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Sanctify every hour
with prayer.
Join in the ancient tradition of praying at specific hours, bringing rhythm and sanctity to your daily life.
Prayers for every hour
Twenty-four hours, offered to God
From the night watch to Compline, each hour has its own prayer, a verse of Scripture, and its place in the Church's daily rhythm.
Guided prayer time
Set aside a quiet moment
Use the prayer timer to help you stay focused during your devotional time. A soft bell marks the end.
“With me prayer is an uplifting of the heart; a glance towards heaven; a cry of gratitude and love, uttered equally in sorrow and in joy.” — St. Thérèse of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul (tr. T. N. Taylor, 1912)
Hourly reminder
Get a gentle notification at the top of each hour with that hour's prayer, while this page is open.
05:00Ready
Tip: begin with the Sign of the Cross and close with a Glory Be.
About hourly prayer
An ancient rhythm of prayer
The tradition of praying at specific hours of the day has deep roots in Catholic spirituality, dating back to the early Church and the monastic practices that developed over centuries. This website provides prayers for each hour of the day, helping you to sanctify time and maintain a consistent prayer life throughout your daily activities.
The History of Hourly Prayer
The practice of praying at fixed hours of the day and night originated in Judaism and was continued by early Christians. The Acts of the Apostles mentions prayer at the third, sixth, and ninth hours.
By the 4th century, the Church had established a pattern of prayer known as the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours, which divided the day into specific prayer times: Matins (during the night), Lauds (dawn), Prime (first hour of daylight), Terce (third hour), Sext (sixth hour), None (ninth hour), Vespers (evening), and Compline (before retiring).
This structure provided a framework for monastic life and eventually influenced the prayer habits of the laity as well, creating a rhythm of prayer that sanctified the entire day.
In Scripture: the third hour (Acts 2:15), the sixth hour (Acts 10:9), the ninth hour (Acts 3:1); “Seven times a day I have given praise to thee, for the judgments of thy justice” (Psalm 118:164 (119:164), Douay-Rheims).
The Tradition of the Liturgy of the Hours
The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office, is the official set of prayers marking the hours of each day and sanctifying the day with prayer. It consists of specific prayers for each hour of the day.
The major hours are Lauds (Morning Prayer) and Vespers (Evening Prayer), while the minor hours include the Office of Readings, Daytime Prayer (which can be divided into Terce, Sext, and None), and Night Prayer (Compline).
While clergy and religious are obligated to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, many lay Catholics also participate in this form of prayer, either in full or in part, as a way of joining in the Church's continuous prayer.
- Matins / Office of ReadingsNight · any hour
- LaudsMorning Prayer · dawn
- TerceMid-Morning · ~9 a.m.
- SextMidday · ~noon
- NoneMid-Afternoon · ~3 p.m.
- VespersEvening Prayer · sunset
- ComplineNight Prayer · before sleep
Spiritual Benefits of Hourly Prayer
- Sanctification of Time: Hourly prayer helps us to consecrate each part of our day to God, recognizing that all time belongs to Him.
- Rhythm and Structure: Regular prayer times provide a spiritual rhythm to our day, helping us to pause and reconnect with God amidst our busy lives.
- Mindfulness: The practice encourages mindfulness and presence, reminding us to live in the present moment with awareness of God's presence.
- Community: Even when praying alone, hourly prayer connects us to the universal Church, as we join our voices with those of countless others praying at the same hours.
- Spiritual Growth: Consistent prayer throughout the day helps to deepen our relationship with God and fosters spiritual growth over time.
Begin your prayer journey
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