Every Evening Trivia Quiz

Answer: Vespers

My Latin tutor will be pleased to know that I can tell you that "vesper" means "evening". It is the sixth of the canonical hours that takes place every day. According to the Earl's priest, Father Simon, there is a set format for Vespers that the monks follow; there has been only a little variation since the early days of Christianity. Passages from the Bible are read, hymns are chanted, and prayers, including the Pater Noster, are said.

The Via Francigena is a very old systems of roads that dates back to at least the 700s, if not before. It begins in England at Canterbury and ends in the southern part of Italy. As you would expect from its name, it mostly runs through France, but contains a little bit of Switzerland before it reaches Italy. Pilgrims have used it for centuries, but the most famous traveler was probably Archbishop of Canterbury Sigeric, who used the roads to travel to Rome and back in the 990s. He kept a journal about the route on his way back to England, a trip that covered about 1100 miles. We are essentially retracing his steps to Rome and back.

Answer: Dusk

Vespers are said at dusk. Of course, the approximate time dusk occurs depends on the season. Vespers held at midwinter typically take place about about 3:00 pm, and by midsummer they begin at about 7:00 pm. In big cities like London, the ringing of the bells signal the time for prayer; monasteries are located in out of the way places, so the monks learn to tell time by looking at the position of the sun.

Traveling along the route of the Via Francigena, we will make camp most nights, but sometimes we will be able to stay at a monastery. Did you know that monasteries are obligated to give us refuge? Charles the Great - or Charlemagne - enacted laws regarding hospitality to Christian travelers, which only have to be extended for three days. Don't worry! My Earl isn't about to take advantage of free food and shelter. He is likely to leave behind a handsome gift. We are returning home from a stay in Rome, and it is nice to have the protection of the monastery walls for a change.

Speaking of the end of the day - I am really looking forward to the food at the monastery, even though Father Simon says that it won't be anything special. My thought is that it might at least be cooked and hot; maybe they will have good bread, vegetable soup, and some beer for us! I will settle for that! I sure hope they are not fasting! We will not be eating with the monks, as their main meal of the day is served hours before Evening Prayer. Since it is summertime, however, they may have a light meal after Vespers.

Answer: To thank and praise God

Evening Prayer is a time to thank and praise God for the passing day that he has given to us; it is important for us to remember to be thankful for what we have been given. Along with the Morning Prayer, which serves to help us dedicate the day to God, it is considered to be the most important prayer of the day. These are the two times that we lay people are sure to pray every day, while members of the clergy are likely to pray during all of the canonical hours.

Did you know that the cycle of daily prayer commemorates different events of the passion of Christ? The Evening Prayers commemorates the time when the people took Christ down off the cross; the next set of prayers, called Compline, commemorate his burial.

Answer: Psalms

It is customary for at least four psalms, sometimes more, to be read during the Evening Prayer. In between each reading, time is given for personal reflection and prayer. Psalms are also recited during the other prayer times; in fact, within a week's time, Father Simon says that all of the Psalms - all 150 of them - are recited at one prayer hour or another! It is just a continuous weekly cycle.

It's really very likely that we won't be permitted to have contact with most of the monks at the monastery while we are there. Father Simon says that visitors are a huge distraction to their duties, and that we might even be housed in a lodging that is completely separate from the monastery.

Answer: Cantor

The office of cantor is especially important in the monastery, as the office is considered to be second in importance only to the abbot. Cantors choose the monks who will participate in the choir, either singing or chanting. They decide what will be read and what will be sung during the service. Not only that, but the cantor is also in charge of the monastery library, even to the point of making the ink and seeing that proper writing materials like parchment are available. He's a very busy guy!

Father Simon and I have discussed the different positions held at the monastery at great length. The abbot is the monk who is in charge of the monastery; he is someone who is very holy and sets a good example to the other monks. A chamberlain is responsible for taking care of the monks' every day basic needs - like clothing and cleanliness. The almoner and his group of monks sees to the needs of the poor, who frequently visit the monastery looking for handouts. Most of our contact will be with the hosteller, who has charge of the monastery's guests.

Answer: Lighting of the candles

The name "lucernarium" means "lamp lighting time", and dates back to the early history of the Christian Church, representing the sixth canonical hour. It refers to both the lighting of the candles, which is needed at sunset, and the fact that Christ is the light of the world. The name lucernarium dates back to a very old tradition in Christianity.

Perhaps it is time to review the canonical hours, since I have mentioned them. They begin at dawn with Lauds, and Prime occurs at sunrise. The midmorning prayers are called Terce, Sext takes place midday, None in the midafternoon, Vespers at sunset, Compline at bedtime, and the night watch, called Matins, typically takes place about around or shortly after midnight. I'm telling you, these monks really have to be dedicated to their purpose.

Answer: Breviary

The word "breviary" means "abridgement". It is important to note that the services that take place within the Church at the canonical hours are not made up at random; the monastery has a book called the Breviary that designates the readings, hymns, and prayers that will take place each canonical hour.

I have been on my best behavior while staying at the monastery, and the abbot agreed to show me their copy of the Breviary. It is handwritten and beautifully illustrated, but shows a considerable amount of wear and tear, as it is used several times a day. The abbot says that it was handwritten at Monte Cassino and dates back to the late 11th century. Another name for the Breviary is the Liturgy of the Hours.

Answer: False

It is true that not all of the monks at the monastery joined because of their piety and religious beliefs. Father Simon has explained to me that this is true of all the clergymen of our time. Sometimes men join because they are younger sons and have no hope of inheriting land from their fathers. Everyone who joins, however, must take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Discipline is very severe, and telling on rule breakers is encouraged. There are even monks who are tasked with making sure that no one falls asleep during times of prayer.

There really are so few choices of occupations, especially to those, like my family, who are considered to be nobles. I am lucky; as my father's oldest son, I am able to become a page. I will serve the Earl and when I am old enough, will become a squire. After I prove my bravery, I will become a knight. The only other choice is to enter some sort of religious occupation. In one sense, being a monk does offer a certain level of security, but it's not for me!

Answer: True

Father Simon says is important to remember that many of the first Christians were originally Jews, and that the book of Psalms, recited during the Evening Prayer, is in the Old Testament, which chronicles Hebrew history and belief. Early founding fathers thought it was important to preserve this information and added the Old Testament to the New Testament to form the Christian Bible that we use today.

Jews traditionally pray at certain times of the day, and the Disciples of Christ also observed this tradition. Psalms 119:164 says, "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments" (King James Version). Hippolytus of Rome, an early Christian, encouraged people to continue to pray seven times a day, and they continued to do so. The eighth time of prayer was added later.

Answer: St. Benedict

The "Rule of St. Benedict" was written sometime in the early 500s in order to suggest rules for monks who lived together in a monastery to follow. Composed of 73 chapters, the book discusses an array of topics, such as the selection of an abbot, punishment for the wayward, the preparation of food, and even the time for meals. Chapters 8-19 are the ones that discuss prayers and actions during the canonical hours. St. Benedict also suggested that there be a nighttime prayer, bringing the total to eight. By the way, Benedict called Evening Prayer "Vespers", and the name has been used since.

Some people credit St. Benedict as the founder of western monasticism, although there is no indication that he intended to do so. Charlemagne had his work copied and distributed, encouraging monks to follow his suggestions. You may wonder if the monks had any time to themselves after spending so much time in prayer. They don't seem to because they are all assigned a particular duty, depending on their talents. And sleep? It's maybe six hours a day.