divine office

Friendly

The term "divine office" refers to a set of prayers that are recited daily by priests and some other religious individuals, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church. These prayers are meant to honor God and can include readings from the Bible, hymns, and other spiritual texts. The divine office is also known as the "Liturgy of the Hours."

Simple Explanation:

• What is it? A daily series of prayers that religious people say.
• Who says it? Mostly priests, but some laypeople (regular church members) may also participate.
• Why is it important? It helps people to pray regularly and stay connected to their faith.

Usage Instructions:

• "Divine office" is used in religious contexts, particularly when discussing the practices of the Catholic Church.
• You might say, "The priest led the divine office every morning."

Example:

• "Every day, the monks rise early to pray the divine office together before breakfast."

Advanced Usage:

• The divine office can be divided into different hours of the day, such as Matins (midnight), Lauds (morning), Vespers (evening), and Compline (night). Each set of prayers has its own themes and readings.

Word Variants:

• Liturgy of the Hours: Another name for the divine office.
• Breviary: The book that contains the prayers and readings for the divine office.

Different Meanings:

• In a broader context, "divine" refers to anything related to God or a god, while "office" can mean a position of authority or a place of work. However, when combined as "divine office," it specifically refers to the structured prayers of the church.

Synonyms:

• Liturgy of the Hours
• Canonical hours
• Daily prayers

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "divine office," but you might hear phrases like "to keep the office" which means to maintain the practice of saying the prayers.

Academic

Noun

1. canonical prayers recited daily by priests (e.g. the breviary of the Roman Catholic Church)

Synonyms

• divine office