Latecomers to Prayer

But anyone who has not come to prayer at the third, sixth or ninth hour before the first Psalm, once begun, is finished, does not venture any further to enter the oratory or to join those singing the Psalms. Standing outside, he waits for the congregation to be dismissed, and while they are all coming out he does penance lying on the ground, and obtains absolution for his carelessness and lateness. He knows that he can make up for the fault of his laziness in no other way, nor ever be admitted to the service that will follow three hours later, unless he has been quick to make amends at once for his present negligence with true humility. [a]

But at the night assemblies a late arrival up to the second Psalm is allowed, provided that he hurries to take his place in the congregation and join them before that Psalm is finished and the brothers bow down in prayer. But he will most certainly be subjected to the same blame and penance we mentioned before if he has delayed even a little beyond the time allowed for a late arrival.