Divine Office

Divine office, also called the Canonical Hours, Liturgy of the Hours, or Liturgical Hours, in various Christian churches, is the public service of praise and worship. This is the daily prayer of the Carmelites all over the world.

Next to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Divine Office is the primary way in which the Carmelites engage in the worship of God. Our Carmelite vocation leads us, like Mary, to hear the Word of God and put it into practice.

In our community, we chant the Liturgy of the Hours three times daily. Immediately after reciting the Angelus together, we begin that part of the Divine Office called Lauds or Morning Prayer, our morning praise of God.

The Liturgy of the Hours/Divine Office is the universal prayer of the Church and an ancient monastic tradition that infuses the hours of the day with prayer. In addition to chanting the Divine Office, our way of life also calls us to a half hour of silent contemplative prayer.

From early rising until retirement late at night, the day is interspersed with a continuous interchange of spiritual exercises.