Breviary

The Breviary is a liturgical book used in the Western Christian Church. It contains the complete set of texts for the canonical hours, also known as the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours. These texts include psalms, antiphons, hymns, readings from Scripture and the Church Fathers, and prayers.

Historically, the Breviary provided a standardized format for the daily prayer life of clergy, religious orders, and, to a lesser extent, laity. It allowed them to fulfill their obligation to pray at specific times throughout the day and night. The precise arrangement and content of the Breviary have varied across different religious orders and historical periods.

The Second Vatican Council led to significant reforms in the Liturgy of the Hours. These reforms aimed to make the prayer more accessible and relevant to contemporary life. The post-Vatican II Breviary, officially titled the Liturgy of the Hours, includes a wider selection of scriptural readings and a more flexible structure to accommodate diverse schedules and circumstances. It is now widely used by both clergy and laity. The current version is organized into several volumes, covering different liturgical seasons.

While the term "Breviary" is often used to refer to pre-Vatican II versions of the liturgical book, it is sometimes still used informally to describe the Liturgy of the Hours.