CHAPTER III.
TERCE, SEXT, NONE (TITLE XVI.).
TERCE.
Etymology. The word Terce comes from the Latin word tertia (hora), third. Because this little Hour was said at the third hour of the Roman day, that is, about 9 o'clock in the forenoon,
Structure. It consists of Pater Noster, Ave, Deus in adjutorium, Gloria Patri … Sicut erat … Amen, Alleluia, Hymn, opening words of the antiphon, the three psalms, antiphon in full, capitulum, response, Dominus vobiscum, Et cum spiritu tuo, Oremus, collect, Dominus vobiscum, Et cum spiritu tuo, Benedicamus … Deo gratias, Fidelium animae…. Amen. And Pater Noster is said silently if another Hour is not begun immediately.
Terce is called the golden Hour, hora aurea, because at this time of the day, the third Hour, the Holy Ghost, who is typified by gold, descended on the apostles. It is called sometimes the sacred Hour (hora sacra) because in conventional churches it is recited immediately before Holy Mass. It is the most solemn of all the small Hours.
Antiquity. The custom of praying at these three hours, terce, sext and none, is very ancient. It was in use amongst the devout Jews, and the early converts to Christianity retained the practice. The Apostolic Constitutions contain the words "Preces etiam vestras facite hora tertia."
Why does the Church wish us to pray at the third hour?
The question is asked by liturgists of olden times. Their replies are:—
1. to remind us of the hour when our Saviour was condemned (St. Mark, c. 15).