Universalis
Monday 7 September 2026    (other days)
Monday of week 23 in Ordinary Time 

Using calendar: England - Middlesbrough. 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 23:1-10

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

Præoccupémus fáciem Dómini in confessióne.
(repeat antiphon*)
1Dómini est terra et plenitúdo eius,*
  orbis terrárum et qui hábitant in eo.
2Quia ipse super mária fundávit eum*
  et super flúmina firmávit eum.
  (repeat antiphon*)
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.
  (repeat antiphon*)
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.
  (repeat antiphon*)
9Attóllite, portæ, cápita vestra,†
  et elevámini, portæ æternáles,*
  et introíbit rex glóriæ.
10Quis est iste rex glóriæ?*
  Dóminus virtútum ipse est rex glóriæ.
  (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 23 (24)
Let us come before the Lord, giving thanks.
(repeat antiphon*)
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.
  (repeat antiphon*)
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.
  (repeat antiphon*)
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.
  (repeat antiphon*)
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.
  (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
Somno reféctis ártubus,
spreto cubíli, súrgimus:
nobis, Pater, canéntibus
adésse te depóscimus.
Te lingua primum cóncinat,
te mentis ardor ámbiat,
ut áctuum sequéntium
tu, sancte, sis exórdium.
Cedant ténebræ lúmini
et nox diúrno síderi,
ut culpa, quam nox íntulit,
lucis labáscat múnere.
Precámur idem súpplices
noxas ut omnes ámputes,
et ore te canéntium
laudéris in perpétuum.
Præsta, Pater piíssime,
Patríque compar Unice,
cum Spíritu Paráclito
regnans per omne sǽculum. Amen.
Hymn
O God of truth, prepare our minds
To hear and heed your holy word;
Fill every heart that longs for you
With your mysterious presence, Lord.
Almighty Father, with your Son
And blessed Spirit, hear our prayer:
Teach us to love eternal truth
And seek its freedom everywhere.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal

Ps 49:1-6
Vera in Dominum pietas

“Non veni solvere legem, sed adimplere” (Cf. Mt 5, 17).

Deus noster maniféste véniet et non silébit.
1Deus deórum Dóminus locútus est*
  et vocávit terram a solis ortu usque ad occásum.
2Ex Sion speciósa decóre Deus illúxit,*
  3Deus noster véniet et non silébit:
ignis consúmens est in conspéctu eius*
  et in circúitu eius tempéstas válida.
4Advocábit cælum desúrsum*
  et terram discérnere pópulum suum:
«5Congregáte mihi sanctos meos,*
  qui disposuérunt testaméntum meum in sacrifício».
6Et annuntiábunt cæli iustítiam eius,*
  quóniam Deus iudex est.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Deus noster maniféste véniet et non silébit.

Psalm 49 (50)
True reverence for the Lord

Our God comes openly, he keeps silence no longer.
The Lord, the God of gods has spoken:
  he has summoned the whole earth, from east to west.
God has shone forth from Zion in her great beauty.
  Our God will come, and he will not be silent.
Before him, a devouring fire;
  around him, a tempest rages.
He will call upon the heavens above, and on the earth, to judge his people.
“Bring together before me my chosen ones, who have sealed my covenant with sacrifice.”
The heavens will proclaim his justice; for God is the true judge.
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.
Our God comes openly, he keeps silence no longer.

How to listen

Ps 49:7-15

Immola Deo sacrifícium laudis.
«7Audi, pópulus meus, et loquar;†
  Israel, et testificábor advérsum te:*
  Deus, Deus tuus ego sum.
8Non in sacrifíciis tuis árguam te;*
  holocáusta enim tua in conspéctu meo sunt semper.
9Non accípiam de domo tua vítulos,*
  neque de grégibus tuis hircos.
10Quóniam meæ sunt omnes feræ silvárum,*
  iumentórum mille in móntibus.
11Cognóvi ómnia volatília cæli,*
  et, quod movétur in agro, meum est.
12Si esuríero non dicam tibi;*
  meus est enim orbis terræ et plenitúdo eius.
13Numquid manducábo carnes taurórum*
  aut sánguinem hircórum potábo?
14Immola Deo sacrifícium laudis*
  et redde Altíssimo vota tua;
15et ínvoca me in die tribulatiónis:*
  éruam te, et honorificábis me».
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Immola Deo sacrifícium laudis.

Psalm 49 (50)

Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.
Listen, my people, and I will speak;
  Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.
I will not reproach you with your sacrifices,
  for your burnt offerings are always before me.
But I will not accept calves from your houses,
  nor goats from your flocks.
For all the beasts of the forests are mine,
  and in the hills, a thousand animals.
All the birds of the air – I know them.
  Whatever moves in the fields – it is mine.
If I am hungry, I will not tell you;
  for the whole world is mine, and all that is in it.
Am I to eat the flesh of bulls,
  or drink the blood of goats?
Offer a sacrifice to God – a sacrifice of praise;
  to the Most High, fulfil your vows.
Then you may call upon me in the time of trouble:
  I will rescue you, and you will honour 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.
Pay your sacrifice of thanksgiving to God.

Ps 49:16-23

Misericórdiam vólui et non sacrifícium: et sciéntiam Dei plus quam holocáusta.
16Peccatóri autem dixit Deus:†
  «Quare tu enárras præcépta mea*
  et assúmis testaméntum meum in os tuum?
17Tu vero odísti disciplínam*
  et proiecísti sermónes meos retrórsum.
18Si vidébas furem, currébas cum eo;*
  et cum adúlteris erat pórtio tua.
19Os tuum dimittébas ad malítiam,*
  et lingua tua concinnábat dolos.
20Sedens advérsus fratrem tuum loquebáris*
  et advérsus fílium matris tuæ proferébas oppróbrium.
21Hæc fecísti, et tácui.†
  Existimásti quod eram tui símilis.*
  Arguam te et státuam illa contra fáciem tuam.
22Intellégite hæc, qui obliviscímini Deum,*
  nequándo rápiam, et non sit qui erípiat.
23Qui immolábit sacrifícium laudis, honorificábit me,†
  et, qui immaculátus est in via,*
  osténdam illi salutáre Dei».
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Misericórdiam vólui et non sacrifícium: et sciéntiam Dei plus quam holocáusta.

Psalm 49 (50)

I want love, not sacrifice; knowledge of God, not holocausts.
To the sinner, God has said this:
Why do you recite my statutes?
  Why do you dare to speak my covenant?
For you hate what I teach you,
  and reject what I tell you.
The moment you saw a thief, you joined him;
  you threw in your lot with adulterers.
You spoke evil with your mouth,
  and your tongue made plans to deceive.
Solemnly seated, you denounced your own brother;
  you poured forth hatred against your own mother’s son.
All this you did, and I was silent;
  so you thought that I was just like you.
But I will reprove you –
  I will confront you with all you have done.
Understand this, you who forget God;
  lest I tear you apart, with no-one there to save you.
Whoever offers up a sacrifice of praise gives me true honour;
  whoever follows a sinless path in life will be shown the salvation of God.
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.
I want love, not sacrifice; knowledge of God, not holocausts.
℣. Audi, pópule meus, et loquar.
℟. Deus, Deus tuus ego sum.
℣. Listen, my people: I will speak.
℟. I am God, your God.
Lectio prior
De libro Ieremíæ prophétæ 42, 1-16; 43, 4-7

Ieremias et populus post captam urbem

In diébus illis: 42,1Accessérunt omnes príncipes bellatórum, scílicet Ióhanan fílius Cáree et Iezonías fílius Osaíæ et univérsum vulgus, a parvo usque ad magnum, 2dixerúntque ad Ieremíam prophétam: «Cadat orátio nostra in conspéctu tuo, et ora pro nobis ad Dóminum Deum tuum pro univérsis relíquiis istis, quia derelícti sumus pauci de plúribus, sicut óculi tui nos intuéntur; 3et annúntiet nobis Dóminus Deus tuus viam, per quam pergámus, et verbum, quod faciámus». 4Dixit autem ad eos Ieremías prophéta: «Audívi. Ecce ego oro ad Dóminum Deum vestrum secúndum verba vestra; omne verbum, quodcúmque respónderit pro vobis, indicábo vobis nec celábo vos quidquam». 5Et illi dixérunt ad Ieremíam: «Sit Dóminus inter nos testis verax et fidélis, si non iuxta omne verbum, in quo míserit te Dóminus Deus tuus ad nos, sic faciémus. 6Sive bonum est sive malum, voci Dómini Dei nostri, ad quem míttimus te, obœdiémus, ut bene sit nobis, cum audiérimus vocem Dómini Dei nostri».
  7Cum autem compléti essent decem dies, factum est verbum Dómini ad Ieremíam, 8vocavítque Ióhanan fílium Cáree et omnes príncipes bellatórum, qui erant cum eo, et univérsum pópulum a mínimo usque ad magnum 9et dixit ad eos: «Hæc dicit Dóminus, Deus Israel, ad quem misístis me, ut prostérnerem preces vestras in conspéctu eius: 10Si quiescéntes manséritis in terra hac, ædificábo vos et non déstruam, plantábo et non evéllam; iam enim placátus sum super malo, quod feci vobis. 11Nolíte timére a fácie regis Babylónis, quem vos pávidi formidátis; nolíte metúere eum, dicit Dóminus, quia vobíscum sum ego, ut salvos vos fáciam et éruam de manu eius; 12et dabo vobis, ut misericórdiam inveniátis, et ipse miserébitur vestri et habitáre vos fáciet in terra vestra.
  13Si autem dixéritis vos: “Non habitábimus in terra ista”, nec audiéritis vocem Dómini Dei vestri 14dicéntes: “Nequáquam, sed ad terram Ægýpti pergémus, ubi non vidébimus bellum et clangórem tubæ non audiémus et famem non sustinébimus et ibi habitábimus”; 15propter hoc nunc audíte verbum Dómini, relíquiæ Iudæ: Hæc dicit Dóminus exercítuum, Deus Israel: Si posuéritis fáciem vestram, ut ingrediámini Ægýptum, et intravéritis, ut ibi peregrinémini, 16gládius, quem vos formidátis, ibi comprehéndet vos in terra Ægýpti, et fames, pro qua estis sollíciti, adhærébit vobis in Ægýpto, et ibi moriémini».
  43,4Et non audívit Ióhanan fílius Cáree et omnes príncipes bellatórum et univérsus pópulus vocem Dómini, ut manérent in terra Iudæ. 5Sed tollens Ióhanan fílius Cáree et univérsi príncipes bellatórum univérsos reliquiárum Iudæ, qui revérsi fúerant de cunctis géntibus, ad quas fúerant ante dispérsi, ut peregrinaréntur in terra Iudæ, 6viros et mulíeres et párvulos et fílias regis et omnem ánimam, quam relíquerat Nabuzardán princeps satéllitum cum Godolía fílio Ahicam fílii Saphan, et Ieremíam prophétam et Baruch fílium Neríæ, 7et ingréssi sunt terram Ægýpti, quia non obœdiérunt voci Dómini; et venérunt usque ad Taphnis.
First Reading
Jeremiah 42:1-16,43:4-7

Jeremiah and the people after Jerusalem’s fall

Then all the army leaders, with Johanan son of Kareah and Azariah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from least to greatest, approached the prophet Jeremiah and said, ‘May it please you to hear our request! Intercede with the Lord your God for all this remnant – and how few we are who once were so many, your own eyes can now see – so that the Lord your God may show us the way we are to go and what we must do.’ The prophet Jeremiah replied, ‘I hear you; and I will indeed pray to the Lord your God as you ask; and every word the Lord your God replies I will tell you, keeping nothing back from you.’ They in their turn said to Jeremiah, ‘May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not follow the instructions that the Lord your God sends us through you. Whether we like it or not, we mean to obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we send you to speak for us, and by thus obeying the voice of the Lord our God we will prosper.’
  Ten days later the word of the Lord was addressed to Jeremiah. He then summoned Johanan son of Kareah and all the army leaders who were with him, and all the people from least to greatest. He said, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you delegated me to offer your request says this: “If you are willing to remain peaceably in this country, I will build you and not overthrow you; I will plant you, not tear you up. For I am sorry for the evil I have done you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon any longer; do not fear him – it is the Lord who speaks – for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hands. I will take pity on you, and move him to pity you and let you return to your native soil. But if you say: We do not want to stay in this country; if you disobey the voice of the Lord your God, and say: No, the land of Egypt is where we want to go, where we shall not see war nor hear the sound of trumpet, nor lack for bread; that is where we want to live; in that case, remnant of Judah, listen to the word of the Lord. The Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says this: If you are determined to go to Egypt, and if you do go and settle there, the sword you fear will overtake you, there in the land of Egypt; the famine you dread will follow on your heels, right into Egypt; you shall die there.”’
  Despite this, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army leaders and all the people would not obey the voice of the Lord and stay in the land of Judah. Johanan son of Kareah and all the army leaders led off the entire remnant of Judah, those who had come back from all the nations into which they had been dispersed, to live in the land of Judah: men, women, children, the royal princesses too, and every single person entrusted to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, by Nebuzaradan, commander of the guard; they also led off the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch son of Neriah. And so, disregarding the voice of the Lord, they reached the land of Egypt and arrived at Tahpanhes.
Responsorium
Ier 42, 2 b; Lam 5, 3
℟. Ora pro nobis ad Dóminum Deum tuum pro univérsis relíquiis istis,* Quia derelícti sumus pauci de plúribus.
℣. Pupílli facti sumus absque patre, matres nostræ quasi víduæ.* Quia.
ResponsoryJr 42:2; Lm 5:3
℟. Intercede with the Lord your God for all this remnant,* and how few we are who once were so many!
℣. We are orphans, we are fatherless; our mothers are like widows,* and how few we are who once were so many!
Lectio altera
Ex Sermóne sancti Leónis Magni papæ De beatitudínibus (Sermo 95, 8-9: PL 54, 465-466)

Pax multa diligentibus legem tuam

Mérito vidéndi Deum beatitúdo cordis promíttitur puritáti. Splendórem enim veri lúminis sordens ácies vidére non póterit; et quod erit iucúnditas méntibus nítidis, hoc erit pœna maculósis. Declinéntur ígitur terrenárum calígines vanitátum et ab omni squalóre iniquitátis óculi tergántur interióres, ut serénus intúitus tanta Dei visióne pascátur.
  Ad hoc enim promeréndum illud intellégimus pertinére quod séquitur: Beáti pacífici, quóniam fílii Dei vocabúntur. Beatitúdo ista, dilectíssimi, non cuiúslibet consensiónis, nec qualiscúmque concórdiæ est, sed illíus de qua dicit Apóstolus: Pacem habéte ad Deum, et de qua dicit Prophéta: Pax multa diligéntibus legem tuam, et non est illis scándalum.
  Hanc pacem étiam arctíssima amicitiárum víncula, et indiscrétæ similitúdines animórum non veráciter sibi víndicant, si non cum Dei voluntáte concórdant. Extra dignitátem huius pacis sunt improbárum parilitátes cupiditátum, fœ́dera scélerum et pacta vitiórum. Amor mundi cum Dei amóre non cóngruit, nec ad societátem filiórum Dei pérvenit qui se a carnáli generatióne non dívidit. Qui autem semper cum Deo mente sunt sollíciti serváre unitátem spíritus in vínculo pacis, numquam ab ætérna lege disséntiunt, fidéli oratióne dicéntes: Fiat volúntas tua sicut in cælo et in terra.
  Hi sunt pacífici, hi bene unánimes sanctéque concórdes, vocándi ætérno nómine fílii Dei, coherédes autem Christi: quia hoc merébitur diléctio Dei et diléctio próximi, ut nullas iam adversitátes séntiat, nulla scándala pertiméscat; sed finíto ómnium tentatiónum certámine, in tranquillíssima Dei pace requiéscat, per Dóminum nostrum, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Second Reading
From a sermon on the Beatitudes by Saint Leo the Great

Whoever loves your law will have abundant peace

The blessedness of seeing God is justly promised to the pure of heart. For the eye that is unclean would not be able to see the brightness of the true light, and what would be happiness to clean minds would be a torment to those that are defiled. Therefore, let the mists of worldly vanities be dispelled, and the inner eye be cleansed of all the filth of wickedness, so that the soul’s gaze may feast serenely upon the great vision of God.
  It is to the attainment of this goal that the next words refer: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. This blessedness, dearly beloved, does not derive from any casual agreement or from any and every kind of harmony, but it pertains to what the Apostle says: Be at peace before the Lord, and to the words of the prophet: Those who love your law shall enjoy abundant peace; for them it is no stumbling block. Even the most intimate bonds of friendship and the closest affinity of minds cannot truly lay claim to this peace if they are not in agreement with the will of God. Alliances based on evil desires, covenants of crime and pacts of vice – all lie outside the scope of this peace. Love of the world cannot be reconciled with love of God, and the man who does not separate himself from the children of this generation cannot join the company of the sons of God. But those who keep God ever in their hearts, and are anxious to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, never dissent from the eternal law as they speak the prayer of faith: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
  These then are the peacemakers; they are bound together in holy harmony and are rightly given the heavenly title of sons of God, co-heirs with Christ. And this is the reward they will receive for their love of God and neighbour: when their struggle with all temptation is finally over, there will be no further adversities to suffer or scandal to fear; but they will rest in the peace of God undisturbed, through our Lord who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.
Responsorium
Cf. Is 38, 3; cf. 1 Io 2, 6; 5, 3; 2, 5
℟. Sit cor nostrum perféctum cum Dómino Deo nostro,* Ut ambulémus in decréto eius et custodiámus mandáta eius.
℣. In hoc cáritas Dei consummáta est.* Ut ambulémus.
Responsory
℟. May we serve the Lord our God with a perfect heart,* that we may walk according to his will and obey his commands.
℣. The love of God has been perfected in us,* that we may walk according to his will and obey his commands.
Oremus.
  Deus, per quem nobis et redémptio venit et præstátur adóptio, fílios dilectiónis tuæ benígnus inténde, ut in Christo credéntibus et vera tribuátur libértas et heréditas ætérna.
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.
Since it is from you, God our Father,
  that redemption comes to us, your adopted children,
look with favour on the family you love,
  give true freedom to us and to all who believe in Christ,
  and bring us all alike to our eternal heritage.
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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