Category:Matins

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Matins is the first canonical hour of the Divine Office, sung during the night or very early morning with Lauds following at dawn. The word "matins" is derived from the Latin adjective matutinus, meaning "of the early morning"; it was originally known as Vigils, derived from the Latin term vigiliae, meaning "watches," referring to the four periods of three-hour night watches commonly observed by soldiers.

In the Roman rite, Matins begins with the Invitatory, Psalm 94 (95 in the Hebrew numbering), followed by a hymn, and is divided into "nocturns," each nocturn consisting of a series of psalms accompanied by antiphons, and readings accompanied by responsories. The psalms are sung alternately by the cantor(s) and the choir, and the hymn and responsories are sung by the choir.

The Office of Tenebrae is a unique case, where Matins is sung on the eve before each of the three days of the Sacred Triduum, beginning at dusk with Lauds immediately following. At Tenebrae, the Invitatory and hymn are absent.