Editing Matins (section)

====Monastic matins====
The canonical hour began with the [[versicle]] "Lord, open our lips: And we shall praise your name" (the latter said three times) followed by [[Psalm 3]] and [[Psalm 95|Psalm 94/95]] (the [[invitatory]]). The invitatory was to be recited slowly out of consideration for any late-arriving monk, since anyone appearing after its conclusion was punished by having to stand in a place apart.<ref>Rule of Saint Benedict, 43</ref> After this a hymn was sung.

Next came two sets of six psalms followed by readings. (Such sets would later be called [[nocturns]].) The first set was of six psalms followed by three readings from the [[Old Testament|Old]] or [[New Testament]]s or from [[Church Fathers]]. Each reading was followed by a [[responsory]]. The second set of six psalms was followed by a passage from the [[Apostle Paul]] recited by heart and by some prayers. The Night Office then concluded with a versicle and a litany that began with [[Kyrie eleison]].<ref>Rule of St Benedict, 9–10</ref>

Since summer nights are shorter, from Easter to October a single passage from the Old Testament, recited by heart, took the place of the three readings used during the rest of the year.<ref>Rule of Saint Benedict, 10</ref>

On Sundays, the office was longer, and therefore began a little earlier. Each set of six psalms was followed by four readings instead of three after the first set and a single recitation by heart after the second set. Then three [[canticle]]s taken from Old Testament books other than the Psalms were recited, followed by four readings from the New Testament, the singing of the [[Te Deum]], and a reading by the abbot from the Gospels, after which another hymn was sung.<ref>Rule of Saint Benedict, 11</ref>