“What page are we on?”
With so many different breviary editions out there, I can’t answer that question in this space. But I can tell you what headings to find, so you can put your ribbons and bookmarks in the right places before you start praying. It looks a little complicated—and this week really IS—but when you set everything up ahead of time, it will make your prayer time easier.
Want some basic information on the Liturgy of the Hours? Get my booklet, The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours (available in print or for Kindle).
Christmas Eve, December 24
Morning Prayer:
Look for “December 24” in the Proper of Seasons section (the front) of your breviary. The antiphons and reading, responsory, and everything following come from there.
The psalms will come from Saturday morning, Week III in the Ordinary section (middle) of your breviary.
Evening Prayer:
Look for “December 25” in the Proper of Seasons and pray Evening Prayer I for Christmas. Everything is contained on those pages.
Christmas Day, December 25
Morning Prayer:
Look for “Christmas” in the Proper of Seasons and find Morning Prayer. Also bookmark Sunday, Week I in the Ordinary for the psalms. Everything else is there in the Proper of Seasons.
Make it easy on yourself by downloading my free Christmas Antiphons bookmark. Keep that on Sunday, Week I in the Ordinary, and keep another ribbon or bookmark on Morning Prayer for Christmas. You’ll need that several times in the coming week.
Evening Prayer:
Look in the Proper of Seasons under “Christmas” and find Evening Prayer II. Everything is there.
December 26: Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr
Morning Prayer:
Look for “December 26: Stephen, First Martyr” in the Proper of Saints (toward the back of your breviary). Use the antiphons provided there; the psalms come from Sunday, Week I in the Ordinary. After the psalms and canticle, everything is in the Proper of Saints.
Evening Prayer:
Psalms and canticles and their antiphons come from Evening Prayer II for Christmas Day. After the psalms and canticle, everything is found in the Proper of Seasons under “December 26.”
December 27: Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
Morning Prayer:
Look for “December 27: John, Apostle and Evangelist” in the Proper of Saints (toward the back of your breviary). Use the antiphons provided there; the psalms come from Sunday, Week I in the Ordinary. After the psalms and canticle, everything is in the Proper of Saints.
Evening Prayer:
Psalms and canticles and their antiphons come from Evening Prayer II for Christmas Day. After the psalms and canticle, everything is found in the Proper of Seasons under “December 27.”
December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents
Morning Prayer:
Look for “December 28: Holy Innocents” in the Proper of Saints (toward the back of your breviary). Use the antiphons provided there; the psalms come from Sunday, Week I in the Ordinary. After the psalms and canticle, everything is in the Proper of Saints.
Evening Prayer:
Psalms and canticles and their antiphons come from Evening Prayer II for Christmas Day. After the psalms and canticle, everything is found in the Proper of Seasons under “December 28.”
December 29: Commemoration of Thomas Beckett, Bishop and Martyr
Morning Prayer:
Return to Morning Prayer for Christmas Day for the psalms, canticle, and their antiphons. After those, look in the Proper of Seasons under “December 29.” For the Commemoration of Thomas Beckett, the antiphon for the Gospel Canticle and the final prayer come from the Proper of Saints.
Evening Prayer:
Psalms and canticles and their antiphons come from Evening Prayer II for Christmas Day. After the psalms and canticle, everything is found in the Proper of Seasons under “December 29” with the exception of the antiphon for the Gospel Canticle and the final prayer: those come from the Proper of Saints.
Saturday, December 30
Morning Prayer:
Return to Morning Prayer for Christmas Day for the psalms, canticle, and their antiphons. After those, everything is found in the Proper of Seasons under “December 30.”
Feast of the Holy Family
This is a movable feast that is usually celebrated the Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s Day—unless Christmas is on a Sunday. In 2023, we celebrate this feast beginning the evening of December 30 with Evening Prayer I.
Saturday evening, December 30:
Look for “Holy Family” in the Proper of Seasons and find Evening Prayer I. Use the antiphons provided there; the psalms come from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary (toward the back of your breviary). After the psalms and canticle, everything is in the Proper of Seasons.
Sunday, December 31, Morning Prayer:
Look for “Holy Family” in the Proper of Seasons and find Morning Prayer. Use the antiphons provided there; the psalms come from Sunday, Week I in the Ordinary. After the psalms and canticle, everything is in the Proper of Seasons.
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Sunday, December 31, Evening Prayer:
Look for Look for “January 1” in the Proper of Seasons and pray Evening Prayer I. Use the antiphons provided there; the psalms come from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary (toward the back of your breviary). After the psalms and canticle, everything is in the Proper of Seasons.
Monday, January 1, Morning Prayer:
Look for “January 1” in the Proper of Seasons and find Morning Prayer. Use the antiphons provided there; the psalms come from Sunday, Week I in the Ordinary. After the psalms and canticle, everything is in the Proper of Seasons.
Monday, January 1, Evening Prayer:
Look for Look for “January 1” in the Proper of Seasons and pray Evening Prayer II. Use the antiphons provided there; the psalms come from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary (toward the back of your breviary). After the psalms and canticle, everything is in the Proper of Seasons.
Copyright 2023 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Photos copyright 2023 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved.