General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours

The Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV) is the official publishing house of the Holy See, established in 1926. Based in Vatican City, it is entrusted with publishing the writings of the Pope and the official documents of the Church, including papal encyclicals, apostolic exhortations, and other magisterial texts ensuring accurate distribution to the global Church.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) promotes the mission of the Catholic Church in the United States by supporting pastoral initiatives, ministries, and apostolic programs that serve the needs of the faithful in a changing world. In 2024, the USCCB approved a new English translation of the Liturgy of the Hours for use in the United States, marking a significant step in the ongoing renewal of the Church's public prayer. Through collaboration with Ascension, these liturgical and spiritual resources are made more widely accessible.

The International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) was established in 1963 in response to the Second Vatican Council’s call for wider participation and greater accessibility regarding the liturgy. ICEL is a commission of representatives appointed by a number of English-speaking bishops’ conferences, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and it is responsible for preparing English translations of the Latin liturgical texts of the Roman Rite. Most recently, ICEL completed the new English translation of the Liturgy of the Hours, a landmark effort that brings renewed clarity to the Church’s daily prayer. Through its work, ICEL plays a key role in helping ensure that the Church’s prayers and liturgical texts are accessible throughout the English-speaking world.