The Power of the Liturgy of the Hours

I just read this blog post giving a brief history of the structure of the Liturgy of the Hours.

The article got me thinking about the power of the Liturgy of the Hours. The repetition of the prayer is its power. Someone praying the hours regularly immerses himself in the Psalms, encompassing prayers of petition, prayers of thanksgiving, and prayers of praise. These prayers open the pray-er to God's grace on a daily basis.

Over time, the repetitive act of opening oneself to God allows God to fill the person with the Holy Spirit. This prayer, this communion with God, becomes an anchor in the person's life. God becomes the focus of the person's life. By getting one's focus properly fixed on God, the trials that we face in everyday life become much easier to handle.

The repetition of the Liturgy of the Hours is brilliant. It is a powerful tool that enables limited human beings to be able to open themselves up to God and the workings of his spirit.