Q. 1. What is the Catholic meaning of the word "vespers?"

A. 1. The word vespers has its origin from the Greek word "hespera" and the Latin word "evening." It is the sunset evening prayer service in the Eastern Catholic (and other religions) liturgies of the canonical hours.

In the Roman Catholic Church, vespers are a series of evening prayers that church officials and believers say together.

The Vespers can be traced to the sixth century when the Rule of St. Benedict was written about A.D. 530-43.