How to pray the Daily Office
Choose one time of day, open the matching office, and follow its psalms, readings, and prayers in order. You can begin with Compline before bed or Morning Prayer at the start of your day. This guide uses the Episcopal Church’s 1979 Book of Common Prayer.
By Tilden Software LLC, maker of Gracelight. Published .
What is the Daily Office?
The Daily Office is a pattern of Christian prayer at regular times of day. In the Episcopal tradition, the Book of Common Prayer provides the words and order of those services. Morning and Evening Prayer are available in traditional and contemporary language. The book also includes Noonday Prayer, Compline, and shorter family devotions. See the Episcopal Church’s explanation of the Daily Office.
Instead of inventing a new prayer each morning, you enter a familiar order, with room for silence and for the people and concerns you bring with you.
Choose one office to begin
Pick a time of day you can return to. One service is enough to learn the pattern.
- Morning Prayer: begin the day with psalms, scripture, canticles, and prayer.
- Noonday Prayer: pause in the middle of the day for a shorter service.
- Evening Prayer: make time for scripture and prayer as the day turns toward evening.
- Compline: close the day with a short office before rest.
If a full office is hard to fit into your day, the prayer book’s Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families offer shorter forms for morning, noon, early evening, and the close of day. Gracelight includes these in the app’s office picker.
Follow the service one part at a time
- Open your chosen office. On this website, check the date shown above the prayer text. In the app, select the office you want to pray.
- Read the directions. The instructions about what to say or omit are called rubrics. Follow them, but don’t read them aloud.
- Move through the psalms and readings. Take your time. In Morning and Evening Prayer, canticles are songs of praise that accompany the readings.
- Continue through the prayers. Follow the printed order, including the Lord’s Prayer and collects. Where the service invites additional prayer, bring your own thanksgivings and concerns.
- Pray through to the end. Return to the same office tomorrow, and its shape will grow familiar.
For the complete directions, see the 1979 Book of Common Prayer: Morning Prayer begins on page 37 (Rite I) or 75 (Rite II); Noonday Prayer on 103; Evening Prayer on 61 (Rite I) or 115 (Rite II); Compline on 127; family devotions on 137.
Common questions when you are starting
Can I pray it alone?
Yes. Follow the prayer book’s directions for individual prayer and for a lay person leading the office. If an instruction puzzles you, ask someone who leads prayer at your parish.
Should I choose Rite I or Rite II?
Rite I uses traditional language; Rite II uses contemporary language. Choose the words you can pray attentively, or use the rite your parish follows. Gracelight includes both for Morning and Evening Prayer.
What if I have only a little time?
Try Noonday Prayer, Compline, or one of the family devotions. How long a service takes depends on your pace, the readings, and your pauses. There is no timer to race.
Do I need an app?
You can use a printed prayer book and Bible, a website, or an app. A reader that assembles the text saves you looking up each passage. If you are choosing between apps, compare prayer books, reading features, and audio options.
Begin with Compline tonight
Read Compline here, slowly enough to notice the words. If you want the offices on your phone, Gracelight is free for iPhone and iPad, with no ads or subscriptions.
Get the app
Scan with your iPhone or iPad to join the beta.