LITTLE HOURS Meaning and
Definition
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Little hours refers to the designated times for communal prayer observed by religious communities, particularly those practicing the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours. It is a term commonly used in Christian traditions, especially in Catholic and Anglican contexts. The Little Hours, also known as the Lesser Hours, are part of the fixed prayer schedule throughout the day.
Typically, these periods of prayer occur at various intervals following the main Morning and Evening Offices: namely, Terce (mid-morning), Sext (midday), and None (mid-afternoon). The Little Hours serve as additional opportunities for the faithful to pause, reflect, and offer praise and supplication to God.
Each Little Hour consists of psalms, hymns, and other biblical readings, often accompanied by prayers. These shorter offices create a rhythm of prayer and are intended to consecrate different moments of the day. By setting aside these specific times for prayer, religious communities seek to maintain an ongoing dialogue with the divine while fulfilling obligations in their daily lives.
The inclusion of Little Hours in the liturgical tradition is derived from the importance of sanctifying time and sanctifying work. Within religious communities, these designated times are a means of maintaining a connection to God throughout the day, allowing individuals to seek spiritual solace and guidance, even amidst their mundane tasks and duties. The regular observance of the Little Hours facilitates a disciplined and prayerful way of life, emphasizing the value of attentiveness to the divine presence in every aspect of existence.
Common Misspellings for LITTLE HOURS
- kittle hours
- pittle hours
- oittle hours
- luttle hours
- ljttle hours
- lkttle hours
- lottle hours
- l9ttle hours
- l8ttle hours
- lirtle hours
- liftle hours
- ligtle hours
- liytle hours
- li6tle hours
- li5tle hours
- litrle hours
- litfle hours
- litgle hours
- lityle hours
- lit6le hours
Etymology of LITTLE HOURS
The term "little hours" is commonly used in Christian liturgy to refer to the prayers recited at specific times throughout the day. The etymology of the phrase can be traced back to Latin.
In Latin, these prayer times were referred to as "horae minores", which translates to "minor hours". The term "horae" means "hours" and "minores" means "lesser" or "smaller". This Latin phrase was used to differentiate these shorter prayer periods from the major hours of prayer, known as the "horae majores" or "major hours".
Over time, as the phrase was borrowed and adapted into various languages, it underwent some changes. In English, it became known as the "little hours", emphasizing their shorter duration compared to the major hours.
