A Day in the Life of a Monk: Canonical Hours and Daily Routine


Each hour of the liturgical day was punctuated by the reading of Psalms, lessons, and prayers. When the monastery bell rang, each monk read the office (text) for that hour.

2:00 a.m.
Rise
2:10-3:30 a.m.
Matins—first and longest office of the day
3:30-5:00 a.m.
Private reading and study
5:00-6:00 a.m.
Lauds—sunrise, “morning prayer”
6:00 a.m.
Prime—the first of the short offices
6:30-9:00 a.m.
Communal Mass, private reading, and light breakfast
9:00 a.m.
Tierce—third canonical hour
9:15-Noon
Work
12:00 Noon
Sext—sixth canonical hour
12:15-2:30 p.m.
Work
2:30-3:00 p.m.
Dinner
3:00 p.m.
None—ninth canonical hour
3:15-4:15 p.m.
Reading and private religious exercises
4:15-5:15 p.m.
Vespers immediately followed by
sunset
Compline (night prayers)