CANONICAL

HOURS  , certain portions of the day set apart by rule (canon) of the church for prayer and devotion . The Jewish custom of praying three times a day, i.e. at the third, sixth and ninth hours, was perpetuated in the early Christian Church (Acts ii . 15, iii . 1, x . 9), and to these were added midnight (when Paul and Silas sang in prison), and the beginning of day and'-of night . Ambrose, Augustine and Hilary commended the example of the psalmist who gave praise " seven times a day " (Ps. cxix . 164) . The seventh (Compline, Completorium) was added by Benedict . These hours were adopted especially in the monasteries as a part of the canonical life, and spread thence to the cathedral and collegiate chapters . Since the 6th century the number and order of the hours have been fixed thus: matins, lauds, prime, terse, sext, none, vespers, compline . Matins theoretically belongs to midnight, but in Italy it is said about 7 or 8 A.M. and in France often on the preceding evening in accordance with the statement " evening and morning were one day." At matins is said the Venice (Ps. xcv.) and a hymn, followed by a Nocturna or night-watch (on Sundays three) which consists of twelve psalms . After the nocturna comes a lesson divided into three parts, one biblical and two patristic, and finally the Te Deum .

Lauds is proper to sunrise, but is mostly grouped with matins . It consists of four psalms, a canticle, psalms 148-150, a hymn, the

Benedictus (Luke i . 68-79) and prayers . Prime (6 A.M.), Terce (9 A.M.), Sext (noon) and None (3 P.M.) are called the Little Day Hours, are often said together, and are alike in character, consisting of a hymn and some sections of Ps. cxix., followed by a prayer . On Sundays the Athanasian Creed is said at prime . Vespers or Evensong consists of five varying psalms, a hymn, the Magnificat (Luke i . 46-55) and prayers . It belongs theoretic-ally to sunset . Compline, technically 9 P.M., but usually combined with vespers, is a prayer for protection during the darkness . It consists of the general confession, four fixed psalms, a hymn, the Nunc dimittis (Luke ii . 29-32), prayers and a Commemoration of the Virgin . ._ The term " canonical hours " is also used of the time during which English marriages may be solemnized without special licence, i.e. between 8 A.M. and 3 r:M .