Universalis
Thursday 15 October 2026    (other days)
Saint Teresa of Ávila, Virgin, Doctor 
 on Thursday of week 28 in Ordinary Time

Using calendar: Canada. 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.
Based on the liturgy for the Common of One Virgin.
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. Allelúia.
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. Alleluia.
Hymnus
Dulci deprómat cármine
devóta plebs sollémnia,
dum in cælórum cúlmine
hæc virgo micat glória.
Virgo, quæ Christi láudibus
vacávit iam viríliter,
sanctórum nunc agmínibus
coniúngitur felíciter.
Vicit per pudicítiam
infírmæ carnis vítium;
sprevit mundi blandítiam
Christi sequens vestígium.
Per hanc nos, Christe, dírige
servans a cunctis hóstibus;
culpárum lapsus córrige
nos ímbuens virtútibus.
Iesu, tibi sit glória,
qui natus es de Vírgine,
cum Patre et almo Spíritu,
in sempitérna sǽcula. Amen.
Hymn
Where true love is dwelling, God is dwelling there:
Love’s own loving Presence love does ever share.
Love of Christ has made us out of many one;
In our midst is dwelling God’s eternal Son.
Give him joyful welcome, love him and revere:
Cherish one another with a love sincere.

Ps 43:2-9
Populi calamitates

“In his omnibus superamus propter eum, qui dilexit nos” (Rom 8, 37).

Bráchium eórum non salvábit eos, sed déxtera tua et illuminátio vultus tui.
2Deus, áuribus nostris audívimus;†
  patres nostri annuntiavérunt nobis*
  opus, quod operátus es in diébus eórum, in diébus antíquis.
3Tu manu tua gentes depulísti et plantásti illos*
  afflixísti pópulos et dilatásti eos.
4Nec enim in gládio suo possedérunt terram,*
  et bráchium eórum non salvávit eos;
sed déxtera tua et bráchium tuum et illuminátio vultus tui,*
  quóniam complacuísti in eis.
5Tu es rex meus et Deus meus,*
  qui mandas salútes Iacob.
6In te inimícos nostros proiécimus,*
  et in nómine tuo conculcávimus insurgéntes in nos.
7Non enim in arcu meo sperábo,*
  et gládius meus non salvábit me.
8Tu autem salvásti nos de affligéntibus nos*
  et odiéntes nos confudísti.
9In Deo gloriábimur tota die*
  et in nómine tuo confitébimur in sǽculum.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Bráchium eórum non salvábit eos, sed déxtera tua et illuminátio vultus tui.

Psalm 43 (44)
In time of defeat

Their own arm did not bring them victory: this was won by your right hand and the light of your face.
Our own ears have heard, O God,
  and our fathers have proclaimed it to us,
  what you did in their days, the days of old:
how with your own hand you swept aside the nations
  and put us in their place,
  struck them down to make room for us.
It was not by their own swords that our fathers took over the land,
  it was not their own strength that gave them victory;
but your hand and your strength,
  the light of your face,
  for you were pleased in them.
You are my God and my king,
  who take care for the safety of Jacob.
Through you we cast down your enemies;
  in your name we crushed those who rose against us.
I will not put my hopes in my bow,
  my sword will not bring me to safety;
for it was you who saved us from our afflictions,
  you who set confusion among those who hated us.
We will glory in the Lord all the day,
  and proclaim your name for all ages.
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.
Their own arm did not bring them victory: this was won by your right hand and the light of your face.

How to listen

Ps 43:10-17

Non avértet Dóminus fáciem suam a vobis, si revérsi fuéritis ad eum.
10Nunc autem reppulísti et confudísti nos*
  et non egrediéris, Deus, cum virtútibus nostris.
11Convertísti nos retrórsum coram inimícis nostris,*
  et, qui odérunt nos, diripuérunt sibi.
12Dedísti nos tamquam oves ad vescéndum*
  et in géntibus dispersísti nos.
13Vendidísti pópulum tuum sine lucro,*
  nec dítior factus es in commutatióne eórum.
14Posuísti nos oppróbrium vicínis nostris,*
  subsannatiónem et derísum his, qui sunt in circúitu nostro.
15Posuísti nos similitúdinem in géntibus,*
  commotiónem cápitis in pópulis.
16Tota die verecúndia mea contra me est,*
  et confúsio faciéi meæ coopéruit me
17a voce exprobrántis et obloquéntis,*
  a fácie inimíci et ultóris.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Non avértet Dóminus fáciem suam a vobis, si revérsi fuéritis ad eum.

Psalm 43 (44)

If you return to the Lord, then he will not hide his face from you.
But now, God, you have spurned us and confounded us,
  so that we must go into battle without you.
You have put us to flight in the sight of our enemies,
  and those who hate us plunder us at will.
You have handed us over like sheep sold for food,
  you have scattered us among the nations.
You have sold your people for no money,
  not even profiting by the exchange.
You have made us the laughing-stock of our neighbours,
  mocked and derided by those who surround us.
The nations have made us a by-word,
  the peoples toss their heads in scorn.
All the day I am ashamed,
  I blush with shame
as they reproach me and revile me,
  my enemies and my persecutors.
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.
If you return to the Lord, then he will not hide his face from you.

Ps 43:18-26

Exsúrge, Dómine, et ne repéllas in finem.
18Hæc ómnia venérunt super nos, nec oblíti sumus te;*
  et iníque non égimus in testaméntum tuum.
19Et non recéssit retro cor nostrum,*
  nec declinavérunt gressus nostri a via tua;
20sed humiliásti nos in loco vúlpium*
  et operuísti nos umbra mortis.
21Si oblíti fuérimus nomen Dei nostri*
  et si expandérimus manus nostras ad deum aliénum,
22nonne Deus requíret ista?*
  Ipse enim novit abscóndita cordis.
23Quóniam propter te mortificámur tota die,*
  æstimáti sumus sicut oves occisiónis.
24Evígila quare obdórmis, Dómine?*
  Exsúrge et ne repéllas in finem.
25Quare fáciem tuam avértis,*
  oblivísceris inópiæ nostræ et tribulatiónis nostræ?
26Quóniam humiliáta est in púlvere ánima nostra,*
  conglutinátus est in terra venter noster.
Exsúrge, Dómine, ádiuva nos*
  et rédime nos propter misericórdiam tuam.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Exsúrge, Dómine, et ne repéllas in finem.

Psalm 43 (44)

Arise, Lord, do not reject us for ever.
All this happened to us,
  but not because we had forgotten you.
We were not disloyal to your covenant;
  our hearts did not turn away;
  our steps did not wander from your path;
and yet you brought us low,
  with horrors all about us:
  you overwhelmed us in the shadows of death.
If we had forgotten the name of our God,
  if we had spread out our hands before an alien god —
would God not have known?
  He knows what is hidden in our hearts.
It is for your sake that we face death all the day,
  that we are reckoned as sheep to be slaughtered.
Awake, Lord, why do you sleep?
  Rise up, do not always reject us.
Why do you turn away your face?
  How can you forget our poverty and our tribulation?
Our souls are crushed into the dust,
  our bodies dragged down to the earth.
Rise up, Lord, and help us.
  In your mercy, redeem 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.
Arise, Lord, do not reject us for ever.
℣. Notas mihi fecísti vias vitæ.
℟. Adimplébis me lætítia cum vultu tuo.
℣. You have shown me the path of life,
℟. The fullness of joy in your presence.
Lectio prior
De libro Zacharíæ prophétæ 8, 1-17. 20-23

Promissiones salutis in Sion

1Factum est verbum Dómini exercítuum dicens:
2«Hæc dicit Dóminus exercítuum:
Zelátus sum Sion zelo magno
et ardóre magno zelátus sum eam.
3Hæc dicit Dóminus: Revérsus sum ad Sion et habitábo in médio Ierúsalem; et vocábitur Ierúsalem cívitas Veritátis, et mons Dómini exercítuum mons Sanctitátis.
  4Hæc dicit Dóminus exercítuum: Adhuc sedébunt senes et anus in platéis Ierúsalem et unusquísque cum báculo suo in manu sua præ multitúdine diérum; 5et platéæ civitátis complebúntur púeris et puéllis ludéntibus in platéis eius.
  6Hæc dicit Dóminus exercítuum: Si vidébitur diffícile in óculis reliquiárum pópuli huius in diébus illis, numquid étiam in óculis meis diffícile erit?, dicit Dóminus exercítuum.
7Hæc dicit Dóminus exercítuum:
Ecce ego salvábo pópulum meum de terra oriéntis
et de terra occásus solis:
8et addúcam eos,
et habitábunt in médio Ierúsalem;
et erunt mihi in pópulum,
et ego ero eis in Deum
in veritáte et iustítia.
9Hæc dicit Dóminus exercítuum: Conforténtur manus vestræ, qui audítis in his diébus sermónes istos per os prophetárum in die, qua fundáta est domus Dómini exercítuum, ut templum ædificarétur.
10Síquidem ante dies istos
merces hóminis non erat,
nec merces iuménti erat,
neque introeúnti neque exeúnti
erat pax præ tribulatióne;
et dimísi omnes hómines,
unumquémque contra próximum suum.
11Nunc autem non iuxta dies prióres ego sum
relíquiis pópuli huius,
dicit Dóminus exercítuum;
12sed semen pacis erit:
vínea dabit fructum suum,
et terra dabit provéntum suum,
et possidére fáciam
relíquias pópuli huius
univérsa hæc.
13Et erit: sicut erátis maledíctio in géntibus, domus Iudæ et domus Israel, sic salvábo vos, et éritis benedíctio. Nolíte timére; conforténtur manus vestræ. 14Quia hæc dicit Dóminus exercítuum: Sicut cogitávi, ut afflígerem vos, cum ad iracúndiam provocássent patres vestri me, dicit Dóminus exercítuum, 15et non sum misértus, sic convérsus cogitávi in diébus istis, ut benefáciam Ierúsalem et dómui Iudæ; nolíte timére.
  16Hæc sunt ergo, quæ faciétis: Loquímini veritátem unusquísque cum próximo suo et iudícium pacis iudicáte in portis vestris 17et unusquísque malum contra amícum suum ne cogitétis in córdibus vestris et iuraméntum mendax ne diligátis: ómnia enim hæc sunt quæ odi», dicit Dóminus.
  20«Hæc dicit Dóminus exercítuum: Adhuc vénient pópuli et habitatóres civitátum magnárum, 21et ibunt habitatóres uníus ad álteram dicéntes: “Eámus, ut deprecémur fáciem Dómini et quærámus Dóminum exercítuum; vadam étiam ego”. 22Et vénient pópuli multi et gentes robústæ ad quæréndum Dóminum exercítuum in Ierúsalem et deprecándam fáciem Dómini.
  23Hæc dicit Dóminus exercítuum: In diébus illis apprehéndent decem hómines ex ómnibus linguis géntium, apprehéndent fímbriam viri Iudǽi dicéntes: “Ibimus vobíscum; audívimus enim quóniam Deus vobíscum est”».
First Reading
Zechariah 8:1-17,20-23

Promises of salvation in Zion

The word of the Lord of Hosts was addressed to me as follows:
‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
I am burning with jealousy for Zion,
with great anger for her sake.
‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
I am coming back to Zion
and shall dwell in the middle of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem will be called Faithful City
and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, the Holy Mountain.
‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
Old men and old women will again sit down
in the squares of Jerusalem;
every one of them staff in hand
because of their great age.
And the squares of the city will be full
of boys and girls
playing in the squares.
‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
If this seems a miracle
to the remnant of this people (in those days),
will it seem one to me?
It is the Lord of Hosts who speaks.
‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
Now I am going to save my people
from the countries of the East
and from the countries of the West.
I will bring them back
to live inside Jerusalem.
They shall be my people
and I will be their God
in faithfulness and integrity.
‘The Lord of Hosts says this. Let your hands be strong, you who here and now listen to these words from the mouths of the prophets who have been prophesying since the day when the Temple of the Lord of Hosts had its foundation laid for the rebuilding of the sanctuary. For before the present day men were not paid their wages and nothing was paid for the animals either; and because of the enemy there was no security for a man to go about his business; I had set every man against everyone else. But now, with the remnant of this people, I am not as I was in the past. It is the Lord of Hosts who speaks. For I mean to spread peace everywhere; the vine will give its fruit, the earth its increase, and heaven its dew. I am going to bestow all these blessings on the remnant of this people. Just as once you were a curse among the nations, you House of Judah (and House of Israel), so I mean to save you for you to become a blessing. Do not be afraid; let your hands be strong.
  ‘For the Lord of Hosts says this. Just as I once resolved to inflict evil on you when your ancestors provoked me – says the Lord of Hosts – and as I did not then relent, so now I have another purpose, and I intend in the present day to confer benefits on Jerusalem and on the House of Judah. Do not be afraid.
  ‘These are the things that you must do. Speak the truth to one another; let the judgements at your gates be such as conduce to peace; do not secretly plot evil against one another; do not love false oaths; since all this is what I hate. It is the Lord who speaks.
  ‘The Lord of Hosts says this. There will be other peoples yet, and citizens of great cities. And the inhabitants of one city will go to the next and say, “Come, let us go and entreat the favour of the Lord, and seek the Lord of Hosts; I am going myself.” And many peoples and great nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favour of the Lord.
  ‘The Lord of Hosts says this. In those days, ten men of nations of every language will take a Jew by the sleeve and say, “We want to go with you, since we have learnt that God is with you.”’
Responsorium
Zac 8, 7. 9 a; Act 3, 25 a
℟. Hæc dicit Dóminus: Ecce ego salvábo pópulum meum de terra oriéntis et de terra occásus solis.* Conforténtur manus vestræ, qui audítis in his diébus sermónes istos per os prophetárum.
℣. Vos estis fílii prophetárum et testaménti, quod dispósuit Deus ad patres vestros.* Conforténtur.
Responsory
Zc 8:7-9; Ac 3:25
℟. The Lord says this: Now I am going to save my people from the countries of the East and from the countries of the West.* Let your hands be strong, you who here and now listen to these words from the mouths of the prophets.
℣. You are the heirs of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our ancestors.* Let your hands be strong, you who here and now listen to these words from the mouths of the prophets.
Lectio altera
Ex Opéribus sanctæ Terésiæ a Iesu vírginis (Opusc. De libro vitæ, cap. 22, 6-7. 14)

Semper memores amoris Christi simus

Qui Christum Iesum, amícum et tam generósum ducem, apud se habet, ómnia ferre potest: ipse enim nos iuvat, corróborat, néminem destítuit, ac verus et sincérus amícus est. Maniféste enim vídeo, si Deo placére et magnas ab illo grátias accípere velímus, ipsum velle ut per sacratíssimæ illíus humanitátis, in qua maiéstas eius sibi complacére dixit manus illæ nobis obvéniant.
  Sæpíssime hoc per experiéntiam advérti, quin et Dóminus ipse hoc mihi dixit; ad óculum, inquam, vidi per hanc nos portam íngredi debére, si magna quædam a supréma maiestáte arcána et secréta pandi nobis velímus. Alia via, summo etsi iam adépto contemplatiónis vértice, non est quærénda. Hac quippe via tuto et secúre incéditur. Dóminus hic noster is est a quo et per quem ómnia nobis bona obvéniunt: is nos docébit. Illíus si intueámur vitam, mélius ac perféctius quod imitémur exémplum non inveniémus.
  Quid vólumus ámplius, quam tam fidum ad latus nostrum amícum habére, qui in labóribus et difficultátibus nos, sicut amíci mundáni fáciunt, non déseret? Beátus ille qui eum sincére et vere amábit et iuxta se semper tenébit. Intueámur gloriósum apóstolum Paulum, qui videbátur Iesum in ore haud tenére non posse, quippe qui illum cordi suo inscúlptum et impréssum habéret. Hoc autem intellécto, diligénter inquisívi et dídici non áliam ac hanc viam ingréssos esse sanctos quosdam mire contemplatívos, ut Francíscum, Antónium Patavínum, Bernárdum, Catharínam Senénsem. Magna cum libertáte per hanc viam ambuláre opórtet, in Dei manus totos nos resignántes. Si ille nos inter suos cubiculários et secretários suos reférre atque evéhere velit, libénter obsequámur.
  Quotiescúmque autem de Christo cogitámus, semper mémores amóris illíus simus, quo ipse actus tantas nobis grátias et benefícia prǽstitit, et quantum Deus amórem nobis osténderit, cum tale nobis amóris illíus quo nos proséquitur pignus déderit: amor enim amórem póstulat. Quámobrem óperam demus ut hoc semper præ óculis habeámus et ita nos ad amórem provocémus. Nam si semel hanc nobis grátiam Deus fáciat, ut amor hic cordi nostro profúnde imprimátur, ómnia nobis facíllima erunt, et brevíssimo témpore et parvo labóre permúltum præstábimus.
Second Reading
St Teresa of Avila

Let us always be mindful of Christ's love

If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us. He is a true friend. And I clearly see that if we expect to please him and receive an abundance of his graces, God desires that these graces must come to us from the hands of Christ, through his most sacred humanity, in which God takes delight.
  Many, many times I have perceived this through experience. The Lord has told it to me. I have definitely seen that we must enter by this gate if we wish his Sovereign Majesty to reveal to us great and hidden mysteries. A person should desire no other path, even if he is at the summit of contemplation; on this road he walks safely. All blessings come to us through our Lord. He will teach us, for in beholding his life we find that he is the best example.
  What more do we desire from such a good friend at our side? Unlike our friends in the world, he will never abandon us when we are troubled or distressed. Blessed is the one who truly loves him and always keeps him near. Let us consider the glorious Saint Paul: it seems that no other name fell from his lips than that of Jesus, because the name of Jesus was fixed and embedded in his heart. Once I had come to understand this truth, I carefully considered the lives of some of the saints, the great contemplatives, and found that they took no other path: Francis, Anthony of Padua, Bernard, Catherine of Siena. A person must walk along this path in freedom, placing himself in God’s hands. If God should desire to raise us to the position of one who is an intimate and shares his secrets, we ought to accept this gladly.
  Whenever we think of Christ we should recall the love that led him to bestow on us so many graces and favours, and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of his love; for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse ourselves to love him. For if at some time the Lord should grant us the grace of impressing his love on our hearts, all will become easy for us and we shall accomplish great things quickly and without effort.
Responsorium
Ps 72 (73), 27 a. 28 a; 1 Cor 6, 17
℟. Ecce qui elóngant se a te, Dómine, períbunt.* Mihi adhærére Deo bonum est, pónere in Dómino Deo spem meam.
℣. Qui adhǽret Dómino, unus Spíritus est.* Mihi.
Responsory
℟. All those who abandon the Lord shall perish.* To be near God is my happiness: I have made him my refuge.
℣. He who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.* To be near God is my happiness: I have made him my refuge.
Oremus.
  Deus, qui per Spíritum tuum beátam Terésiam suscitásti, ut requiréndæ perfectiónis sémitam Ecclésiæ manifestáret, da nobis et cæléstis eius doctrínæ pábulo semper nutríri et veræ sanctitátis desidério accéndi.
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.
Almighty God, our Father, you sent Saint Teresa of Ávila
  to be a witness in the Church to the way of perfection.
Sustain us by her spiritual doctrine,
  and kindle in us the longing for true holiness.
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.

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