The Canonical Hours Quiz / Test | Roman Catholicism

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the Monastery, THE DAY BEGINS. It is about 3:00 AM. Which canonical hour (or extension of another hour) has begun?

Answer: Matins

Matins was from approximately 3:00 AM until the dawn. "Matins" is from the Latin "matutinus", meaning "of or belonging to the morning". In the earliest years, matins was seen as an extension of vigil. Matins was not commonly celebrated outside of monasteries.

"The Day Begins" was written by Peter Knight and the Moody Blues. The song serves more as an overture, with music from several other songs on the album included.

2. In the monastery, light appears with the coming of DAWN: DAWN IS A FEELING. Since it is now about 5:00 AM, which canonical hour has begun?

Answer: Lauds

Lauds was celebrated at about 5:00 AM, though that could vary somewhat based on the specific place and time of year. The word lauds comes from the recitation of the Laudate Psalms (148, 149, and 150) which are recited during hour on a daily basis. It is considered one of the major offices of the day. The word "lauds" has the meaning of praise.

"Dawn: Dawn is a Feeling" was written by Mike Pinder with Justin Hayward and Mike Pinder on vocals. This track, as with the others, represents the journey of an Everyman through a typical day.

3. There is MORNING GLORY as the prayers continue at the monastery. Which canonical hour begins as we reach 6:00 AM?

Answer: Prime

"Prime" comes from Latin and has a general meaning of "first", as in the first hour of the day. Prime occurs at about 6:00 AM. Like several other of the hours, several psalms are recited. It is considered one of the minor hours.

This is the one song on the quiz that is out of its place on the album. "Morning Glory" is an unlisted part of the opening track "The Day Begins". The music was composed by Graeme Edge and Mike Pinder recites poetry written by Graeme Edge.

4. At the monastery, it is now clearly THE MORNING: ANOTHER MORNING. Since it is now about 9:00 AM, which canonical hour have we reached?

Answer: Terce

Terce occurs at about 9:00 AM. "Terce" as a word has a Latin origin and refers to "third", as in the third hour of the day. Though one of the minor hours, terce has a long history and is mentioned positively by many early Christians.

"The Morning: Another Morning" was written by Ray Thomas, who also performed the vocals. "Days of Future Passed" is considered an early example of progressive rock.

5. Outside of the monastery we have reached the LUNCH BREAK: PEAK HOUR. Inside the prayers continue at 12:00 PM with which canonical hour?

Answer: Sext

Sext occurs at about 12:00 PM, a time we might associate with the noontime lunch hour. "Sext" comes from a Latin word meaning "sixth". Noon was considered the sixth hour of the day. Sext was also considered a minor hour and consisted mostly of recited psalms.

"Lunch Break: Peak Hour" was written by John Lodge, who also performed the vocals. The band members on this album played the following instruments: Edge (drums and percussion), Hayward (guitar, piano, and sitar), Lodge (bass), Pinder (Mellotron, piano, tamboura, and gong), Thomas (flute, percussion, and piano).

6. It may seem like a long day at the monastery as we reach THE AFTERNOON: FOREVER AFTERNOON (TUESDAY)? Which canonical hour is it at 3:00 PM?

Answer: Nones

"Nones" comes from the Latin word "Nona" referring to "ninth", that is the ninth hour of the day. Nones is also one of the minor hours. References to nones (or at least the ninth hour) can be found as far back as the first century AD.

"Forever Afternoon (Tuesday)?" reached Number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and Number 24 on the Canadian (RPM) Top Singles chart, both in 1968. The song, the first part of "The Afternoon" was written by Justin Hayward, who also performed the vocals.

7. The day continues at the monastery as we continue into THE AFTERNOON: (EVENING) TIME TO GET AWAY. At 5:00 PM, which canonical hour is this?

Answer: Not named

In medieval western Christianity, there was no named hour occuring at about 5:00 PM. In the "Rule of St. Benedict", which inspired much of monastic life in medieval Western Europe, there were designated periods for prayer, labor, and rest.

"(Evening) Time to Get Away" was the second part of "The Afternoon". It was not listed separately on the original issue. John Lodge wrote the song and performed the vocals.

8. At the monastery, the light begins to fade as we reach EVENING: THE SUNSET. Which canonical hour have we reached at 6:00 PM?

Answer: Vespers

"Vespers" comes from the Latin word "vesper", meaning "evening". It occurred at about 6:00 PM and was traditionally considered the end of the day. Vespers is considered one of the major hours. Vespers often includes hymns and biblical readings in addition to psalms.

"Evening: The Sunset" was written by Mike Pinder, who also performed the vocals. "Days of Future Passed" reached Number 27 on the UK Albums chart in 1967. In 1972, the album reached Number Three on the US Billboard 200 chart.

9. The light continues to fade at the monastery as we have now reached EVENING: TWILIGHT TIME. Which canonical hour have we reached at 7:00 PM?

Answer: Compline

"Compline" traditionally occured at about 7:00 PM. It comes from the Latin word "completorium" and refers to the completion of the day. Compline was one of the minor hours and focused on spiritual peace. Many monasteries followed a rule of silence following compline until terce the next day.

"Evening: The Twilight Time" was written by Ray Thomas, who also performed the vocals.

10. At the monastery, it is THE NIGHT: NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN, assuming the monks are allowed satin sheets. Which canonical hour have we reached at 2:00 AM?

Answer: Vigil

Vigil occurred at about 2:00 AM. It comes from the Latin word "vigilia", meaning wakefulness. It is considered one of the major hours. In the earliest traditions, matins was part of an extended vigil. Vigil can include psalms, prayers, and hymns.

"Nights in White Satin" reached Number 19 on the UK Singles chart in 1967 and Number Two on the US Hot 100 chart in 1972. Justin Hayward wrote the song and performed the vocals. The final portion of the album is known as "Late Lament/Resolvement" and was written by Graeme Edge and Peter Knight, with Mike Pinder performing a recitation.

Source: Author bernie73

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The Canonical Hours Trivia Quiz

In their 1967 album "Days of Future Passed", the Moody Blues, intentionally or not, came close to matching the canonical hours. See if you can match the name of the hour with the time (based on the most common traditions of medieval Western Europe).

Questions		Choices
1. In the Monastery, THE DAY BEGINS. It is about 3:00 AM. Which canonical hour (or extension of another hour) has begun?		Vigil
2. In the monastery, light appears with the coming of DAWN: DAWN IS A FEELING. Since it is now about 5:00 AM, which canonical hour has begun?		Not named
3. There is MORNING GLORY as the prayers continue at the monastery. Which canonical hour begins as we reach 6:00 AM?		Compline
4. At the monastery, it is now clearly THE MORNING: ANOTHER MORNING. Since it is now about 9:00 AM, which canonical hour have we reached?		Prime
5. Outside of the monastery we have reached the LUNCH BREAK: PEAK HOUR. Inside the prayers continue at 12:00 PM with which canonical hour?		Nones
6. It may seem like a long day at the monastery as we reach THE AFTERNOON: FOREVER AFTERNOON (TUESDAY)? Which canonical hour is it at 3:00 PM?		Lauds
7. The day continues at the monastery as we continue into THE AFTERNOON: (EVENING) TIME TO GET AWAY. At 5:00 PM, which canonical hour is this?		Matins
8. At the monastery, the light begins to fade as we reach EVENING: THE SUNSET. Which canonical hour have we reached at 6:00 PM?		Sext
9. The light continues to fade at the monastery as we have now reached EVENING: TWILIGHT TIME. Which canonical hour have we reached at 7:00 PM?		Vespers
10. At the monastery, it is THE NIGHT: NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN, assuming the monks are allowed satin sheets. Which canonical hour have we reached at 2:00 AM?		Terce