A canticle (from the Latin canticulum, a diminutive of canticum, song)'s a hymn (strictly excluding the Psalms) taken from the Bible. The term's often expanded to include ancient non-biblical hymns such as the Te Deum and certain psalms used liturgically. Roman Catholic Church From the Old Testament the Roman Breviary takes seven canticles for use at Lauds, as follows: On Sundays and Festivals, the "Canticle of the Three Children" (Dan., iii, 57). On Mondays, the "Canticle of Isaias the Proph… (More on Cantica)