Liturgy of the Hours

According to the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, Article 8, Secular Franciscans are to "join in liturgical prayer in one of the forms proposed by the Church, reliving the mysteries of the life of Christ."

The Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order book gives several suggestions for fulfilling this responsibility, one of them being Morning and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.

DivineOFFICE.org is used by many Secular Franciscans to access Liturgy of the Hours prayers for a specific date and time. It is also a good source of information regarding the Liturgy of the Hours.

To open/download a pdf document with detailed information about the Liturgy of the Hours including its basic structure/sequence, CLICK HERE .
Images of the document pages are also displayed below.

Below is an example of  Evening Prayer II prayed by one person, who selects the opening and concluding hymns.

Below is a colour-coded example of an Evening Prayer II prayed by a group of Franciscans. In this example, the group is divided into Side 1 and Side 2. Specific parts of the Prayer are assigned to the fraternity Minister, Leader (Side 1) and Leader (Side 2). Please note that the assigning of roles may differ among groups. To open and download a pdf copy of Evening II (June 15, 2015), click here .

An Example of the Office of the Passion of St. Francis of Assisi
Source: "The Office of the Passion of Saint Francis of Assisi - The Geste of the Great King
Laurent Gallant , OFM & Andre  Cirino, OFM; Tau-Publishing.com

LEADER: Please stand.

OPENING HYMN

Part 1. OUR FATHER
ALL: Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Part 2. GLORY

SIDE 1: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
SIDE 2 - as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LEADER: All may be seated.

Part 3. PRAISES

SIDE 1: Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, You who are, who were, and who are to come:
SIDE 2: - Let us praise and exult God above all forever!

SIDE 1: You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive praise and glory, honour and blessing:
SIDE 2: - Let us praise and exult God above all forever!

SIDE 1: Worthy is the slain Lamb to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength,
honour, glory and blessing:
SIDE 2: - Let us praise and exult God above all forever!

SIDE 1: Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit:
SIDE 2: - Let us praise and exult God above all forever!

SIDE 1: All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord:
SIDE 2: - Let us praise and exult God above all forever!

SIDE 1: Give praise to our God, all you God’s servants and you who fear God, the small and the great:
SIDE 2: - Let us praise and exult God above all forever!

SIDE 1: Let heaven and earth praise the glorious One:
SIDE 2: - Let us praise and exult God above all forever!

SIDE 1: And every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and the sea and everything in it:
SIDE 2: - Let us praise and exult God above all forever!

SIDE 1: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
SIDE 2: - Let us praise and exult God above all forever!

SIDE 1: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
SIDE 2: - Let us praise and exult God above all forever!

Part 4. PRAYER

LEADER: Let us pray:
ALL: Almighty, most holy, most high, and supreme God, all good, supreme good, totally good, You who alone are good, may we give back to You all praise, all glory, all grace, all honour, all blessing, and all good. So be it. So be it.
ALL: Amen.

Part 5. ANTIPHON to the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

SIDE 1: Holy Virgin Mary, there is no one like you born in the world among women:
Daughter and Handmaid of the most high, sovereign King the heavenly Father,
Mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ; Spouse of the Holy Spirit.

SIDE 2: Pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel and with all the powers of the heavens
and with all the saints together with your most holy beloved Son, Lord and Teacher.

Part 6. GLORY

SIDE 1: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
SIDE 2 – as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Part 7. PSALM

SIDE 1: Sing a new song to the Lord, the worker of wondrous deeds.
SIDE 2: God’s right hand and holy arm sacrificed the beloved Son.

SIDE 1: The Lord made salvation known, revealed justice to the nations.
SIDE 2: On that day the Lord sent mercy and song in the night.

SIDE 1: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
SIDE 2: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; the Lord is God, and has shone upon us.

SIDE 1: Let the heavens rejoice and earth exult, let the sea and all that is in it roar,
let the fields and everything in them sing for joy.

SIDE 2: Bring to the Lord, families of nations, bring to the Lord glory and honour,
bring to the Lord the glory due his name.

Part 8. GLORY

SIDE 1: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
SIDE 2: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Part 9. ANTIPHON to the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

SIDE 1: Holy Virgin Mary, there is no one like you born in the world among women:
Daughter and Handmaid of the most high, sovereign King the heavenly Father,
Mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ; Spouse of the Holy Spirit.

SIDE 2: Pray for us with Saint Michael the Archangel and with all the powers of the heavens and with all the saints together with your most holy beloved Son, Lord and Teacher.

Part 10. GLORY

SIDE 1: Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
SIDE 2 – as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Part 11. BLESSING/DISMISSAL

LEADER: Let us bless the Lord, the living and true God.
ALL: Let us always give back to God praise, glory, honour, blessing and every good.

LEADER: Amen. Amen.
ALL: So be it. So be it.

CLOSING HYMN