Hours book

The daily life of a Medieval monk during the Medieval times of the Middle Ages centred around the hours. The Book of Hours was the main prayer book and was divided into eight sections, or hours, that were meant to be read at specific times of the day. Each section contained prayers, psalms, hymns, and other readings intended to help the monks secure salvation for himself. Each day was divided into these eight sacred offices, beginning and ending with prayer services in the monastery church. These were the times specified for the recitation of divine office which was the term used to describe the cycle of daily devotions. The times of these prayers were called by the following names - Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, Nones, Vespers and Compline:

Lauds : the early morning service of divine office approx 5am

Matins : the night office; the service recited at 2 am in the divine office

Prime : The 6am service

Sext : the third of the Little Hours of divine office, recited at the sixth hour (noon)

Nones : the fourth of the Little Hours of the divine office, recited at the ninth hour (3 pm)

Terce : the second of the Little Hours of divine office, recited at the third hour (9 am)

Vespers : the evening service of divine office, recited before dark (4 - 5pm)

Compline : the last of the day services of divine office, recited before retiring (6pm)

Any work was immediately ceased at these times of daily prayer. The monks were required to stop what they were doing and attend the services. The food of the monks was generally basic and the mainstay of which was bread and meat. The beds they slept on were pallets filled with straw.