The Liturgy of the Hours Explained (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz)

The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast – October 9, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz delves deep into the Liturgy of the Hours, sharing both practical guidance and personal testimony about its power and meaning. Drawing from over two decades of daily practice, he breaks down what the Liturgy of the Hours is, why the Church treasures it, and how anyone—not just priests or religious—can begin incorporating this scriptural prayer into daily life. The episode is filled with Fr. Mike’s characteristic warmth, practical wisdom, and relatable stories, particularly for those curious or intimidated by the prayer’s seeming complexity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Fr. Mike’s Personal Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours

• [00:00] Fr. Mike opens with a heartfelt admission:

  “I will tell you this now, after 23 or 24 years of praying this every single day, this is my favorite prayer. It is literally my favorite way to pray.”

• He reflects on his nervousness before ordination, emphasizing that his greatest worry wasn’t celibacy, but the lifelong daily commitment to the Liturgy of the Hours.

What Is the Liturgy of the Hours?

• [02:00] Fr. Mike concisely explains:
  • The Liturgy of the Hours is a way to pray scripture throughout the day, using psalms and canticles arranged by the Church on a four-week cycle.
  • “It’s taken all of those psalms and canticles, or many of them, and has put them in an ordered way so that throughout the day, every person who prays them would stop and pray five times...” (02:15)
  • Each “hour” refers to a moment of prayer, not a literal sixty minutes.

Structure of the Liturgy of the Hours

• [03:30] Fr. Mike walks through the five daily “hours”:
  1. Office of Readings: Three psalms/sections, long scripture, then Church/spiritual reading. “It’s by far, it is my absolute favorite hour to pray.” (03:55)
  2. Morning Prayer (Lauds): Psalms/canticle, scripture, intercessions, Canticle of Zechariah.
  3. Daytime Prayer: Shortest except for Night Prayer, “a relatively brief opportunity to stop and pray.” (05:05)
  4. Evening Prayer (Vespers): Similar to morning but with the Canticle of Mary; parallels to morning prayer.
  5. Night Prayer (Compline): Many people’s favorite as “the absolute shortest of all...the hours.” (06:00)

Why Is This Prayer Important?

• [06:30] Three core reasons:
  1. Praying God’s Word:
     “We get to pray with Scripture throughout the whole day...It’s not just for priests...This is literally called the prayer of the Church.”
  2. Sanctifying Time:
     “There’s such a thing as holy spaces...but there’s also such a thing as holy time. We sanctify the day by stopping at various moments...” (07:30)
  3. It’s Liturgy, Not Just Devotion:
     • Unlike devotions (rosary, holy hour), “the Liturgy of the Hours is actually a liturgy...It is the prayer of the whole Church.”
     • Notably, priests are not required to say Mass daily, but are promised to pray the Liturgy of the Hours:

       “But the Church does ask priests to pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day of their lives.” (09:30)

  4. Universal Power of the Prayer:
     • “When you pray the Liturgy of the Hours, you are uniting your prayer to the entire Church...it has more oomph. We’ll say it like that. More power.” (11:10)

Practical Tips for Beginners

• [13:00] Fr. Mike’s advice:
  • Start small: “Pick one [hour]. Picking one is great. Maybe pick two...Morning prayer and night prayer, that would be a great way to kind of bookend your day.”
  • Don’t be intimidated by complexity:
    “If it’s not the right day, pray it anyways. If it’s not perfect, do it anyways.” (15:20)
  • Shares a candid story about his own confusion over ribbons in the breviary and being lost among pages—emphasizing persistence over perfection.

The Transformative Power of Repetition

• [16:45] Fr. Mike admits:

  “When I was getting ordained, … it was the most boring prayer I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. … But something happened. The more and more I was exposed to these words, because they’re not just words, right? They’re God’s words.”

• Shares a moving story about a silent retreat where the psalms “planted in his heart” through years of praying the Hours became the perfect words for prayer when he had none himself. (18:40)

The Subtlety and Power of God's Word

• [19:30]

  “God’s word can penetrate between joints and marrow, between soul and spirit. And so we allow God’s word to penetrate our hearts. And what happens is it takes up residence in our hearts.”

• Fr. Mike concludes with encouragement for listeners:

  “If we come back again and again to God’s word in the Liturgy of the Hours, it will not leave us unchanged. This is my favorite prayer. It is literally my favorite way to pray.” (21:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It is literally called the prayer of the church.” (07:00)
• “The Liturgy of the Hours is liturgy, which means it’s not just a devotion. It is the prayer of the whole Church.” (08:20)
• “The Church does not ask priests to make a promise to say Mass every day of their lives, but the Church does ask priests to pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day of their lives.” (09:30)
• “When you pray Liturgy of the Hours, it has more, let’s say, like, it’s more oomph. We’ll say it like that. More power. Because it is called the Prayer of the Church.” (11:10)
• “If it’s not the right day, pray it anyways. If it’s not perfect, do it anyways.” (15:20)
• “The more and more I was exposed to God’s word, something happened in me...it was not flashy, it was not emotional, it was not inspiring. But what happened was God’s words penetrated my mind and my heart.” (17:45)
• “All of a sudden now we have a lens that we can see the world through. All of a sudden now we have words that we didn’t have before.” (20:10)

Recommended Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Personal Testimony – [00:00–02:00]
• What Is the Liturgy of the Hours? – [02:00–04:30]
• Breakdown of Each Hour – [04:30–06:30]
• Why This Prayer Matters – [06:30–12:00]
• How to Begin & Overcome Challenges – [13:00–16:30]
• Personal Story of Transformation – [16:45–19:00]
• Closing Reflections – [19:30–21:30]

Final Thoughts

Fr. Mike’s warmth and candor demystify the Liturgy of the Hours, revealing its richness and accessibility for everyone—not just clergy. His encouragement to “pray it anyways” and focus on encountering God’s word rather than chasing perfection is both freeing and inspiring. The episode is an invitation to all listeners to slowly make the Church’s prayer their own, transforming ordinary moments into holy time.