noun
- the first of the canonical hours in Christian liturgy, traditionally said at dawn; morning prayer service
Usage: religious; often capitalized
Examples
- The monks gathered in the chapel for mattins at sunrise.
- She attended mattins every Sunday morning at the cathedral.
- The priest led the congregation in mattins before the main service.
- Mattins includes psalms, readings, and prayers appropriate for morning worship.
- The abbey bell rang to call the faithful to mattins.
- During Lent, mattins began earlier than usual.