Some say 'legitimate' means prescribed, but does not demand a public service. Tertullian, at the beginning of the third century, did not hesitate to call the morning and evening prayers 'legitimate prayers' ( De oratione 25). 215), mentioned morning prayer (Cyprian, De oratione dominica 35 Clement, Stromata 7.7).

It is considered probable that the Lord's Prayer, advocated thrice daily for Christians by the Didache, had already supplanted the Shema in apostolic times.Īll the early Christian writers who spoke of times of prayer, such as, Cyprian (d. The Shema and the 18 benedictions were said at the morning and evening hours. There was prayer thrice daily in the synagogues these services consisted of instructional Scripture readings and of prayer. It was to be expected that they would continue to follow Jewish prayer practices. The first Christians, converted Jews, made no attempt at an immediate break with Judaism. Lauds was the fruit of a slow, persistent development. At the beginning of each new day of grace and redemption the Church loves to greet her risen Lord and Savior as the divine Sun, the oriens ex alto. The climax of Lauds' praise comes at the Gospel canticle, the Benedictus, Zechariah's joyful 'filled with the Holy Spirit' hailing the dawn of the day of salvation.

On Easter Sunday there is a triple coincidence of this basic Christian motif. This is preeminently true on Sunday, the Lord's day, when both the resurrection day and resurrection hour coincide at Lauds. Resurrection thoughts are very evident in the antiphons, where the Alleluia (the resurrection acclamation par excellence) occurs frequently. Over time, the hour of Lauds evolved into a beautiful and solemn service of morning praise. The rising sun has traditionally been looked on as a symbol and reminder of the Lord's Resurrection. When human beings and nature once again awaken and undergo their daily 'resurrection,' it is natural for all to rejoice anew in life and light and to acclaim the beneficent creator of all things. Because it is the Church's morning prayer, its more ancient Latin names made reference to that fact, for example, matutinum, matutinum officium, matutini hymni, matutina solemnitas.Įarly morning, with its wonderful freshness and stillness, is a time of day especially suited to the praise of God. The term 'lauds' is derived from its nature as praise (laud) and from the Laudes or the three Psalms (148, 149, 150) that always concluded its psalmody until the reform of Pius X (d.

Divine office lauds