Divine Office
“The Divine Office” is an odd name for the public prayer that the monks engage in every day. St Benedict calls it “The Work of God”, a name that also needs explanation. ‘Officium’ is Latin for ‘duty’, and the Divine Office is the duty we owe to God. When St Benedict calls it ‘work’ he doesn’t mean ‘hard labour’, but simply ‘action’. When the monks pray together publicly they are united in Christ, they are the Body of Christ at prayer, the many members of the Son of God addressing His Father. It is obviously a human act, and mysteriously a divine one too. It is a duty and a privilege also.
We pray together several times a day: 6.00am, 7.30am, 8.45am, 12.35pm, 6.00pm and 8.15pm. Prayer is the backbone of the day, holding all our other activities in unity, defining us as a community, presenting us to the Father, incorporating us into the Son, making us instruments of the Spirit in the world.
Each of the prayer services, or ‘hours’ as we call them, is almost entirely scriptural. The first half is always composed of psalms. The Psalms were the hymnbook of the Temple in Jerusalem; Jesus quotes them frequently by heart, even on the cross. They express every emotion of God’s people: thanksgiving and praise, grief and anger, supplication and repentance. Together we voice not just our own feelings, but those of all the scattered people of God, showing solidarity with everyone in every situation.
Matins, 6.00am
This is sometimes called ‘Vigils’ and some communities get up in the middle of the night to pray it, while all around them sleep. As well as psalms it includes a couple of substantial readings, one from Scripture, another from the early Church Fathers. It lasts about 40 minutes. This gives us fuel for the private prayer that follows.
Lauds, 7.30am
This is the main Morning Prayer, and the tone is celebratory, full of praise and thanksgiving. Lauds and Vespers are the two most important ‘hours’ of the day. It lasts about 25 minutes. Breakfast follows.
Little Hour, 8.45am
For us this replaces the old Prime, Terce, Sext and None, the short offices that punctuated the day. It lasts a mere ten minutes, and consecrates the working day.
Mass, 12.35pm
This is not part of the series of prayer services, because it is in a category of its own. It is the sacrament of the day, in which we offer ourselves to the Father with Jesus, and commune with Jesus himself. Lunch follows.
Vespers, 6.00pm
This is the second principal office of the day, the Evening Prayer. At Ampleforth we sing it in Latin, in Gregorian Chant. It lasts 25 minutes and is followed by half an hour of Lectio Divina, and then supper.
Compline, 8.15pm
This is Night Prayer. It begins with a reading from the Rule (to see today's reading click here). All the psalms, readings and prayers are about protection, safety and the love of God. It is a favourite with visitors. It lasts 15 minutes and is followed by an antiphon to Our Lady in Gregorian Chant. You can hear some of this office here. Silence lasts from the end of this office until Matins the next day.
