The Divine Office is not a test of endurance, expertise, or perfection. It is a rule of prayer—a way of ordering time so that the Church’s praise of God becomes the quiet frame of daily life.
The Saint Willibrord Breviary is designed to support that purpose. It provides a full and normative form of the Office, while also allowing simpler patterns of prayer that remain faithful, disciplined, and fully legitimate.
What matters most is not how much you pray, but that you pray regularly, receiving the Church’s prayer as a support and guide while simultaneously enriching your own private sense of prayer.
The Full Office
The normative form of the Divine Office in this Breviary consists of three Hours, usually prayed in the following order:
-
Matins – the morning offering of praise at the beginning of the day
-
Lectionum – drinking deeply from Scripture at a convenient time each
-
Vespers – thanksgiving and intercession as the day draws to its close
When prayed in full, this pattern orders the day around:
-
the Psalms,
-
the reading of Holy Scripture,
-
and ecclesially common texts of prayer.
This is the form most often used by clergy and by communities praying together. It represents the full shape of the Office — not a minimum requirement for faithfulness.
A Simplified Cycle: Matins and Vespers
Many people—especially those new to the Office—will find it best to begin with Matins and Vespers only.
In this pattern:
-
The odd-numbered Psalter Portions are prayed at Matins
-
The even-numbered Psalter Portions are prayed at Vespers
In this way, the entire Psalter is prayed each month, even though Lectionum is omitted.
The Scripture readings assigned to Lectionum may be reassigned:
-
one reading at Matins,
-
one reading at Vespers.
This form preserves:
-
the Church’s rhythm of morning and evening prayer,
-
disciplined engagement with Scripture,
-
and a monthly psalm cycle.
For some, this will be the ideal long-term pattern: substantial, balanced, and sustainable.
Lectionum as the Sole Office of the Day
There may be seasons of life when praying multiple Hours is not possible. In such cases, Lectionum may be prayed as the sole office of the day.
When Lectionum is used in this way:
-
The appointed readings are read as given.
-
The Collect of the Day is prayed.
-
The Collects appointed for Matins and Vespers may be added, to mark the time of prayer as morning or evening.
Even in this simplest form, the Office remains:
-
ecclesial rather than private,
-
ordered rather than improvised,
-
and rooted in the Church’s common prayer.
This is not a failure or a concession. It is a faithful keeping of the Office within real human limits.
Spoken, Sung, or Silent Prayer
The Divine Office may be:
-
sung or spoken,
-
prayed aloud or quietly,
-
prayed alone or with others.
It is fully and truly prayed in any of these forms.
Music, chanting, and ceremonial gestures can enrich prayer, but they are not prerequisites. The heart of the Office is attentiveness—listening to the Psalms and Scriptures and offering them back to God in faith.
When You Miss an Hour
If an Hour is missed, it should not be “made up” later out of anxiety or guilt. Simply resume the Office at the next appointed time.
The Office trains faithfulness, not fear.
Begin Simply. Remain Steady.
The purpose of the Divine Office is not to accomplish everything at once, but to shape a life over time.
Begin simply.
Pray consistently.
Let the pattern teach you.
This is how the Church has always prayed—not perfectly, but faithfully.