Learn the Office 3.0: The hours

At the hour of Divine Office let each one, as soon as he hears the signal, lay aside whatever he may be engaged with and respond with all speed, yet also with gravity, that no occasion be given for levity. Let nothing, then, be preferred to the Work of God.

Rule of St Benedict, ch 43

In this third section of 'Learn the Office' notes, I am going to pull together the notes on each of the components of the hour, by setting them in the context of the structure of each hour.

Those who are familiar with the traditional Roman Office could jump straight to this section, and use it to cross-check on differences with the Roman version of the hour.

Those less familiar with the Office can use it to work through the components of each hour systematically, by following the links.

Order of learning

Unless you are bound to say the Office (ie are a priest or religious), you don't have to say any or all of the hours.

Accordingly, I strong recommend starting with Compline, then when you are comfortable with it, adding Prime as a morning prayer.

Once you are comfortable with those hours, learning the Little Hours (Terce, Sext and None) is very straightforward.

Lauds and Vespers are the longest and most complex of the day hours, particularly on feasts and during seasons such as Lent, so I suggest learning them last.

And Matins is the most complex of all, and not easy to fit into a layperson's schedule.

The order in which the hours are said

Whichever hours you decide to say, remember that they should always be said in their correct order, viz:

Matins (in the early morning in darkness, at the 'eighth hour of the night', but can be anticipated the night before)

Lauds

Prime
The capitular Office

Introduction to Terce, Sext and None
Terce
Sext
None

Vespers

Compline (before bed)

Next part in the series

And to simply continue on to the next part in this series, go here.