Universalis
Thursday 13 August 2026    (other days)
Thursday of week 19 in Ordinary Time 
 or Saints Pontian, Pope, and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs 

Using calendar: Europe. You can choose a country.

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
Nox atra rerum cóntegit
terræ colóres ómnium:
nos confiténtes póscimus
te, iuste iudex córdium,
Ut áuferas piácula
sordésque mentis ábluas,
donésque, Christe, grátiam
ut arceántur crímina.
Mens, ecce, torpet ímpia,
quam culpa mordet nóxia;
obscúra gestit tóllere
et te, Redémptor, quǽrere.
Repélle tu calíginem
intrínsecus quam máxime,
ut in beáto gáudeat
se collocári lúmine.
Sit, Christe, rex piíssime,
tibi Patríque glória
cum Spíritu Paráclito,
in sempitérna sǽcula. Amen.
Hymn
Eternal Father, through your Word
You gave new life to Adam’s race,
And call us now to live in light,
New creatures by your saving grace.
To you who stooped to all who sin
We render homage and give praise:
To Father, Son and Spirit blest
Whose loving gift is endless days.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal

Ps 88:39-46
Lamentatio de ruina domus David

“Erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David” (Lc 1, 69).

Intuére, Dómine, et réspice oppróbrium nostrum.
39Tu vero reppulísti et reiecísti,*
  irátus es contra christum tuum;
40evertísti testaméntum servi tui,*
  profanásti in terram diadéma eius.
41Destruxísti omnes muros eius,*
  posuísti munitiónes eius in ruínas.
42Diripuérunt eum omnes transeúntes viam,*
  factus est oppróbrium vicínis suis.
43Exaltásti déxteram depriméntium eum,*
  lætificásti omnes inimícos eius.
44Avertísti áciem gládii eius*
  et non es auxiliátus ei in bello.
45Finem posuísti splendóri eius*
  et sedem eius in terram collisísti.
46Minorásti dies iuventútis eius,*
  perfudísti eum confusióne.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Intuére, Dómine, et réspice oppróbrium nostrum.

Psalm 88 (89)
A lament at the ruin of the house of David

Pay heed, Lord, and see how we are taunted.
But you have spurned and rejected him;
  you are enraged against your anointed.
You have repudiated the covenant of your servant,
  you have trampled his crown in the dust.
You have demolished his walls
  and laid his fortifications in ruins.
Anyone who passes can despoil him;
  he is a mockery among his neighbours.
You have strengthened the arm of those who oppress him,
  you have gladdened the hearts of his enemies.
You have turned back the sharp edge of his sword;
  you have deprived him of your help in battle.
You have put an end to his splendour,
  and cast his throne to the ground.
You have cut short the days of his youth;
  you have covered him from head to foot in shame.
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 heed, Lord, and see how we are taunted.

How to listen

Ps 88:47-53

Ego sum radix et genus David, stella spléndida et matutína.
47Usquequo, Dómine, abscondéris in finem,*
  exardéscet sicut ignis ira tua?
48Memoráre, quam brevis mea substántia.*
  Ad quam vanitátem creásti omnes fílios hóminum?
49Quis est homo, qui vivet et non vidébit mortem,*
  éruet ánimam suam de manu ínferi?
50Ubi sunt misericórdiæ tuæ antíquæ, Dómine,*
  sicut iurásti David in veritáte tua?
51Memor esto, Dómine, oppróbrii servórum tuórum,*
  quod contínui in sinu meo, multárum géntium,
52quo exprobravérunt inimíci tui, Dómine,*
  quo exprobravérunt vestígia christi tui.
53Benedíctus Dóminus in ætérnum.*
  Fiat, fiat.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Ego sum radix et genus David, stella spléndida et matutína.

Psalm 88 (89)

I am the root and stock of David; I am the splendid morning star.
How long, O Lord, will you hide yourself? For ever?
  Will your anger always burn like fire?
Remember how short is my time.
  Was it truly so pointless, your creation of man?
Who is the man who can live and not die,
  who can save his life from the grasp of the underworld?
Where are the kindnesses you showed us of old?
  Where is the truth of your oath to David?
Remember, Lord, how your servants are taunted,
  the taunts I bear in my bosom, the taunts of the nations –
  the insults of your enemies, Lord,
  the insults that follow the steps of your anointed!
Blessed be the Lord for ever!
  Amen, amen!
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 am the root and stock of David; I am the splendid morning star.

Ps 89:1-17
Sit splendor Domini super nos

“Unus dies apud Dominum sicut mille anni, et mille anni sicut dies unus” (2 Petr 3, 8).

Anni nostri sicut herba tránseunt: a sǽculo tu es, Deus.
1Dómine, refúgium factus es nobis*
  a generatióne in generatiónem.
2Priúsquam montes nasceréntur†
  aut gignerétur terra et orbis,*
  a sǽculo et usque in sǽculum tu es Deus.
3Redúcis hóminem in púlverem;*
  et dixísti: «Revertímini, fílii hóminum».
4Quóniam mille anni ante óculos tuos tamquam dies hestérna, quæ prætériit,*
  et custódia in nocte.
5Auferes eos, sómnium erunt:*
  6mane sicut herba succréscens,
mane floret et crescit,*
  véspere décidit et aréscit.
7Quia defécimus in ira tua*
  et in furóre tuo turbáti sumus.
8Posuísti iniquitátes nostras in conspéctu tuo,*
  occúlta nostra in illuminatióne vultus tui.
9Quóniam omnes dies nostri evanuérunt in ira tua,*
  consúmpsimus ut suspírium annos nostros.
10Dies annórum nostrórum sunt septuagínta anni*
  aut in valéntibus octogínta anni,
et maior pars eórum labor et dolor,*
  quóniam cito tránseunt, et avolámus.
11Quis novit potestátem iræ tuæ*
  et secúndum timórem tuum indignatiónem tuam?
12Dinumeráre dies nostros sic doce nos,*
  ut inducámus cor ad sapiéntiam.
13Convértere, Dómine, úsquequo?*
  Et deprecábilis esto super servos tuos.
14Reple nos mane misericórdia tua,*
  et exsultábimus et delectábimur ómnibus diébus nostris.
15Lætífica nos pro diébus, quibus nos humiliásti,*
  pro annis, quibus vídimus mala.
16Appáreat servis tuis opus tuum*
  et decor tuus fíliis eórum.
17Et sit splendor Dómini Dei nostri super nos,†
  et ópera mánuum nostrárum confírma super nos*
  et opus mánuum nostrárum confírma.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Anni nostri sicut herba tránseunt: a sǽculo tu es, Deus.

Psalm 89 (90)
Let the Lord's glory shine upon us

Our years pass like grass; but you, God, are without beginning or end.
Lord, you have been our refuge
  from generation to generation.
Before the mountains were born,
  before earth and heaven were conceived,
  from all time to all time, you are God.
You turn men into dust,
  you say to them “go back, children of men.”
A thousand years in your sight
  are like yesterday, that has passed;
  like a short watch in the night.
When you take them away, they will be nothing but a dream;
  like the grass that sprouts in the morning:
in the morning it grows and flowers,
  in the evening it withers and dries.
For we are made weak by your anger,
  thrown into confusion by your wrath.
You have gazed upon our transgressions;
  the light of your face illuminates our secrets.
All our days vanish in your anger,
  we use up our years in a single breath.
Seventy years are what we have,
  or eighty for the stronger ones;
and most of that is labour and sadness –
  quickly they pass, and we are gone.
Who can comprehend the power of your wrath?
  Who can behold the violence of your anger?
Teach us to reckon our days like this,
  so that our hearts may be led at last to wisdom.
Turn to us, Lord, how long must we wait?
  Let your servants call on you and be answered.
Fill us with your kindness in the morning,
  and we shall rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
Give us joy for as long as you afflicted us,
  for all the years when we suffered.
Let your servants see your great works,
  and let their children see your glory.
Let the glory of the Lord God be upon us:
  make firm the work of your hands.
  Make firm the work of your hands.
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 years pass like grass; but you, God, are without beginning or end.
℣. Dómine, apud te est fons vitæ.
℟. Et in lúmine tuo vidébimus lumen.
℣. With you, O Lord, is the source of life.
℟. It is your light that enlightens us.
Lectio prior
De libro Michǽæ prophétæ 4, 14 - 5, 7

Messias erit pax

Hæc dicit Dóminus:
4,14«Nunc incíde te, fília incisiónis!
Obsidiónem posuérunt super nos;
in virga percútiunt
maxíllam iúdicis Israel.
5,1Sed tu, Béthlehem Ephratha,
párvulus in mílibus Iudæ,
ex te mihi egrediétur,
qui sit dominátor in Israel;
et egréssus eius a tempóribus antíquis,
a diébus æternitátis.
2Propter hoc dabit eos
usque ad tempus, in quo partúriens páriet;
et relíquiæ fratrum eius
converténtur ad fílios Israel.
3Et stabit et pascet in fortitúdine Dómini,
in sublimitáte nóminis Dómini Dei sui;
et habitábunt secúre, quia nunc magnus erit
usque ad términos terræ,
4et erit iste pax.
Assýrius cum vénerit in terram nostram
et quando calcáverit in dómibus nostris,
suscitábimus super eum septem pastóres
et octo primátes hóminum.
5Et pascent terram Assýriæ in gládio
et terram Nemrod in lánceis;
et liberábit ab Assýrio,
cum vénerit in terram nostram
et cum calcáverit in fínibus nostris.
6Et erunt relíquiæ Iacob
in médio populórum multórum
quasi ros a Dómino
et quasi imbres super herbam,
quæ non exspéctat virum
et non præstolátur fílios hóminum.
7Et erunt relíquiæ Iacob in géntibus,
in médio populórum multórum,
quasi leo in iuméntis silvárum
et quasi cátulus leónis in grégibus pécorum;
qui cum transíerit et conculcáverit et céperit,
non est qui éruat».
First ReadingMicah 4:14-5:7

The Messiah will be peace

Now look to your fortifications, Fortress.
They have laid siege against us;
with a rod they strike on the cheek
the judge of Israel.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
the least of the clans of Judah,
out of you will be born for me
the one who is to rule over Israel;
his origin goes back to the distant past,
to the days of old.
The Lord is therefore going to abandon them
till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth.
Then the remnant of his brothers will come back
to the sons of Israel.
He will stand and feed his flock
with the power of the Lord,
with the majesty of the name of his God.
They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power
to the ends of the land.
He himself will be peace.
He will deliver us from Assyria should it invade our country,
should it set foot inside our frontiers.
As for Assyria, should it invade our country,
should it set foot on our soil,
we will raise seven shepherds against it,
eight leaders of men;
they will shepherd Assyria with the sword,
and the land of Nimrod with the sword blade.
Then among the many peoples,
the remnant of Jacob will be
like a dew from the Lord,
like raindrops on the grass,
putting no hope in men,
expecting nothing from mankind.
Then among the many peoples,
the remnant of Jacob will be
like a lion among beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep
trampling as he goes,
mangling his prey which no one takes from him.
Responsorium
Cf. Mic 5, 1. 3. 4; Zac 9, 10 bc
℟. Béthlehem, cívitas Dei summi, ex te éxiet Dominátor Israel et egréssus eius sicut a princípio diérum æternitátis et magnificábitur in médio univérsæ terræ:* Et pax erit in terra nostra.
℣. Loquétur pacem géntibus et impérium eius a mari usque ad mare.* Et pax.
Responsory
Mi 5:2,5; Zc 9:10
℟. You, Bethlehem, city of God the Most High: out of you will be born the one who is to rule over Israel: his origin goes back to the distant past and to days of old. He will extend his power to the ends of the land.* He himself will be peace.
℣. He will proclaim peace for the nations, and his empire will stretch from sea to sea.* He himself will be peace.
Lectio altera
Ex Tractátu sancti Gregórii Nysséni epíscopi De perfécta christiáni forma (PG 46, 259-262)

Habemus Christum, qui est pax et lux nostra

Ipse est pax nostra, qui fecit utráque unum. Christum esse pacem cogitántes, veram christiáni appellatiónem ostendémus, si per eam pacem, quæ in nobis est, Christum vita nostra expressérimus. Ille interfécit inimicítiam, ut inquit Apóstolus. Ne ígitur eam in nobis ullo modo revivíscere patiámur, sed plane mórtuam esse declarémus. Ne præcláre pro salúte nostra interféctam a Deo, nos in nostrórum perníciem animórum irascéntes et iniuriárum reminiscéntes, excitémus eam, quæ bene mórtua iacet, ímprobe in vitam revocántes.
  Sed cum habeámus Christum, qui est pax, nos item inimicítiam occidámus, ut, quod in ipso crédimus, id in nostra vita prosequámur. Ut ille enim médium paríetem macériæ solvens duos cóndidit in semetípso in uno hómine fáciens pacem, sic et nos reconciliémus non eos tantum qui nos extrínsecus oppúgnant, sed illos étiam qui in nobis ipsis seditiónes cómmovent, ut ne concupíscat ámplius advérsus spíritum caro, et spíritus advérsus carnem; sed prudéntia carnis legi divínæ subiécta, in unum novum et pacíficum hóminem reædificáti et ex duóbus unus effécti, in nobis ipsis pacem habeámus.
  Hæc enim est pacis definítio, ut dissidéntium concórdia esse dicátur. Quámobrem, quando natúræ nostræ bellum intestínum sublátum est, in nobis pacem coléntes, pax effícimur et veram ac própriam in nobis hanc Christi appellatiónem declarámus.
  At Christum esse lucem veram et a mendácio remotíssimam considerántes, díscimus vitam quoque nostram veræ lucis rádiis illustrári oportére. Solis autem iustítiæ rádii sunt ipsæ virtútes, quæ ad nos illuminándos emánant, ut abiciámus ópera tenebrárum, et tamquam in die honéste ambulémus, et repudiántes abscóndita turpitúdinis atque ómnia in luce faciéntes, ipsi quoque lux evadámus et, quod próprium est lucis, áliis per ópera splendeámus.
  Quodsi Christum ut sanctificatiónem considerábimus, ab ímprobis et impúris ómnibus tum factis tum cogitatiónibus abstinéntes, nos eius nóminis vere partícipes ostendémus, quippe qui non verbis, sed vitæ nostræ actiónibus sanctificatiónis virtútem præ nobis ferámus.
Second Reading
A treatise on Christian Perfection by St Gregory of Nyssa

We have Christ, who is our peace and our light

He is our peace, who has made both one. Since Christ is our peace, we shall be living up to the name of Christian if we let Christ be seen in our lives by letting peace reign in our hearts. He has brought hostility to an end, as the apostle said. Therefore, we must not allow it to come back to life in us in any way at all but must proclaim clearly that it is dead indeed. God has destroyed it in a wonderful way for our salvation. We must not, then, allow ourselves to give way to anger or bear grudges, for this would endanger our souls. We must not stir up the very thing that is well and truly dead, calling it back to life by our wickedness.
  But as we bear the name of Christ, who is peace, we too must put an end to all hostility, so that we may profess in our lives what we believe to be true of him. He broke down the dividing wall and brought the two sides together in himself, thus making peace. We too, then, should not only be reconciled with those who attack us from without, we should also bring together the warring factions within us, so that the flesh may no longer be opposed to the spirit and the spirit to the flesh. Then when the mind that is set on the flesh is subject to the divine law, we may be refashioned into one new creature, into a man of peace. When the two have been made one we shall then have peace within ourselves.
  The definition of peace is that there should be harmony between two opposed factions. And so, when the civil war in our nature has been brought to an end and we are at peace within ourselves, we may become peace. Then we shall really be true to the name of Christ that we bear.
  When we consider that Christ is the true light far removed from all falsehood, we realise that our lives too should be lit by the rays of the sun of justice, which shine for our enlightenment. These rays are the virtues by which we cast off the works of darkness and conduct ourselves becomingly as in the light of day. Then, when we refuse to have anything to do with the darkness of wickedness and do everything in the light, we ourselves shall also become light and our works will give light to others, for it is in the nature of light to shine out.
  But if we look upon Christ as our sanctification, then we should keep ourselves free from all that is wicked and impure both in thought and in deed and so prove ourselves worthy to bear his name, for we shall be demonstrating the effect of sanctification not in words but in our actions and in our lives.
Responsorium
 Cf. Lc 1, 78. 79
℟. Visitávit nos Oriens ex alto* Ad dirigéndos pedes nostros in viam pacis.
℣. Illumináre his, qui in ténebris et in umbra mortis sedent.* Ad dirigéndos.
Responsory
℟. He visited us like the morning sun from heaven,* to guide us in the way of peace.
℣. He will give light to those in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death,* to guide us in the way of peace.
Oremus.
  Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, quem patérno nómine invocáre præsúmimus, pérfice in córdibus nostris spíritum adoptiónis filiórum, ut promíssam hereditátem íngredi mereámur.
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, ever-living God,
  we confidently call you Father as well as Lord.
Renew your Spirit in our hearts:
  make us ever more perfectly your children,
  so that we may enter upon the inheritance you have promised us.
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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