In the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, rhythmical office is a section of or a whole religious service, in which not only the hymns are regulated by a certain rhythm, but where, with the exception of the psalms and lessons, practically all the other parts show metre, rhythm, or rhyme.
The usual examples are liturgical horary prayer, the canonical hours of the priest, or an office of the Breviary. The rhythmical parts will be, for instance: the antiphons to each psalm; to the Magnificat, Invitatorium, and Benedictus; likewise the responses and versicles to the prayers, and after each of the nine lessons; quite often also the benedictions before the lessons; and the antiphons to the minor Horœ (Prime, Terce, Sext, and None).
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Famous quotes containing the word office:
“‘Tis all men’s office to speak patience
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But no man’s virtue nor sufficiency
To be so moral when he shall endure
The like himself.”
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