Liturgy of Hours

The Liturgy of the Hours prayer of the Church, continually praising God. Here at St Mary’s Cathedral, Evening Prayer or “Vespers” is sung most days of each week, and Morning Prayer or “Lauds” on most Sunday mornings. Everyone is very welcome to join us for the Prayer of the Church.

From the very beginning of the Church, the baptised “remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers (Acts 2.42). Many times, the Acts of the Apostles testifies that the Christian community pray together. The testimony of the early Church shows that individuals also devoted themselves to prayer at certain hours, and in various areas the practice soon gained ground of devoting special times of prayer in common.  For example, at the last hour of the day at dusk when the lamps were lighted, and the first hour of the day when the rising sun dispelled the shadow of night. In the course of time, other hours were also sanctified by communal prayer, and these prayers in common at the different hours of the day gradually took on a more definite shape, which today we call the Liturgy of the hours of the Divine Office.  The most important Hours are Morning Prayer (Lauds)  and Evening Prayer (Vespers), but the Liturgy of the Hours  also consists of Prayer During the Day (Terce, Sext or Nones), Office of Readings (Matins or Vigils) and Night Prayer (Compline). While these prayers are recited daily in monastic life and by the clergy, they are the prayer of the whole Church and a means by which all the baptised may join themselves to the prayer of Jesus Christ to the Father.  The Liturgy of the Hours  consists of seasonal hymns, the chanting or recital of the Psalms and scriptural canticles, readings from the scriptures, and prayers of praise and intercessions.

Evening Vespers:

Mon – Fri: 5.00pm; Saturday 5.30pm;
Sunday 5.00pm (Choral Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament)

Note: No Weekday Vespers and Sunday Benediction during the month of January and School & Public Holidays;

Lauds:

N/A