Prior to 1551, the Choir was used, among others, for the fundamental activities of the monks of the Order of São Jerónimo (prayers, songs and religious services), since the Chapter Room remained unfinished until the 19th century. Community prayer also called “Divine Office” was the most significant of religious duties. This prayer was divided into seven moments, that is, seven hours - The Canonical Hours - throughout the day. Thus, seven times a day, the monks entered the choir to pray, reciting or singing the aforementioned “Divine Office”. They did so at Cadeiral (row of wooden chairs, connected to each other and fixed to both sides of the walls of a choir). In the first part of this long prayer, the monks could be seated in the chairs of the Cadeiral; in the second, they had to pray standing. In this case, they were allowed to rely on mercies, that is, on a small protruding piece placed under the seat of each of the choir's chairs. This then allowed the monk to support himself, relieving, for a moment, the weight he exerted on his feet.