Universalis
Saturday 19 April 2025    (other days)
Holy Saturday

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

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.
INTRODUCTION
Deus, in adiutórium meum inténde.
  Dómine, ad adiuvándum me festína.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
INTRODUCTION
O God, come to our aid.
  O Lord, make haste to help us.
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.
Hymnus
Christe, cælórum Dómine,
mundi salvátor máxime,
qui crucis omnes múnere
mortis solvísti légibus,
Te nunc orántes póscimus,
tua consérves múnera,
quæ sacra per mystéria
cunctis donásti géntibus.
Tu agnus mitis, ínnocens,
oblátus terræ víctima,
sanctórum vestes ómnium
tuo lavásti sánguine.
Quos redemísti prétio
tui sacráti córporis,
cælo resúrgens ádvehis
ubi te laudant pérpetim.
Quorum nos addas número,
te deprecámur, Dómine,
qui Patri nos ex ómnibus
fecísti regnum pópulis. 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 4:2-9
Gratiarum actio

“Admirabilem fecit Dominus, quem suscitavit a mortuis” (S. Augustinus)

In pace in idípsum dórmiam et requiéscam.
2Cum invocárem, exaudívit me Deus iustítiæ meæ.*
  In tribulatióne dilatásti mihi;
miserére mei*
  et exáudi oratiónem meam.
3Fílii hóminum, úsquequo gravi corde?*
  Ut quid dilígitis vanitátem et quǽritis mendácium?
4Et scitóte quóniam mirificávit Dóminus sanctum suum;*
  Dóminus exáudiet, cum clamávero ad eum.
5Irascímini et nolíte peccáre;†
  loquímini in córdibus vestris,*
  in cubílibus vestris et conquiéscite.
6Sacrificáte sacrifícium iustítiæ*
  et speráte in Dómino.
7Multi dicunt: «Quis osténdit nobis bona?».*
  Leva in signum super nos lumen vultus tui, Dómine!
8Maiórem dedísti lætítiam in corde meo,*
  quam cum multiplicántur fruméntum et vinum eórum.
9In pace in idípsum dórmiam et requiéscam,*
  quóniam tu, Dómine, singuláriter in spe constituísti me.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
In pace in idípsum dórmiam et requiéscam.

Psalm 4
Thanksgiving

Now I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once.
When I called out, he heard me, the God of my righteousness.
When I was in trouble, you gave me freedom:
  now, take pity on me and listen to my prayer.
Sons of men, how long will your hearts be heavy?
  Why do you seek for vain things?
  Why do you run after illusions?
Know that the Lord has done marvellous things
  for those he has chosen.
When I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
Be vigorous, but do not sin:
  speak in the silence of your heart,
  in your bed, be at rest.
Offer righteousness as a sacrifice,
  and put your trust in the Lord.
Many are saying, Who will give us good things?
Let your face shine on us, Lord,
  let the light of your face be a sign.
You have given me a greater joy
  than the others receive
  from abundance of wheat and of wine.
In peace shall I sleep, Lord, in peace shall I rest:
  firm in the hope you have given me.
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.
Now I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once.

How to listen

Ps 15:1-11
Dominus pars hereditatis meae

“Deus suscitavit Iesum, solutis doloribus inferni” (Act 2. 24).

Caro mea requiéscet in spe.
1Consérva me, Deus,*
  quóniam sperávi in te.
2Dixi Dómino: «Dóminus meus es tu,*
  bonum mihi non est sine te».
3In sanctos, qui sunt in terra, ínclitos viros,*
  omnis volúntas mea in eos.
4Multiplicántur dolóres eórum,*
  qui post deos aliénos acceleravérunt.
Non effúndam libatiónes eórum de sanguínibus,*
  neque assúmam nómina eórum in lábiis meis.
5Dóminus pars hereditátis meæ et cálicis mei:*
  tu es qui détines sortem meam.
6Funes cecidérunt mihi in præcláris;*
  ínsuper et heréditas mea speciósa est mihi.
7Benedícam Dóminum, qui tríbuit mihi intelléctum;*
  ínsuper et in nóctibus erudiérunt me renes mei.
8Proponébam Dóminum in conspéctu meo semper;*
  quóniam a dextris est mihi non commovébor.
9Propter hoc lætátum est cor meum,†
  et exsultavérunt præcórdia mea;*
  ínsuper et caro mea requiéscet in spe.
10Quóniam non derelínques ánimam meam in inférno,*
  nec dabis sanctum tuum vidére corruptiónem.
11Notas mihi fácies vias vitæ,†
  plenitúdinem lætítiæ cum vultu tuo,*
  delectatiónes in déxtera tua usque in finem.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Caro mea requiéscet in spe.

Psalm 15 (16)
The Lord, my inheritance

My body shall rest in hope.
Preserve me, Lord,
  I put my hope in you.
I have said to the Lord
  “You are my Lord,
  in you alone is all my good.”
As for the holy and noble men of the land,
  in them is all my delight.
But for those who run to alien gods,
  their sorrows are many.
I will not share in their libations of blood.
  I will not speak their names.
You, Lord, are my inheritance and my cup.
  You control my destiny,
the lot marked out for me is of the best,
  my inheritance is all I could ask for.
I will bless the Lord who gave me understanding;
  even in the night my heart will teach me wisdom.
I will hold the Lord for ever in my sight:
  with him at my side I can never be shaken.
Thus it is that my heart rejoices,
  heart and soul together;
  while my body rests in calm hope.
You will not leave my soul in the underworld.
  You will not let your chosen one see decay.
You will show me the paths of life,
  the fullness of joy before your face,
  and delights at your right hand 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.
My body shall rest in hope.

Ps 23:1-10
Domini in templum adventus

“Christo apertæ sunt portæ cæli propter carnalem eius assumptionem” (S. Irenæus).

Elevámini, portæ æternáles, et introíbit Rex glóriæ.
1Dómini est terra et plenitúdo eius,*
  orbis terrárum et qui hábitant in eo.
2Quia ipse super mária fundávit eum*
  et super flúmina firmávit eum.
3Quis ascéndet in montem Dómini,*
  aut quis stabit in loco sancto eius?
4Innocens mánibus et mundo corde,†
  qui non levávit ad vana ánimam suam,*
  nec iurávit in dolum.
5Hic accípiet benedictiónem a Dómino*
  et iustificatiónem a Deo salutári suo.
6Hæc est generátio quæréntium eum,*
  quæréntium fáciem Dei Iacob.
7Attóllite, portæ, cápita vestra,†
  et elevámini, portæ æternáles,*
  et introíbit rex glóriæ.
8Quis est iste rex glóriæ?*
  Dóminus fortis et potens, Dóminus potens in prœ́lio.
9Attóllite, portæ, cápita vestra,†
  et elevámini, portæ æternáles,*
  et introíbit rex glóriæ.
10Quis est iste rex glóriæ?*
  Dóminus virtútum ipse est rex glóriæ.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Elevámini, portæ æternáles, et introíbit Rex glóriæ.

Psalm 23 (24)
The Lord comes to his temple

Grow higher, ancient doors: let the King of glory enter.
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,
  the world and all who live in it.
He himself founded it upon the seas
  and set it firm over the waters.
Who will climb the mountain of the Lord?
  Who will stand in his holy place?
The one who is innocent of wrongdoing and pure of heart,
  who has not given himself to vanities or sworn falsely.
He will receive the blessing of the Lord
  and be justified by God his saviour.
This is the way of those who seek him,
  seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors,
  and let the king of glory enter.
Who is the king of glory?
The Lord of might and power.
  The Lord, strong in battle.
Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors,
  and let the king of glory enter.
Who is the king of glory?
The Lord of hosts
  – he is the king of glory.
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.
Grow higher, ancient doors: let the King of glory enter.
℣. Iúdica causam meam et rédime me.
℟. Propter elóquium tuum vivífica me.
℣. Uphold my cause and defend me.
℟. By your promise, give me life.
Lectio prior
De Epístola ad Hebrǽos 4, 1-13

Festinemus ingredi in requiem Domini

Fratres: 1Timeámus, ne forte, relícta pollicitatióne introeúndi in réquiem eius, existimétur áliquis ex vobis deésse; 2étenim et nobis evangelizátum est quemádmodum et illis, sed non prófuit illis sermo audítus, non commíxtis fide cum iis, qui audíerant. 3Ingrédimur enim in réquiem, qui credídimus, quemádmodum dixit:
«Sicut iurávi in ira mea:
Non introíbunt in réquiem meam»,
et quidem opéribus ab institutióne mundi factis. 4Dixit enim quodam loco de die séptima sic: «Et requiévit Deus die séptima ab ómnibus opéribus suis»; 5et in isto rursum: «Non introíbunt in réquiem meam». 6Quóniam ergo súperest quosdam introíre in illam, et hi, quibus prióribus evangelizátum est, non introiérunt propter inobœdiéntiam, 7íterum términat diem quendam, «Hódie», in David dicéndo post tantum témporis, sicut supra dictum est:
«Hódie, si vocem eius audiéritis,
nolíte obduráre corda vestra».
8Nam si eis Iesus réquiem præstitísset, non de álio loquerétur post hac die. 9Itaque relínquitur sabbatísmus pópulo Dei; 10qui enim ingréssus est in réquiem eius, étiam ipse requiévit ab opéribus suis, sicut a suis Deus.
  11Festinémus ergo íngredi in illam réquiem, ut ne in idípsum quis íncidat inobœdiéntiæ exémplum. 12Vivus est enim Dei sermo et éfficax et penetrabílior omni gládio ancípiti et pertíngens usque ad divisiónem ánimæ ac spíritus, compágum quoque et medullárum, et discrétor cogitatiónum et intentiónum cordis; 13et non est creatúra invisíbilis in conspéctu eius, ómnia autem nuda et apérta sunt óculis eius, ad quem nobis sermo.
First ReadingHebrews 4:1-13

God’s promise of rest

Be careful: the promise of reaching the place of rest he had for them still holds good, and none of you must think that he has come too late for it. We received the Good News exactly as they did; but hearing the message did them no good because they did not share the faith of those who listened. We, however, who have faith, shall reach a place of rest, as in the text: And so, in anger, I swore that not one would reach the place of rest I had for them. God’s work was undoubtedly all finished at the beginning of the world; as one text says, referring to the seventh day: After all his work God rested on the seventh day. The text we are considering says: They shall not reach the place of rest I had for them. It is established, then, that there would be some people who would reach it, and since those who first heard the Good News failed to reach it through their disobedience, God fixed another day when, much later, he said ‘today’ through David in the text already quoted: If only you would listen to him today; do not harden your hearts. If Joshua had led them into this place of rest, God would not later on have spoken so much of another day. There must still be, therefore, a place of rest reserved for God’s people, the seventh-day rest, since to reach the place of rest is to rest after your work, as God did after his. We must therefore do everything we can to reach this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example of disobedience and be lost.
  The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts. No created thing can hide from him; everything is uncovered and open to the eyes of the one to whom we must give account of ourselves.
Responsorium
Cf. Mt 27, 66. 60. 62
℟. Sepúlto Dómino, signavérunt monuméntum, volvéntes lápidem ad óstium monuménti,* Ponéntes mílites, qui custodírent illum.
℣. Accedéntes príncipes sacerdótum ad Pilátum, petiérunt illum.* Ponéntes.
Responsory
cf. Mt 27:66,60,62
℟. They buried the Lord, made the tomb secure and rolled a stone across the entrance,* and they placed soldiers there to guard the body.
℣. The chief priests went to Pilate and asked for a guard,* and they placed soldiers there to guard the body.
Lectio altera
Ex antíqua Homília in sancto et magno Sábbato (PG 43, 439. 451. 462-463)

Domini in infernum descensio

Quid istud rei est? Hódie siléntium magnum in terra; siléntium magnum, et solitúdo deínceps; siléntium magnum, quóniam Rex dormit; terra tímuit et quiévit, quóniam Deus in carne obdormívit, et a sǽculo dormiéntes excitávit. Deus in carne mórtuus est, et inférnum concitávit.
  Profécto primum paréntem tamquam pérditam ovem quæsítum vadit. Omníno in ténebris et in umbra mortis sedéntes invísere vult; omníno captívum Adam, unáque captívam Evam, ex dolóribus solútum vadit Deus illiúsque Fílius.
  Ingréssus est Dóminus ad eos, victrícia arma crucis tenens. Quem ubi vidit Adam primus parens, præ stupóre pectus vérberans, exclamávit ad omnes, dixítque: “Dóminus meus cum ómnibus”. Et respóndens Christus dicit Adámo: “Et cum spíritu tuo”. Et apprehénsa manu éxcitat, dicens: “Expergíscere, qui dormis, et surge a mórtuis et illucéscet tibi Christus.
  Ego Deus tuus, qui propter te factus sum fílius tuus; qui propter te, et propter hos, qui a te oriúndi sunt, nunc dico, et per potestátem ímpero iis qui in vínculis erant: Exíte; et qui in ténebris: Illuminámini; et sopítis: Resúrgite.
  Tibi præcípio: Expergíscere, qui dormis: étenim non ídeo te feci, ut in inférno contineáre vinctus. Surge a mórtuis; ego sum vita mortuórum. Surge, opus mánuum meárum; surge, effígies mea, quæ ad imáginem meam facta es. Surge, exeámus hinc; tu enim in me, et ego in te, una et indivísa sumus persóna.
  Propter te ego, Deus tuus, factus sum fílius tuus; propter te, Dóminus, servílem tuam spéciem sumpsi; propter te, qui sum supra cælos, veni in terram, et subtus terram; propter te hóminem factus sum tamquam homo sine adiutório inter mórtuos liber; propter te, qui ex horto egréssus es, ex horto Iudǽis tráditus, et in horto crucifíxus sum.
  Aspice faciéi meæ sputa, quæ quidem propter te suscépi, ut te in prístinum illud spiráculum restitúerem. Aspice meárum maxillárum álapas, quas sustínui, ut tuam corrúptam spéciem reformárem, ad imáginem meam.
  Aspice mei tergi flagellatiónem, quam suscépi, ut dispérgerem peccatórum tuórum onus, quod tergo tuo impósitum est. Aspice clavis bene ad lignum affíxas manus meas, propter te, qui manum tuam ad lignum male quondam exténderas.
  Dormívi in cruce et romphǽa penetrávit meum latus, propter te, qui in paradíso obdormísti, et Evam ex látere protulísti. Meum latus sanávit dolórem láteris. Meus somnus edúcet te ex inférni somno. Mea romphǽa romphǽam coércuit, quæ contra te vertebátur.
  Surge, eámus hinc. Edúxit te hostis ex terra paradísi; ego vero te non ámplius in paradíso, sed in cælésti throno cólloco. Prohíbuit te a ligno týpico vitæ; verum ecce ego, qui vita sum, tibi sum coniúnctus. Constítui chérubim, qui fámuli in morem custodírent te; fácio ut chérubim, pro eo ac Deum decet, adórent te.
  Cherúbicus thronus apparátus est, géruli prompti et paráti, thálamus constrúctus est, paráti cibi, ætérna tabernácula et mansiónes adornátæ, thesáuri bonórum apérti sunt, regnúmque cælórum ante sǽcula parátum est”.
Second Reading
From an ancient homily for Holy Saturday

The Lord's descent into the underworld

Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.
  He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
  I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated. For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.
  See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.
  I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.
  Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.
Responsorium
℟. Recéssit pastor noster, fons aquæ vivæ, ad cuius tránsitum sol obscurátus est; nam et ille captus est, qui captívum tenébat primum hóminem.* Hódie portas mortis et seras páriter Salvátor noster disrúpit.
℣. Destrúxit quidem claustra inférni et subvértit poténtias diáboli.* Hódie.
Responsory
℟. Our shepherd, the source of living water, has departed. At his passing the sun was darkened, for he who held the first man captive is now taken captive himself.* Today the Saviour has shattered the bars and burst the gates of death.
℣. He has torn down the barricades of hell and overthrown the power of Satan.* Today the Saviour has shattered the bars and burst the gates of death.
Oremus.
  Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, cuius Unigénitus ad inferióra terræ descéndit, unde et gloriósus ascéndit, concéde propítius, ut fidéles tui, cum eo consepúlti in baptísmate, ipso resurgénte, ad vitam profíciant sempitérnam.
Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Let us pray.
Almighty, ever-living God,
  whose Only-Begotten Son descended to the realm of the dead,
  and rose from there to glory,
grant that your faithful people,
  who were buried with him in baptism,
  may, by his resurrection, obtain eternal life.
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.

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