The Liturgy of the Hours constitutes part of the public official worship of the Church for several reasons:

1. It is Scriptural in that it combines prayer and Scripture reading into one. It helps us to give praise and thanks, repent, and offer petitions throughout the day. From the earliest days of the Church the people of God have had a daily rhythm of prayer combining Psalms and other parts of Scripture.
2. It contains the very prayers of Jesus Himself. When Jesus went off to pray, He would have utilized the Jewish Scriptures, which contain the Psalms.
3. It is Liturgical in that it is part of the official public worship of the Church. The various prayers, Psalms, petitions, etc. of the daily Liturgy of the Hours are all linked to the particular liturgical season and Solemnities/Feasts/Memorials of the day.
4. It unites the Universal Church throughout the day as the Liturgy of the Hours invites us to pray and reflect on the same prayers and readings as the Pope and millions of clergy, religious, and lay Catholics throughout the world.
5. It flows from and into the Mass as itextends the prayers, graces, and fruits of the Mass into the hours of everyday life while also preparing us to fully, actively, and consciously participate in Mass.

*Adapted from The Everyday Catholic’s Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours by Daria Sockey.