Pausing for prayer at set times during the day is a common practice in each of the major world religions originating in ancient Hebrew monotheism. Traditionally founded by the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob themselves, David’s crying out to God “morning, noon, and night” (Psalm 55: 17) inspired the prophet Daniel’s falling to his knees in prayer three times a day facing Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10). Modern Jews maintain this practice. Muslims heed the call of the muezzin to face Mecca five times a day. A different verse from David, “Seven times a day I have given praise to thee” (Psalm 118:164), inspired the earliest Christian monastic communities to gather for prayer that same number of times, hallowing the day from their own rising to setting, from daybreak to nightfall and several times in between. Clearly easier for professed religious, the Catholic Church encourages the laity to adopt this practice in some fashion. The practice is especially urged upon those who affiliate themselves with a religious community as an oblate or tertiary. Along with many other prayers, many in both Latin and English, this small prayer book sets forth a one-week cycle of praying the Hours of the Divine Office in a simplified form..