Which volume of the Liturgy of the Hours am I in?
The set is divided by season, not by month, so the changeover dates move every year. Here they are, computed.
Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Psalter Week IV. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The four-volume Liturgy of the Hours is divided by liturgical season, not by calendar month, so the volume you need changes on dates that move each year. Here is which volume covers what, and the exact dates for the next three liturgical years.
The four volumes
| Volume | Covers | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Volume I | Advent and Christmas | Late November to mid January |
| Volume II | Lent and Easter | Ash Wednesday to Pentecost |
| Volume III | Ordinary Time, weeks 1 to 17 | Two separate stretches, winter and early summer |
| Volume IV | Ordinary Time, weeks 18 to 34 | Mid summer to the end of the liturgical year |
Exact dates
Computed from the United States calendar. Every date below is inclusive.
Liturgical year 2025 to 2026
| Volume | Dates |
|---|---|
| Volume I Advent and Christmas | Nov 30, 2025 to Jan 11, 2026 |
| Volume II Lent and Easter | Feb 18, 2026 to May 24, 2026 |
| Volume III Ordinary Time, Weeks 1 to 17, winter stretch | Jan 12, 2026 to Feb 17, 2026 |
| Volume III Ordinary Time, Weeks 1 to 17, resumes after Pentecost | May 25, 2026 to Aug 1, 2026 |
| Volume IV Ordinary Time, Weeks 18 to 34 | Aug 2, 2026 to Nov 28, 2026 |
Liturgical year 2026 to 2027
| Volume | Dates |
|---|---|
| Volume I Advent and Christmas | Nov 29, 2026 to Jan 10, 2027 |
| Volume II Lent and Easter | Feb 10, 2027 to May 16, 2027 |
| Volume III Ordinary Time, Weeks 1 to 17, winter stretch | Jan 11, 2027 to Feb 9, 2027 |
| Volume III Ordinary Time, Weeks 1 to 17, resumes after Pentecost | May 17, 2027 to Jul 31, 2027 |
| Volume IV Ordinary Time, Weeks 18 to 34 | Aug 1, 2027 to Nov 27, 2027 |
Liturgical year 2027 to 2028
| Volume | Dates |
|---|---|
| Volume I Advent and Christmas | Nov 28, 2027 to Jan 9, 2028 |
| Volume II Lent and Easter | Mar 1, 2028 to Jun 4, 2028 |
| Volume III Ordinary Time, Weeks 1 to 17, winter stretch | Jan 10, 2028 to Feb 29, 2028 |
| Volume III Ordinary Time, Weeks 1 to 17, resumes after Pentecost | Jun 5, 2028 to Aug 5, 2028 |
| Volume IV Ordinary Time, Weeks 18 to 34 | Aug 6, 2028 to Dec 2, 2028 |
Volume III appears twice in each year. That is not a mistake in the tables. Ordinary Time is interrupted by Lent and Easter, so Volume III is picked up again the day after Pentecost and carries on from whichever week the count had reached.
A quicker way to tell
Open your book to the spine label and match it to the season you are in. If you are unsure of the season, the daily guide names it, along with the Psalter week and where each ribbon goes.
See today’s ribbon placements Free, no account, works offline once you have opened itCommon questions
Which volume of the Liturgy of the Hours am I in right now?
Volume IV (Ordinary Time, Weeks 18 to 34). The four-volume set is divided by season rather than by month, so the volume changes on liturgical dates, not on the first of a month.
Why does Ordinary Time need two volumes?
Ordinary Time is by far the longest stretch of the year, running to thirty-four weeks in two separate blocks. Volume III carries weeks 1 to 17 and Volume IV carries weeks 18 to 34. Volume III is used twice each year: once between the Baptism of the Lord and Ash Wednesday, and again from the day after Pentecost until week 18 begins.
When do I switch from Volume III to Volume IV?
When the count of Ordinary Time reaches week 18. Because Easter moves, so does this handover, which is why it is worth checking rather than assuming it falls in a particular month.
Do I need to buy all four volumes at once?
No. Many people start with the volume covering the current season and add the others over time. If you are starting now, buy the volume you will open tomorrow. The Second Edition is shipping volume by volume through 2027, so buying one at a time is going to be normal for a while.
Does the single-volume Christian Prayer follow the same divisions?
No. Christian Prayer is one book containing Morning and Evening Prayer for the whole year, so there is no volume to choose. The season and Psalter week still apply, but the sections are arranged differently.