Length of the Divine Office

as calculated by the Number of Verses of the Psalms in each hour

  Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
 

pre-

1911

1911

pre-

1911

1911

pre-

1911

1911

pre-

1911

1911

pre-

1911

1911

pre-

1911

1911

pre-

1911

1911
Matins 287 87 262 127 213 115 199 109 308 110 215 125 306 134
Lauds 76 56 86 45 85 59 94 56 105 65 110 65 144 58
Prime 112 103 51 26 64 23 53 29 50 29 75 34 39 37
Terce 48 48 48 32 48 24 48 34 48 28 48 28 48 29
Sext 48 48 48 31 48 30 48 38 48 24 48 20 48 36
None 48 48 48 36 48 28 48 33 48 26 48 50 48 30
Vespers 62 62 33 40 35 32 33 46 83 52 67 58 70 40
Compline 38 30 38 28 38 26 38 30 38 33 38 36 38 41
Totals 719 482 614 365 579 337 561 375 728 367 649 416 741 403
                             
The day's office shortened by the number of verses (in the 1911 reform)   237   249   242   186   361   233   336

 

Notes:

  • Thursday's office, the longest with 728 psalm verses,  was shortened by 361 verses -- this was the most significant reduction in this scheme.
  • In almost every hour, the number of psalm verses were shortened;  those which are highlighted (above)  are the exceptions.
  • The Commons offices (Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, etc.) remained virtually the same.
  • The intentions of the 1911 reformers were, among other things,  to:  a) restore the use of the entire psalter during the course of a week, and b) to reduce the length of the office for busy priests.

Added July 18, 2001

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