They are used before the Lord's Prayer as an Invocation of the Holy
Trinity.
We proceed to examine the foundation of this order in worship.
The model bequeathed to us by Our Lord is known to us as The Lord's
Prayer, often called "Our Father" from the first words.
[1] Haec sunt septenis propter quae psallimus horis:
Matutina legat Christum qui crimina purgat.
Prima replet sputis. Causam dat Tertia mortis.
Sexta cruci nectit. Latus ejus Nona bipertit.
Vespera deponit. Tumulo Completa reponit;
which may be translated:
Seven are the hours at which we sing and pray;
Mattins for Christ who takes our sins away,
Prime shows Him mocked, and Terce says why He died.
Sext shows His Cross, and None His pierced side.
Vespers His taking down commemorates,
And Compline how they buried Him relates.
Thus day by day we sing and pray Christ and Him crucified.
[2] The Ordinary, i.e. the Ordinary judge in such matters, viz. the Bishop.
[3] See p. 16.
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