For thousands of years, the Abrahamic faiths - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - have shared the practice of praying at set times during the day. Psalm 119:64 says, “Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous ordinances.” Paul calls upon the faithful to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thess. 5:18) For Paul (and for Jesus before him) this call to pray constantly was rooted in a practice of regular daily prayer. Praying the hours has fallen on hard times in Christian circles over the last few hundred years - especially in the west.
Today, praying the hours usually means praying 2 (morning and evening), 3 (add before bed), or 4 (add noon) times each day. This kind of prayer is not meditation or making up our list of what we need from God. Each time we pray, we follow an order that includes psalms and scripture reading. This way of prayer teaches us the language of prayer, it steeps us in scripture, it binds us together in common prayer, it invites God into our day at regular times, and it transforms those who pray.
We invite you to join us in praying the hours.
