Daily Office
Daily Office
The Daily Office (sometimes called the Divine Office) is the regular pattern of prayer at fixed times of the day, drawn from the biblical and patristic tradition and shaped in the Anglican tradition for use by clergy and laity alike. The name comes from the Latin *officium divinum* — the “divine duty”. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
This article will outline what the Daily Office is, its historical development, why it matters, and how to begin practicing it.
1. What the Daily Office Is
The Daily Office consists of a set of prayer services, typically:
- Morning Prayer (Morning)
- Midday Prayer (Noon)
- Evening Prayer (Early Evening)
- Compline (Before Bed) :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
It follows a consistent structure: Preparation (transition into prayer), Proclamation (psalms + scripture readings), and Prayers (intercessions for self and others). :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
2. Historical Overview
The Daily Office finds roots in the Old Testament practice of fixed-hour prayer and sacrifice. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} In the Early Middle Ages the monastic tradition formalised prayer at various hours. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} During the English Reformation, Thomas Cranmer condensed many of these into two services — Morning and Evening Prayer — for the first Book of Common Prayer (1549). Later editions (including the 2019 version) restored Midday and Compline. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
3. Why Pray the Daily Office?
The Daily Office helps Christians centre their day on God through prayer:
- It enables a rhythm of prayer “without ceasing” by anchoring morning, midday, evening and night. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
- It fosters attentiveness to Scripture, to the work of God and to intercessory prayer for self and others.
- It aligns your daily life to the Church’s continual prayer and worship of God.
3.1 Anglican Application
Within the Anglican tradition, the Daily Office is a vehicle by which the liturgy, Scripture, and prayer of the Church are brought into the daily rhythm of the believer. The Anglican editions of the Book of Common Prayer provide the offices and the daily lectionary of psalms and scripture readings.
4. How to Begin Practicing the Daily Office
Some practical steps:
- Familiarise yourself with the structure of the Daily Office—know what each office contains and its purpose. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- Start slowly — you do not need to begin with all four offices at once. Many begin with one or two (for instance Compline at night, or Morning + Evening). :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
- Use available resources—many simplified booklets or online guides exist that walk through each office and the readings. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
- Be consistent. Over time the rhythm of prayer becomes more natural and shapes your life around the presence of God rather than being merely an added activity.
5. Key Resources and Forms
- The classic Anglican Book of Common Prayer (various editions) provides the primary liturgical texts of the Daily Office.
- Daily Office Booklets and apps simplify access to the offices and lectionary.
- Guides to each office (Morning, Midday, Evening, Compline) help users understand each piece’s part in the whole.
6. See also
- Book of Common Prayer
- Morning Prayer (Anglican)
- Midday Prayer (Anglican)
- Evening Prayer (Anglican)
- Compline (Anglican)
- Lectionary
- Anglican spirituality
7. Video Tutorials
The AnglicanWiki community recommends several introductory video tutorials on praying the Daily Office. These provide simple, step-by-step walkthroughs of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and the overall structure of the classical Anglican devotional life.
7.1 How to Pray Morning Prayer
- A practical demonstration of how to pray Morning Prayer using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and the Daily Office lectionary.
- YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RXa92juJO0
7.2 How to Pray Evening Prayer
- A beginner-friendly walkthrough of Evening Prayer, including canticles, psalms, and the reading cycle.
- YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXDb2a53LPc
These videos offer an accessible, visual introduction to the rhythm of Anglican prayer and can serve as training for individuals, families, catechumens, or parish groups.