How to Pray the Daily Office

You will need:

1. Book of Common Prayer (BCP) (ECUSA 1979 BCP assumed here)
2. Bible

Optional:

3. Lesser Feasts and Fasts (LFF)
4. Prayer Book Office (out of print); most of it available as downloads from Rivendell Community (https://rivendellcommunity.wordpress.com/worship/)

Before you begin:

1. Decide whether you will use Rite I (traditional language) or Rite II (contemporary language)
2. Mark pages in BCP before beginning to avoid losing concentration. If your copy has ribbons, use those. Otherwise, use paper bookmarks or pieces of thin paper. (Leather bookmarks tend to damage the pages.) Here is what to mark:
   1. Beginning of office (Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, Evening Prayer, or Compline)
   2. Collect of the day (pp. 159-210 or 211-261; see “Concerning the Proper of the Church Year” on p. 158)
   3. Table of suggested canticles (pp. 144-145)
   4. Page in Daily Office Lectionary (pp. 936-1001)
3. Appoint readers for the lessons, if reading in a group or congregation.

Pointers:

• Begin and end with about 30 seconds of silence: use this time to focus thoughts on praise of God.
• Speak the office aloud in a reverent but not overly slow way.
• Determine system of prayer positions (e.g., will you stand for canticles, kneel for prayer, &c.)
• Try not to worry about the meanings of obscure passages: you can take notes to ask questions later.
• Stick to the text: don’t add in lists of intercessions or extemporary praises. These are important but are best kept separate.
• Stick with the Book you are using: don’t change systems of prayer, but stick with one until it becomes “second nature” to you.
• Be sure to read the Additional Directions on pages 141-142.
• For those just beginning to say the office, you might first try saying the Daily Devotions for Families and Individuals, found on pages 136-140. (These are especially appropriate for use with children.) After awhile, these may become repetitive and you will probably want to use the full offices. (These texts given in the BCP are only in contemporary [Rite II] language; a version in traditional [Rite I] language is available here.)
• In reading the psalms, omit the word Selah. Also, Psalms 104-106, 111-113, 115-117, 135, and 146-150 begin or end with Hallelujah (Alleluia, or Praise the LORD). Traditionally, this was read as part of the antiphon, if antiphons are used.
• Described here is the “normal” way of reading the offices. Individuals are of course free to make their own variations.

Morning Prayer (pp. 37-60 or 74-102)

• Based on the medieval services of Matins, Lauds, and Prime.

Opening sentence

• Choose one or more of the opening sentence according to the season.
• In “ordinary time” choose one from “At any Time.” On Fridays and during Lent, the last of these is appropriate.

Confession of Sin

• It is appropriate to say the confession at just one office. Some might prefer it in the morning, but others may have “more to confess” in the evening! In private worship, the confession and absolution is often omitted.

Absolution

As in the rubric, a lay person or deacon changes this to:

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins
through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all
goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in
eternal life. Amen.

The Invitatory (p. 42 or 80)

• The antiphons are optional; they may be used with either Venite or Jubilate.
• Use Venite or Jubilate in ordinary time
• Use “Christ Our Passover” in Easter Week, and optionally, until Saturday before Pentecost (except on Ascension Day).
• Use full version of Psalm 95 (p. 146 or 724-5) on Ash Wednesday, Fridays in Lent, and Holy Saturday. May be used at any time, but appropriate for any day in Lent and any Friday (except in Christmas and Easter Seasons).

Psalms

• Use assigned Psalms from Daily Office Lectionary (pp. 936-1001).
• Note that some psalm verses are listed in parentheses: these verses may be omitted. Other psalms are listed in brackets []; these may be omitted altogether. These are on Mondays or Thursdays; when the whole selection is bracketed, alternate psalms are given. (My suggestion: read the omitted verses and psalms if saying the office alone; omit them in a group. For the Thursday after the 4th Sunday in Eastertide, use the alternate psalms: 114 and 115 instead of [59, 60].)
• Daily Office Lectionary Year One is used in odd numbered calendar years; Year Two is for even numbered calendar years.
• Remember, the year starts with Advent, so for instance in Advent 2021 use Year Two.
• The first set of psalms assigned for each day are said at Morning Prayer; the second at Evening Prayer.
• Special Psalms and Lessons are provided for Holy Days.
• Follow each Psalm, or the entire group of Psalms with the Gloria Patri (p. 46 or 84, the same in both rites). Note that in this context each section (eight-verse stanza, each starting with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet) is treated as a separate psalm.
• Note that the verse numbers in the BCP are not always the same in the Bible.
• Read the section Concerning the Psalter in BCP, pages 582-584. For reading the office in a group, Antiphonal or Responsive Recitation is recommended. Note also the use of the asterisk (replaced by a colon in the English BCP):
  • An asterisk divides each verse into two parts for reading or chanting. In reading, a distinct pause should be made at the asterisk.
• Traditionally, in Anglican usage, the entire 150 Psalms are read through once a month. The schedule is given in the Psalms in the BCP, and a one-page listing is given here (as a PDF).
• The Roman Catholic Church uses a four week schedule.
• In the BCP 2019 (ACNA) the Psalms are read in a 60-day cycle. This is given on pp. 735-763 in that version of the BCP.
• Traditionally the word Selah, which occurs in some of the psalms is not read.
• Note that some of the psalms begin and end with Hallelujah (Praise [ye] the Lord). Traditionally, this is considered part of the antiphon, and if the psalms are read with antiphons, it should be read as part of the antiphon and not separately. In Lent, omit it altogether.
• In Psalm 72 the last verse (20) “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended” is a colophon and not part of the psalm, and is not read.
• In Psalms 41, 72, 89, and 106 the last verse or verses are a doxology and not actually part of the psalm; however, they are read as part of the psalm.

First Lesson: Old Testament Lesson from Daily Office Lectionary.

First Canticle: Choose one, or use the Canticle assigned to the day of the week on p. 144.

• Usually, use an Old Testament canticle after an OT lesson, and a New Testament canticle after a NT lesson. (Gloria in excelsis and Te Deum laudamis are not strictly NT canticles, but they were composed after the NT.)
• Traditionally, Te Deum Laudamus (7 or 21) is said here, except in Lent, when Benedicite (1 or 12) is said.
• If using Rite II, additional material is available from Enriching our Worship 1, which is available for purchase or download as a PDF. It has alternate translations of several canticles (mostly “inclusive language”). The translation in EoW1 is an improvement of the BCP translation of Te Deum laudamus.
• Additional canticles are available
  • Church of England website (87 total)
  • Oremus website (67 total)
  • Canticles (50) from liturgies.net
  • Roman Catholic schedule

Second Lesson: Epistle Lesson (Year I) or Gospel Lesson (Year II) from Daily Office Lectionary.

Second Canticle: Choose one, or use the Canticle assigned to the day of the week on p. 144.

• Traditionally, Benedictus (4 or 16) is said here, or in England (except in Lent) Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100).

Apostles’ Creed (p. 53 or 96)

The Prayers: (p. 54 or 97). Use either Suffrages A or B

The Collect of the Day

• On Sunday, use the Collect for that Sunday (pp. 159-185 or 211-236)
• On weekdays, the Collect of the Day is normally the proper collect for the previous Sunday, unless there is a change of season.
  • On the weekdays following Christmas Day, use the third collect for Christmas Day.
  • On the weekdays following Epiphany, use either the collect for Epiphany or for the Second Sunday after Christmas.
  • On the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after Ash Wednesday, use the collect for Ash Wednesday.
  • On the weekdays after Pentecost, and after Trinity Sunday, use the collect from the numbered proper on which Pentecost or Trinity Sunday falls.
  • On Holy Days use the collect on pp. 185-194 or 237-246 (optional)
  • If using LFF, use the appropriate collect for saints’ days.
• Every day of Lent has its own proper collect, found in LFF, which is not superseded by any saints’ day except St Joseph and the Annunciation.
• Every day of Holy Week and Easter Week has its own proper collect.
• On weekdays between the Second Sunday of Easter and Pentecost, use the proper saints’ day, if any; otherwise use the collects for weekdays in Easter season, in order.

Additional Collects: Choose one or two from those provided on pp. 56-57 or 98-100.

• Note that there are special collects for some days of week (Sunday, Friday, and Saturday). The other four are provided, so a seven-day pattern may be used: Monday (for the Renewal of Life); Tuesday (for Peace); Wednesday (for Grace); and Thursday (for Guidance).
• In all versions of BCP before the mid-20th century, three collects were required: at MP, the Collect of the Day, the Collect for Peace, and the Collect for Grace. (At EP, they were Collect of the Day, the Collect for Peace, and the Collect for Aid Against Perils.)
• From the late 20th century on, the tendency is to use only one collect at each office; the number is up to you, but it should not be too many!

Prayer for Mission: Use one of the three on pp. 57-58 or 100-101.

General Thanksgiving (optional)

Prayer of St Chrysostom (optional)

Let us Bless the Lord (p. 59 or 102)

Grace or other Closing Sentence (p. 59-60 or 102) (optional)

Noonday Prayer (pp. 103-108)

• In the BCP 2019 (ACNA) this service is called Midday Prayer (pp 33-39).
• Note that in BCP 1979 this service is only available in contemporary (Rite II) language. For a traditional language version, see the Anglican Service Book, pp. 63-67, or BCP 2019 Traditional Language Edition, pp 33-39.
• This service is derived from the Medieval “Little Hours”; that is, Terce (at 9 a.m.), Sext (12 noon), and None (3 p.m.). If desired, this service may be said at any of these times. Traditionally, 9 a.m. is the time of the Filling of the Disciples with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost; Noon is the time of the crucifixion (according to John); and 3 p.m. is the time of the death of Christ. Thus the collect used may be chosen according to the hour in which the office is said.
• For a weekly rotation of the psalms, the following are given on the Rivendell Community website.
  • Sunday: (No selection given! Presumably, you will be celebrating Eucharist at this time!)
  • Monday: Psalm 119:105-112 (Nun) Lucerna pedibus meis
  • Tuesday: Psalm 121 Levavi oculos
  • Wednesday: Psalm 122 Laetatus sum
  • Thursday: Psalm 126 In convertendo
  • Friday: Psalm 130 De profundis
  • Saturday: Psalm 132 Memento, Domine
• The following weekly rotation of the psalms is given in the Prayer Book Office.
  • Sunday: Psalms 23 & 27; alternative: Psalm 118:1,14-29
  • Monday: Psalm 119:1-8 (Aleph), 17-24 (Gimel)
  • Tuesday: Psalm 119:89-96 (Lamedh), 105-112 (Nun)
  • Wednesday: Psalms 121 & 122
  • Thursday: Psalms 124 & 126
  • Friday: Psalm 119:81-88 (Kaph) & Psalm 130 [In Christmas and Easter seasons: Psalms 23 & 27]
  • Saturday: Psalm 132 [In Lent: Psalm 119:137-144 (Tsadhe), 169-176 (Teth)]
• In the medieval Benedictine use, Psalm 119 was used for all three “little” offices, divided as below (vv. 1-32 were used in Prime).
  • Terce: 33-80 (He, Vav, Zayin, Cheth, Teth, Yodh)
  • Sext: 81-128 (Kaph, Lamedh, Mem, Nun, Samekh, Ayin)
  • None: 129-176 (Pe, Tsadhe, Qoph, Resh, Shin, Tav)
• After the psalm selection, a passage of scripture is read (traditionally called the “chapter,” usually one or two verses. BCP gives three selections:
  • Romans 5:5, appropriate for 9 a.m.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, appropriate for 12 noon
  • Malachi 1:11, appropriate for 3 p.m., or any time in the afternoon
  • Other suitable passages can be used. PBO assigns a reading for Sundays and holy days.
• After the scripture passage, there follows a meditation, silent or spoken.
• Then follow the prayers.
  • The Kyrie
  • The Lord’s prayer (without the doxology in BCP)
  • A versicle and response
  • The Collect
    • Four collects are given, but the Collect of the Day (Sunday, Holy Day, or the previous Sunday) may be used
    • The first printed collect mentions the Holy Spirit, appropriate for mid-morning
    • The second and third are appropriate for 12 noon.
    • The third mentions “peace,” perhaps appropriate for afternoon
  • Following the collects, free intercessions may be given.
• The service concludes with a versicle and response.

Evening Prayer (pp. 61-73 or 115-126)

• Based on the medieval services of Vespers and Compline.

Procedure is the same as for Morning Prayer except:

Opening Hymn is usually Phos Hilaron (p. 64 or 118). Another appropriate hymn may be used. (Suggested hymns are given here.)

Lesson: One to three lessons may be used;

• If one lesson is read, the rubric suggests the gospel in year I and the epistle in year II.
• If two lessons are read, and MP was read with two lessons, use the OT lesson from the alternate year.
• If this is the only office read during the day, it is appropriate to read all three lessons from that year’s cycle.

Canticle: Magnificat (p. 65 or 119) or Nunc Dimittis (p. 66 or 120), if one lesson is read.

• If two lessons are read, use the suggested canticles on page 144.
• If three lessons are used, the Lesson from the Gospel is read after the second Canticle. (rubric)
• If Compline is read by the same people that day, use Magnificat after the NT lesson; then Nunc dimittis will be used at Compline.

The Collects on pages 69-70 or 123-124 can be used in a seven-day pattern.

• Those labeled for Sunday, Friday, and Saturday may be used on those days.
• The Collect for Peace may be used on Mondays. Traditionally it is the second collect said daily.
• The Collect for Aid against Perils may be used on Tuesdays. Traditionally it is the third collect said daily. Note that this collect is also included in Compline.
• The Collect for Protection may be used on Wednesdays.
• The Collect for the Presence of Christ may be used on Thursdays.

Note that the second Prayer for Mission is also included in Compline.

Compline

• Ordinarily, Compline does not vary during the year, but “alleluia” is omitted in Lent, and extra “alleluias” are added in the Easter season.
• The traditional Compline psalms are 4, 31:1-5, 91, and 135. Other suitable selections may be substituted. A suggestion is to use Psalms 4 and 31 on one day, and then 91 and 135 on the next day, alternately. Additional psalms appropriate for Compline are 16, 86, 88, 130, and 143:1-11.
• For the passage of scripture, a weekly rotation is possible using these selections:
  • Sunday, Revelation 22:3c-5
  • Monday, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
  • Tuesday, 1 Peter 5:8-9
  • Wednesday, Matthew 11:28-30
  • Thursday, 1 Thessalonians 5:23
  • Friday, Jeremiah 14:9
  • Saturday, Hebrews 13:20-21
• Other suitable passages include: Isaiah 26:3-4, Isaiah 30:15, Matthew 6:31-34, 2 Corinthians 4:6, and Ephesians 4:26-27.
• For the collects, if both Evening Prayer and Compline are read the same day, choose collects so that they are not repeated.

Precedence

The rules of which days of the calendar take precedence are given on pages 15-18.

1. The seven principal feasts (Easter Day, Ascension Day, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, All Saints’ Day, Christmas Day, and Epiphany), with three additional feasts (January 1, Presentation [February 2], and Transfiguration [August 6]) take precedence over all other observances, including Sundays.
2. Sundays in Advent, Lent, and Eastertide take precedence over all other observances. Other Sundays take precedence over other major and minor feasts, except those listed above.
3. Some feasts have propers for Evening Prayer on the evening before their listed day (“First Evensong”; Evening Prayer at the end of that day is referred to as “Second Evensong”). Except for Easter Day, these include all those listed above, including Sundays (except for Easter Day), and the following: Annunciation (March 25), Visitation (May 31), St John the Baptist (June 24), and Holy Cross (September 14). In addition, although not specified as so in the Daily Office Lectionary, the feasts of St Mary (August 15) and St Michael and All Angels (September 29) has two sets of propers for Evensong, so a First Evensong can be observed for these days. Other feast days only have one proper evensong, at the end of that day. (There is no First Evensong for Easter, because Evening Prayer on Holy Saturday is still part of Lent.)
4. On pages 1000 and 1001 there are listed proper psalms and lessons for the Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church and The Patronal Feast. If these are observed, these would take precedence, except for those listed in (1). The Eve of Apostles and Evangelists may be used if the patronal feast is an apostle or evangelist.
5. Both Evensongs of the days listed in (1) above have absolute priority, including both First and Second Evensongs.
6. The Sundays in Advent, Lent, and Eastertide, including both First and Second Evensongs take priority over all feasts, except those listed in (1).

Examples

• Ascension Day is the 40th day of Eastertide and always falls on a Thursday (although in some churches it is observed the following Sunday). It is a principal feast and takes precedence over any other day. The Feast of the Visitation ordinarily falls on May 31, but can coincide with Ascension Day or one of the Sundays of Eastertide.
  • If Ascension Day falls on May 31, then Visitation would be transferred to Friday, June 1.
    Evensong on May 31 would be for Ascension, and First Evensong of Visitation would not be said that day.
  • If Ascension Day falls on May 30, then Evensong on May 30 would be for Ascension, and First Evensong of Visitation would not be said that day.
  • If Ascension Day falls on June 1, then Evesong on May 31 would be First Evensong for Ascension, and Second Evensong of Visitation would not be said that day.
  • If May 31 is a Sunday, then on Saturday evening the First Evensong of the Sunday would be said rather than the Second Evensong of Visitation.
  • If May 31 is a Monday, then on Sunday evening the Second Evensong of the Sunday would be said rather than the First Evensong of Visitation.
• If St Matthew’s Day (September 21) falls on a Saturday, the Evensong on that Saturday would be for St Matthew.

Other resources

• Sites on the Book of Common Prayer
  • You can find the BCP 1979 online at this web site: https://bcponline.org/
  • A PDF version for download is available here: The Book of Common Prayer (churchpublishing.org)
  • If you wish to use the 2019 BCP (ACNA), the day’s ritual can be found at https://www.dailyoffice2019.com/.
  • You can download a PDF of the 2019 BCP here.
    • The Traditional Language Edition (PDF) can be downloaded here.
    • Portions of the book in Spanish (MS Word) and Chinese (PDF) are available here.
  • The BCP of the Church of England (1662) is found here.
  • Common Worship, the contemporary liturgy of the Church of England is linked here.
  • Links to various other editions of the BCP, including books of Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Wales, and many other countries and in many other languages.
• The Bible is online at BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages, and also at Bible.com.
• Lesser Feasts and Fasts (2018 edition) is downloadable here: Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018.indd (episcopalcommonprayer.org)
  • A clickable version of Lesser Feasts and Fasts (2006 edition): Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2006 (episcopalcommonprayer.org)
• Some material taken from this web site: https://www.stjohns-hingham.org/praying-the-daily-office
• An online form of the daily office: https://www.bookofcommonprayer.net/.
• A small booklet of canticles with antiphons (contemporary language) is available here.
• Additional canticles are available from the Oremus website.
• Traditional language versions of some texts are available:
  • Noonday Prayer and Compline in the Anglican Service Book (out of print, but available for download here).
  • Other portions of the ASB are linked here.
  • Morning Prayer [PDF, html].
  • Evening Prayer [PDF, html].)
  • A form of Compine in html format is available here.
• Additional book:
  • Hatchett, Marion J. Commentary on the American Prayer Book. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1980. (out of print) 

For questions or if you notice errors on this page, email me.