Ecclesium Tempus Orationii

Tempus Orationii, or Time-Prayers, are a set of prayers used to mark the passing of hours, sanctifying the day with prayer. Once obediently observed by the faithful masses, this reverend but inconvenient practice is now only observed in the most devout households and the The Monastery of the Ecclesium. 


Starting at sunrise, then at 9am, noon, 3pm, the lighting of the lamps, upon retiring, and at midnight, the seven sacred steps must be observed at each prayer:

1. Concecration - Blessing the space ready for prayer
2. Invocation - Calling on the Apostolic Martyr to hear your prayer 
3. Veneration - Honouring the saints beatified on that day and their achievements
4. Confession - Admission of sinful acts, deeds and thoughts
5. Renunciation - Renouncing the devil, his work, and any other wickedness as ordained by the Abbot or The Archdeacon
6. Devotion - Dedicated oneself to the Apostolic Martyr
7. Sanctification - Completion of the prayers in the name of the Apostolic Martyr

Prayers must be recited using a rosary (symbolic of the rope that binds the soul to the martyr. To lose a rosary is to lose your connection with the Martyr). Each step is concluded by a step towards the sun, symbolic of the path towards spiritual enlightenment (prayers in darkness are stepped towards the nearest light source). 

As the peasantry became more fearing of their lords than the Martyr, so the rituals of the Time Prayers began to decline in order to do their work and earn their keep, although the prayers still pervade daily life in some form, from phrases such as "Up with the Martyr" to mean getting up early. Only the brothers of the Ecclesium observe all of the prayers in their entirety throughout the day, without exception.