A Book of Hours contains a selection of these prayers, often elaborately decorated. They are sometimes referred to as the Canonic hours of the monastic office, the Liturgy of the Hours, or the Divine Office. Neumz offers the possibility of listening to the canonical hours of the first morning prayer (Ad Matutinum), followed by lauds (Ad Laudes), passing through the so-called minor hours (Third, Sixth and Ninth) until arriving in the evening at the song of Vespers (Ad Vesperas), to end the day with the prayer of Compline (Ad Completorium).Ĭanonical hours or Offices represent the division of the Christian day, with fixed prayers said or sung at particular times. Saint Benedict stipulated in his Rule that the monks sing the entire Psalter, the book of Psalms, every week, and this has been done since the 6th century. Unlike the Mass repertoire, the Divine Office is essentially composed of Antiphons (a sort of refrain) that introduce and conclude the recitation of the Psalms, as well as Responses (which can be more or less ornate), Readings, Hymns, and opening and closing Prayers.

Cecilia’s CD department.In his Rule, Saint Benedict provides for a balanced division to the monk’s day, shared between the prayer of the Office – or prayer of the Hours, designated according to the progress of the course of the sun – and Lectio Divina, manual or intellectual work, and rest. Cecila’s Abbey can be purchased via iTunes and from the on-line St. If you would like audio files from Plusccarden Abbey, please purchase CDs on-line from the Pluscarden Abbey Shop. Links to purchase via iTunes will be provided when available.

* Links to Download mp3 files for audio files from Pluscarden Abbey have been deactivated. The audio files are not completely working in CHROME and not displaying in FIREFOX. We encourage you to also purchase original publications and recordings (CD) from the listed contributors. Please acknowledge the original source (music score or recording) in publications (e.g., booklets for specific Mass, first communion, confirmation, funeral, etc.) by referring to citation in the “Download Latin text or music score” PDF (right column). These materials are made available for personal, congregational, or institutional use but may not be sold for profit. Cecilia’s Abbey UK Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, France Pluscarden Abbey, Scotland Church Music Association of America and Society of St. Music and English translations are used with permission from Schola Sanctae Scholasticae, UK St. Purpose: Contributors to this website provided the music and audio recordings for the sole purpose of learning and teaching individual chants.

Gregorian chants translation