A new translation and edition of the Liturgy of the Hours is on the horizon.

Midwest Theological Forum is deeply honored to be selected by the Committee on Divine Worship of the USCCB to publish extracts of the Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition.

The Liturgy of the Hours, Major Extracts

Renowned Quality

We are committed to continuing to provide the renowned quality, beauty, and fidelity that are the hallmarks of Midwest Theological Forum—particularly in liturgical works and sacred texts.

It is our hope that these new editions will help guide and inspire each person who uses them to be committed to offering their daily prayers unceasingly in union with the whole Church.

The Liturgy of the Hours, Major Extracts

Renowned Quality

We are committed to continuing to provide the renowned quality, beauty, and fidelity that are the hallmarks of Midwest Theological Forum—particularly in liturgical works and sacred texts.

It is our hope that these new editions will help guide and inspire each person who uses them to be committed to offering their daily prayers unceasingly in union with the whole Church.

The Liturgy of the Hours, Major Extracts

Renowned Quality

We are committed to continuing to provide the renowned quality, beauty, and fidelity that are the hallmarks of Midwest Theological Forum—particularly in liturgical works and sacred texts.

It is our hope that these new editions will help guide and inspire each person who uses them to be committed to offering their daily prayers unceasingly in union with the whole Church.

Extracts of the
Liturgy of the Hours,
Second Edition

In November 2025, Midwest Theological Forum was selected by the Committee on Divine Worship of the USCCB to publish the Major Extracts of the Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition.

While the exact contents are still being discussed between Midwest Theological Forum and the Committee on Divine Worship, MTF is preparing three publications:

  • A diurnal (Major Extracts): This will contain the liturgical texts, including psalmody and a selection of hymns and chants, for the Hours throughout the day: Lauds (Morning Prayer), the Daytime Hours (Terce, Sext, None), Vespers (Evening Prayer), and Compline (Night Prayer). It will be well suited for both newcomers seeking to incorporate the Liturgy of the Hours into their daily prayer and to experienced users looking for a travel-friendly edition.
  • We are in communication with the USCCB about publishing a second, Matins-only volume (Major Extracts). It would contain the liturgical texts, including psalmody and a selection of hymns and chants, of the Office of Readings (Matins).
  • Compline (Minor Extracts): This contains the liturgical texts, including psalmody and a selection of hymns and chants, for Compline (Night Prayer) for every day of the week. For more information and to preview the pages, visit the product page here.
  • The General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours (Minor Extracts): This contains the text from the Liturgy of the Hours that (1) outlines the theology and history of communal liturgical prayer and (2) provides guidelines on how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, including times for prayer and the structure of its prayers. For more information and to preview the pages, visit the product page here.

Additional materials—such as devotional prayers—are also being considered for inclusion in the Major Extracts volumes.

Christ Carrying the Cross
Christ Carrying the Cross

Faithful, Beautiful,
Uncompromised Quality

Midwest Theological Forum’s editions of the extracts of the Liturgy of the Hours are being prepared with careful attention to usability, readability, durability, and overall design.

While they cannot include all text contained in the four-volume edition of the Liturgy of the Hours, the extracts will provide a comprehensive and practical selection suitable for praying every Hour, every day, throughout the year.

Our editions will be designed to be portable and durable, to accompany clergy, religious, and the lay faithful wherever they pray throughout the day.

Like our treasured liturgical and prayer books, MTF’s Extracts will feature reader-friendly typography and beautiful, historical sacred artwork.

Midwest Theological Forum’s editions of the extracts of the Liturgy of the Hours are being prepared with careful attention to usability, readability, durability, and overall design.

While they cannot include all text contained in the four-volume edition of the Liturgy of the Hours, the extracts will provide a comprehensive and practical selection suitable for praying every Hour, every day, throughout the year.

Our editions will be designed to be portable and durable, to accompany clergy, religious, and the lay faithful wherever they pray throughout the day.

Like our treasured liturgical and prayer books, MTF’s Extracts will feature reader-friendly typography and beautiful, historical sacred artwork.

Christ Carrying the Cross

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Frequently Asked Questions

This new edition of the Liturgy of the Hours aims to enhance the prayer life of the Church with modern translations that respect traditional practices.

Features will include:

  • The new English translation will be based on the editio typica altera (1985) and the Roman Missal, Third Edition (2010), compliant with the norms of Liturgiam Authenticam (2001).
  • The Psalms and Canticles will be from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles.
  • Other Scripture readings will be from the Catholic American Bible.
  • The Gospel Canticle antiphons will be synchronized with the three-year Lectionary.
  • Other texts have all been updated.
  • The U.S. adaptations will be revised.
  • The Latin texts of the Gospel Canticles, Marian Antiphons, and Te Deum will be included.
  • For greater detail, a list of approved texts is maintained by the USCCB: usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgy-of-the-hours/liturgy-of-the-hours-second-edition

Compline and The General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours are available to pre-order now.

Midwest Theological Forum plans to publish the diurnal volume—and, if a license is granted, the Matins volume—in advance of the mandatory use date of the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2028.

The Liturgy of the Hours is the official daily prayer of the Church—a time-honored way for clergy, religious, and the lay faithful to pray Scripture, especially the Psalms, throughout the day.

In addition to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours is the primary method of the Church to help its members sanctify their days in offering unceasing prayers to the Lord.

Also known as the Divine Office or Breviary, the Liturgy of the Hours follows the rhythm of the Church’s liturgical year, offering hymns, Scripture readings, intercessions, and prayers at seven appointed hours each day.

Major Extracts constitute an abridged edition of the Liturgy of the Hours, whose volume contains several hundred pages of text.

Minor Extracts, by contrast, constitute an abridged edition of the Liturgy of the Hours that contains fewer pages than a volume of Major Extracts.

Midwest Theological Forum’s two-volume Major Extracts will both replace and be more extensive than the existing Christian Prayer and Shorter Christian Prayer.

While Midwest Theological Forum’s Major Extracts cannot contain all the text of the complete four-volume Liturgy of the Hours, it is designed as a true diurnal, providing the full psalmody for the Hours throughout the day—Lauds (Morning Prayer), the Daytime Hours (Terce, Sext, None), Vespers (Evening Prayer), and Compline (Night Prayer)—making it more extensive than the existing Christian Prayer. If a license is granted, a second volume would contain the text of the Office of Readings (Matins).

As a result, Midwest Theological Forum’s Major Extracts will be well suited both to newcomers seeking to incorporate the Liturgy of the Hours into their daily prayer and to experienced users looking for a travel-friendly edition.

Further information will be provided regarding the publication of other texts from the Liturgy of the Hours, including devotional prayers and a simple guide to the Liturgy of the Hours.

The Latin diurnus means “daily.” Thus, a diurnal event, like the Liturgy of the Hours, occurs every day or throughout the day. Midwest Theological Forum’s diurnal volume of the Liturgy of the Hours will be a practical way to join in the Church’s liturgical prayer, sanctifying the passing of each day through a regular rhythm of worship and reflection.

At minimum, this diurnal volume of the Liturgy of the Hours will contain selections from Lauds (Morning Prayer), the Daytime Hours (Terce, Sext, and None), Vespers (Evening Prayer), and Compline (Night Prayer)—enough to pray each of the Hours in the diurnal throughout the year.

While we cannot include all the options and contents of the complete, 4-volume Liturgy of the Hours in a two-volume publication, we do intend to include the year’s psalms and prayers for the Daytime Hours.

The second volume will contain the Office of Readings (Matins).

Praying the Liturgy of the Hours can nourish our faith through:

  • Cultivating our faithfulness through a regular rhythm of prayer, bringing structure to our day and sanctifying each moment with reflection.
  • Connecting us with the communal prayer of the Church.
  • Encouraging our intercessory prayers for others.
  • Deepening our engagement with Sacred Scripture.
  • Guiding our meditation on the life of Christ, the mysteries of the faith, and the witness of the saints.