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"Praying with Peter"
A Saint Luke Pastoral Initiative
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Welcome!My name is Peter Vale, and I’m a seminarian of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in the final stage of formation for priesthood. I just wrapped up a Ph.D. in biblical studies at Boston College, and I’m currently carrying out a pastoral year at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Slidell, Louisiana, about 30 minutes north of New Orleans. This podcast is part of my pastoral work, as it aims to spread the practice of praying the Liturgy of the Hours among the laity. The Liturgy of the Hours is the ancient, public prayer of the Church that sanctifies the passing hours by offering praise, thanksgiving, and petition to God. While the Church requires that clerics and religious pray the hours, it also enthusiastically encourages laity to take part. Consider joining me each day as I pray Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, the two “hinge” hours around which the rest of the day turns!
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BEGAN Sunday, september 21
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MEET YOUR HOST!
PETER VALE
Peter Vale is a seminarian on pastoral year at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Slidell, Louisiana. He was born and raised outside of Boston, and he relocated with his family to Southwest Florida twenty years ago. The tug to priesthood began early through the joyful witness of priests at his home parish, but the journey there has been anything but straightforward. Peter finished his formation at Notre Dame Seminary in April 2020 and then entered a doctoral program at Boston College to help with vocational clarity. He obtained his Ph.D. in biblical studies in March 2025 and, in the process, affirmed that diocesan priesthood is what he feels most called to. He loves anything to do with the ocean, especially scuba, sailing, and surfing, and he enjoys exploring history, art, and architecture in his free time.Pray without ceasing!
1 Thessalonians 5:17
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Grow your Faith One Hour at a time!"And the laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually."
Sacrosanctum Concilium, 100What Is the Liturgy of the Hours?
As the name suggests, it is a liturgy (public, structured worship) whose aim is to sanctify (make holy) the hours of the day. It was known as the Divine Office before the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), and both terms are used interchangeably today. The word “office” comes from the Latin officium and refers to a duty or an obligation, since clergy and religious are obligated to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.
Where Is the Text of the Liturgy of the Hours?The books containing the Liturgy of the Hours are known as breviaries. Those obligated to pray all the hours rely on a four-volume set that is arranged by liturgical season. Those obligated or wishing to pray only the two “hinge” hours of the day—Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer—use a single volume, either Christian Prayer or Shorter Christian Prayer. Of course, many digital options are also available. I recommend iBreviary, either through their website or their app:
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Structure of the Hours
- Office of Readings
- Morning Prayer
- Daytime Prayer
- Midmorning Prayer
- Midday Prayer
- Midafternoon Prayer
- Evening Prayer
- Night Prayer
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Components of Morning Prayer & Evening Prayer
- Psalms (poems from Scripture)
- Canticles (songs of praise from Scripture)
- Antiphons (short verses recited before/after each psalm or canticle)
- Readings (short selections from Scripture)
- Intercessions (prayers for the needs of the world)
- Lord’s Prayer
- Concluding Prayer
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