The Divine Office Explained

Most Christians have heard of the Divine Office, the ancient pattern of prayer built from the Psalms and prayed at set points across the day, but assume it belongs to monks and clergy behind cloister walls. This book says otherwise.

Written for complete beginners of any Christian tradition or none, this is a warm and practical introduction to a way of praying that has sustained the Church for nearly two thousand years. It explains where the Office comes from, how it is built, and what each of its hours is for, then walks the reader through actually beginning: which hour to start with, how to pray alone or with others, and what to do when the words feel unfamiliar, the mind wanders, or the day leaves no time at all.

No prior knowledge is assumed, and no particular church is required. A complete sample day of prayer is included, so that a reader can begin praying the hours before they finish the book.

The hope behind these pages is a simple one: that anyone who has ever wondered whether a life of daily prayer might be possible for them, however busy, however uncertain, however far from any church, will find here the confidence to begin.