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Yes, though the office of Vigils (Matins) was a monastic office in origin and so its practice concerning lessons (3 or 12, or one in summer) was often followed in non monastic settings. I would guess that by Carolingian times the secular office of Matins had settled on three or nine lessons, but that is a guess without my books at hand. jw -----Original Message----- From: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Sherry Reames Sent: Friday, February 02, 2001 11:19 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Lessons on feast days Dear Jimm, The quick answer is that it's a different kind of institution that uses nine lessons, not a different era. Non-monastic churches in England and elsewhere (including secular cathedrals, most parishes, and churches of the friars) followed a different and somewhat shorter format for the daily office, which had either three or nine lessons at Matins (and a corresponding reduction in the number of psalms, antiphons, and responsories) in place of the monasteries' three or twelve. I can't tell you when this difference began, but seem to recall reading that it stems from a very old distinction between the version of the liturgy followed in monasteries and the version used in cathedrals. Hope this helps-- Sherry Reames (English Dept., University of Wisconsin, Madison) At 11:17 AM 2/2/2001 +0000, you wrote: >Dear list members, > >When did it become common in England to celebrate a feast day with nine >lessons? > >The chronological sampling of monastic calendars and breviaries I've >consulted (mostly Benedictine) celebrate feast days with three, eight or >twelve lessons. Yet in a series of mid-thirteenth century diocesan statutes >from Worcester (Powicke & Cheney, "Synods & Councils 1205-1265," p. 323) >there is a reference to "omni festo ix lectionem per totum annum." > >I'm not sure what to make of this. Any thoughts, suggestions or references >would be appreciated. > >Thanks in advance, > >Jimm >********************** >James B. MacGregor >Department of History >University of Cincinnati >[log in to unmask] >********************** >