I need to admit once I first got here across the phrase Laud Prayer, I had two assumptions. My first assumption was that perhaps this was a wierd spelling of The Lord’s Prayer. That seemed a little bit far-fetched, so I opted for assuming it was a prayer written by Archbishop Laud. Both assumptions were flawed.
Laud is Latin for “to praise”. To laud someone is to glorify them and sing their praises—even for those who aren’t singing. Upon further research, I learned that Lauds Prayer is connected to the Liturgy of Hours and is especially a reference to the morning prayers. You will find these predominately in a Roman Catholic setting, but perhaps that is something that Protestants (like myself) may also find of profit. But first, we want to know more about Lauds Prayer.
What Is The Liturgy of the Hours?
To learn concerning the Laud Prayer it’s important to first understand the Liturgy of Hours. The Liturgy of the Hours can be generally known as the Divine Office or the Breviary. If you’re a Protestant, like me, that likely didn’t inform you much. To put it simply, it’s a set of every day prayers that the Catholic Church prescribes to assist Christians sanctify the several hours of the day.
The practice itself is rooted in ancient Jewish prayer traditions and has been practiced by Christians from the early days of the Church. It consists mostly of the Psalms, Scripture readings, select hymns and prayers that correspond to specific times of the day. Its purpose is to assist the disciple develop a rhythm of prayer throughout the day and remain connected to God throughout the day.
The day is split into specific “hours.” The most distinguished are Lauds (Morning), Vespers (Evening), and Compline (Night). Each hour is designed to reflect the time of day and the corresponding theme of creation, light, darkness, and the passage of time. While any communicant might practice these rhythms, you will definitely find this practice as a central component of monastic life. More recently, though, the Second Vatican Council made significant revisions to make the Liturgy more accessible to all Catholics, not only clergy and spiritual orders.
Lauds, then, is a particular section of prayers inside the Liturgy of the Hours.
What Is the Lauds Prayer?
Lauds is the name given to the morning prayer inside this liturgy. The word “Lauds” comes from the Latin word for “praise,” so this prayer time is especially focused on offering praise and thanksgiving to God. What higher approach to start the day than to have a posture of praise and thanksgiving? Lauds will typically include the reciting of a Psalm, the reading from Scripture, a hymn, and a particular prayer of praise.
The structure is designed to assist the believer begin their day in the fitting way—to sanctify the day as the guts is turned toward God in prayer and worship. To use lingo more familiar to Protestants, this is comparable to what you’ve likely heard when a “quiet time” was being promoted. The core of Lauds are sometimes Psalms with themes of morning light, creation, and the novelty of life. The reading of Scripture will differ depending on the liturgical season. The morning prayer time will conclude with the hymn of praise (the Benedictus) present in Luke 1:68-79.
What Is the History of Lauds Prayer?
The history of Lauds, as a part of the Liturgy of the Hours, dates back to the early Christian Church. It also has roots in Jewish practice. In Psalm 119:164 we read “seven times a day I praise you”. And in Acts 3 and 10 we see a reference to “the hour of prayer”. It seems that they carried over this practice of set times, connected to the rhythm of the day, to have interaction God in prayer.
The development of the Liturgy of the Hours, though, became more formalized in the course of the rise of monastic orders within the early Middle Ages. Monks and nuns would gather at specific times throughout the day and night to wish the Psalms, sing hymns, and skim Scripture. Lauds, being one among the main “hours,” was typically prayed at dawn. The starting at dawn symbolizes the resurrection of Christ and the start of a latest day. Over time, the practice spread outside the monastic community and into the Church at large.
The structure of Lauds has remained relatively consistent throughout the years but would undergo a big revision after the Second Vatican Council within the Nineteen Sixties. These revisions were geared toward making it more accessible to all believers. One of the more significant changes was the allowance to wish within the vernacular somewhat than exclusively in Latin. It also offered Shorter Christian Prayer for those with busy schedules. Likewise, the Council reduced the variety of obligatory “hours” and adjusted the timing in order that those with diverse lifestyles and schedules could still participate.
Is There a Set Thing to Pray?
There is a particular structure to Lauds, though the content can vary depending upon the liturgical season and whether or not it’s a feast day or a special day. There are core elements that can at all times be present: a gap hymn, several Psalms, a Scripture reading, the Benedictus (Song of Zechariah), intercessions, the Lord’s Prayer, and a concluding prayer. The Psalms and readings are chosen based on a four-week cycle, ensuring that a broad range of themes and texts are covered throughout the month.
Here is an example of Lauds:
- Opening Verse and Introduction
- Sign of the Cross is made
- An Invocation just like “Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise.”
- Reading of Psalm 95
- Reciting of a Hymn
- Psalms and Canticle Reading
- Scripture Reading (A brief reading that aligns with the theme)
- Response (A call and response reading)
- Canticle of Zechariah (the Benedictus from Luke 1:68-79)
- Intercessions (offering prayers of intercession for others)
- Reciting the Lord’s Prayer
- A concluding prayer (reflecting the themes of the day)
- Blessing/Dismissal
While the structure of Lauds is ready, there may be also room for personalization. Many who pray Lauds add their very own times of silent reflection in addition to add personalize prayer to the structured prayers. The structured prayers can function a foundation which might lead right into a more personal conversation with God. The combination of fixed prayers and private touch could make it each communal (knowing that each one of the religion are praying at the identical time) and deeply personal.
Can Everyone Pray This?
While Lauds is traditionally a component of the Catholic Liturgy of the Hours, it’s fundamentally rooted in Scripture and is subsequently accessible to all Christians. While among the elements, like making the sign of the cross, won’t be comfortable for Christians of all traditions, the structure here may be helpful even to non-Catholics.
Personally, I don’t come from a high church tradition. My initial response to such a structure is that it feels cold and formal. But if I’m being honest, repeatedly our “free” praying finally ends up stuck in the same rut. How repeatedly have we prayed, “Thank you Lord for this food…”? As I’ve been a Christian for a pair a long time now, I’m starting to search out great profit in these structures. It keeps us focused and offers a foundation.
There is a profit in connecting with broader Christian tradition and fascinating in a form or prayer that has been practiced for hundreds of years. I appreciate the reference to the rhythm of the day and the decision to start your day accurately. Some Protestant adaptations of the Liturgy of the Hours have even been made available. I’d suggest giving this a try. Maybe among the specific prayers or structures won’t be for you. But it may additionally stretch your faith in a way that shall be ultimately enriching.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes
Mike Leake is husband to Nikki and father to Isaiah and Hannah. He can be the lead pastor at Calvary of Neosho, MO. Mike is the writer of Torn to Heal and Jesus Is All You Need. His writing house is http://mikeleake.net and you’ll be able to connect with him on Twitter @mikeleake. Mike has a latest writing project at Proverbs4Today.
