sixth of the seven canonical hours of the divine office

Of these seven, Compline seems to have been the last to appear, because the 4th century Apostolic Constitutions VIII iv 34 do not mention it in the exhortation “Offer up your prayers in the morning, at the third hour, the sixth, the ninth, the evening, and at cock-crowing”. Within Anglicanism, the Liturgy of the Hours is contained within the book of Daily Prayer of Common Worship and the Book of Common Prayer, as well as in the Anglican Breviary…īy the end of the 5th century, the Liturgy of the Hours was composed of seven offices. In Greek the corresponding services are found in the Ὡρολόγιον (Horologion), meaning Book of Hours.

Within Catholicism, the Liturgy of the Hours, once contained within what was called the Roman Breviary, is in its present form found in what in English editions is called either The Liturgy of the Hours (arranged in four volumes) or The Divine Office (in three volumes).

Christians of both Eastern and Western traditions (including the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches) celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours under various names. The Liturgy of the Hours, along with the Eucharist, has formed part of the Church’s public worship from the earliest times. Together with the Mass, it constitutes the official public prayer life of the Church…The Liturgy of the Hours also forms the basis of prayer within Christian monasticism. It consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns, readings and other prayers. “The Liturgy of the Hours (Latin: Liturgia Horarum) or Divine Office (Latin: Officium Divinum) or canonical hours, often referred to as the Breviary, is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited by clergy, religious institutes, and the laity. Hermits, no less than monks, have traditionally recited the Prayers of the hours.

Sixth of the seven canonical hours of the divine office