How the Sunday Service Differs

But we ought to know this too: on Sunday only one office is celebrated before dinner. At it, out of regard for the service itself and for the Lord’s communion, they use a more solemn and longer service of Psalms, prayers and readings, and so they consider the third and sixth hours to be included in it. The result is that, because of the added readings, their devotions are not lessened at all, and yet some difference is made: an allowance beyond other times seems to be granted to the brothers out of reverence for the Lord’s resurrection. This seems to lighten their observance all through the week. Because of the difference set in between, it makes the day looked forward to more solemnly as a feast, and through looking forward to it the fasts of the coming week are felt less. For any weariness is always borne more calmly, and labor taken up without dislike, if some variety is set in between or a change of work follows. [a]