Universalis
Sunday 15 March 2026    (other days)
4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) 

Using calendar: New Zealand - Dunedin. You can change this.

Morning Prayer (Lauds)

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 94 (95)

“Adhortamini vosmetipsos per singulos dies, donec illud «hodie» vocatur” (Hebr 3, 13).

Christum Dóminum pro nobis tentátum et passum, veníte, adorémus.
Vel: Utinam hódie vocem Dómini audiátis: Nolíte obduráre corda vestra.
(repeat antiphon*)
1Veníte, exsultémus Dómino;
  iubilémus Deo salutári nostro.
2Præoccupémus fáciem eius in confessióne
  et in psalmis iubilémus ei.
  (repeat antiphon*)
3Quóniam Deus magnus Dóminus
  et rex magnus super omnes deos.
4Quia in manu eius sunt profúnda terræ,
  et altitúdines móntium ipsíus sunt.
5Quóniam ipsíus est mare, et ipse fecit illud,
  et siccam manus eius formavérunt.
  (repeat antiphon*)
6Veníte, adorémus et procidámus
  et génua flectámus ante Dóminum, qui fecit nos,
7quia ipse est Deus noster,
  et nos pópulus páscuæ eius et oves manus eius.
  (repeat antiphon*)
8Utinam hódie vocem eius audiátis:
  «Nolíte obduráre corda vestra,
9sicut in Meríba secúndum diem Massa in desérto,
  ubi tentavérunt me patres vestri:
  probavérunt me, etsi vidérunt ópera mea.
  (repeat antiphon*)
10Quadragínta annis tæduit me generatiónis illíus,
  et dixi: Pópulus errántium corde sunt isti.
11Et ipsi non cognovérunt vias meas;
  ídeo iurávi in ira mea:
  Non introíbunt in réquiem meam».
  (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 94 (95)
Christ the Lord was tempted and suffered for us. Come, let us adore him.
Or: O that today you would listen to his voice: harden not your hearts.
(repeat antiphon*)
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord,
  let us acclaim God our salvation.
Let us come before him proclaiming our thanks,
  let us acclaim him with songs.
  (repeat antiphon*)
For the Lord is a great God,
  a king above all gods.
For he holds the depths of the earth in his hands,
  and the peaks of the mountains are his.
For the sea is his: he made it;
  and his hands formed the dry land.
  (repeat antiphon*)
Come, let us worship and bow down,
  bend the knee before the Lord who made us;
for he himself is our God and we are his flock,
  the sheep that follow his hand.
  (repeat antiphon*)
If only, today, you would listen to his voice:
  “Do not harden your hearts
  as you did at Meribah,
on the day of Massah in the desert,
  when your fathers tested me –
they put me to the test,
  although they had seen my works.”
  (repeat antiphon*)
“For forty years they wearied me,
  that generation.
I said: their hearts are wandering,
  they do not know my paths.
I swore in my anger:
  they will never enter my place of rest.”
  (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
Precémur omnes cérnui,
clamémus atque sínguli,
plorémus ante iúdicem,
flectámus iram víndicem:
Nostris malis offéndimus
tuam, Deus, cleméntiam;
effúnde nobis désuper,
remíssor, indulgéntiam.
Meménto quod sumus tui,
licet cadúci, plásmatis;
ne des honórem nóminis
tui, precámur, álteri.
Laxa malum quod fécimus,
auge bonum quod póscimus,
placére quo tandem tibi
possímus hic et pérpetim.
Præsta, Beáta Trínitas,
concéde, simplex Unitas,
ut fructuósa sint tuis
hæc parcitátis múnera. Amen.
Hymn
Lord, who throughout these forty days
For us didst fast and pray,
Teach us with thee to mourn our sins,
And close by thee to stay.
As thou with Satan didst contend,
And didst the victory win,
O give us strength in thee to fight,
In thee to conquer sin.
As thirst and hunger thou didst bear,
So teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and daily live
By thy most holy word.
And through these days of penitence,
And through thy Passiontide,
Yea, evermore, in life and death,
Jesus, with us abide.

Ps 117:1-29
Vox iubilationis et salutis

“Hic est lapis, qui reprobatus est a vobis ædificatoribus, qui factus est in caput anguli” (Act 4, 11).

Deus meus es tu et confitébor tibi; Deus meus es tu et exaltábo te.
1Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus,*
  quóniam in sǽculum misericórdia eius.
2Dicat nunc Israel, quóniam bonus,*
  quóniam in sǽculum misericórdia eius.
3Dicat nunc domus Aaron,*
  quóniam in sǽculum misericórdia eius.
4Dicant nunc, qui timent Dóminum,*
  quóniam in sǽculum misericórdia eius.
5De tribulatióne invocávi Dóminum,*
  et exaudívit me edúcens in latitúdinem Dóminus.
6Dóminus mecum,*
  non timébo, quid fáciat mihi homo.
7Dóminus mecum adiútor meus,*
  et ego despíciam inimícos meos.
8Bonum est confúgere ad Dóminum*
  quam confídere in hómine.
9Bonum est confúgere ad Dóminum*
  quam confídere in princípibus.
10Omnes gentes circuiérunt me,*
  et in nómine Dómini excídi eos.
11Circumdántes circumdedérunt me,*
  et in nómine Dómini excídi eos.
12Circumdedérunt me sicut apes†
  et exarsérunt sicut ignis in spinis,*
  et in nómine Dómini excídi eos.
13Impelléntes impulérunt me, ut cáderem,*
  et Dóminus adiúvit me.
14Fortitúdo mea et laus mea Dóminus*
  et factus est mihi in salútem.
15Vox iubilatiónis et salútis*
  in tabernáculis iustórum:
«16Déxtera Dómini fecit virtútem!†
  Déxtera Dómini exaltávit me;*
  déxtera Dómini fecit virtútem!».
17Non móriar, sed vivam*
  et narrábo ópera Dómini.
18Castígans castigávit me Dóminus*
  et morti non trádidit me.
19Aperíte mihi portas iustítiæ;*
  ingréssus in eas confitébor Dómino.
20Hæc porta Dómini;*
  iusti intrábunt in eam.
21Confitébor tibi, quóniam exaudísti me*
  et factus es mihi in salútem.
22Lápidem, quem reprobavérunt ædificántes,*
  hic factus est in caput ánguli;
23a Dómino factum est istud*
  et est mirábile in óculis nostris.
24Hæc est dies, quam fecit Dóminus:*
  exsultémus et lætémur in ea.
25O Dómine, salvum me fac;*
  o Dómine, da prosperitátem!
26Benedíctus, qui venit in nómine Dómini.*
  Benedícimus vobis de domo Dómini.
27Deus Dóminus et illúxit nobis.*
  Instrúite sollemnitátem in ramis condénsis usque ad córnua altáris.
28Deus meus es tu, et confitébor tibi,*
  Deus meus, et exaltábo te.
29Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus,*
  quóniam in sǽculum misericórdia eius.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Deus meus es tu et confitébor tibi; Deus meus es tu et exaltábo te.

Psalm 117 (118)
A cry of rejoicing and triumph

You are my God: I thank you. My God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
  and his kindness is for ever.
Now let Israel say, he is good
  and his kindness is for ever.
Now let the house of Aaron say it too:
  that his kindness is for ever.
Now let all who fear the Lord say it too:
  that his kindness is for ever.
In my time of trial I called out to the Lord:
  he listened, and led me to freedom.
The Lord is with me,
  I will fear nothing that man can do.
The Lord, my help, is with me,
  and I shall look down upon my enemies.
It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,
  better than to trust in men.
It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,
  better than to trust in the leaders of men.
All the nations surrounded me,
  and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They crowded in and besieged me,
  and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They surrounded me like swarms of bees,
  they burned like a fire of dry thorns,
  and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They chased and pursued me, to make me fall,
  and the Lord came to my help.
The Lord is my strength and my rejoicing:
  he has become my saviour.
A cry of joy and salvation
  in the dwellings of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has triumphed!
  The Lord’s right hand has raised me up;
  the Lord’s right hand has triumphed.”
I shall not die, but live,
  and tell of the works of the Lord.
The Lord chastised me severely
  but did not let me die.
Open the gates of righteousness:
  I will go in, and thank the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
  it is the upright who enter here.
I will thank you, for you listened to me,
  and became my saviour.
The stone that the builders rejected
  has become the corner-stone.
It was the Lord who did this –
  it is marvellous to behold.
This is the day that was made by the Lord:
  let us rejoice today, and be glad.
Lord, keep me safe;
  O Lord, let me prosper!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
  We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God, he shines upon us!
  Arrange the procession, with close-packed branches,
  up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, I will give thanks to you;
  my God, I will give you praise.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
  and his kindness is for ever.
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 are my God: I thank you. My God, I praise you.

How to listen
CanticumDan 3:52-57

Omnis creatura laudet Dominum

“Creator ... est benedictus in sæcula” (Rom 1, 25).

Potens es, Dómine, erípere nos de manu forti; líbera nos, Deus noster.
52Benedíctus es, Dómine Deus patrum nostrórum,*
  et laudábilis et superexaltátus in sǽcula;
et benedíctum nomen glóriæ tuæ sanctum*
  et superlaudábile et superexaltátum in sǽcula.
53Benedíctus es in templo sanctæ glóriæ tuæ*
  et superlaudábilis et supergloriósus in sǽcula.
54Benedíctus es in throno regni tui*
  et superlaudábilis et superexaltátus in sǽcula.
55Benedíctus es, qui intuéris abýssos†
  sedens super chérubim,*
  et laudábilis et superexaltátus in sǽcula.
56Benedíctus es in firmaménto cæli*
  et laudábilis et gloriósus in sǽcula.
57Benedícite, ómnia ópera Dómini, Dómino,*
  laudáte et superexaltáte eum in sǽcula.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Potens es, Dómine, erípere nos de manu forti; líbera nos, Deus noster.
CanticleDaniel 3

Let every creature praise the Lord

Lord, you can deliver us from the hand of the one who is stronger than we are: save us, Lord, our God.
Blessed are you, Lord God of our fathers,
  praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed is the holy name of your glory
  praised above all things and exalted for ever.
Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory
  praised and glorious above all things for ever.
Blessed are you who gaze on the depths,
  seated on the cherubim,
  praised and exalted for ever.
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven
  praised and glorious for ever.
Bless the Lord, all his works,
  praise and exalt him for ever.
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.
Lord, you can deliver us from the hand of the one who is stronger than we are: save us, Lord, our God.

Ps 150:1-6
Laudate Dominum

“Psallite spiritu, psallite et mente, hoc est: glorificate Deum et anima et corpore vestro” (Hesychius).

Laudáte Dóminum in magnálibus eius.
1Laudáte Dóminum in sanctuário eius,*
  laudáte eum in firmaménto virtútis eius.
2Laudáte eum in magnálibus eius,*
  laudáte eum secúndum multitúdinem magnitúdinis eius.
3Laudáte eum in sono tubæ,*
  laudáte eum in psaltério et cíthara,
4laudáte eum in týmpano et choro,*
  laudáte eum in chordis et órgano,
5laudáte eum in cýmbalis benesonántibus,†
  laudáte eum in cýmbalis iubilatiónis:*
  omne quod spirat, laudet Dóminum.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Laudáte Dóminum in magnálibus eius.

Psalm 150
Praise the Lord

Praise God in his wonderful works.
Praise the Lord in his sanctuary,
  praise him in his mighty firmament.
Praise him for his mighty deeds,
  praise him for all his greatness.
Praise him with trumpet-blasts,
  praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dance,
  praise him with strings and pipes,
praise him with cymbals resounding,
  praise him with cymbals of jubilation.
All that breathes, praise 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.
Praise God in his wonderful works.
Lectio brevisNeh 8:9,10
Dies iste sanctificátus est Dómino Deo nostro! Nolíte lugére et nolíte flere. Quia sanctus dies Dómini nostri est; et nolíte contristári, gáudium étenim Dómini est fortitúdo vestra.
Scripture ReadingNehemiah 8:9,10
This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep. For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.
Responsorium breve
℣. Christe, Fili Dei vivi,* Miserére nobis. Christe.
℟. Qui attrítus es propter scélera nostra.* Miserére nobis. Glória Patri. Christe.
Short Responsory
Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
You were wounded because of our sins.
– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Canticum

De Messia eiusque præcursore

Homo, qui dícitur Iesus, lutum fecit et unxit óculos meos: ábii et lavi et modo vídeo.
Benedíctus Dóminus Deus Israel,*
  quia visitávit et fecit redemptiónem plebi suæ
et eréxit cornu salútis nobis*
  in domo David púeri sui,
sicut locútus est per os sanctórum,*
  qui a sæculo sunt, prophetárum eius,
salútem ex inimícis nostris*
  et de manu ómnium, qui odérunt nos;
ad faciéndam misericórdiam cum pátribus nostris*
  et memorári testaménti sui sancti,
iusiurándum, quod iurávit ad Abraham patrem nostrum,*
  datúrum se nobis,
ut sine timóre, de manu inimicórum liberáti,*
  serviámus illi
in sanctitáte et iustítia coram ipso*
  ómnibus diébus nostris.
Et tu, puer, prophéta Altíssimi vocáberis:*
  præíbis enim ante fáciem Dómini paráre vias eius,
ad dandam sciéntiam salútis plebi eius*
  in remissiónem peccatórum eórum,
per víscera misericórdiæ Dei nostri,*
  in quibus visitábit nos óriens ex alto,
illumináre his, qui in ténebris et in umbra mortis sedent*
  ad dirigéndos pedes nostros in viam pacis.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Homo, qui dícitur Iesus, lutum fecit et unxit óculos meos: ábii et lavi et modo vídeo.
CanticleBenedictus

The Messiah and his forerunner

The man called Jesus put a paste on my eyes, and I went away and washed, and I can see. (Year A)
Or: Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind. Only Christ, the son of God, has done this.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
  for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption.
He has raised up the sign of salvation
  in the house of his servant David,
as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones,
  his prophets through the ages:
to rescue us from our enemies
  and all who hate us,
to take pity on our fathers,
  to remember his holy covenant
and the oath he swore to Abraham our father,
  that he would give himself to us,
that we could serve him without fear
  – freed from the hands of our enemies –
in uprightness and holiness before him,
  for all of our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High:
  for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path,
to let his people know their salvation,
  so that their sins may be forgiven.
Through the bottomless mercy of our God,
  one born on high will visit us
to give light to those who walk in darkness,
  who live in the shadow of death;
  to lead our feet in the path of peace.
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.
The man called Jesus put a paste on my eyes, and I went away and washed, and I can see. (Year A)
Or: Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind. Only Christ, the son of God, has done this.
Preces
Deum glorificémus, cuius bonitátis infinítus est thesáurus, et per Iesum Christum, qui est semper vivens ad interpellándum pro nobis, eum deprecémur, dicéntes:
– Accénde in nobis ignem tui amóris.
Deus misericórdiæ, fac ut hódie abundémus in opéribus pietátis,
  atque omnes nostram experiántur humanitátem.
– Accénde in nobis ignem tui amóris.
Qui in dilúvio Noe per arcam salvásti,
  salva catechúmenos in aqua baptísmatis.
– Accénde in nobis ignem tui amóris.
Præsta nos non solo pane satiári,
  sed omni verbo, quod procédit de ore tuo.
– Accénde in nobis ignem tui amóris.
Fac ut omnes dissensiónes componámus,
  ut pace et caritáte, te donánte, gaudeámus.
– Accénde in nobis ignem tui amóris.
Prayers and intercessions
Let us glorify God for his wealth of goodness and pray to him through Jesus Christ, who is always living to intercede for us.
– Inflame our hearts with your love.
God of mercy, help us to enrich this day with deeds of kindness;
  let men know by our actions that we are all one family.
– Inflame our hearts with your love.
At the time of the flood you saved Noah through the ark;
  grant salvation through water to those preparing for baptism.
– Inflame our hearts with your love.
May we never live by bread alone;
  give us life by every word you speak.
– Inflame our hearts with your love.
Help us to avoid all anger and dissension;
  let us find joy in your peace and love.
– Inflame our hearts with your love.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
sanctificétur nomen tuum;
advéniat regnum tuum;
fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidiánum da nobis hódie;
et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris;
et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem;
sed líbera nos a malo.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
  hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
  Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
  and forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
  but deliver us from evil.
Deus, qui per Verbum tuum humáni géneris reconciliatiónem mirabíliter operáris, præsta, quǽsumus, ut pópulus christiánus prompta devotióne et álacri fide ad ventúra sollémnia váleat festináre.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum,
qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Lord God, in your surpassing wisdom
  you reconcile man to yourself through your Word.
Grant that your Christian people may come with eager faith and ready will
  to celebrate the Easter festival.
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.
Dóminus nos benedícat, et ab omni malo deféndat, et ad vitam perdúcat ætérnam.
  Amen.
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
  Amen.

The psalms and canticles here are our own translation from the Latin. The Grail translation of the psalms, which is used liturgically in most of the English-speaking world, cannot be displayed on the Web for copyright reasons. The Universalis apps and programs do contain the Grail translation of the psalms.

Universalis podcast: The week ahead – from 15 to 21 March

St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland: his life and his breastplate. Sin: what makes a sin a sin? The Seven Deadly Sins and the Divine Comedy. The other story of the healing of a blind man. (27 minutes)
Episode notes.

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