Matins

The Matins ( e) (Latin ( Hora ) matutina of Matutinus: " morning " ), and Vigil ( from Lat vigilare: waking ) or Nachtoffizium called, is the night prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours of the Liturgy of Christian churches. The part of the Breviary which contains the Matins, Matutinale is called. Is prayed Matins between midnight and early morning.

Has its origins in Matins vigils of the early Christians. These gathered to prepare for festivals such as Easter and Christmas through prayer and hearing the word of God. They woke up in the night to await Jesus Christ as the light, the new life and the dawn.

After the opening of Lord open my lips, that my mouth proclaim your praise is a alternating with an antiphon responsorisch carried forward psalm sung as a prayer invitation ( invitatory ), followed by the hymn. This is followed by two or three sections close to ( Nocturnes ). Each Nokturn consists of several psalms and a subsequent prolonged reading. In the first Nokturn a passage from the Bible is read, and in the second Nokturn another sacred text, for example, from the Church Fathers. On Sundays and solemnities, a third Nokturn closes to be sung in place of the psalms biblical canticles. Following the Gospel of Sunday or Solemnity is presented and the Te Deum sung. The conclusion of Matins is the daily prayer.

The full Matins today prayed only in the contemplative orders or individual consecrated persons. Even with the Benedictines it is partially reduced to a Nokturn. Since the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council, the Book of Hours of the Church contains the Office of Readings, which are prayed at any time of the day and can be expanded to matins or Vigil morning or at night.

The Matins at the Kart Agen is called Karmette or Tenebrae.

In addition to the related to the liturgical calendar Vigil there are also Vigiilien before major events. The tradition on the night watch has become the completion of the Catholic World Youth Days in the open air, keep at the youth vigil in order to prepare for the culmination of World Youth Day and the closing.