Liturgy of the Hours 
Articles specific to the Liturgy of the Hours
Psalm 19(18): God Creator creates brilliance of Sun
1. The sun, with its increasing brilliance in the heavens, the splendour of its light, the beneficial warmth of its rays, has captivated humanity from the outset. In many ways human beings have shown their gratitude for this source of life and well-being, with an enthusiasm that often reaches the peaks of true poetry. The… Read More ›
Psalm 57(56): Waiting for the coming of dawn
1. It is a dark night; devouring wild beasts are perceived in the surroundings. The one who prays is waiting for the coming of dawn so that the light will dispel the darkness and fear. This is the background of Psalm 56 (57) on which we reflect today. It is a night prayer made by… Read More ›
Psalm Commentaries to Resume
Dear Friends, Many of you enjoyed the Commentaries on the Psalms by Blessed John Paul and Pope Benedict XVI posted here on the site. While they are all available on the Vatican web site they are difficult to research and to find, which, in my thinking, is a great loss. As a help to the… Read More ›
Celebration of First Vespers of Advent
With this evening liturgy, we begin the itinerary of a new liturgical year, entering into the first of its seasons: Advent. In the biblical reading that we have just heard, taken from the First Letter to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul uses precisely this word: “coming”, which in Greek is parusia andadventus in Latin (1… Read More ›
Psalm 110(109): Sit at my right hand!
1. We have just listened to one of the most famous Psalms in Christian history. Indeed, Psalm 110[109], which the Liturgy of Vespers presents to us every Sunday, is cited frequently in the New Testament. Verses 1 and 4 in particular are applied to Christ in the wake of the ancient Judaic tradition that has… Read More ›
Psalm 148: Praise to him who sits upon the throne
1. Psalm 148 that we have just lifted up to God is a true “canticle of creatures”, a kind of Old Testament Te Deum, a cosmic “alleluia” that involves everyone and everything in divine praise. This is how a contemporary exegete has commented on it: “The Psalmist, calling them by name, puts beings in order…. Read More ›
Psalm 112(111): Open-handed, he gives to the poor
1. After yesterday’s celebration of the Solemnity of all the saints of Heaven, we remember today all of the faithful departed. The liturgy invites us to pray for all our loved ones who have passed away, turning our thoughts to the mystery of death, an inheritance common to all men and women. Enlightened by faith,… Read More ›
Psalm 118 (117): “The stone rejected … has become cornerstone’
1. When a Christian, in unison with the voice of prayer in Israel, sings Psalm 117{118}, that we just heard, he feels within him a special thrill. In fact, he finds in this liturgical hymn two phrases that echo with a new meaning in the NT. The first is verse 22, “The stone rejected by… Read More ›
Psalm 113 (112): Praise the name of the Lord
1. We have just heard, in its simplicity and beauty, Psalm 113[112], a true introduction into a small group of Psalms that go from 113[112] to 118[117], commonly known as the “Egyptian Hallel”. It is the Alleluia, or song of praise, that exalts the liberation from Pharaoh’s slavery and the joy of Israel to serve… Read More ›
Psalm 111(110): To fear the Lord
1. Today we feel a strong wind. The wind in Sacred Scripture is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. We hope that the Holy Spirit will illumine us now in our meditation on Psalm 111[110] that we have just heard. In this Psalm we find a hymn of praise and thanksgiving for the many benefits… Read More ›