Ritual Books - New Editions

                 
The long-awaited Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition is the first major revision of the Catholic Church's official daily prayer in the United States in over 50 years. 
 
Key details include:

• pre-orders placed with individual publishers launched back on July 1, 2026, 
• a first allowable “may use” date is set for February 10, 2027, 
• the “mandatory use” date is set for December 3, 2028.

 
Implementation and Release Timeline
 
July 1, 2026: 
Pre-orders opened through these two exclusive publishers:
1.
Word on Fire Publishing
https://www.liturgyofthehours.com/
 
2.
Ascension Press
https://ascensionpress.com/pages/content-hub/liturgy-of-the-hours?srsltid=AfmBOorUH-J0UewvncvP9gLRFQXowndSozWPCeQ8wl9hHRr_JqWjehxQ
 
These two publishers will be responsible for producing the four-volume editions of the breviary.   They will take orders for all four volumes, even though they will be shipped incrementally (see below). 
  
January 2027
Volume II (Lent and Easter) is shipped.
 
February 10, 2027
Volume II may be used (Ash Wednesday).
 
April 2027
Volume III (Ordinary Time Weeks 1-17) may be shipped.
 
May 17, 202
Volume III may be used (Monday after Pentecost).
 
July 2027
Volume IV (Ordinary Time Weeks 18-34) may be shipped.
 
August 1, 2027            
Volume IV may be used.
 
October 2027
Volume I (Advent-Christmas) may be shipped.
 
November 28, 2027
Volume I may be used (First Sunday of Advent).
 
2028 (or possibly late 2027)
Various digital editions, one volume major extracts, and minor extracts become available from other publishers.
 
December 3, 2028 (First Sunday of Advent) 
Final retirement of the 1970’s edition.  Mandatory use of the Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition for those canonically bound to celebrate it.

• Priests, Deacons, or members of religious communities bound by canon law to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, may continue to use the 1970’s edition right up until this mandatory-use date. 
• Laypeople praying the Hours as an act of personal devotion are not bound by that same canonical obligation, and so are not obligated to purchase or begin using the new texts on any particular date. 

 
 Ordering these four-volume sets of the Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition is “on your own.”
 

• Due to the spread-out nature of the release of each volume of this four-volume set, there is no “diocesan bulk order” available through the Diocese of Superior for the Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition.
• You must order each four-volume set directly from the publisher of your choice, individually.
• The publisher will deliver the volumes as they become available for shipping to the address you share with them in your individual ordering process.
• Though the mandatory-use date for clergy is not until December 3, 2028, it may behoove you to place a pre-order, soon.  
• The USCCB has not yet established a licensing model for digital editions of the Second Edition.

  
Key Content and Text Updates
 

• Scripture Sources: Psalms and canticles transition to The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, with biblical readings drawn from a new American translation.
• Restored Hymnody: Incorporates nearly 290 Latin and early church hymns translated into English for the first time, positioning them directly next to their corresponding prayers rather than in an appendix.
• Translations: Re-translated following Liturgiam authenticam guidelines for theological and historical precision.
• Gospel Canticle Antiphons: Adds a three-year (A/B/C) cycle for the Benedictus (Morning Prayer) and Magnificat (Evening Prayer) on Sundays and solemnities, matching the Sunday Gospel readings.
• Intercessions: Revises and expands the petitions for Lauds and Vespers across the temporal cycles.

  
Publishing and Formats
 

• Exclusive Publishers: The 4-volume set is produced in the U.S. by Ascension Press and Word on Fire Publishing. (Click on links provided above to order directly from those publishers.)
• Extract Editions: Single-volume major extracts (for instance volumes containing only Lauds—Morning Prayer—and Vespers—Evening Prayer—) are planned for release in late 2027 or in 2028, by other publishers.