Every day before and after school at St. Benedict Classical Academy, a group of middle school students gathers in the chapel at an appointed time, and of their own free will. They gather to pray in common the Divine Office, also known as the Liturgy of the Hours. Saint Benedict first devised the Divine Office to give his monks a structured routine of prayer throughout the day, meditating on Holy Scripture and interceding for the entire Church. The Divine Office consists principally of the Psalms, recited or sung chorally in two groups, one calling out with the Word of God and the other answering. There are also separate readings from Holy Scripture, hymns, antiphons, and petitions, all of which vary according to the seasons of the liturgical calendar.
Since the 6th century, the Divine Office has been received into the official liturgy of the Church–the forms of worship explicitly approved by the Church–sharing that category with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the sacraments. It is, in a way, an extension of the Sacrifice of the Mass. In fact, Mother Church teaches that the Divine Office “is truly the voice of the Bride herself addressed to her Bridegroom. It is the very prayer which Christ himself, together with his Body, addresses to the Father” (CCC 1174). Not only the Benedictines but all priests and religious pray the Divine Office each and every day in participation with the sacrificial prayer of Christ Himself. Living the liturgy is what gives them the strength to work unceasingly in the service of God for the salvation of their own souls and those of all the world.
By praying the Liturgy of the Hours, my middle school students freely choose to join the universal Church in this constant sign of love, uniting their voices and hearts with Christ to the Father. It gives them strength to be engaged and work throughout the school day, and an opportunity to rest in God after the work is done to offer Him all their cares and needs. They don’t need to be told how beautiful and nourishing this routine of prayer is because they experience it for themselves. Many even remain in the silent chapel for some minutes after evening prayer has been concluded.
The role of daily prayer in our education cannot be overstated. The Church’s sacred liturgy of Holy Mass and the Divine Office are the most important means of God’s pedagogy, by which He leads us towards our own perfection and participation in His own life. These liturgies nourish the intellect with the wisdom and instruction of Sacred Scripture. They teach the heart to love what is good through finding expressions in the psalms and petitions. They train the faculties of attention, memory, and sight through the significant symbolism of gestures, formulas, and vestments. Ultimately, they assist one along the path of imitating Christ here on earth and the process of conforming ourselves to His image. They are gifts given to us by God for our own benefit, because He loves us.
It fills me with joy and peace to see my students take ownership of their personal formation, eager to receive the gifts God offers them through the Divine Office each day. It is a constant reminder to place Christ at the center of our lives and let everything else fall into place around Him.
AUTHOR: Alex Dean, Middle School Latin Teacher
