Oratio Latina · Translatio

The Divine Office

The Church sanctifies the entire day by Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline.

The Divine Office
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Today in the Church’s prayer

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Latina

Matutinum — vigilia nocturna et lectio sacra.

Laudes — laus matutina ad ortum lucis.

Prima — initium laboris Deo consecratum.

Tertia, Sexta, Nona — horae minores diei.

Vesperae — gratiarum actio vespertina.

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.