The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition - Volume I

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The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition - Volume I

Advent & Christmas Seasons

By Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV)

Part of Liturgy of the Hours

$69.99

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Sanctify your Advent and Christmas seasons with the breathtaking Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition (Volume I).

This beautiful new edition of The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition guides the faithful into the prayer of the Church throughout Advent and Christmas with the complete text of the Divine Office approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

For thousands of years, the faithful have sanctified their day with The Liturgy of the Hours.

Steeped in beauty, these prayers draw from the fullness of Scripture to help us unceasingly lift our hearts and minds to God.

And for the first time in over half a century, the new English translation of The Liturgy of the Hours is here—and ready for the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Uniting the inner beauty of the Church’s daily prayers with an elegant design, this volume features features:

Clear and accessible fonts for ease of reading
Insert cards for the Common Texts, Invitatory Psalms, and Psalmody at Lauds for Solemnities and Feasts
Exclusive typesetting with optimized spacing, subtle navigational tabs, and and the custom-designed Ascension Serif typeface
Durable Smyth-sewn binding
8 liturgically-colored satin ribbons, diagonally cut and adhered to the spine
Beautiful original artwork from Catholic artist Ruth Stricklin and New Jerusalem Studios
High opacity, light cream, FSC® Certified paper with gold-gilded edges
Matching page numbers across all editions, including Standard and Large Print, for effortless group prayer

SKU: 9798892762731
Format: Standard Leather
Binding: Casebound
Edition: 2nd
Dimensions: 4.5x6.75"
Weight: 1.34 lb
Page Count: 1920
Language: English
Series: The Liturgy of the Hours
Publisher: Ascension
Ecclesiastical Designation: Imprimatur, Concordat Cum Orginali
Publication Date: Nov 01, 2027
Copyright Year: 2027

Contributors

Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV)

Author

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.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

Creator

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.

International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL)

Translator

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.

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)

Translator

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) is a long-standing ministry of the Catholic Church dedicated to religious education and catechesis. Established in the early 20th century and promoted throughout the United States by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and local dioceses, CCD supports the teaching of the Catholic faith to children, youth, and adults, especially through parish-based religious education programs.

Monks of Conception Abbey

Translator

Conception Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in northwest Missouri founded in 1873 by monks from Engelberg Abbey in Switzerland. Rooted in the Rule of St. Benedict, the monks dedicate their lives to prayer, work, hospitality, and sharing the Catholic faith through ministries including Conception Seminary College, striving in all things to glorify God (Rule of St. Benedict 57:9). The monks of Conception Abbey also completed the new translation of the Abbey Psalms and Canticles, providing the scriptural foundation for the newly approved U.S. edition of the Liturgy of the Hours and helping renew the Church’s daily prayer for generations to come.

Ruth Stricklin

Illustrator

Ruth Stricklin is a mural artist and designer from Phoenix, Arizona, who co-founded New Jerusalem Studios (NJS) alongside her husband, Geoff, in 2014. Her profound commitment to authentic liturgical renewal within the Catholic community is beautifully exemplified through her work. A convert to Catholicism, Ruth's journey into the world of Catholic sacred art began with a transformative encounter with beauty in the liturgy, which she came to understand as an encounter with Christ himself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Liturgy of the Hours?

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.

Why is there a new edition?

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.

What is changing with the Second 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.

If I am required to pray the Liturgy of the Hours now, when will I be required to use the new edition?

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.

How are Ascension’s editions typeset?

Ascension has partnered 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. Ascension's editions also feature a custom Ascension Serif font, exclusively developed with 2K/DENMARK.

Is the artwork updated in Ascension’s edition?

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.

Where will Ascension's editions be available?

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.

What are the dimensions of each volume of Ascension’s editions? Will the accessories I’ve purchased for the First Edition fit Ascension’s editions?

All Standard Print editions are 4.5” x 6.75” and all Large Print editions are 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.

What are the font sizes of Ascension’s editions?

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

What cover materials are available? How are the different from each other?

Ascension's edition is available in Standard Leather, Premium Leather, and Premium Natural Grain Leather. The primary difference between these materials is how they feel in your hands. The Standard Leather is a durable yet flexible bonded leather, while the Premium Leather is a soft and lightweight, top-grain goatskin leather. The Premium Natural Grain is an exceptionally soft, full-grain goatskin leather that retains the hide's original, natural grain.

What makes the Premium Natural Grain Leather edition so high quality?

This edition is printed by one of the world's foremost Bible printers in the Netherlands: Jongbloed. Much of the production process is completed by hand, and a strict adherence to quality control is maintained from start to finish. In addition, the materials for the cover, paper, and ribbons are of the highest quality available, sourced from top-quality brands like Berisfords and Bolloré.

What stewardship considerations were taken into account in printing Ascension’s volumes?

All editions use Sustainable Typesetting®, an approach that combines highly readable typeface design with efficient page layout. By carefully balancing font design, spacing, margins, and white space, the page design helps maintain readability while reducing overall page count and paper use.

All editions also use FSC® certified paper. In the Standard Leather and Premium Leather editions, soy-based inks are used as a lower-VOC alternative to traditional petroleum-based inks. In the Premium Natural Grain Leather editions, the UV inks used are specified to be VOC-free, solvent-free, ITX-free, phthalate-free, benzene-free, and mineral-oil-free.

How can I purchase The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition?

The volumes of the new edition can be purchased individually as they release or as a four-volume bundle. If purchasing the bundle, each volume with ship automatically to the address on the original order when it is released. The bundle also provides a built-in 5% cost savings and free shipping.

Are bulk discounts available for groups who order together?

Yes. Bulk discounts are available for those ordering on behalf of parishes, seminaries, dioceses, or other communities who have registered as a group.

Will an Annual Guide be available for 2027?

The Annual Guide for 2027 will be available as a digital download. We are exploring opportunities for print in 2027, but a printed guide will be available for 2028.

Whom may I contact if I have further questions regarding Ascension’s editions of the Liturgy of the Hours?

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