If you follow Ascension Press and Word on Fire Catholic Publishing on social media or receive their marketing emails, you’ve been deluged with messages about the revised edition of the Liturgy of the Hours. But what’s in it? Why is there an update at all? And for people who are not priests, deacons, or vowed religious, why is this important — and what do we need to know?
As I described in my booklet, The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours, I first discovered this form of prayer as a college student. Over the years I have prayed with the single-volume edition (Christian Prayer), a couple of different apps, and the four-volume breviary set. It’s important to note that in all of these cases, the prayers for Morning and Evening Prayer each day (the two “hinge” hours and the ones I pray daily) are the same regardless of whether I chose a particular book or app to pray.
I’ve gotten several questions already from friends who know of my interest in this form of prayer, and I’ve done a lot of research into the upcoming publication of the new edition. Whether you already pray the Liturgy of the Hours or are intrigued and want to learn more, I hope the information I’ve learned will help you.
What Is the Liturgy of the Hours?
The Liturgy of the Hours follows a daily rhythm of prayer through the liturgical year. Based on a cyclical recitation of the psalms, it is also rich in Scripture from other books of the Old and New Testaments. … While the sacrifice of the Eucharist can only be offered by a priest, the Liturgy of the Hours is a sacrifice of praise that can be offered by anyone. (The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours 5-7).
This form of prayer is often called “the prayer of the Church.” Sacrosanctum Concilium (one of the documents of Vatican II) invites the laity to participate in this prayer along with clergy and religious. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but you can learn to pray in this way, and it can be very spiritually rewarding.
Why Did the Church Update the Prayers?
The Word On Fire website sums it up well:
The current English edition of the Liturgy of the Hours was translated in the 1970s. Since then, the Church has canonized dozens of saints, revised the liturgical calendar, and approved a more faithful translation of the sacred texts. After years of development, this new edition incorporates those changes, bringing greater accuracy, richer biblical language, restored hymnody, and expanded liturgical content.
What’s the Difference in the Products from Ascension Press and Word On Fire?
Both Ascension Press and Word On Fire are publishing the new edition of the four-volume breviary. Regardless of the publisher whose book you choose, the prayers inside will be the same.
What won’t be the same:
- page numbers. My husband and I pray Evening Prayer together each day, and it was essential for us to choose new breviaries from the same publisher, so we can help each other find the pages for each day’s prayers.
- artwork. Each publisher has created or sourced different art to complement the prayers.
- page design. While the prayers remain the same, the way they look on the page might not. It’s important to take a look at videos, photos, and page samples from each publisher when you’re making your decision about which books to choose.
- price. The publishers set their own prices based on materials, art, and printing costs. Ascension Press offers three options, with a large-type version of each. Word On Fire offers a single option and corresponding large-type version.
- ribbon count. Ascension’s three options each include eight bound-in bookmark ribbons; Word On Fire includes seven.
A preview of the Ascension Press breviary:
A preview of the Word On Fire breviary:
When Does the New Breviary Begin?
The first book to be published in the four-volume breviary will be Vol. II: Lent and Easter. It will be published in January 2027 so you can begin to pray it on Ash Wednesday, 2027.
What if I Prefer a Single-Volume Option?
The single-volume update of Christian Prayer (which might or might not be titled Christian Prayer again) is not yet available for preorder. It will be available from four publishers:
For news on the single-volume edition, follow these publishers’ emails and/or social media.
Can’t I Keep My Old Breviary or Christian Prayer book?
Beginning on the First Sunday of Advent in 2028 (December 3, 2028), all who wish to pray the Liturgy of the Hours will be required to use the new edition (in the format they choose). It’s a matter of praying in union with the whole Church; using the new edition means we’ll all be praying in the same way.
I’m New to These Prayers, But Want to Try! What Should I Choose?
If you’re curious about praying the Liturgy of the Hours, I’d recommend exploring them via either a borrowed prayer book if you know someone with an extra one, or via DivineOffice.org. You might not prefer to use an app or website, but you’ll get an idea of whether this type of prayer is something you’d like to commit to on a regular basis without investing in prayer books. Word On Fire also offers periodical (magazine) versions of Morning and Evening prayer, and those are a good way to test the waters.
Copyright 2026 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images: copyright 2026 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved.
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I would like to point out there is at least one point in this article which is absolutely false. Not all that “wish” to read LOTH will be REQUIRED to use the second edition. The only ones required, are the ones bound by liturgical law to say LOTH in the first place. Lay people are encouraged to say the new edition, but are perfectly ok using the first edition to pray privately. I feel this is an important distinction especially for those that simply cannot afford the new ones. In fact, I have a strong suspicion that those who currently do not have a copy of LOTH in any form will probably be able to pick up a set free/cheaply in the next couple of years to come.
While that is technically correct, it’s important to remember that part of the point of praying Liturgy of the Hours is to pray in union with the Church, and while you’re free to choose to use the old edition, you’re also choosing to take a tiny step away from that unity. It’s not unlike those who obstinately refused to learn the new Mass responses introduced in 2009 and would instead loudly respond in the older language.
I will not be giving away or selling my old breviaries; that is a disservice to someone who wants to pray in this fashion.
No, it’s VERY unlike refusing to learn the new mass! First, refusing to participate in mass properly, and praying in a way you can afford to pray, are HUGELY different. It is not remotely the same thing. Second, a better comparison would be someone of lesser means reading from a NIV bible instead of a “Catholic” bible because that is what they have. The new editions have only been available for preorder for a little over a week, and it’s already very easy to find comments from MANY people very discouraged they won’t be able to pray along with the second edition as things sit now due to the high cost of even the cheapest currently available preorders. Please don’t further shame these people, but encourage them to do what they are able. The disservice is telling the faithful that unless they can afford what is really a substantial investment they cannot participate at all. When the single “Christian Prayer” type volumes come out, that will lessen the investment, and hopefully they will license the digital formats like can currently be found and used for free.