Universalis
Tuesday 11 November 2025    (other days)
Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop 
 on Tuesday of week 32 in Ordinary Time

Using calendar: Wales. You can pick a diocese or region.

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 Bishops.
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
Iste conféssor Dómini sacrátus
festa plebs cuius célebrat per órbem,
hódie lætus méruit secréta
scándere cæli.
Qui pius, prudens, húmilis, pudícus,
sóbrius, castus fuit et quiétus,
vita dum præsens vegetávit eius
córporis artus.
Ad sacrum cuius túmulum frequénter
membra languéntum modo sanitáti,
quólibet morbo fúerint graváti,
restituúntur.
Unde nunc noster chorus in honórem
ipsíus, hymnum canit hunc libénter,
ut piis eius méritis iuvémur
omne per ævum.
Sit salus illi, decus atque virtus,
qui supra cæli résidens cacúmen,
totíus mundi máchinam gubérnat
trinus et unus. Amen.
Hymn
O God of truth and Lord of power,
whose word their course to things assigns,
whose splendour lights the morning hour,
whose fiery sun at noonday shines:
Within us quench the flames of strife,
the harmful heat of passion quell;
give health of body to our life
and give true peace of soul as well.
In this, most loving Father, hear,
and Christ, co-equal Son, our prayer:
with Holy Ghost, one Trinity,
you reign for all eternity.

Ps 101:2-12
Exsulis vota et preces

“Consolatur nos Deus in omni tribulatione nostra” (2 Cor 1, 4).

Clamor meus, Dómine, ad te pervéniat; non abscóndas fáciem tuam a me.
2Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam,*
  et clamor meus ad te véniat.
3Non abscóndas fáciem tuam a me;†
  in quacúmque die tríbulor,*
  inclína ad me aurem tuam.
In quacúmque die invocávero te,*
  velóciter exáudi me.
4Quia defecérunt sicut fumus dies mei,*
  et ossa mea sicut crémium aruérunt.
5Percússum est ut fenum et áruit cor meum,*
  étenim oblítus sum comédere panem meum.
6A voce gémitus mei*
  adhǽsit os meum carni meæ.
7Símilis factus sum pellicáno solitúdinis,*
  factus sum sicut nyctícorax in ruínis.
8Vigilávi*
  et factus sum sicut passer solitárius in tecto.
9Tota die exprobrábant mihi inimíci mei,*
  exardescéntes in me per me iurábant.
10Quia cínerem tamquam panem manducábam*
  et potum meum cum fletu miscébam,
11a fácie iræ et increpatiónis tuæ,*
  quia élevans allisísti me.
12Dies mei sicut umbra declinavérunt,*
  et ego sicut fenum árui.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Clamor meus, Dómine, ad te pervéniat; non abscóndas fáciem tuam a me.

Psalm 101 (102)
Prayers and vows of an exile

Let my cry come to you, Lord: do not hide your face from me.
Lord, listen to my prayer
  and let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me:
  whenever I am troubled,
  turn to me and hear me.
Whenever I call on you,
  hurry to answer me.
For my days vanish like smoke,
  and my bones are dry as tinder.
My heart is cut down like grass, it is dry –
  I cannot remember to eat.
The sound of my groaning
  makes my bones stick to my flesh.
I am lonely as a pelican in the wilderness,
  as an owl in the ruins,
  as a sparrow alone on a rooftop:
  I do not sleep.
All day long my enemies taunt me,
  they burn with anger and use my name as a curse.
I make ashes my bread,
  I mix tears with my drink,
  because of your anger and reproach –
you, who raised me up, have dashed me to the ground.
My days fade away like a shadow:
  I wither like grass.
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.
Let my cry come to you, Lord: do not hide your face from me.

How to listen

Ps 101:13-23

Réspice, Dómine, in oratiónem humílium.
13Tu autem, Dómine, in ætérnum pérmanes,*
  et memoriále tuum in generatiónem et generatiónem.
14Tu exsúrgens miseréberis Sion,†
  quia tempus miseréndi eius,*
  quia venit tempus,
15quóniam placuérunt servis tuis lápides eius*
  et púlveris eius miseréntur.
16Et timébunt gentes nomen tuum, Dómine,*
  et omnes reges terræ glóriam tuam,
17quia ædificávit Dóminus Sion*
  et appáruit in glória sua.
18Respéxit in oratiónem ínopum*
  et non sprevit precem eórum.
19Scribántur hæc pro generatióne áltera,*
  et pópulus, qui creábitur, laudábit Dóminum.
20Quia prospéxit de excélso sanctuário suo,*
  Dóminus de cælo in terram aspéxit,
21ut audíret gémitus compeditórum,*
  ut sólveret fílios mortis;
22ut annúntient in Sion nomen Dómini*
  et laudem eius in Ierúsalem,
23cum congregáti fúerint pópuli in unum*
  et regna, ut sérviant Dómino.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Réspice, Dómine, in oratiónem humílium.

Psalm 101 (102)

Turn, Lord, to the prayers of the helpless.
But you, Lord, remain for ever
  and your name lasts from generation to generation.
You will rise up and take pity on Zion,
  for it is time that you pitied it,
  indeed it is time:
for your servants love its very stones
  and pity even its dust.
Then, Lord, the peoples will fear your name.
  All the kings of the earth will fear your glory,
when the Lord has rebuilt Zion
  and appeared there in his glory;
when he has listened to the prayer of the destitute
  and not rejected their pleading.
These things shall be written for the next generation
  and a people yet to be born shall praise the Lord:
because he has looked down from his high sanctuary,
  – the Lord has looked down from heaven to earth –
and heard the groans of prisoners
  and freed the children of death
so that they could proclaim the Lord’s name in Zion
  and sing his praises in Jerusalem,
where people and kingdoms gather together
  to serve the Lord.
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.
Turn, Lord, to the prayers of the helpless.

Ps 101:24-29

Tu, Dómine, terram fundásti et ópera mánuum tuárum sunt cæli.
24Humiliávit in via virtútem meam,*
  abbreviávit dies meos.
Dicam: «Deus meus,†
  25ne áuferas me in dimídio diérum meórum;*
  in generatiónem et generatiónem sunt anni tui.
26Inítio terram fundásti;*
  et ópera mánuum tuárum sunt cæli.
27Ipsi períbunt, tu autem pérmanes;†
  et omnes sicut vestiméntum veteráscent,*
  et sicut opertórium mutábis eos, et mutabúntur.
28Tu autem idem ipse es,*
  et anni tui non defícient.
29Fílii servórum tuórum habitábunt,*
  et semen eórum in conspéctu tuo firmábitur».
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Tu, Dómine, terram fundásti et ópera mánuum tuárum sunt cæli.

Psalm 101 (102)

You founded the earth, Lord, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
He has brought down my strength in the midst of my journey;
  he has shortened my days.
I will say, “My God, do not take me away
  half way through the days of my life.
Your years last from generation to generation:
  in the beginning you founded the earth,
  and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will pass away but you will remain;
  all will grow old, like clothing,
  and like a cloak you will change them, and they will be changed.
“But you are always the same,
  your years will never run out.
The children of your servants shall live in peace,
  their descendants will endure in your sight.”
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.
You founded the earth, Lord, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
℣. Audies de ore meo verbum.
℟. Et annuntiábis eis ex me.
℣. You will hear the word from my mouth.
℟. You will speak to them in my name.
Lectio prior
De libro Daniélis prophétæ 3, 8-12. 19-24. 91-97

Statua aurea regis. Iuvenes erepti de fornace

8In illo témpore accedéntes viri Chaldǽi accusavérunt Iudǽos 9dixerúntque Nabuchodónosor regi: «Rex, in ætérnum vive! 10Tu, rex, posuísti decrétum, ut omnis homo, qui audíerit sónitum tubæ, fístulæ et cítharæ, sambúcæ et psaltérii et symphoníæ et univérsi géneris musicórum, prostérnat se et adóret státuam áuream; 11si quis autem non prócidens adoráverit, mittétur in fornácem ignis ardéntis. 12Sunt ergo viri Iudǽi, quos constituísti super ópera provínciæ Babylónis, Sedrac, Misac et Abdénago; viri isti te, rex, non honórant: deos tuos non colunt et státuam áuream, quam erexísti non adórant».
  19Tunc Nabuchodónosor replétus est furóre, et aspéctus faciéi illíus immutátus est super Sedrac, Misac et Abdénago; et respóndens præcépit, ut succenderétur fornax séptuplum quam succéndi consuéverat; 20et viris fortíssimis de exércitu suo iussit, ut ligárent Sedrac, Misac et Abdénago et mítterent eos in fornácem ignis ardéntis. 21Et conféstim viri illi vincti, cum bracis suis et tiáris et calceaméntis et véstibus missi sunt in médium fornácis ignis ardéntis; 22ítaque, quia iússio regis urgébat et fornax succénsa erat nimis, viros illos, qui míserant Sedrac, Misac et Abdénago interfécit flamma ignis. 23Viri autem tres, Sedrac, Misac et Abdénago, cecidérunt in médio camíno ignis ardéntis colligáti.
  24Et ambulábant in médio flammæ laudántes Deum et benedicéntes Dómino.
  91(24)Tunc Nabuchodónosor rex obstúpuit et surréxit própere; respóndens ait optimátibus suis: «Nonne tres viros mísimus in médium ignis compedítos?». Qui respondéntes dixérunt regi: «Vere, rex». 92(25)Respóndit et ait: «Ecce ego vídeo viros quáttuor solútos et ambulántes in médio ignis, et nihil corruptiónis in eis est, et spécies quarti símilis fílio deórum». 93(26)Tunc accéssit Nabuchodónosor ad óstium fornácis ignis ardéntis et ait: «Sedrac, Misac et Abdénago, servi Dei excélsi, egredímini et veníte». Statímque egréssi sunt Sedrac, Misac et Abdénago de médio ignis. 94(27)Et congregáti sátrapæ, magistrátus et iúdices et poténtes regis contemplabántur viros illos, quóniam nihil potestátis habuísset ignis in corpóribus eórum, et capíllus cápitis eórum non esset adústus, et sarábara eórum non fuíssent immutáta, et odor ignis non transísset per eos. 95(28)Et erúmpens Nabuchodónosor ait: «Benedíctus Deus eórum, Sedrac, Misac et Abdénago, qui misit ángelum suum et éruit servos suos, qui credidérunt in eo, et verbum regis immutavérunt et tradidérunt córpora sua, ne servírent et ne adorárent omnem deum, excépto Deo suo. 96(29)A me ergo pósitum est decrétum, ut omnis pópulus, tribus et lingua quæcúmque locúta fúerit blasphémiam contra Deum Sedrac, Misac et Abdénago in frusta concidátur, et domus eius in sterquilínium fiat, eo quod non est Deus álius, qui possit ita salváre». 97(30)Tunc rex promóvit Sedrac, Misac et Abdénago in província Babylónis.
First Reading
Daniel 3:8-13,19-24,91-97

The King’s golden statue. The three youths rescued from the furnace

Some Chaldaeans then came forward and laid information against the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king, live for ever! You have issued a decree, O king, to the effect that everyone on hearing the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe or any other instrument is to prostrate himself and worship the golden statue; and that anyone who does not prostrate himself and worship is to be thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Now there are certain Jews to whom you have entrusted the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; these men have ignored your command, O king; they do not serve your gods, and refuse to worship the golden statue you have erected.’
  Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar sent for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He gave orders for the furnace to be made seven times hotter than usual, and commanded certain stalwarts from his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the burning fiery furnace. They were then bound, fully clothed, cloak, hose and headgear, and thrown into the burning fiery furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the heat of the furnace was so fierce, that the men carrying Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were burnt to death by the flames from the fire; the three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego fell, still bound, into the burning fiery furnace.
  And they walked in the heart of the flames, praising God and blessing the Lord.
  Then King Nebuchadnezzar sprang to his feet in amazement. He said to his advisers, ‘Did we not have these three men thrown bound into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, O king.’ ‘But,’ he went on ‘I can see four men walking about freely in the heart of the fire without coming to any harm. And the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’ Nebuchadnezzar approached the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, come here!’ And from the heart of the fire out came Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The satraps, prefects, governors, and advisers of the king crowded round the three men to examine them: the fire had had no effect on their bodies: not a hair of their heads had been singed, their cloaks were not scorched, no smell of burning hung about them. Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: he has sent his angel to rescue his servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their own. I therefore decree as follows: Men of all peoples, nations, and languages! Let anyone speak disrespectfully of the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and I will have him torn limb from limb and his house razed to the ground, for there is no other god who can save like this.’ Then the king showered favours on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Responsorium
Dan 3, 49. 50 b. 95
℟. Angelus Dómini descéndit cum Azaría et sóciis eius in fornácem et excússit flammam ignis de fornáce;* Et non tétigit eos omníno ignis neque contristávit.
℣. Benedíctus Deus eórum, qui misit ángelum suum et éruit servos suos qui credidérunt in eo.* Et non.
ResponsoryDn 3:49,50,95
℟. The angel of the Lord came down into the furnace beside Azariah and his companions: he drove the flames of the fire outwards,* so that the fire did not even touch them or cause them any distress.
℣. Blessed be God who sent the angel to rescue his servants who put their trust in him,* so that the fire did not even touch them or cause them any distress.
Lectio altera
Ex Epístolis Sulpícii Sevéri (Epist. 3, 6. 9-10. 11. 14-17. 21: SCh 133, 336-344)

Martinus pauper et modicus

Martínus óbitum suum longe ante præscívit dixítque frátribus dissolutiónem sui córporis imminére. Intérea causa éxstitit qua Condacénsem diœcésim visitáret. Nam, cléricis inter se Ecclésiæ illíus discordántibus, pacem cúpiens reformáre, licet finem diérum suórum non ignorásset, proficísci tamen ob istíus modi causam non recusávit, bonam hanc virtútum suárum consummatiónem exístimans, si pacem Ecclésiæ rédditam reliquísset.
  Aliquándiu ergo in vico illo vel in ecclésia ad quam íerat commorátus, pace inter cléricos restitúta, cum iam régredi ad monastérium cogitáret, víribus córporis cœpit repénte destítui, convocatísque frátribus índicat se iam resólvi. Tum vero mæror et luctus ómnium et vox una plangéntium: «Cur nos, pater, déseris? aut cui nos desolátos relínquis? Invádent gregem tuum lupi rapáces; quis nos a mórsibus eórum, percússo pastóre, prohibébit? Scimus quidem desideráre te Christum, sed salva tibi sunt tua prǽmia nec diláta minuéntur; nostri pótius miserére, quos déseris».
  Tunc ille motus his flétibus, ut totus semper in Dómino misericórdiæ viscéribus affluébat, lacrimásse perhibétur; conversúsque ad Dóminum hac tantum fléntibus voce respóndit: «Dómine, si adhuc pópulo tuo sum necessárius, non recúso labórem; fiat volúntas tua».
  O virum ineffábilem, nec labóre victum nec morte vincéndum, qui in nullam se partem prónior inclináverit, nec mori timúerit nec vívere recusárit! Oculis tamen ac mánibus in cælum semper inténtis, invíctum ab oratióne spíritum non relaxábat; et cum a presbýteris, qui tunc ad eum convénerant, rogarétur ut corpúsculum láteris mutatióne releváret: «Sínite, inquit, sínite me, fratres, cælum pótius respícere quam terram, ut suo iam itínere itúrus ad Dóminum spíritus dirigátur». Hæc locútus diábolum vidit, prope assístere. «Quid hic, inquit, astas, cruénta béstia? nihil in me, funéste, repéries; Abrahæ me sinus récipit».
  Cum hac ergo voce spíritum cælo réddidit. Martínus Abrahæ sinu lætus excípitur. Martínus pauper et módicus cælum dives ingréditur.
Second Reading
A letter of Sulpicius Severus

Martin was poor and humble

Martin knew long in advance the time of his death and he told his brethren that it was near. Meanwhile, he found himself obliged to make a visitation of the parish of Candes. The clergy of that church were quarrelling, and he wished to reconcile them. Although he knew that his days on earth were few, he did not refuse to undertake the journey for such a purpose, for he believed that he would bring his virtuous life to a good end if by his efforts peace was restored in the church.
  He spent some time in Candes, or rather in its church, where he stayed. Peace was restored, and he was planning to return to his monastery when suddenly he began to lose his strength. He summoned his brethren and told them he was dying. All who heard this were overcome with grief. In their sorrow they cried to him with one voice: “Father, why are you deserting us? Who will care for us when you are gone? Savage wolves will attack your flock, and who will save us from their bite when our shepherd is struck down? We know you long to be with Christ, but your reward is certain and will not be any less for being delayed. You will do better to show pity for us, rather than forsake us.”
  Thereupon he broke into tears, for he was a man in whom the compassion of our Lord was continually revealed. Turning to our Lord, he made this reply to their pleading: “Lord, if your people still need me, I am ready for the task; your will be done.”
  Here was a man words cannot describe. Death could not defeat him nor toil dismay him. He was quite without a preference of his own; he neither feared to die nor refused to live. With eyes and hands always raised to heaven he never withdrew his unconquered spirit from prayer. It happened that some priests who had gathered at his bedside suggested that he should give his poor body some relief by lying on his other side. He answered: “Allow me, brothers, to look towards heaven rather than at the earth, so that my spirit may set on the right course when the time comes for me to go on my journey to the Lord.” As he spoke these words, he saw the devil standing near. “Why do you stand there, you bloodthirsty brute?” he cried. “Murderer, you will not have me for your prey. Abraham is welcoming me into his embrace.”
  With these words, he gave up his spirit to heaven. Filled with joy, Martin was welcomed by Abraham. Thus he left this life a poor and lowly man and entered heaven rich in God’s favour.
Responsorium
℟. O vere beátum, in cuius ore dolus non fuit, néminem iúdicans, néminem damnans!* Numquam in illíus ore, nisi Christus, nisi pax, nisi misericórdia ínerat.
℣. O virum ineffábilem, nec labóre victum nec morte vincéndum, qui nec mori tímuit nec vívere recusávit!* Numquam.
Responsory
℟. O truly blessed man, in whom there was no malice, who judged no man, condemned no man.* He spoke only of Christ, peace and mercy.
℣. Such a man exceeds all praise. He was not daunted by his apostolic labours, nor was he afraid of death. He neither feared to die nor refused to live.* He spoke only of Christ, peace and mercy.
Oremus.
  Deus, qui in beáto Martíno, epíscopo, sive per vitam sive per mortem magnificátus es, ínnova grátiæ tuæ mirabília in córdibus nostris, ut neque mors neque vita separáre nos possit a caritáte tua.
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, you were glorified
  by the life and death of Saint Martin.
Renew the wonders of your grace in our hearts
  so that neither death nor life may separate us from your love.
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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