HOURS, HORÆ, in the Romish church, are certain prayers performed at stated times of the day; as matins, vespers, lauds, &c. The lesser hours are, prime, terce, sixth, and none. They are called hours or canonical hours, as being to be rehearsed at certain hours prescribed by the canons of that church, in commemoration of the mysteries accomplished at those hours. These hours were anciently also called course, cursus: F. Mabilon has a dissertation on them, entitled, De Curisu Gallicano.
The first constitution enjoining the observation of the canonical hours is of the ninth century, being found in a capitular of Heito bishop of Basil directed to his curates, importing that the priests shall never be absent at the canonical hours either by day or night.