Completorium — ultima oratio ante quietem nocturnam.
English
Matins — the night watch and sacred readings.
Lauds — morning praise at the rising of the light.
Prime — the beginning of work consecrated to God.
Terce, Sext and None — the little hours of the day.
Vespers — evening thanksgiving.
Compline — the final prayer before the night’s rest.
Deutsch
Matutin — die nächtliche Wache und heilige Lesung.
Laudes — das Morgenlob beim Aufgang des Lichtes.
Prim — der Gott geweihte Beginn der Arbeit.
Terz, Sext und Non — die kleinen Horen des Tages.
Vesper — das abendliche Dankgebet.
Komplet — das letzte Gebet vor der Nachtruhe.
Explanation and method
The prayer of the Church
The Divine Office is not merely a private devotion. It is the ordered praise of the Mystical Body, entrusted in a special manner to clerics and religious and fruitfully joined by the faithful.
The traditional hours
Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline sanctify night, dawn, the beginning of work, the chief hours of the day, evening and rest.