This series of catechesis, begun by Pope St John Paul II and completed by his successor Pope Benedict XVI, is devoted to promoting the Liturgy of the Hours as a prayer of the whole people of God. These two popes offer original and illuminating reflections on each of the psalms and canticles, leading the reader to deeper meditation and understanding.
Morning Prayer
| Day | Reflection | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Psalter is ideal source of Christian prayer | ||
| The Spirit prays through us in the Psalms | ||
| Sunday | Psalm 63:2-9 | My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord |
| Daniel 3:57-88, 56 | Let every creature bless the Lord | |
| Psalm 149 | Song of praise, joy sung by festive chorus and instruments | |
| Monday | Psalm 5:2-10, 12-13 | In the morning you hear me * |
| 1 Chronicles 29:10b-13 | Blessed are you, O Lord * | |
| Psalm 29 | The Lord solemnly proclaims his word | |
| Tuesday | Psalm 24 | The Lord enters his temple! |
| Tobit 13:1b-8 | I exalt my God and my spirit rejoices in the King of heaven * | |
| Psalm 33 | Hymn of joy and acclamation to God's Providence | |
| Wednesday | Psalm 36 | Malice of Sinner vs. Goodness of Lord |
| Judith 16:1, 13-15 | The Lord, Creator of the World, protects his people | |
| Psalm 47 | Praise the Lord, King of all the earth | |
| Thursday | Psalm 57 | It is a dark night * |
| Jeremiah 31:10-14 | Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, proclaim it on the distant coasts * | |
| Psalm 48 | O God we ponder your love within your temple | |
| Friday | Psalm 51 | Against you alone have I sinned |
| Isaiah 45:15-25 | On the Mystery and Providence of God | |
| Psalm 100 | Let the world praise faithful God | |
| Saturday | Psalm 119:145-152 | Praise God for the gift of His Law |
| Exodus 15:1-4a, 8-13, 17-18 | Sing to the Lord for he is triumphant | |
| Psalm 117 | All peoples praise God's faithful love | |
| Sunday | Psalm 118 | The stone rejected ... has become cornerstone |
| Daniel 3:52-57 | Canticle uses language of Love | |
| Psalm 150 | To you all flesh shall come with its burden of sin | |
| Monday | Psalm 42 | The thirsting deer longs for streams of living water |
| Sirach 36:1-5, 10-13 | Glimmers of Hope During the Exile | |
| Psalm 19:1-7 | God Creator creates brilliance of Sun | |
| Tuesday | Psalm 43 | With confidence on road toward the heavenly 'Zion' |
| Isaiah 38:10-14, 17b-20 | Canticle of thanksgiving after nightmare of illness | |
| Psalm 65 | To you all flesh shall come with its burden of sin | |
| Wednesday | Psalm 77 | God renews the saving wonders of his love |
| 1 Samuel 2:1-10 | The humble hope in God, rejoice in him | |
| Psalm 97 | The Glory of the Lord, Judge of the world | |
| Thursday | Psalm 80 | O Shepherd of Israel, come to our aid! |
| Isaiah 12:1-6 | Draw water with joy at the fountain of salvation | |
| Psalm 81 | A love that frees the oppressed from their burdens | |
| Friday | Psalm 51 | Where sin abounded, grace was more abundant! |
| Habakkuk 3:2-4, 13a, 15-19 | The Lord comes to judge the earth | |
| Psalm 147:12-20 | Jerusalem, praise your saving God | |
| Saturday | Psalm 92 | Sing in praise of Christ's redeeming work |
| Deuteronomy 32:1-12 | Fidelity is the best response to God's benefits | |
| Psalm 8 | How Great is Your Name through all the earth | |
| Sunday | Psalm 93 | God is our strength in the storms of life |
| Daniel 3:57-88, 56 | Give praise and glory to God for Creation | |
| Psalm 148 | Praise to him who sits upon the throne | |
| Monday | Psalm 84 | Heaven's peace and life is our destination |
| Isaiah 2:2-5 | They shall beat their swords into plowshares | |
| Psalm 96 | The Lord reigns from the Cross | |
| Tuesday | Psalm 85 | Show us, O Lord, your Mercy; grant salvation |
| Isaiah 26:1b-4, 7-9, 12 | My peace I give to you, my peace I leave you | |
| Psalm 67 | God is offering His salvation to the whole world | |
| Wednesday | Psalm 86 | All nations shall come and adore You, O Lord |
| Isaiah 33:13-16 | The Lord will Judge with Justice | |
| Psalm 98 | May Your Kingdom Come | |
| Thursday | Psalm 87 | Jerusalem, Mother of all Peoples |
| Isaiah 40:10-17 | Almighty God, Omniscient Lord, Loving Shepherd | |
| Psalm 99 | Holy is the Lord our God | |
| Friday | Psalm 51 | Take not your Holy Spirit from me |
| Jeremiah 14:17-21 | Show us O Lord your mercy | |
| Psalm 100 | In prayer we abandon ourselves to God's embrace | |
| Saturday | Psalm 119:145-152 | Begin the day with prayer: let Christ be light of day |
| Wisdom 9:1-6, 9-11 | True wisdom is a participation in the mind of God | |
| Psalm 117 | Prayer is ray of light in self-sufficient world | |
| Sunday | Psalm 118 | In all our trials, God has the last word |
| Daniel 3:52-57 | Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord | |
| Psalm 150 | Music, hymnody should be worthy of the greatness of the Liturgy | |
| Monday | Psalm 90 | Teach us to number our days aright |
| Isaiah 42:10-16 | Sing to the Lord a new song! | |
| Psalm 135:1-12 | Praise the name of the Lord! | |
| Tuesday | Psalm 101 | I will sing of loyalty and of justice! |
| Daniel 3:26, 27, 29, 34-41 | We trust in your merciful love! | |
| Psalm 144:1-10 | Blessed be the Lord, my rock! | |
| Wednesday | Psalm 108 | My heart is steadfast, O God! |
| Isaiah 61:10-62:5 | The rebirth and renewal of Jerusalem: My soul exalts in my God! | |
| Psalm 146 | Praise the Lord, O my soul! | |
| Thursday | Psalm 143:1-11 | Penitential Psalms |
| Isaiah 66:10-14a | Rejoice with Jerusalem! | |
| Psalm 147:1-11 | Praise the Lord! | |
| Friday | Psalm 51 | Have mercy on me, O God! |
| Tobit 13:8-11, 13-15 | Give thanks worthily to the Lord | |
| Psalm 147:12-20 | Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! | |
| Saturday | Psalm 92 | Good vs. evil |
| Ezekiel 36:24-28 | I will be your God! | |
| Psalm 8 | O Lord, our Lord! | |
| Luke 1:68-79 | Benedictus | |
Evening Prayer
| Day | Reflection | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Vespers, Prayer of Sunset: Structure of Evening Prayer in the Roman rite | ||
| Sunday I (Saturday evening) | Psalm 141:1-9 | Prayer in danger |
| Psalm 142 | I cry with my voice to the Lord! | |
| Philippians 2:6-11 | Christ, servant of God | |
| Sunday II | Psalm 110:1-5, 7 | Sit at my right hand! |
| Psalm 114 | They all sang with one voice | |
| Revelation 19:1-7 | Let us rejoice and be glad! | |
| 1 Peter 2:21b-24 | Our Lord's glorious Passion as foreseen at his Baptism in the River Jordan | |
| Monday | Psalm 11 | A prayer of trust to the Lord who is not indifferent to right and wrong |
| Psalm 15 | To dwell on 'your holy mountain' | |
| Ephesians 1:3-10 | Blessed be the Lord! | |
| Tuesday | Psalm 20 | Grant victory, O Lord! |
| Psalm 21:2-8, 14 | For the king trusts in the Lord! | |
| Revelation 4:11; 5:9, 10, 12 | Worthy is the lamb who was slain! | |
| Wednesday | Psalm 27:1-6 | The Lord is my light and my help! |
| Psalm 27:7-14 | Confidence in God in times of tribulation | |
| Colossians 1:12-20 | Christological hymn | |
| Thursday | Psalm 30 | A hymn of thanksgiving for deliverance from death and from the experience of trial and crisis |
| Psalm 32 | Happy those who are forgiven! | |
| Revelation 11:17-18; 12:10b-12a | Hymn of thanksgiving to God | |
| Friday | Psalm 41 | Prayer of a sick man betrayed by his friends |
| Psalm 46 | God "our refuge and strength" | |
| Revelation 15:3-4 | Just and true are your ways! | |
| Sunday I (Saturday evening) | Psalm 119:105-112 | Your word is a lamp for my steps and a light for my path |
| Psalm 16 | My happiness lies in you alone | |
| Philippians 2:6-11 | He emptied himself! | |
| Sunday II | Psalm 110:1-5, 7 | Sit on my right: your foes I will put beneath your feet |
| Psalm 115 | We who live bless the Lord! | |
| Revelation 19:1-7 | Alleluia... Praise our God! | |
| 1 Peter 2:21b-24 | The face of the suffering Christ and his patience in bearing the burden of the Cross | |
| Monday | Psalm 45:2-10 | My heart overflows |
| Psalm 45:11-18 | Listen, O daughter! | |
| Ephesians 1:3-10 | Blessed be God! | |
| Tuesday | Psalm 49:1-13 | In his riches, man lacks wisdom! |
| Psalm 49:14-21 | God will ransom me! | |
| Revelation 4:11; 5:9, 10, 12 | Worthy is the Lamb | |
| Wednesday | Psalm 62 | In God alone be at rest! |
| Psalm 67 | The earth has yielded its fruit | |
| Colossians 1:12-20 | Firstborn of all creation | |
| Thursday | Psalm 72:1-11 | Justice shall flourish |
| Psalm 72:12-19 | He shall save the poor! | |
| Revelation 11:17-18; 12:10b-12a | By the blood of the Lamb | |
| Friday | Psalm 116:1-9 | O Lord, deliver me! |
| Psalm 121 | Israel's guard | |
| Revelation 15:3-4 | Just and true are your ways! | |
| Sunday I (Saturday evening) | Psalm 113 | Praise the name of the Lord! |
| Psalm 116:10-19 | Prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord | |
| Philippians 2:6-11 | He humbled himself | |
| Sunday II | Psalm 111 | To fear the Lord |
| Monday | Psalm 123 | Have mercy on us! |
| Psalm 124 | If the Lord had not been on our side | |
| Ephesians 1:3-10 | He chose us | |
| Tuesday | Psalm 125 | On Israel, peace! |
| Psalm 131 | My heart is not proud | |
| Wednesday | Psalm 126 | Deliver us, O Lord |
| Psalm 127 | If the Lord does not build the house | |
| Colossians 1:12-20 | Firstborn of all creation! | |
| Thursday | Psalm 132:1-10 | A place for the Lord |
| Psalm 132:11-18 | My crown shall shine | |
| Friday | Psalm 135:1-12 | Praise the Lord for the Lord is good |
| Psalm 135:13-21 | Sons of Israel, bless the Lord! | |
| Sunday I (Saturday evening) | Psalm 122 | Peace upon you! |
| Psalm 130 | Lord, hear my voice! | |
| Philippians 2:6-11 | Jesus Christ is Lord! | |
| Sunday II | Psalm 112 | Open-handed, he gives to the poor |
| Monday | Psalm 136:1-9 | His mercy endures for ever! |
| Psalm 136:10-26 | To the God of Heaven give thanks | |
| Ephesians 1:3-10 | He chose us in him | |
| Tuesday | Psalm 137:1-6 | If I forget you, Jerusalem |
| Psalm 138 | Judaic hymn of thanksgiving | |
| Wednesday | Psalm 139:1-12 | O where can I go? |
| Psalm 139:13-18, 23-24 | The wonder of my being | |
| Colossians 1:12-20 | All the fullness of God | |
| Thursday | Psalm 144:1-8 | He is my stronghold |
| Psalm 144:9-15 | Sing a new song! | |
| Friday | Psalm 145:1-13a | I will give you glory! |
| Psalm 145:13b-21 | The Lord is faithful in all his words | |
| Luke 1:46-55 | Magnificat: My soul glories the Lord | |
