invitatories

/ɪnˈvaɪtəˌtɔriz/
noun
  1. Short prayers or verses said or sung at the beginning of a religious service, especially in Christian liturgy, to invite worship.
    • The book of common prayer includes several invitatories for different seasons.
    • During the morning prayer, the priest recited the invitatories from the psalter.
    • The choir sang the invitatories as the congregation entered the church.
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