Universalis
Thursday 30 March 2023    (other days)
Thursday of the 5th week of Lent 

Using calendar: Asia - Malaysia. You can change this.

Office of Readings

If you have already recited the Invitatory Psalm today, you should use the alternative opening.
Dómine, lábia mea apéries.
  Et os meum annuntiábit laudem tuam.
Lord, open our lips.
  And we shall praise your name.
Ps 66 (67)

Notum sit vobis quoniam gentibus missum est hoc salutare Dei” (Act 28, 28).

Christum Dóminum pro nobis tentátum et passum, veníte, adorémus.
Vel: Utinam hódie vocem Dómini audiátis: Nolíte obduráre corda vestra.
(repeat antiphon*)
2Deus misereátur nostri et benedícat nobis;*
  illúminet vultum suum super nos,
3ut cognoscátur in terra via tua,*
  in ómnibus géntibus salutáre tuum.
  (repeat antiphon*)
4Confiteántur tibi pópuli, Deus;*
  confiteántur tibi pópuli omnes.
5Læténtur et exsúltent gentes,†
  quóniam iúdicas pópulos in æquitáte*
  et gentes in terra dírigis.
  (repeat antiphon*)
6Confiteántur tibi pópuli, Deus,*
  confiteántur tibi pópuli omnes.
7Terra dedit fructum suum;*
  benedícat nos Deus, Deus noster,
8benedícat nos Deus,*
  et métuant eum omnes fines terræ.
  (repeat antiphon*)
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
(repeat antiphon*)
Invitatory PsalmPsalm 66 (67)
Christ the Lord was tempted and suffered for us. Come, let us adore him.
Or: O that today you would listen to his voice: harden not your hearts.
(repeat antiphon*)
O God, take pity on us and bless us,
  and let your face shine upon us,
so that your ways may be known across the world,
  and all nations learn of your salvation.
  (repeat antiphon*)
Let the peoples praise you, O God,
  let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and rejoice,
  for you judge the peoples with fairness
  and you guide the nations of the earth.
  (repeat antiphon*)
Let the peoples praise you, O God,
  let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has produced its harvest:
  may God, our God, bless us.
May God bless us,
  may the whole world revere him.
  (repeat antiphon*)
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.
(repeat antiphon*)

* If you are reciting this on your own, you can choose to say the antiphon once only at the start of the psalm and not repeat it.


Hymnus
Nunc tempus acceptábile
fulget datum divínitus,
ut sanet orbem lánguidum
medéla parsimóniæ.
Christi decóro lúmine
dies salútis émicat,
dum corda culpis sáucia
refórmat abstinéntia.
Hanc mente nos et córpore,
Deus, tenére pérfice,
ut appetámus próspero
perénne pascha tránsitu.
Te rerum univérsitas,
clemens, adóret, Trínitas,
et nos novi per véniam
novum canámus cánticum. Amen.
Hymn
Lord, who throughout these forty days
for us didst fast and pray,
teach us with thee to mourn our sins,
and close by thee to stay.
As thou with Satan didst contend
and didst the victory win,
O give us strength in thee to fight,
in thee to conquer sin.
As thou didst hunger bear, and thirst,
so teach us, gracious Lord,
to die to self, and chiefly live
by thy most holy word.
And through these days of penitence,
and through thy Passiontide,
yea, evermore in life and death,
Jesus, with us abide.
Abide with us, that so, this life
of suffering overpast,
an Easter of unending joy
we may attain at last.

Ps 17:31-35
Gratiarum actio

Si Deus pro nobis, quis contra nos? ” (Rom 8, 31).

Elóquium Dómini scutum est ómnium sperántium in eum.
31Deus, impollúta via eius,†
  elóquia Dómini igne examináta;*
  protéctor est ómnium sperántium in se.
32Quóniam quis Deus præter Dóminum?*
  Aut quæ munítio præter Deum nostrum?
33Deus, qui præcínxit me virtúte*
  et pósuit immaculátam viam meam;
34qui perfécit pedes meos tamquam cervórum*
  et super excélsa státuit me;
35qui docet manus meas ad prœ́lium,*
  et tendunt arcum ǽreum bráchia mea.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Elóquium Dómini scutum est ómnium sperántium in eum.

Psalm 17 (18)
Thanksgiving

The word of the Lord is a shield for all who make him their refuge.
The Lord’s ways are pure;
  the words of the Lord are refined in the furnace;
  the Lord protects all who hope in him.
For what God is there, but our Lord?
  What help, but in the Lord our God?
God, who has wrapped me in his strength
  and set me on the perfect path,
who has made my feet like those of the deer,
  who has set me firm upon the heights,
who trains my hands for battle,
  teaches my arms to bend a bow of bronze.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.
The word of the Lord is a shield for all who make him their refuge.

Ps 17:36-46

Déxtera tua, Dómine, suscépit me.
36Et dedísti mihi scutum salútis tuæ,†
  et déxtera tua suscépit me,*
  et exaudítio tua magnificávit me.
37Dilatásti gressus meos subtus me,*
  et non sunt infirmáta vestígia mea.
38Persequébar inimícos meos et comprehendébam illos*
  et non convertébar, donec defícerent.
39Confringébam illos, nec póterant stare,*
  cadébant subtus pedes meos.
40Et præcinxísti me virtúte ad bellum*
  et supplantásti insurgéntes in me subtus me.
41Et inimícos meos dedísti mihi dorsum*
  et odiéntes me disperdidísti.
42Clamavérunt, nec erat qui salvos fáceret,*
  ad Dóminum, nec exaudívit eos.
43Et commínui eos ut púlverem ante fáciem venti,*
  ut lutum plateárum contrívi eos.
44Eripuísti me de contradictiónibus pópuli,*
  constituísti me in caput géntium.
Pópulus, quem non cognóvi, servívit mihi,*
  45in audítu auris obœdívit mihi.
Fílii aliéni blandíti sunt mihi,†
  46fílii aliéni inveteráti sunt,*
  contremuérunt in ábditis suis.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Déxtera tua, Dómine, suscépit me.

Psalm 17 (18)

Lord, your right hand upheld me.
You have given me the shield of your salvation;
  your right hand holds me up;
  by answering me, you give me greatness.
You have stretched the length of my stride,
  my feet do not weaken.
I pursue my enemies and surround them;
  I do not turn back until they are no more.
I smash them to pieces, they cannot stand,
  they fall beneath my feet.
You have wrapped me round with strength for war,
  and made my attackers fall under me.
You turned my enemies’ backs on me,
  you destroyed those who hated me.
They cried out, but there was no-one to save them;
  they cried to the Lord, but he did not hear.
I have ground them up until they are dust in the wind,
  trodden them down like the mud of the street.
You have delivered me from the murmurings of the people
  and placed me at the head of the nations.
A people I do not even know serves me –
  at a mere rumour of my orders, they obey.
The children of strangers beg for my favour;
  they hide away and tremble where they hide.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.
Lord, your right hand upheld me.

Ps 17:47-51

Vivat Dóminus et exaltétur Deus salútis meæ.
47Vivit Dóminus et benedíctus Adiútor meus,*
  et exaltétur Deus salútis meæ.
48Deus qui das vindíctas mihi†
  et subdis pópulos sub me,*
  liberátor meus de inimícis meis iracúndis;
49et ab insurgéntibus in me exáltas me,*
  a viro iníquo éripis me.
50Proptérea confitébor tibi in natiónibus, Dómine,*
  et nómini tuo psalmum dicam,
51magníficans salútes regis sui†
  et fáciens misericórdiam christo suo,*
  David et sémini eius usque in sǽculum.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Vivat Dóminus et exaltétur Deus salútis meæ.

Psalm 17 (18)

Long life to the Lord! Praised be the God who saves me.
The Lord lives, my blessed Helper.
  Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
God, you give me my revenge,
  you subject peoples to my rule,
  you free me from my enraged enemies.
You raise me up from those who attack me,
  you snatch me from the grasp of the violent.
And so I will proclaim you among the nations, Lord,
  and sing to your name.
Time and again you save your king,
  you show your loving kindness to your anointed,
  to David and his descendants for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.
Long life to the Lord! Praised be the God who saves me.

℣. Qui meditátur in lege Dómini.
℟. Dabit fructum suum in témpore suo.
℣. Happy is the man who ponders the law of the Lord.
℟. He will bring forth fruit in due season.

Lectio prior
De Epístola ad Hebrǽos 7, 1-10

Melchisedech typus perfecti sacerdotis

Fratres: 1Melchísedech, rex Salem, sacérdos Dei summi, qui obviávit Abrahæ regrésso a cæde regum et benedíxit ei, 2cui et décimam ómnium divísit Abraham, primum quidem, qui interpretátur rex iustítiæ, deínde autem et rex Salem, quod est rex Pacis, 3sine patre, sine matre, sine genealogía, neque inítium diérum neque finem vitæ habens, assimilátus autem Fílio Dei, manet sacérdos in perpétuum.
  4Intuémini autem quantus sit hic, cui et décimam dedit de præcípuis Abraham patriárcha. 5Et illi quidem, qui de fíliis Levi sacerdótium accípiunt, mandátum habent décimas súmere a pópulo secúndum legem, id est a frátribus suis, quamquam et ipsi exiérunt de lumbis Abrahæ; 6hic autem, cuius generátio non annumerátur in eis, décimam sumpsit ab Abraham et eum, qui habébat repromissiónes, benedíxit. 7Sine ulla autem contradictióne, quod minus est, a melióre benedícitur.
  8Et hic quidem décimas moriéntes hómines sumunt, ibi autem testimónium accípiens quia vivit. 9Et ut ita dictum sit, per Abraham et Levi, qui décimas áccipit, decimátus est, 10adhuc enim in lumbis patris erat, quando obviávit ei Melchísedech.
First ReadingHebrews 7:1-10 ©

Melchizedek is the type of the perfect priest

You remember that Melchizedek, king of Salem, a priest of God Most High, went to meet Abraham who was on his way back after defeating the kings, and blessed him; and also that it was to him that Abraham gave a tenth of all that he had. By the interpretation of his name, he is, first, ‘king of righteousness’ and also king of Salem, that is, ‘king of peace’; he has no father, mother or ancestry, and his life has no beginning or ending; he is like the Son of God. He remains a priest for ever.
  Now think how great this man must have been, if the patriarch Abraham paid him a tenth of the treasure he had captured. We know that any of the descendants of Levi who are admitted to the priesthood are obliged by the Law to take tithes from the people, and this is taking them from their own brothers although they too are descended from Abraham. But this man, who was not of the same descent, took his tenth from Abraham, and he gave his blessing to the holder of the promises. Now it is indisputable that a blessing is given by a superior to an inferior. Further, in the one case it is ordinary mortal men who receive the tithes, and in the other, someone who is declared to be still alive. It could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, actually paid them, in the person of Abraham, because he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek came to meet him.
Responsorium
Cf. Gen 14, 18; Hebr 7, 3; cf. Ps 109 (110), 4; Hebr 7, 16
℟. Melchísedech, rex Salem, prótulit panem et vinum; erat enim sacérdos Dei altíssimi, assimilátus Fílio Dei,* Cui iurávit Dóminus: Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum secúndum órdinem Melchísedech.
℣. Non secúndum legem mandáti carnális sacérdos factus est, sed secúndum virtútem vitæ insolúbilis.* Cui.
Responsory
Gen 14:18; Heb 7:3,16; Ps 110:5
℟. Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High, like the Son of God;* to whom the Lord swore an oath: ‘You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old’.
℣. The second Melchizedek is a priest not by virtue of a law about physical descent, but the power of an indestructible life;* to whom the Lord swore an oath: ‘You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old’.

Lectio altera
Ex Constitutióne dogmática #Lumen géntium# Concílii Vaticáni secúndi de Ecclésia (N. 9)

Ecclesia, sacramentum visibile salutiferæ unitatis

Ecce dies véniunt, dicit Dóminus, et fériam dómui Israel et dómui Iuda fœdus novum... Dabo legem meam in viscéribus eórum et in corde eórum scribam eam et ero eis in Deum et ipsi erunt mihi in pópulum... Omnes enim cognóscent me, a mínimo usque ad máximum, ait Dóminus.
  Quod fœdus novum Christus instítuit, novum scílicet testaméntum in suo sánguine, ex Iudǽis ac géntibus plebem vocans, quæ non secúndum carnem, sed in Spíritu ad unitátem coalésceret, essétque novus pópulus Dei.
  Credéntes enim in Christum, renáti non ex sémine corruptíbili, sed incorruptíbili per verbum Dei vivi, non ex carne, sed ex aqua et Spíritu Sancto, constituúntur tandem genus eléctum, regále sacerdótium, gens sancta, pópulus acquisitiónis... qui aliquándo non pópulus, nunc autem pópulus Dei.
  Pópulus ille messiánicus habet pro cápite Christum, qui tráditus est propter delícta nostra et resurréxit propter iustificatiónem nostram, et, nunc nomen quod est super omne nomen adéptus, glorióse regnat in cælis.
  Habet pro condicióne dignitátem libertatémque filiórum Dei, in quorum córdibus Spíritus Sanctus sicut in templo inhábitat.
  Habet pro lege mandátum novum diligéndi sicut ipse Christus diléxit nos.
  Habet tandem pro fine regnum Dei, ab ipso Deo in terris inchoátum, ultérius dilatándum, donec in fine sæculórum ab ipso étiam consummétur, cum Christus apparúerit, vita nostra, et ipsa creatúra liberábitur a servitúte corruptiónis in libertátem glóriæ filiórum Dei.
  Itaque pópulus ille messiánicus, quamvis univérsos hómines actu non comprehéndat, et non semel ut pusíllus grex appáreat, pro toto tamen génere humáno firmíssimum est germen unitátis, spei et salútis.
  A Christo in communiónem vitæ, caritátis et veritátis constitútus, ab eo étiam ut instruméntum redemptiónis ómnium assúmitur, et tamquam lux mundi et sal terræ ad univérsum mundum emíttitur.
  Sicut vero Israel secúndum carnem, qui in desérto peregrinabátur, Dei Ecclésia iam appellátur, ita novus Israel, qui, in præsénti sǽculo incédens, futúram eámque manéntem civitátem inquírit, étiam Ecclésia Christi nuncupátur, quippe quam ipse sánguine suo acquisívit, suo Spíritu replévit, aptísque médiis uniónis visíbilis et sociális instrúxit.
  Deus congregatiónem eórum qui in Iesum, salútis auctórem et unitátis pacísque princípium, credéntes aspíciunt, convocávit et constítuit Ecclésiam, ut sit univérsis et síngulis sacraméntum visíbile huius salutíferæ unitátis.
Second Reading
From "Lumen gentium", the Second Vatican Council's dogmatic constitution on the Church

The Church as sacrament of unity and salvation

See, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah… I will plant my law within them and inscribe it in their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people… All shall know me, from the least to the greatest, says the Lord.
  It was Christ who established this new covenant, the new testament in his blood, calling into being, from Jews and Gentiles, a people that was to form a unity, not in human fashion but in the Spirit, as the new people of God. Those who believe in Christ, reborn not of corruptible but of incorruptible seed through the word of the living God, not from the flesh but from water and the Holy Spirit, are constituted in the fullness of time as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people God has made his own…, once no people but now the people of God.
  This messianic people has Christ as its head: Christ who was given up for our sins and rose again for our justification; bearing now the name that is above every name, he reigns in glory in heaven. His people enjoy the dignity and freedom of the children of God, in whose hearts the Holy Spirit dwells as in a temple. They have as their law the new commandment of loving as Christ himself has loved us. They have as their goal the kingdom of God, begun on earth by God himself and destined to grow until it is also brought to perfection by him at the end of time, when Christ, our life, will appear, and creation itself will be freed from slavery to corruption and take on the freedom of the glory of God’s children.
  This messianic people, then, though it does not in fact embrace all mankind and often seems to be a tiny flock, is yet the enduring source of unity, hope and salvation for the whole human race. It is established by Christ as a communion of life, of love and of truth; it is also used by him as an instrument for the redemption of all, and is sent out into the whole world as the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
  The Israel of old was already called the Church of God while it was on pilgrimage through the desert. So the new Israel, as it makes its way in this present age, seeking a city that is to come, a city that will remain, is also known as the Church of Christ, for he acquired it by his own blood, filled it with his Spirit, and equipped it with appropriate means to be a visible and social unity. God has called together the assembly of those who in faith look on Jesus, the author of salvation and the principle of unity and peace, and so has established the Church to be for each and all the visible sacrament of this unity which brings with it salvation.
Responsorium
1 Petr 2, 9. 10; Ps 32 (33), 12
℟. Vos pópulus in acquisitiónem;* Qui aliquándo non pópulus, nunc autem pópulus Dei; qui non consecúti misericórdiam, nunc autem misericórdiam consecúti.
℣. Beáta gens, cui Dóminus est Deus, pópulus, quem elégit in hereditátem sibi.* Qui aliquándo non pópulus, nunc autem pópulus Dei; qui non consecúti misericórdiam, nunc autem misericórdiam consecúti.
Responsory
℟. You are a people set apart.* At one time you were not God’s people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God’s mercy, but now you have received his mercy.
℣. They are happy whose God is the Lord, the people he has chosen as his own.* At one time you were not God’s people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God’s mercy, but now you have received his mercy.

Oremus.
  Adésto, Dómine, supplícibus tuis et spem suam in tua misericórdia collocántes tuére propítius, ut, a peccatórum labe mundáti, in sancta conversatióne permáneant et promissiónis tuæ perficiántur herédes.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum,
qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Let us pray.
Stand by your people, Lord,
  who place all their trust in your mercy.
Wash away the stain of our sins,
  make us live in your presence our whole life long,
  and bring us to the inheritance you have promised.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Benedicámus Dómino.
– Deo grátias.
Let us praise the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.

The psalms and canticles here are our own translation from the Latin. The Grail translation of the psalms, which is used liturgically in most of the English-speaking world, cannot be displayed on the Web for copyright reasons; The Universalis apps and programs do contain the Grail translation of the psalms.

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