In both Greek and Roman times the idea of an hour as the twenty-fourth part of a day, appears occasionally in scientific works but never in popular literature, or common life. In the time of Our Lord there were only three divisions of time which the people were used to note, the third, sixth, and ninth hours; the sixth being midday, was better marked than the others; the third was the modern 9 A.M., the sixth, noon; and the ninth, at about three. These three divisions were used vaguely by most people without any accurate estimate of the duration of an hour.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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