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 Divine Office
A thorough overview from The Catholic Encyclopedia. See also these articles:
- Breviary and Reform of the Roman Breviary
- Canonical Hours
- Matins
- Lauds
- Prime
- Terce
- Sext
- None
- Compline
- Vespers and Music of Vespers
- Nocturns


 Evening Prayer, Night Prayer and Psalmody
An excerpt from St. John Cassian's Institutes. See also, this excerpt:
- Daytime Prayer and Psalmody in 4th-Century Egyptian Monasticism


 On Praying the Hours
An excerpt from the liturgical code of the Rule of St. Benedict.


 On Prayer
Writing in the late 2nd century, Tertullian demonstrates that the custom of praying at the third, sixth, and ninth hour is of very ancient origin in the Church.

 The Revised Book of the Liturgy of the Hours (Laudis Canticum)
Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution of 1970. See also:
- The General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours



 Introduction to the Roman Breviary
Father William Lallou's good introduction to the 1950 English translation of the Breviary.


 Universalis: The Liturgy of the Hours
Lets you pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day of the year. Provides both text and guide. Similar sites include:
- Pray the Psalms Daily with the Monks
- The Liturgy of the Hours Apostolate


 Liturgy of the Hours
An excellent introductory site. From the Liturgy Office of the Archdiocese of New York. Includes:
- What is Liturgy of the Hours?
- Daily Structure of the Liturgy of the Hours
- Structure of Each of the Hours
- Editions of the Liturgy of the Hours
- Organization and Contents of Editions of the Liturgy of the Hours
- The Liturgical Calendar and the Liturgy of the Hours
- Roles in the Celebrations of the Liturgy of the Hours


 An Outline of the Liturgy of the Hours
A handy one-page overview.


 An Incentive to Prayer
Cardinal Francis Spellman's 1950 reflection on the Breviary, the official prayer book of the Church, remains a fresh introduction to Catholic prayer.

 The Liturgy of the Hours in Our Lives of Prayer
In this 1998 pastoral letter, Archbishop Elden Curtiss of Omaha, Neb. urges priests to renew their devotion to praying the Divine Office.

 The Divine Office as the Church's Prayer of Praise and Intercession
Father John Hardon, S.J., begins his study of the Divine Office with the notion that it is "The Song of Heaven brought down to earth by the Incarnation." He continues: "Christ Jesus (the Church tells us), the high priest of the new and eternal covenant, taking human nature, introduced into this earthly exile , that hymn which is sung throughout all ages in the halls of heaven. He joins the entire community of mankind to Himself, associating it with His own singing of this canticle of divine praise." See also, Father Hardon's:
- The Divine Office as Liturgy
- The Divine Office as a Form of Sacrifice

 Introduction to the Theology of the Divine Office
A good treatment by Melkite Catholic Archbishop Joseph Tawil, Eparch Emeritus of Newton, Mass.


 History of the Liturgy of the Hours
A good introduction from a text book on Medieval Christian Liturgy. See also:
- Origins of the Book of Hours


 Psalter Schemas
A very interesting presentation of the way Psalms have been used in various Breviaries, from the 6th century to the present.
- The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Ambrosian Rite)


 Ambrosian Breviary
The Divine Office as it was prayed in the Archdiocese of Milan until the Second Vatican Council. See the order of prayers for:
- Prime
- Terce, Sext, None
- Matins and Lauds
- Compline
- Vespers Chants

For the post-Vatican II Ambrosian Office, see:
- Diurna Laus and Psalter Schema


 'Short' Breviaries in 20th Century America
An interesting general introduction to a genre of prayer texts which has several names: "short"  breviaries, little offices,breviaria parva and lay breviaries, among others.


 A Hypertext Book of Hours
An online version of a 1559 prayer book. The medieval "Book of Hours" evolved out of the monastic cycle of prayer which divided the day into eight segments, or "hours." These portable books designed for individual laypeople are smaller and less complicated than those used by the monks and designed for use by individuals. Usually, a Book of Hours include a liturgical calendar, along with the seven "Penitential Psalms" and additional prayers devoted to particular saints or personal issues. Most Books of Hours were devoted to the Virgin Mary.


 Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8th Century)
A cycle of daily prayers devoted to Our Lady.


 Books of Hours in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague
A general introduction to Books of Hours, with links to hundreds of high-quality images from manuscripts in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek. For other collections of images and texts with introductions:
- Book of Hours Exhibition, University of Pennsylvania
- Books of Hours in the J. Paul Getty Museum
- Books of Hours in the Wellesley College Library
- Franciscan Books of Hours from 15th-Century Italy
- Leaves of Gold: 19 Books of Hours
- Depicting Devotion: Illuminated Books of Hours from the Middle Ages
- Book of Hours for Daughter of Francis I
- Books of Hours in the University of Kentucky Special Collection
- Book of Hourse (Rouen, France, ca. 1600)
- Book of Hours (Angers, France, ca. 1470)
- Book of Hours (Holland, ca. 1425)
- Book of Hours (Utrecht, Netherlands, ca. 1430)
- Hours of the Holy Spirit and Prayers (Flanders, ca. 1600)


 A Few Minutes on Books of Hours
An excellent introductory essay by Patrick Haynes. For more studies and introductions, see:
- Books of Hours: An Introductory Essay
- Introduction to Scholarly Study of the Book of Hours and Index to a Selection of Texts and Variants
- Sacred Image and Illusion in Late Flemish Manuscripts