Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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TERCE

Third hour of the Divine Office, which is to be said at about 9 A.M. The beginning hymn is in commemoration of the Holy Spirit's descent on the Apostles and is followed by three variable psalms, a short reading, versicle and response, and the collect of the day. Terce is now technically part of the hora media (middle hour), said after Lauds and before Vespers. (Etym. Latin tertius, third.)