Bible Dictionaries

The American Church Dictionary and Cycopedia

Canonical Hours

Seven stated hours appointed for devotional exercises, viz., Nocturns, Matins with Lauds, Prime, Tierce, Sext, Nones, and Vespers with Compline. Each of the Seven Hours is said to commemorate some point in the Passion of our Lord, as set forth in the old rhyme,

  "At mattins bound, at prime reviled,
    Condemned to death at tierce,
   Nailed to the Cross at sexts, at nones
    His blessed side they pierced.

  "They take Him down at vesper-tide
    In grave at compline lay:
   Who thenceforth bids His Church observe
    The sevenfold hours alway."