s Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours is a wonderful and necessary resource for any Christian interested in deepening their personal prayer life. Daria Sockey, a regular contributor to the National Catholic Register, has successfully created a handbook to the Liturgy of the Hours. This official prayer of the Church, once the purview of priests and religious monks and nuns, is now accessible to every Christian via traditional book format or online. Sockey prudently informs the reader of an abundance of material available on the Internet.

This helpful little handbook introduces some historical information about the Liturgy of the Hours before providing a step-by-step procedure for praying the hours. If one is using a one volume or multi-volume Liturgy of the Hours, Sockey expertly takes the reader through the seemingly complicated ritual. The result of following her easy recommendations will allow one to enter into the ritual and rhythm of this ancient prayer practice. The text is complete with a brief notes section. Recommended for all parish libraries.

Catholic Library World - John Berg

More than simply a how-to-guide, The Everyday Catholic’s Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours, is studded with insightful gems with broad relevance to the devout life. Take this one on making time for prayer: The opportunity to sanctify time is something we should welcome. Ultimately, The Everyday Catholic’s Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours, like its subject matter, has something for everyone. That includes those who are not novices to this form of prayer, but perhaps are seeking a richer understanding of why they do what they do in the Liturgy of the Hours. Even those readers who do not immediately rush out to buy a breviary or log onto to divineoffice.org will find their prayer lives instantly enriched by reflections on the devout life that are universally applicable.
—Steven Beale, Catholic Exchange


"Your book hits a perfect balance of instruction and inspiration."
—Dane Faulkner, CEO, DivineOffice.org



"When I was newly Catholic, I was introduced to the Liturgy of the Hours by a priest who believed the whole world can and should embrace such treasures. Daria Sockey has the same mindset and mission. Whether you prefer books or apps, Morning Prayer or Night, Daria leads you step by step through the Breviary, helping it become an accessible and familiar friend. The Everyday Catholic's Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours will ease and enrich your prayer life."
—Karen Edmisten, author of After Miscarriage: A Catholic Woman's Companion to Healing and Hope


"This is the first clear and simple introduction to the Church's hours I've seen, and I can't imagine a better one. Daria Sockey has given 'the rest of us' another path to prayer—a path proven by tradition and by the experience of the saints—a path that had, til now, seemed obscure and impassible. I'm very grateful."
—Mike Aquilina, author of Yours Is the Church and EWTN host


"If you...are pondering whether The Liturgy of the Hours is for you, I urge you to take this journey with Daria. In the pages of this book you will discover the heart and soul of this path of prayer. ..If you are someone who already has a tremendous devotion to praying the Hours, it's likely that Daria's work will open your eyes to new facets of your favorite prayer and help you to effectively share it with your loved ones."
— from the Introduction by Lisa Hendey, author and CEO of CatholicMom.com

"If you've ever been daunted by opening a breviary with all it pages, sections and ribbons, here's the help you've been waiting for! Daria Sockey's handy how-to manual, The Everyday Catholic's Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours, instills the confidence we need to use the breviary to encounter the Word of God every day."
—Pat Gohn, author of Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious: Celebrating the Gift of Catholic Womanhood, and host of the Among Women podcast

From the Publisher