Books & Liturgical Resources

Liturgy of the Hours & Missals

The Liturgy of the Hours is the Church's daily prayer of psalms, readings and intercessions. Priests, deacons and religious are bound to pray it, and laypeople are encouraged to join. The full four-volume set from Catholic Book Publishing is the official US edition; Christian Prayer condenses it to one volume, and Shorter Christian Prayer keeps only Morning and Evening Prayer. This page also lists daily and Sunday missals for following Mass. Editions differ by binding, type size and page count.

A newly ordained deacon or a religious house needs the four-volume set; the large-print version helps older eyes. A parishioner starting the Office should begin with Christian Prayer. A parish that prays Evening Prayer in Advent and Lent can stock Shorter Christian Prayer in the pews. For Mass, the Daily Roman Missal holds every reading in one book, while the St. Joseph and Living with Christ Sunday missals are paperbacks bought new each year. Order the 2026-2027 edition before Advent.

9 liturgy of the hours & missals

Nine books are listed: four editions of the Liturgy of the Hours, two daily missals and three annual Sunday missals.

Questions before you order

Do I need all four volumes of the Liturgy of the Hours?

Clergy and religious obliged to the full Office need all four, since each volume covers part of the year. The volumes are Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter, and two for Ordinary Time. Laypeople praying only Morning and Evening Prayer can use Christian Prayer or Shorter Christian Prayer instead.

Is a new translation of the Liturgy of the Hours coming?

The USCCB has been preparing a revised second edition for several years. Until it is published and its use is permitted, the current Catholic Book Publishing volumes remain the approved US edition. Existing sets stay valid during any transition period the bishops set.

What is the difference between a daily missal and a Sunday missal?

A daily missal such as the Daily Roman Missal contains the Order of Mass, every Sunday and weekday reading and the proper prayers. It is a permanent volume. A Sunday missal such as the St. Joseph annual holds only Sundays and holy days for one liturgical year and is replaced each Advent.

Is there a large-print Liturgy of the Hours?

Yes. Catholic Book Publishing issues the four-volume set in a large-print bonded-leather edition, sold as a complete set. Midwest Theological Forum publishes the Daily Roman Missal in a large-print edition as well. Standard editions use small type to keep the page count down.