CANONICAL HOUR Meaning and
Definition
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A canonical hour is a designated time for prayer observed by monks and nuns in religious communities. It refers to one of the specific times of the day in which the community comes together to engage in communal worship. The notion of canonical hours originated in the early Christian Church, drawing inspiration from the ancient Jewish practice of reciting prayers at various intervals throughout the day, as seen in the Book of Psalms.
The canonical hours include specific prayers, psalm recitations, readings from religious texts, and hymns, all of which are intended to sanctify the day and bring the community closer to God. These hours are typically celebrated in churches, chapels, or designated prayer spaces within the religious community. Traditionally, there are seven canonical hours, namely Matins (during the night), Lauds (at daybreak), Prime (first hour of the morning), Terce (third hour of the day, around 9 AM), Sext (sixth hour, around noon), None (ninth hour, around 3 PM), and Vespers (evening prayer).
The canonical hours serve as a reminder to the members of the religious community to pause throughout their day, redirecting their thoughts and actions towards spirituality. By observing these hours, individuals are encouraged to lead a more prayerful and contemplative life. The practice of canonical hours contributes to the overall rhythm and structure of the religious community, while also fostering a collective sense of purpose and devotion.
Common Misspellings for CANONICAL HOUR
- xanonical hour
- vanonical hour
- fanonical hour
- danonical hour
- cznonical hour
- csnonical hour
- cwnonical hour
- cqnonical hour
- cabonical hour
- camonical hour
- cajonical hour
- cahonical hour
- caninical hour
- canknical hour
- canlnical hour
- canpnical hour
- can0nical hour
- can9nical hour
- canobical hour
Etymology of CANONICAL HOUR
The word "canonical" in "canonical hour" comes from the Latin word "canonicus", which means "according to the rules" or "pertaining to the canon". The term "canonical hour" itself refers to a specific time of day for prayer or worship observed by certain religious communities, particularly in Christian monastic traditions. The word "hour" in this context originally referred to a fixed time of day rather than a literal 60-minute hour. The practice of dividing the day into several "canonical hours" can be traced back to early Christian monasticism and is derived from the Jewish tradition of fixed prayer times throughout the day.
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