Prayer Focus: Liturgy of the Hours
Lenten Challenge!
Don’t know what you’re doing for Lent yet? Join the St. Helen Lenten Challenge! We challenge you to pray a little more with scripture, particularly with Liturgy of the Hours.
What is Liturgy of the Hours? Liturgy of the Hours is apart of the Church’s official prayer that are recited everyday by monks, nuns, and priests, seven times a day. The prayers are from the psalms, canticles, and letters from scripture. But don’t worry! We aren’t challenging you to pray all seven! We challenge you to pray either morning prayer, evening prayer, or night prayer everyday during the 40 days of Lent! If you feel ambitious you can pray two or all three prayers.
We will provide:
During Lent Shaughn will also provide an opportunity to pray evening prayer before the Saturday vigil liturgies, starting at 4:15! Traditional Liturgy of the Hour books (breviaries) will be provided.
During Lent join the Church all around the world to “pause and pray” with Liturgy of the Hours!
What is Liturgy of the Hours? Liturgy of the Hours is apart of the Church’s official prayer that are recited everyday by monks, nuns, and priests, seven times a day. The prayers are from the psalms, canticles, and letters from scripture. But don’t worry! We aren’t challenging you to pray all seven! We challenge you to pray either morning prayer, evening prayer, or night prayer everyday during the 40 days of Lent! If you feel ambitious you can pray two or all three prayers.
We will provide:
- Manuals on how to pray Liturgy of the Hours!
- Simplified copies of morning and evening prayer after the Ash Wednesday liturgies!
- Apps you can use during Lent!
During Lent Shaughn will also provide an opportunity to pray evening prayer before the Saturday vigil liturgies, starting at 4:15! Traditional Liturgy of the Hour books (breviaries) will be provided.
During Lent join the Church all around the world to “pause and pray” with Liturgy of the Hours!
There's An App For That
Laudate: This app is perfect for beginners praying Liturgy of the Hours! There is no hassle flipping through the pages of the Liturgy of the Hour book (commonly called a breviary) to find what to pray next. Simply scroll through the prayers already ordered! Free. Available from iTunes and Google Play.
iBreviary: This app has an automatic scrolling option. Simply click play and pray. This feature is perfect for ipad users to prop up on your dining room table or on your lap while sitting in your Lazy Boy! iBreviary also has a feature to journal. Free. Available from iTunes and Google Play.
Click here for a simplified version of Night Prayer!
Prayer Focus: The Examen
The Examen is the practice of reflecting on the day's events in order to become aware of God's presence in our daily life, and to identify where God may be calling us to act differently. This simple, but rich prayer is the focus of the 2017 Christmas Book. In Shaughn's words, this book was selected because, "In reflecting on my day, the Examen allows me to make the moments I forget to be with God in prayer the most meaningful moments with God! I'm always surprised praying the Examen how the ordinary moments become God's most precious gift for me. I wanted to share this prayer, particularly with Jim Manney's book, forward! "
There's An App For That
Reimagining the Examen: A modern take on St. Ignatius's 500-year-old prayer, the app provides adaptations of the Examen to address specific needs and situations. Free. Available from iTunes and Google Play.
Examen Prayer: This app will guide you through the steps of the Examen. It also includes a reminder to pray and a journal feature, along with links to Scripture and other Church teachings. Free. Available from iTunes and Google Play.
Pray-As-You-Go: Prayer podcasts, including audio guided versions of the Examen for young adults, children, and adults are all easily accessible through this app. Also includes podcasts of the Rosary and Stations of the Cross. Free. Available from iTunes and Google Play.
Additional Examen Resources
IgnatianSpirituality.com: This website provides a number of print, video, and podcast resources and reflections about the Examen. Includes video guides, a six-session podcast about praying the Examen at lunchtime, an ecological Examen, and more.
Praying the Examen with Children: Becky Eldredge, a writer, spiritual director, and retreat leader, describes how to pray the Examen as a family, based on her own experience with her three kids.
