Oratio Latina · Translatio
The Church sanctifies the entire day by Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline.
Loading the liturgical day and its saints…
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.
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.
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.
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.
