[De horis canonicis]

and for those things which are noted in the chapter "In the matter of."

I ask what number these hours are. Answer: They are seven, concerning which it was prophesied by David when he said, "Seven times a day I have sung your praises," as was said above. Likewise, they are seven just as there are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. They are seven days of the age, according to that [saying]: "The globe is turned seven times, marking the blessed times." There are seven ages by which the world is ended. There are seven deacons by whom are designated the seven golden lampstands which were in the temple of God. It is also written in Leviticus, chapter 16, that Aaron sprinkles the blood of a calf seven times with his finger toward the propitiatory original: "cōtra ppiciatoriū" the mercy seat/covering of the Ark to the east. Aaron himself is the one who was called to the honor of the priesthood, of whom it is written by the Apostle to the Hebrews, and in Leviticus chapter 8, and in the 21st Question. Aaron, therefore, is the same as a priest, who accepted these seven hours to be sung in memory of the calf, that is, of Jesus Christ crucified, who on the wood of the cross spilled His blood for us toward the propitiatory, that is, in the sight of divine mercy, so that He might be merciful to us.

Thus, these are seven hours through which we ought to recall His passion every day. These are masterful examples, and even if they do not seem to conclude the matter, they are nevertheless persuasive, concerning which read and note the gloss on the word "sevenfold" original: "septenarius" of this our chapter, although not everything is contained there.

I ask why these hours are instituted and found in this septenary number. Answer: They are instituted so that through them we might bring to our memory the passion of our Savior through the holy fathers, so that by praising Him seven times at certain appropriate hours for the memory of such a great redemption, it is shown that while we read Matins, we recall His condemnation, and so for each of the other hours, as is noted by these verses:

In the morning, Christ the Savior is condemned
When the order of the faithful sings Prime, He has risen note: This is a mnemonic verse found in various medieval liturgical texts.
Terce, when it is sung, then He has suffered torture
Sext, shadows are made across the world's climates
At the hour of None, the new divine spirit is sent; Vespers close
By the twelfth, that is the final hour, Christ’s sacred members are placed in the sepulcher