Canonical Hours

The Canonical Hours of the Benedictine Divine Office observed by monks in a monastery.

The day for Christians both privately at home and for those living in religious houses was divided into hours. The schedule included regular intervals for rest, prayer and work. The Benedictine Divine Office became widely adopted in England, as elsewhere on the Continent, and this defined a collection of prayers distinct from the Roman Office (Liturgy of the Hours). In the Rule of Saint Benedict, written in the early 6th century, there are eight prayer periods: Matins or Vigils, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline.
At different times of the year the timing of the prayers varies to accommodate the longer and shorter days. In St Benedict's time, the day was divided into twelve even hours of daylight, so an 'hour' was shorter in winter and longer in summer

Canonical Hours

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07500b.htm

Divine Office

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11219a.htm

Breviary

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02768b.htm

Nones

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11097a.htm

Terce

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14514c.htm

Sext

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13747c.htm

Prime

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12424a.htm

Lauds

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09038a.htm

Matins

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10050a.htm

Compline

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04187a.htm

Vespers

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15381a.htm

References

Cabrol, F. (1907). Breviary. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02768b.htm