As these words suggest, much of the choir office, daily office, opus dei, or liturgy of the hours consisted of the psalter. But added to that was a vast collection of prayers, hymns, readings from both testaments, readings from patristic sermons, legends of the saints responses, and antiphons. It came to involve an assortment of books for the various readings, psalms, and musical items. As the essence of monastic life, it demanded full-time commitment although work was also esteemed as prayer. In all things, God was to be glorified whether at prayer or at work.