Universalis
Thursday 1 June 2023    (other days)
Saint Justin, Martyr 
 on Thursday of week 8 in Ordinary Time

Using calendar: Middle East - Southern Arabia - Special Fridays. 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. 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
Beáte (Beáta) martyr, próspera
diem triumphálem tuum,
quo sánguinis merces tibi
coróna vincénti datur.
Hic te ex ténebris sǽculi,
tortóre victo et iúdice,
evéxit ad cælum dies
Christóque ovántem réddidit.
Nunc angelórum párticeps
collúces insígni stola,
quam testis indomábilis
rivis cruóris láveras.
Adésto nunc et óbsecra,
placátus ut Christus suis
inclínet aurem prósperam,
noxas nec omnes ímputet.
Paulísper huc illábere
Christi favórem déferens,
sensus graváti ut séntiant
levámen indulgéntiæ.
Honor Patri cum Fílio
et Spíritu Paráclito,
qui te coróna pérpeti
cingunt in aula glóriæ. Amen.
Hymn
The martyrs living now with Christ
In suffering were tried,
Their anguish overcome by love
When on his cross they died.
Across the centuries they come,
In constancy unmoved,
Their loving hearts make no complaint,
In silence they are proved.
No man has ever measured love,
Or weighed it in his hand,
But God who knows the inmost heart
Gives them the promised land.
Praise Father, Son and Spirit blest,
Who guides us through the night
In ways that reach beyond the stars
To everlasting light.
Francis E. Mostyn (1860-1939)

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.

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.

℣. Tribulátio et angústia invenérunt me.
℟. Mandáta tua meditátio mea est.
℣. Anguish and distress have taken hold of me.
℟. Yet will I delight in your commands.

Lectio prior
De libro Iob 11, 1-20

Opinio communis a Sophar exponitur

1Respóndens autem Sophar Naamathítes dixit:
2«Numquid illi, qui multa lóquitur, non et respondétur?
Aut vir verbósus iustificábitur?
3Vanilóquium tuum viros tacére fáciet,
et, cum céteros irríseris, a nullo confutáberis?
4Dixísti enim: “Purus est sermo meus,
et mundus sum in conspéctu tuo”.
5Atque útinam Deus ipse loquerétur tecum
et aperíret lábia sua tibi,
6ut osténderet tibi secréta sapiéntiæ
et arcána consília eius,
et intellégeres quod multo minóra quærat a te,
quam merétur iníquitas tua.
7Fórsitan vestígia Dei comprehéndes
et usque ad perféctum Omnipoténtem repéries?
8Excélsior cælo est, et quid fácies?
Profúndior inférno, et quid cognósces?
9Lóngior terra mensúra eius
et látior mari.
10Si subvérterit vel conclúserit et coarctáverit,
quis contradícet ei?
11Ipse enim novit hóminum vanitátem;
et videns iniquitátem nonne consíderat?
12Sed et vir vácuus cordátus fit,
et homo tamquam pullum ónagri náscitur.
13Tu autem, si cor tuum firmáveris
et expánderis ad eum manus tuas,
14si iniquitátem, quæ est in manu tua, abstúleris a te,
et non mánserit in tabernáculo tuo iniustítia,
15tunc leváre póteris fáciem tuam absque mácula
et eris stábilis et non timébis.
16Misériæ quoque oblivísceris
et quasi aquárum, quæ præteriérunt, recordáberis.
17Et quasi meridiánus fulgor consúrget tibi ad vésperam,
et, cum te calígine tectum putáveris, oriéris ut lúcifer.
18Et habébis fidúciam, propósita tibi spe,
et defóssus secúrus dórmies.
19Requiésces, et non erit qui te extérreat;
et deprecabúntur fáciem tuam plúrimi.
20Oculi autem impiórum defícient,
et effúgium períbit ab eis;
et spes illórum exhalátio ánimæ».
First ReadingJob 11:1-20 ©

Zophar's speech

Zophar of Naamath spoke next. He said:
Is babbling to go without an answer?
  Is wordiness in man a proof of right?
Do you think your talking strikes men dumb,
  will you jeer with no one to refute you?
These were your words, ‘My way of life is faultless,
  and in your eyes I am free from blame.’
But if God had a mind to speak,
  to open his lips and give you answer,
were he to show you the secrets of wisdom
  which put all cleverness to shame –
  you would know it is for sin he calls you to account.
Can you claim to grasp the mystery of God,
  to understand the perfection of Shaddai?
It is higher than the heavens: what can you do?
  It is deeper than Sheol: what can you know?
Its length is longer than the earth,
  its breadth is broader than the sea.
If he passes, who can stop him,
  or make him yield once he has seized?
For he detects the worthlessness in man,
  he sees iniquity and marks it well.
And so the idiot grows wise,
  thus a young wild donkey grows tame.
Come, you must set your heart right,
  stretch out your hands to him.
Renounce the iniquity that stains your hands,
  let no injustice live within your tents.
Then you may face the world in innocence,
  unwavering and free from fear.
You will forget your sufferings,
  remember them as waters that have passed away.
Your life, more radiant than the noonday,
  will make a dawn of darkness.
Full of hope, you will live secure,
  dwelling well and safely guarded.
No one will dare disturb you,
  and many a man will seek your favour.
But the wicked will look round with weary eyes,
  and finding no escape,
  the only hope they have is life’s last breath.
Responsorium
2 Cor 4, 8-9 a. 10
℟. In ómnibus tribulatiónem pátimur, sed non angustiámur; aporiámur, sed non destitúimur;* Persecutiónem pátimur, sed non derelínquimur.
℣. Semper mortificatiónem Iesu in córpore circumferéntes, ut et vita Iesu in córpore nostro manifestétur.* Persecutiónem.
Responsory2 Co 4:8-10
℟. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair;* we have been persecuted, but never deserted.
℣. Always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body.* We have been persecuted, but never deserted.

Lectio altera
Ex Actis martýrii sanctórum Iustíni eiúsque sociórum (Cap. 1-5: cf. PG 6, 1566-1571)

Adhæsi veris doctrinis christianorum

Comprehénsi sancti, addúcti sunt ad Romæ præféctum nómine Rústicum. Quibus ante tribúnal constitútis, Rústicus præféctus dixit ad Iustínum: «Ante ómnia fidem diis habe et obséquere imperatóribus». Iustínus dixit: «Accusári aut deprehéndi nequit quod obtemperémus præcéptis salvatóris nostri Iesu Christi».
  Rústicus dixit: «Quales doctrínas profitéris?». Iustínus dixit: «Omnes quidem doctrínas conátus sum díscere, at adhǽsi veris doctrínis christianórum, quamvis non probéntur iis qui detinéntur erróribus».
  Rústicus præféctus dixit: «Illǽne tibi probántur doctrínæ, misérrime?». Iustínus dixit: «Ita, quandóquidem cum dógmate recto eas sequor».
  Rústicus præféctus dixit: «Quale est dogma?». Iustínus dixit: «Quod Deum christianórum cólimus, quem existimámus unum ab inítio creatórem et opíficem totíus creatiónis, visibílium et invisibílium, et Dóminum Iesum Christum Dei Fílium, qui étiam prænuntiátus est a prophétis ventúrus géneri hóminum præco salútis et præcéptor egregiórum discipulórum. Atque ego, homo cum sim, minúta puto me dícere præ eius infiníta Deitáte, prophéticam vim quandam agnóscens, quóniam prænuntiátus hic fuit, quem modo dixi Dei Fílium esse. Scio enim supérne vaticinátos esse prophétas de huius advéntu ad hómines».
  Rústicus dixit: «Nonne ergo christiánus es?». Iustínus dixit: «Ita, christiánus sum».
  Præféctus dixit ad Iustínum: «Audi, qui doctus díceris et putas veras scire doctrínas; si flagéllis cæsus cápite plectáris, persuasúmne habes te ascensúrum esse in cælum?». Iustínus dixit: «Spero me habitúrum eius domum, si hæc sustinúero; scio enim ómnibus qui recte víxerint conservári divínam grátiam usque ad consummatiónem totíus mundi».
  Rústicus præféctus dixit: «Tu ígitur suspicáris futúrum ut in cælos ascéndas, prǽmia áliqua idónea acceptúrus?». Iustínus dixit: «Non súspicor, sed apte scio ac certíssimum hábeo».
  Rústicus præféctus dixit: «Céterum ad rem veniámus propósitam, quæ necessária est atque urget. Conveniéntes ergo unanímiter sacrificáte diis». Iustínus dixit: «Nemo recte séntiens a pietáte in impietátem delábitur».
  Rústicus præféctus dixit: «Nisi imperáta fácitis cruciabímini immisericórditer». Iustínus dixit: «In votis habémus propter Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum cruciáti salvári, quia hoc nobis salútem et fidúciam præbébit ante terribílius et universále tribúnal Dómini nostri et Salvatóris».
  Itidem étiam réliqui mártyres dixérunt: «Fac quod vis; nos enim christiáni sumus et idólis non sacrificámus».
  Rústicus præféctus senténtiam pronuntiávit dicens: «Qui diis sacrificáre et imperatóris iusso obœdíre noluérunt, flagéllis cæsi abducántur, capitálem luitúri pœnam secúndum legum normam». Sancti mártyres glorificántes Deum, egréssi in consuétum locum, cápite obtruncáti sunt et consummárunt martýrium in Salvatóris confessióne.
Second Reading
From the Acts of the martyrdom of Saint Justin and his companion saints

I have accepted the true doctrines of the Christians

The saints were seized and brought before the prefect of Rome, whose name was Rusticus. As they stood before the judgement seat, Rusticus the prefect said to Justin: “Above all, have faith in the gods and obey the emperors.” Justin said: “We cannot be accused or condemned for obeying the commands of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
  Rusticus said: “What system of teaching do you profess?” Justin said: “I have tried to learn about every system, but I have accepted the true doctrines of the Christians, though these are not approved by those who are held fast by error.”
  The prefect Rusticus said: “Are those doctrines approved by you, wretch that you are?” Justin said: “Yes, for I follow them with their correct teaching.”
  The prefect Rusticus said: “What sort of teaching is that?” Justin said: “Worship the God of the Christians. We hold him to be from the beginning the one creator and maker of the whole creation, of things seen and things unseen. We worship also the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was foretold by the prophets as the future herald of salvation for the human race and the teacher of distinguished disciples. For myself, since I am a human being, I consider that what I say is insignificant in comparison with his infinite godhead. I acknowledge the existence of a prophetic power, for the one I have just spoken of as the Son of God was the subject of prophecy. I know that the prophets were inspired from above when they spoke of his coming among men.”
  Rusticus said: “You are a Christian, then?” Justin said: “Yes, I am a Christian.”
  The prefect said to Justin: “You are called a learned man and think that you know what is true teaching. Listen: if you were scourged and beheaded, are you convinced that you would go up to heaven?” Justin said: “I hope that I shall enter God’s house if I suffer that way. For I know that God’s favour is stored up until the end of the whole world for all who have lived good lives.”
  The prefect Rusticus said: “Do you have an idea that you will go up to heaven to receive some suitable rewards?” Justin said: “It is not an idea that I have; it is something I know well and hold to be most certain.”
  The prefect Rusticus said: “Now let us come to the point at issue, which is necessary and urgent. Gather round then and with one accord offer sacrifice to the gods.” Justin said: “No one who is right thinking stoops from true worship to false worship.”
  The prefect Rusticus said: “If you do not do as you are commanded you will be tortured without mercy.” Justin said: “We hope to suffer torment for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, and so be saved. For this will bring us salvation and confidence as we stand before the more terrible and universal judgement-seat of our Lord and Saviour.”
  In the same way the other martyrs also said: “Do what you will. We are Christians; we do not offer sacrifice to idols.”
  The prefect Rusticus pronounced sentence, saying: “Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods and to obey the command of the emperor be scourged and led away to suffer capital punishment according to the ruling of the laws.” Glorifying God, the holy martyrs went out to the accustomed place. They were beheaded, and so fulfilled their witness of martyrdom in confessing their faith in their Saviour.
Responsorium
Cf. Act 20, 21. 24; Rom 1, 16
℟. Testíficans fidem in Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, nihil véreor;* Nec fácio ánimam meam pretiósam mihi, dúmmodo consúmmem cursum meum, et ministérium quod accépi, testificári Evangélium grátiæ Dei.
℣. Non enim erubésco evangélium, virtus enim Dei est in salútem omni credénti, Iudǽo primum et Græco.* Nec fácio.
Responsory
℟. I have testified to the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and now I care nothing for any danger.* I do not count my life precious compared with my work, which is to finish the course I run, the task of preaching which the Lord Jesus has given me, in proclaiming the good news of God’s grace.
℣. I am not ashamed of this gospel. It is an instrument of God’s power, that brings salvation to all who believe in it, Jew first and then Greek.* I do not count my life precious compared with my work, which is to finish the course I run, the task of preaching which the Lord Jesus has given me, in proclaiming the good news of God’s grace.

Oremus.
  Deus, qui per stultítiam crucis eminéntem Iesu Christi sciéntiam beátum Iustínum, mártyrem, mirabíliter docuísti, eius nobis intercessióne concéde, ut, errórum circumventióne depúlsa, fídei firmitátem consequámur.
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.
Lord God, in a wonderful way, through the folly of the cross,
  you taught your martyr Saint Justin the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Heed his prayer for us:
  dispel every deceiving error,
  and ground us firmly in our faith.
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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