The Liturgy of the Hours
Second Edition
by Gary D. Penkala
This article is a follow-up to the article, A New Liturgy of the Hours, from January 8, 2026.
The momentous day has arrived!
After over 50 years since the first edition and with about fifteen years of translation and approval, The Liturgy of the Hours — Second Edition has been published.
Two publishing houses were selected for this work: Ascension Press and Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.
This article, a follow-up to my earlier one explaining the details of the project, A New Liturgy of the Hours, will compare the editions to help all those supremely conscientious "pray-ers" to acquire this new resource.
Key updates:
- Scripture — Psalms and Canticles now use The Abbey Psalms and Canticles translation, with readings from the forthcoming Catholic American Bible
- Major Canticles — The Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc Dimittis now include their Latin texts alongside the English translation
- Antiphons — Gospel Canticle antiphons are aligned with the three-year Lectionary, alongside revised psalm antiphons
- Hymns — Nearly 300 Latin hymns are newly translated into English, with corresponding hymn tunes available in the Divine Office Hymnal
- Intercessions & Orations — Newly revised translations for accuracy and consistency
- Other Texts — Updated responsories, rubrics, versicles, introductions, and hagiographical introductions for the Proper of Saints
- U.S. Propers — Updated adaptations for the United States, including a new appendix of optional Second Readings
Ascension Press
Some features of all the volumes by Ascension Press:
- Smyth-sewn binding
- Ascension Serif type face
- Eight ribbons
- New Jerusalem Studios original commissioned artwork by Ruth Stricklin
- Matching page numbers across all editions
- Traditional hymns in familiar meters
- Trifold insert cards:
- Invitatory Psalms
- Common Texts (Gospel Canticles)
- Psalmody at Lauds for Solemnities and Feasts
- Bulk discounts are available for parishes, seminaries, dioceses, or other communities who have registered as a group
- Titles: Lauds & Vespers, rather than Morning Prayer & Evening Prayer
There are three leather cover styles available from Ascension: Standard, Premium and Premium Natural-grain.
A discount and free shipping is offered when the full four-volume set is purcahsed at once, the books to be shipped as published.
Full Four-Volume Set
These prices are accurate as of July 1.
As mentioned above, volumes will be shipped as printed, beginning with the Lent/Easter volume on January 10, 2027 [in time for Ash Wednesday on February 10, 2027].
Other volumes will ship in May, July, and November.
+ Standard Leather Edition [red cover]
High-opacity, light cream, 36 gsm paper
Gold-gilded edges
- Standard Print — $264.99
- 10 pt font
- 4.5 x 6.75 inch page size
- Large Print — $299.99
- 12.41 pt font
- 5.5 x 8.375 inch page size
+ Premium Leather Edition [black cover]
High-opacity, light cream, 36 gsm paper
Black calf-skin liner
Gold-gilded edges
Perimeter stitching
Raised spine hubs
- Standard Print — $489.99
- 10 pt font
- 4.5 x 6.75 inch page size
- Large Print — $529.99
- 12.41 pt font
- 5.5 x 8.375 inch page size
+ Premium Natural-Grain Leather Edition [black cover]
Retains original natural grain on cover
34 gsm Bolloré Primapage Ivoire paper
Double-faced Berisford ribbons
Red-over-gold art-gilded edges
- Standard Print — $909.99
- 10 pt font
- 4.5 x 6.75 inch page size
- Large Print — $985.99
- 12.41 pt font
- 5.5 x 8.375 inch page size
Single Volumes [I II III or IV]
These volumes will ship in January, May, July and November 2027, in time for their appropriate use.
+ Standard Leather Edition [red cover]
High-opacity, light cream, 36 gsm paper
Gold-gilded edges
- Standard Print — $69.99
- 10 pt font
- 4.5 x 6.75 inch page size
- Large Print — $79.99
- 12.41 pt font
- 5.5 x 8.375 inch page size
+ Premium Leather Edition [black cover]
High-opacity, light cream, 36 gsm paper
Black calf-skin liner
Gold-gilded edges
Perimeter stitching
Raised spine hubs
- Standard Print — $129.99
- 10 pt font
- 4.5 x 6.75 inch page size
- Large Print — $139.99
- 12.41 pt font
- 5.5 x 8.375 inch page size
+ Premium Natural-Grain Leather Edition [black cover]
Retains original natural grain on cover
34 gsm Bolloré Primapage Ivoire paper
Double-faced Berisford ribbons
Red-over-gold art-gilded edges
- Standard Print — $239.99
- 10 pt font
- 4.5 x 6.75 inch page size
- Large Print — $259.99
- 12.41 pt font
- 5.5 x 8.375 inch page size
+ Extra Cover
An extra outside cover is also available, in three styles.
Check website for pricing.
- Premium Leather Zipper Cover
-- multiple interior storage compartments
- Premium Leather Slip-on Cover
-- additional interior storage pockets
- Leatherette Zipper Cover
-- multiple interior storage compartments
For more information and ordering, visit Ascension Press
Word on Fire
Word on Fire Catholic Ministries has fewer options available and a distinctly new page design.
Some features of all the volumes by Word on Fire:
- Smyth-sewn binding
- Trinité type face
- Seven ribbons
- Metallic gold Artwork by Gustave Doré
- Rubrics and instructions in margins
- Matching page numbers across all editions
- Traditional hymns in familiar meters
- Frequently-used canticles at beginning and end
- Titles: Lauds & Vespers
- Institutional and religous order discounts available
Full Four-Volume Set
These prices are true as of July 1.
As mentioned above, volumes will be shipped as printed, beginning with the Lent/Easter volume in January 2027 [in time for Ash Wednesday on February 10, 2027].
Other volumes will ship in May, July, and November.
+ Natural full-grain leather Edition
Dye fully penetrates leather cover
Silky-smooth, acid-free paper
Red-over-gold art-gilded edges
First and last pages reinforced
Frequently-used canticles at beginning and end
- Standard Print — $359
- 11.4 pt font
- 5 x 8 inch page size
- Large Print — $429
- 14 pt font
- 6 x 9.25 inch page size
Single Volumes [I II III or IV]
Word on Fire seems not to be selling single volumes at this point.
They do sell the full four-volume sets listed above, and offer a financing plan to spread the cost over four payments.
For more information and ordering, visit Word on Fire
A sequel to Christian Prayer?
From what I've heard, new editions of Christian Prayer, Shorter Christian Prayer, Daytime Prayer, and Night Prayer are expected before the mandatory-use date of the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2028.
Also Midwest Theological Forum is publishing a project called Major Extracts of the Liturgy of the Hours - Second Edition.
While it cannot include all text contained in the four-volume edition of the Liturgy of the Hours, the Major Extracts will provide a comprehensive and practical selection suitable for praying every Hour throughout the year.
It will feature two volumes:
- Diurnal - similar to Christian Prayer, although slightly expanded.
It includes texts and psalmody for:
- Lauds (Morning Prayer)
- Daytime Hours (Terce, Sext, None)
- Vespers (Evening Prayer)
- Compline (Night Prayer)
- Office of Readings
These will be published before the December 3, 2028, mandatory use date.
Article written 02 July 2026
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