Course 4, Chapter 7: Christianity visible. — The Sunday. — The Office

1. Which is the first festival of the church?

The first festival of the church is the Sunday. Among all nations there is a day consecrated to the service of God. The apostles consecrated Sunday to the worship of God, in memory of the resurrection of

our Lord; so that the Sunday stands a perpetual monument of this great miracle.

2. How did the first Christians celebrate the Sunday?

The first Christians celebrated the Sunday with great fervor; they assembled to pray in common, heard the reading of the sacred Scriptures, and the exhortations of the bishops, all approached to the holy table, and relieved the poor, each according to his means.

3. What prayers did the first Christians say in common?

The prayers which the first Christians said in common, consisted of psalms, hymns and lessons from the Scriptures. Hence came the divine office.

4. What is the dioine office?

The divine office is a collection of various prayers established by the church, and which are recited by the priests every day. It is called divine office because it is a duty we render to GoJ. in order to honor him, thank him, and ask him for favors.

5. How is the divine office divided?

The divine office is divide,! into seven hours or parts, matin, prime, tierce, sext, none, vespers and complin. These parts are called the hours of the office, because they are recited at different hours of the day and night, to honor the different mysteries of the passion of our Lord, to thank God for his principal benefits to us, and to remind us of the chief events of religion.*

6. At what hour are matins recited?

M.itins are recite 1 during the night. The matins consist of three nocturns and a fourth part called lauds. The first nocturn is recited about nine o'clock at night, the second at midnight, the third at three o'clock, and the lauds just before day light.

350 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.