Liturgy of the Hours is the daily prayer of the Church. Rooted in Scripture, it sanctifies the hours of the day with prayer, readings, and hymns. Clergy and religious often pray it together, and the laity are encouraged to join in as they are able, whether individually, with family, or in parish groups.

Many monthly booklets that include morning prayers, daily readings, and evening prayers are devotional aids. The Liturgy of the Hours, however, is the Church’s official prayer, prayed around the world each day. It includes the full psalms, hymns, readings, and prayers that make up the daily cadence of the Church’s prayer life.

The English translation currently in use is based on the editio typica of 1971 and was published in 1975 and 1976. In 1985, the Vatican issued the editio typica altera, replacing the 1971 edition. This English Second Edition is a translation of the editio typica altera, prepared according to the norms of the 2001 Vatican document Liturgiam authenticam and the Roman Missal, Third Edition.

The USCCB has been sharing detailed progress of development. In short:

• Scripture – Psalms and Canticles now from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles; readings from the forthcoming Catholic American Bible.
• Antiphons – Gospel Canticle antiphons aligned with the three-year Lectionary; revised psalm antiphons.
• Hymns – Nearly 300 Latin hymns translated into English for the first time with 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 U.S. adaptations and a new appendix of optional Second Readings.

The Second Edition of the Liturgy of the Hours will include the Latin text of the Gospel canticles, Marian Antiphons, and Te Deum.

The USCCB announced at their Plenary Assembly in November 2025 that the completed manuscript of the Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition received confirmation from the Holy See and the first use of the Second Edition will begin with Volume II for Lent and Easter on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027. Preorders for Ascension’s editions of this volume will begin on July 1, 2026.

Yes. You may continue praying with your current volumes and you may begin using the new edition Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027. If you are required to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, the mandatory-use date of the new edition is the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2028.

In their November—December 2025 Newsletter, the Committee on Divine Worship of the USCCB noted “Bishops and priests are required to pray daily the entire breviary, permanent deacons in the U.S. must pray daily Lauds and Vespers, and religious communities pray the Divine Office according to their respective rules and constitutions. Lay persons, however, are encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, especially the chief hours of Lauds and Vespers.”

The USCCB established the first-use date as Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027, and the mandatory-use date as the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2028.

The new translation in extracted editions such as Christian Prayer, Shorter Christian Prayer, Daytime Prayer, and Night Prayer is expected before the mandatory-use date of the First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2028.

The USCCB has not confirmed a Spanish edition of the Liturgy of the Hours. Therefore, any Spanish translation lawfully approved by another Conference of Bishops may be used. Ascension offers for sale the edition approved by the Bishops’ Conferences of Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Argentine Republic, and the Dominican Republic.

The USCCB will determine the availability of alternative formats at a later date and information about these formats will be shared when it is available.

There will be four volumes, arranged similarly to the First Edition.

The first volume available will be Volume II for Lent and Easter to begin using on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027. The remaining volumes will be available one by one until all four volumes have been released.

The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments announced in a letter dated January 6, 2025, that Pope Francis approved the promulgation of the Supplementum to the Liturgia Horarum. With this text now available, the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) will undertake its translation in the coming years.

The Supplementum contains a biennial cycle of Scripture and ecclesiastical/patristic (“Second”) readings for the Office of Readings, as well as an optional lectionary of substitute Second Readings aligned with the Sunday Mass Gospels. It also includes readings on a wide variety of themes and a series of psalm-prayers and canticle-prayers for the Invitatory, Four-Week Psalter, and Night Prayer.

Therefore, the Supplementum will not be included in the four-volume Second Edition of the Liturgy of the Hours. Specifically, the biennial Office of Readings will not appear, and the annual cycle as currently prayed will continue in the new edition.

For further details on the Supplementum to the Liturgia Horarum see the March 2025 Newsletter from the Committee on Divine Worship of the USCCB.

Ascension’s editions of the Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition are crafted for beauty, durability, and ease of prayer. Each volume features expert typesetting by 2K/DENMARK for exceptional readability, timeless sacred artwork, and high-quality materials. Available in Standard, Large Print, and Premium formats, these editions combine reverent design and lasting craftsmanship to serve the Church’s daily prayer for years to come.

Ascension will offer Standard Leather, Large Print Leather, and Premium Leather editions.

Ascension is partnering with 2K/DENMARK, the world’s leading biblical typesetter, and the typesetter for the latest edition of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible. Their work ensures clarity, reverence, and beauty on every page.

Yes. Ascension has commissioned brand-new artwork from New Jerusalem Studios that is timeless, beautiful, and rooted in Catholic tradition—designed to elevate prayer without distraction.

An heirloom-quality edition with goatskin leather covers and calfskin liners, similar to the Premium Edition of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible.

Pricing has not yet been announced.

Ascension's editions of Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition will be available in English in the areas represented by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This includes the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the areas under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese for Military Services worldwide.

Volume II for Lent and Easter will be the first volume available in time to begin use on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027. Preorders for this volume will begin on July 1, 2026. The remaining volumes will be available one by one until all four volumes have been released.

All Standard Print editions will be 4.5” x 6.75” and all Large Print editions will be 5.5” x 8.375.” The final depth dimensions will vary based on the page count in each volume. It is not expected that accessories designed for the First Edition will fit Ascension’s editions.

The Standard Print will be 10pt and the Large Print will be 12.41pt. Both font sizes are comparable to the First Edition volumes. In addition, each layout will be typeset with a special attention to maximizing readability.

Yes. A box set including all four volumes will be available once all volumes are released.

Yes. Bulk discounts will be available for those ordering on behalf of parishes, seminaries, dioceses, or other communities.

Yes, Ascension’s editions will be available to resellers. More information is coming soon on key dates and instructions for placing reseller orders.

Please e-mail us at support@ascensionpress.com or call our support team at (800) 376-0520.