What does the heavenly office mean?

The Heavenly Office is a term used to describe the daily prayer cycle of the Christian Church. It is based on the ancient monastic tradition of praying the Psalms and other Scripture passages, as well as other prayers, at certain times of the day. The Heavenly Office is typically prayed at least once a day, usually during the morning hours.

The Heavenly Office is composed of eight canonical hours, or "offices," which are divided into two sections: Matins and Lauds. Matins is the first of the eight offices and is prayed at midnight or very early in the morning. This is followed by Lauds, which is prayed at dawn. The remaining six offices are prayed at intervals throughout the day, usually at the third, sixth, and ninth hours.

The prayers and Scripture passages of the Heavenly Office are typically taken from the Divine Office, a collection of official Church prayers. The Divine Office is composed of the Psalms, Canticles, Scriptural readings, and other prayers that are meant to be prayed in order to sanctify and glorify God.

The Heavenly Office is meant to be a time of reflection and contemplation, as well as a time to give thanks and praise to God. It is a time to reflect on the beauty of creation, to meditate on the teachings of the Church, and to offer up prayers of intercession for the needs of the world. The Heavenly Office is an important part of the Christian spiritual life and can help to bring a sense of peace and unity to the believer.