Medieval Influences on Our Churches - Part II
Once a month my church celebrates Matins. During Lent we also use Vespers and Compline. All of these are from the ancient services of the canonical hours. During the Middle Ages it was customary, at least in England, to celebrate what they called "The Office" or "The Divine Office" at least once a day, in addition to Mass. The Office included Matins, Vespers and Compline, besides other offices we normally associate with monastic worship such as Sext, Terce, Lauds, and Nones. Now I know of no modern churches that incorporate "The Office" as did the Medievals, not even the modern Roman Catholic Church. As a result one seldom, if ever, uses such services in the public worship of a typical congregation, at least in my observation. It may be observed in smaller communities and among clergy, but I never hear of my Catholic neighbors going to Matins. Now substituting Matins for a service of Holy Communion (the Mass) is certainly not medieval. But the f...