Matter of the Hours

The matter of the hours, which we call canonical, I, Albertus de Ferrariis of Piacenza, Doctor of Both Laws, although unworthy, have taken upon myself to treat with a brief style, with divine grace assisting. I have taken care to gather into one [work] the sayings of the doctors writing on this matter, and I have inserted what had been collected into this little work, and I have expanded upon the matter, placing it under clear headings with legal citations. This is so that everyone might be instructed as to how and in what manner they ought to conduct themselves in the saying of the hours. Let no one think that I wish to assume the office of a teacher because of this, but rather I constitute myself a student to be instructed by anyone, protesting that since this matter is divine, I do not intend to mean or think anything in it other than what our Holy Mother Church thinks. Therefore, in the name of Christ, I condescend to the matter itself, and for easier dispatch and understanding, I will explain it through questions, taking the text from Chapter 1 under the rubric "Concerning the celebration of masses and other divine offices," situated in the Decretals original: "de cele. mis. et ali. di. offi.". This is a text I have found commented upon by many, but I will commend it more broadly, as I said, in such a way that it will appear below, etc.

Text regarding the celebration of masses and their form

And first, when a council was gathered in the city of Agde Concilium Agathense: The Council of Agde, held in 506 AD., it was asked by those fathers existing in that council: whether a presbyter priest can say all the hours together in the morning if he is impeded by rural work or in another way. To this question, the council answered and made a law of its response in the form that follows to the letter:

// Once the morning matutinale morning/matins office is completed, the presbyter shall perform the burden of his service, namely Prime, Terce, Sext, None, and Vespers, in such a way, however, that it is performed publicly at the appropriate hours, according to possibility, either by himself or by students.