Most of the ancient works were written for a religious purpose and as devotional exercises, whereas contemporary writers are interested only in scientific analysis and criticism.

Right now it lasts less than 25 minutes and consists of a ritualistic, devotional exercise for four dancers and a live singer.

The first source is the thrice-daily devotional exercise called the Angelus in the Catholic Church.

Going downstairs, I heard singing in a little chapel where devotional exercises were held each morning.

First, introducing devotional exercises into the meetings of Synod.

Blanco originally wrote The Clear Word as a devotional exercise for himself.

It should be a time for enjoyable food - not nutritional uplift, spa regimen or the devotional exercises of the religion of dieting.

The re-education programmes, the devotional exercises, the food operas, the game shows, not to mention the public service broadcasts.

The pilgrimages continued into the 19th century, but rowdy disturbances led to the ecclesiastical authorities prohibiting devotional exercises and the site became less visited.

These are academic pursuits, and while they bear on everyday life here, they can also be devotional exercises.