People have been singing King David's Psalms for millennia. In early Christian times, monks would memorise all 150 Psalms and chant them every day. Benedict of Nursia arranged the Psalms into a schedule spread over a week. Gradually hymns and prayers were added, giving rise to what we now call the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours.

The full Office was rather onerous, so in Medieval times a smaller schedule arose, designed to be manageable for people with day jobs and families as well as being shorter to copy out and memorise. This was placed under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is venerated as the spiritual mother of all Christians, stemming from Jesus' words on the cross, entrusting her to the care of the Beloved Apostle, John.

The Gregorian Chant could date back to Jewish chant - there isn't much documentation, as the notation of chant came about later. The tunes are highly esteemed and there are even tales of the music being responsible for monks being able to live such austere lives.

Many people save time by just reciting or reading the Office, but singing parts really brings it alive. Even singing parts of it can really brighten your day.