General
The current English edition of the Liturgy of the Hours was translated in the 1970s. Since then, the Church has canonized dozens of saints, added new feast days, and approved a more faithful translation of the sacred texts.
After years of development, this new edition incorporates those changes, bringing greater accuracy, richer biblical language, restored hymnody, and expanded liturgical content.
Starting in 2028, the use of the new translation in The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition will be required and the current edition will be out of date.
Word on Fire’s Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition features a natural full-grain leather cover with gold artwork. It is made in Italy with a durable construction that lays flat and a more readable layout. Each volume includes seven ribbons, red-to-gold art gilded edges, convenient canticle end cards, and traditional hymns.
Preorders open July 1, 2026, and we expect the initial print run to sell out quickly.
The initial volume (Vol II. Lent & Easter Time) will ship on January 1, 2027, and will arrive before Ash Wednesday (February 10, 2027). The final three volumes will each arrive in time for the corresponding liturgical season.
Again, we expect the first printing to sell out quickly. To ensure you have a copy in time for Lent 2027, we encourage you to order today.
The Liturgy of the Hours is printed in Italy using ethically sourced components from across Europe and the USA.
Since launching our publishing arm in 2020, Word on Fire has printed and distributed nearly 9 million books. The vast majority have been printed in the United States. Only a handful have been printed elsewhere, including The Word on Fire Bible and select premium titles, which are produced in Italy by some of the world’s finest craftsmen and printers.
As a Catholic publisher, we believe the Church’s moral and social teachings should shape not only what we publish but also how and where our books are produced. Over the years, we have continually evaluated our manufacturing and sourcing partners, seeking to align our practices more closely with our mission. We increasingly prioritize partners known for exceptional craftsmanship, responsible business practices, and respect for human dignity, even when doing so results in higher production costs.
This decision is not the easiest or least expensive path. Much of the publishing industry relies on low-cost overseas manufacturing that reduces production expenses significantly, leading to cheaper books. However, we believe beautiful Catholic books should be produced in a way that respects human dignity and reflects the values we proclaim in our pages.
When you purchase a Word on Fire book, you can be confident that it reflects our commitment to the via pulchritudinis—the way of beauty—not only in the truth each book proclaims and the craftsmanship you can see but also in the moral integrity behind how and where it was made.
The Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition is only approved for use in the United States and is only available in English.
Translation & Content
In 2001, Pope St. John Paul II called for a shift away from a form of translation known as dynamic equivalence, which conveyed the general thought of the original passage but lacked theological precision. After years of development, the new translation of the Liturgy of the Hours is finally ready.
Saints and feasts proclaimed since the mid-twentieth century have now been fully integrated into this new edition, including St. Teresa of Calcutta, Pope St. John Paul II, St. Maximilian Kolbe, and more.
The traditional hymnody of the Church has been restored in its entirety. Nearly 300 hymns—including compositions by giants of the early Church such as St. Ambrose and St. Hilary—now appear in The Liturgy of the Hours. These hymns are conveniently located near the corresponding prayer based on the feast day, season, or specific hour. Hymns are set predominantly in common, accessible tunes, allowing them to be sung without mastering hundreds of unique melodies.
Layout & Materials
A cluttered desk makes it difficult to focus on the task at hand; the same is true when praying. The “visual clutter” of the page is cleared out, leaving an organized, straightforward layout. Instructional elements are moved to the side margins to further keep the focus.
To make the prayers more readable, our premium font size is 11.4 pt, which is up to 20% more readable than the current edition.
Our premium large-print edition is even bigger at 14 pt font.
Both font sizes are larger than the previous edition (10pt) and will be the largest available on the market.
We tested many sizes to fit comfortably in the hand and to optimize for prayerful reading. The new books have a slightly taller aspect ratio than the previous edition to better fit the tall, narrow shape of the psalms. The new edition is 0.5 inches wider and 1.25 inches taller than the previous edition.
Yes, throughout each volume, dozens of images of sacred art by Gustave Doré are printed in custom-made gold ink to inspire reflection on the sacred prayers.
The natural full-grain leather uses the entire hide, ensuring it will patina beautifully over time rather than degrade with use. Because the leather is fully penetrated with dye, it fosters a resilience to scratches, rain, or coffee spills that may happen with daily use.
The cows come from the Valencia region in Spain where there are no barbed wires in the field. This prevents scarring from occurring on the animal and creates a very high-quality product. You’ll instantly notice how soft it feels.
Yes, the paper is 14% brighter than the previous edition, which decreases page “ghosting” and allows for better readability in lower light. This silky-smooth, acid-free paper is built for longevity, designed to resist yellowing after decades of use.
The paper edges are finished with a custom red-to-gold art gilding that gives multidimensional depth. As the pages catch the light, the color shifts between red and gold, creating a dynamic, iridescent shimmer.
Handcrafted in Italy, The Liturgy of the Hours is stitched for both strength and flexibility. Sewn binding protects the spine against separation and cracking; the book can endure being opened thousands of times without losing its integrity. It lays flat when open for optimal holding and a more appealing prayer experience.
Each volume features seven unique ribbons—two more than the previous edition—to mark all the prayers needed. To allow the binding to flex open easily, a custom method of adhering the ribbons to the binding was developed. This ensures the ribbons stay secure without compromising the book’s lay-flat performance.
Pricing & Support
With the early bird discount, you can get 28% OFF and FREE shipping! Click here to see full payment options and price details.
Yes, we offer both institutional discounts and religious order discounts. We expect the first printing to sell quickly; to ensure you receive copies in time for Lent 2027, please email wholesale@wordonfire.org to get access to this special pricing.
Simply email support@wordonfire.org or call us at 866-928-1237 and we’ll be happy to help.
We offer a 100% money-back guarantee. Returns will be accepted within 90 days from the ship date of your book. Please email support@wordonfire.org to request a return, including your order number (Q*******).
