

A Book of Hours contains a selection of these prayers, often elaborately decorated. They are sometimes referred to as the Canonic hours of the monastic office, the Liturgy of the Hours, or the Divine Office. Neumz offers the possibility of listening to the canonical hours of the first morning prayer (Ad Matutinum), followed by lauds (Ad Laudes), passing through the so-called minor hours (Third, Sixth and Ninth) until arriving in the evening at the song of Vespers (Ad Vesperas), to end the day with the prayer of Compline (Ad Completorium).Ĭanonical hours or Offices represent the division of the Christian day, with fixed prayers said or sung at particular times.

Saint Benedict stipulated in his Rule that the monks sing the entire Psalter, the book of Psalms, every week, and this has been done since the 6th century. Unlike the Mass repertoire, the Divine Office is essentially composed of Antiphons (a sort of refrain) that introduce and conclude the recitation of the Psalms, as well as Responses (which can be more or less ornate), Readings, Hymns, and opening and closing Prayers.
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In his Rule, Saint Benedict provides for a balanced division to the monk’s day, shared between the prayer of the Office – or prayer of the Hours, designated according to the progress of the course of the sun – and Lectio Divina, manual or intellectual work, and rest.
