Bible Dictionaries

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

Prayers in the Divine Office

A series of versicles and responses recited at the Canonical Hours on certain days of the year. These prayers represent a form of litanical prayer, and in substance go back to Apostolic times, when they found place at Vespers and Lauds. The prayers are of two classes:

• dominical, recited at Prime and Complin on certain Sundays and minor feasts
• ferial, recited at all the Hours, except Matins on vigils and ferias of Lent and Advent