Canonical Hours
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary [1]
Are certain stated times of the day consigned more especially by the Romish church to the offices of prayer and devotion; such are matins, lauds, &c. In England the canonical hours are from eight to twelve in the forenoon; before or after which marriage cannot be legally performed in any church.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [2]
certain stated hours of the day assigned to prayer and devotion. Such are Nocturns, Matins, Lauds, Nones, Vespers, and Complini. It is not known at what period these hours were settled in the early Church. The Apostolical Constitutions direct prayers to be said at dawn, and at the third, sixth, and ninth hours, as well as at evening. In England the canonical hours are from eight to twelve in the forenoon, before or after which marriage cannot lawfully be performed in any church. — Bingham, Orig. Ecclesiastes bk. 13, ch. 9, § 8; Procter On Common Prayer, p. 10. (See Breviary).
