Chapter 16: The hours of the work of God during the day

The words of the psalm are: I have uttered your praises seven times during the day. We shall fulfil that sacred number of seven if at the times of Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline we perform the duty of our service to God, because it was of these day hours that the psalm said: I have uttered your praise seven times during the day. (From Ch. 16 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)

How do I keep time holy as a householder? Twice-daily meditation establishes a rhythm in my life. Between these two times of meditation I find a greater ability to relate well, to make better and freer choices, and to move, ever so slightly, toward offering a selfless attention.