I was praying with my wife and children twice a day as a young family before we became Catholics. As Episcopalians, we prayed Morning and Evening prayer using the Book of Common Prayer. I love the BCP and consider that the happiest time of my Christian life. I also prayed occasionally from the “Anglican Breviary“, which few know anything about.
Nevertheless, I converted to Catholicism in 2005 and my wife followed me. As we entered the Catholic Church, we sought to continue our daily routine of prayer. We were happy to learn about the Liturgy of the Hours. We quickly took it up and began praying not only Morning and Evening Prayer, but the other hours as well.
It didn’t take long for us to realize that most Catholics know nothing about the Liturgy of the Hours. In fact, when I mentioned praying the Liturgy of the Hours to our Catholic priest, he discouraged it. (No, I’m not kidding.) I was invited to teach an RCIA class on Catholic prayer by that same priest and I presented various traditions of prayer in the Catholic Church, including the Liturgy of the Hours. The students began asking lots of questions, revealing great interest in the Liturgy of the Hours, but after the class, I was essentially yelled at by that priest because I discussed the Liturgy of the Hours. (Again, I was invited to teach that class.)
Over time, as my children grew older, they occasionally fussed about the disciple of daily prayer — which is normal. Kids also fuss about eating healthy food, doing their school work, helping with chores, etc. They don’t know how to live, which is why God sets them under the authority of parents (not to mention the law).
Unfortunately, they found great support from other Catholics not praying the Liturgy of the Hours and my wife and I conceded that praying the Liturgy of the Hours was our interest and not actually required by the precepts of the Catholic Church. We went on to pursue vocations as Lay Dominicans, where praying the Liturgy of the Hours is considered normal, and cut back at home.
Setting aside family prayer was a decision I regret terribly.
It took some time, but I finally said that I would rather be hated by everyone and be pleased with myself than be approved of by others and be constantly questioning myself.
So, we returned to daily prayer — come what may. Morning and Evening Prayer, at the dining room table, everyone present. Attendance not an option.
Everything’s fine.
The Catholic people who discourage the use of the official prayer of the Church are destroyers. The whole point of the Liturgy of the Hours is for the laity to participate in the same daily prayers as the monks, nuns and priests of the Catholic Church.
WCM
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