Divine Offices (canonical hours)
In the Roman Catholic liturgy, the service of the canonical or daily hours
(as distinct from that of the Mass), including
psalms, canticles,
antiphons, responsories,
hymns, versicles,
lessons (lections, readings), and prayers. The offices are celebrated
eight times a day:
Matins (between midnight and dawn)
Lauds (immediately following Matins - sunrise)
Prime (6:00 a.m.)
Terce (9:00 a.m.)
Sext (noon)
None (3:00 p.m.)
Vespers (sunset)
Compline (before retiring)
The Mass follows Terce except on ordinary
weekdays, when it follows Sext, or on fast days, when it follows None.
From the musical point of view the most important Offices are Matins,
Vespers, Lauds, and Compline.