Universalis
Tuesday 9 June 2026    (other days)
Tuesday of week 10 in Ordinary Time 
 or Saint Ephraem, Deacon, Doctor 

Using calendar: United States - Ascension on Thursday. 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 94 (95)

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

Deum magnum Dóminum, veníte, adorémus.
(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)
A mighty God is the Lord: come, let us adore him.
(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
Nocte surgéntes vigilémus omnes,
semper in psalmis meditémur atque
víribus totis Dómino canámus
dúlciter hymnos,
Ut, pio regi páriter canéntes,
cum suis sanctis mereámur aulam
íngredi cæli, simul et beátam
dúcere vitam.
Præstet hoc nobis Déitas Beáta
Patris ac Nati, paritérque Sancti
Spíritus, cuius résonat per omnem
glória mundum. 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 36:1-11
Sors malorum et iustorum

Beati mites, quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram” (Mt 5, 5).

Commítte Dómino viam tuam et ipse fáciet.
1Noli æmulári in malignántibus,*
  neque zeláveris faciéntes iniquitátem,
2quóniam tamquam fenum velóciter aréscent*
  et quemádmodum herba virens décident.
3Spera in Dómino et fac bonitátem,*
  et inhabitábis terram et pascéris in fide.
4Delectáre in Dómino,*
  et dabit tibi petitiónes cordis tui.
5Commítte Dómino viam tuam et spera in eo,*
  et ipse fáciet;
6et edúcet quasi lumen iustítiam tuam*
  et iudícium tuum tamquam merídiem.
7Quiésce in Dómino et exspécta eum;†
  noli æmulári in eo, qui prosperátur in via sua,*
  in hómine, qui molítur insídias.
8Désine ab ira et derelínque furórem,*
  noli æmulári, quod vertit ad malum,
9quóniam qui malignántur, exterminabúntur,*
  sustinéntes autem Dóminum ipsi hereditábunt terram.
10Et adhuc pusíllum et non erit peccátor,*
  et quæres locum eius et non invénies.
11Mansuéti autem hereditábunt terram*
  et delectabúntur in multitúdine pacis.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Commítte Dómino viam tuam et ipse fáciet.

Psalm 36 (37)
The fate of the evil and the righteous

Commit your life to the Lord, and he will act on your behalf.
Do not envy the wicked;
  do not be jealous of those that do evil.
They will dry up as quickly as hay;
  they will wither like the grass.
Put your trust in the Lord and do good,
  and your land and habitation will be secure.
Take your delight in the Lord,
  and he will give you what your heart desires.
Entrust your journey to the Lord, and hope in him:
  and he will act.
He will make your uprightness shine like the light,
  your judgement like the sun at noon.
Take your rest in the Lord, and hope in him:
  do not envy the one who thrives in his own way,
  the man who weaves plots.
Abstain from wrath, abandon anger:
  do not envy him who turns to evil,
for those who do evil will be destroyed,
  but those on the side of the Lord
  will inherit the earth.
A moment yet – and the sinner will be gone:
  you will look where he was and find nothing.
But the meek will inherit the land
  and delight in abundant 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.
Commit your life to the Lord, and he will act on your behalf.

Ps 36:12-29

Declína a malo et fac bonum; confírmat iustos Dóminus.
12Insidiábitur peccátor iusto*
  et stridébit super eum déntibus suis.
13Dóminus autem irridébit eum,*
  quóniam próspicit quod véniet dies eius.
14Gládium evaginavérunt peccatóres,*
  intendérunt arcum suum,
ut deíciant páuperem et ínopem,*
  ut trucídent recte ambulántes in via.
15Gládius eórum intrábit in corda ipsórum,*
  et arcus eórum confringétur.
16Mélius est módicum iusto*
  super divítias peccatórum multas,
17quóniam bráchia peccatórum conteréntur,*
  confírmat autem iustos Dóminus.
18Novit Dóminus dies immaculatórum,*
  et heréditas eórum in ætérnum erit.
19Non confundéntur in témpore malo*
  et in diébus famis saturabúntur.
20Quia peccatóres períbunt,†
  inimíci vero Dómini ut decor campórum defícient,*
  quemádmodum fumus defícient.
21Mutuátur peccátor et non solvet,*
  iustus autem miserétur et tríbuet.
22Quia benedícti eius hereditábunt terram,*
  maledícti autem eius exterminabúntur.
23A Dómino gressus hóminis confirmántur,*
  et viam eius volet.
24Cum cecíderit, non collidétur,*
  quia Dóminus susténtat manum eius.
25Iúnior fui et sénui†
  et non vidi iustum derelíctum,*
  nec semen eius quærens panem.
26Tota die miserétur et cómmodat,*
  et semen illíus in benedictióne erit.
27Declína a malo et fac bonum,*
  et inhabitábis in sǽculum sǽculi,
28quia Dóminus amat iudícium*
  et non derelínquet sanctos suos.
Iniústi in ætérnum disperíbunt,*
  et semen impiórum exterminábitur.
29Iusti autem hereditábunt terram*
  et inhabitábunt in sǽculum sǽculi super eam.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Declína a malo et fac bonum; confírmat iustos Dóminus.

Psalm 36 (37)

Turn away from evil and do good: the Lord will support the just.
The wicked will plot against the righteous
  and gnash his teeth at him;
but the Lord will deride him in his turn,
  for the Lord has seen what awaits him.
The wicked have pulled out their swords,
  the wicked have drawn their bows,
to throw down the poor and the destitute,
  to murder whoever follows the straight path.
But their swords will enter their own hearts,
  and their bows will splinter.
For the righteous, the little they have is better
  than the abundant wealth of the wicked.
The limbs of the wicked will be broken
  while the Lord gives his strength to the just.
The Lord knows when the day of the perfect will come;
  and their inheritance will be eternal.
They will not be troubled in evil times,
  and in times of famine they will have more than enough.
For the wicked will perish:
  the enemies of the Lord will be like the flowers of the fields,
  and like smoke they will vanish away.
The wicked man borrows and does not return;
  but the righteous takes pity and gives.
The blessed ones of the Lord will inherit the earth,
  but those whom he curses will be cut off.
It is the Lord who strengthens the steps of man
  and chooses his path.
Even if he trips he will not fall flat,
  for the Lord is holding his hand.
I was young and I have grown old,
  but I have not seen the righteous man abandoned
  nor his children seeking for bread.
All day long he takes pity and lends,
  and his seed will be blessed.
Shun evil and do good,
  and you will live for ever.
For the Lord loves right judgement,
  and will not abandon his chosen ones.
The unjust will be destroyed for ever,
  and the seed of the wicked will be cut off,
but the righteous will inherit the earth
  and live there from age to age.
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 away from evil and do good: the Lord will support the just.

Ps 36:30-40

Exspécta Dóminum et custódi viam eius.
30Os iusti meditábitur sapiéntiam,*
  et lingua eius loquétur iudícium;
31lex Dei eius in corde ipsíus,*
  et non vacillábunt gressus eius.
32Consíderat peccátor iustum*
  et quærit mortificáre eum;
33Dóminus autem non derelínquet eum in mánibus eius,*
  nec damnábit eum, cum iudicábitur illi.
34Exspécta Dóminum et custódi viam eius,†
  et exaltábit te, ut hereditáte cápias terram;*
  cum exterminabúntur peccatóres, vidébis.
35Vidi ímpium superexaltátum*
  et elevátum sicut cedrum viréntem;
36et transívit, et ecce non erat,*
  et quæsívi eum, et non est invéntus.
37Obsérva innocéntiam et vide æquitátem,*
  quóniam est postéritas hómini pacífico.
38Iniústi autem disperíbunt simul,*
  postéritas impiórum exterminábitur.
39Salus autem iustórum a Dómino,*
  et protéctor eórum in témpore tribulatiónis.
40Et adiuvábit eos Dóminus et liberábit eos†
  et éruet eos a peccatóribus et salvábit eos,*
  quia speravérunt in eo.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Exspécta Dóminum et custódi viam eius.

Psalm 36 (37)

Wait for the Lord, keep to his way.
The mouth of the righteous will speak wisdom,
  and his tongue will utter right judgement.
The law of his God is in his heart
  and his steps will not stumble.
The wicked man watches the just
  and seeks to kill him;
but the Lord will rescue the just man from his hands
  and not condemn the just in the time of judgement.
Put your hope in the Lord and follow his paths,
  and he will raise you up and make the land your inheritance,
  let you watch as the wicked are cut off.
I have seen the sinner triumph,
  flourish like a green cedar,
but he is gone, he is there no longer:
  I have looked for him but have not found him.
Preserve innocence, follow uprightness:
  for the future belongs to the man of peace.
The unrighteous will be destroyed altogether,
  their posterity will be cut off.
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord,
  and their protection in time of trouble.
The Lord will come to their help and free them,
  rescue them from the wicked and save them,
  because they have put their trust in him.
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.
Wait for the Lord, keep to his way.

℣. Bonitátem et prudéntiam et sciéntiam doce me.
℟. Quia præcéptis tuis crédidi.
℣. Teach me goodness and discernment and knowledge.
℟. I trust in your commands.

Lectio prior
De libro Iósue 2, 1-24

Fide Rahab meretrix excipit exploratores cum pace

In diébus illis: 1Misit ergo Iósue fílius Nun de Settim duos viros exploratóres in abscóndito et dixit eis: «Ite et consideráte terram urbémque Iéricho». Qui pergéntes ingréssi sunt domum mulíeris meretrícis nómine Rahab et quievérunt ibi. 2Nuntiatúmque est regi Iéricho et dictum: «Ecce viri ingréssi sunt huc per noctem de fíliis Israel, ut explorárent terram». 3Misítque rex Iéricho ad Rahab dicens: «Educ viros, qui venérunt ad te et ingréssi sunt domum tuam; exploratóres quippe sunt et omnem terram consideráre venérunt». 4Tollénsque múlier viros abscóndit et ait: «Fáteor, venérunt ad me, sed nesciébam unde essent; 5cumque porta clauderétur in ténebris, et illi páriter exiérunt, néscio quo abiérunt. Persequímini cito et comprehendétis eos». 6Ipsa autem fecit ascéndere viros in solárium domus suæ operuítque eos lini stípula, quæ ibi erat. 7Hi autem, qui missi fúerant, secúti sunt eos per viam, quæ ducit ad vadum Iordánis; illísque egréssis, statim porta clausa est.
  8Necdum obdormíerant qui latébant, et ecce múlier ascéndit ad eos et ait: 9«Novi quod tradíderit Dóminus vobis terram, et írruit in nos terror vester, et elanguérunt omnes habitatóres terræ coram vobis. 10Audívimus enim quod siccáverit Dóminus aquas maris Rubri ad vestrum intróitum, quando egréssi estis ex Ægýpto, et quæ fecéritis duóbus Amorræórum régibus, qui erant trans Iordánem, Sehon et Og, quos interfecístis. 11Et hæc audiéntes pertimúimus, et elánguit cor nostrum, nec remánsit in nobis spíritus ad intróitum vestrum; Dóminus enim Deus vester ipse est Deus in cælo sursum et in terra deórsum. 12Nunc ergo iuráte mihi per Dóminum, ut, quómodo ego feci vobíscum misericórdiam, ita et vos faciátis cum domo patris mei detísque mihi signum verum, 13ut salvétis patrem meum et matrem, fratres ac soróres meas et ómnia, quæ eórum sunt et eruátis ánimas nostras de morte». 14Qui respondérunt ei: «Anima nostra sit pro vobis in mortem, si tamen non prodíderis; cumque tradíderit nobis Dóminus terram, faciémus in te misericórdiam et veritátem». 15Demísit ergo eos per funem de fenéstra; domus enim eius hærébat muro, et in muro habitábat. 16Dixítque ad eos: «Ad montána pérgite, ne forte occúrrant vobis prosecutóres, ibíque latéte diébus tribus, donec rédeant; et póstea íbitis per viam vestram».
  17Qui dixérunt ad eam: «Innóxii érimus a iuraménto hoc, quo adiurásti nos, 18si, ingrediéntibus nobis terram, signum fúerit funículus iste coccíneus, et ligáveris eum in fenéstra, per quam nos demisísti et patrem tuum ac matrem fratrésque et omnem cognatiónem tuam congregáveris in domum tuam. 19Qui óstium domus tuæ egréssus fúerit, sanguis ipsíus erit in caput eius, et nos érimus innóxii; cunctórum autem sanguis, qui tecum fúerint in domo, redundábit in caput nostrum, si eos áliquis tetígerit. 20Quod si prodíderis hoc verbum, érimus mundi ab hoc iuraménto, quo adiurásti nos». 21Et illa respóndit: «Sicut locúti estis, ita fiat». Dimitténsque eos, ut pérgerent, appéndit funículum coccíneum in fenéstra.
  22Illi vero ambulántes pervenérunt ad montána et mansérunt ibi tres dies, donec reverteréntur, qui fúerant persecúti; quæréntes enim per omnem viam non repperérunt eos. 23Duo viri revérsi sunt et descendérunt de monte et, transmísso Iordáne, venérunt ad Iósue fílium Nun narraverúntque ei ómnia, quæ accíderant sibi, 24atque dixérunt: «Trádidit Dóminus in manus nostras omnem terram, et timóre prostráti sunt cuncti habitatóres eius in conspéctu nostro».
First ReadingJoshua 2:1-24

Rahab the harlot helps the spies

Joshua son of Nun sent out two spies secretly from Shittim. He said, ‘Go out and explore the country at Jericho.’ They went, and they entered the house of a harlot called Rahab; there they lodged. Word of this was brought to the king of Jericho, ‘Take notice, some men from the Israelites have come here tonight to reconnoitre the country.’ Then the king of Jericho sent a message to Rahab, ‘Send out the men who came to you and are lodging in your house, for they have come to reconnoitre the whole country.’ But the woman took the two men and hid them; and she answered, ‘True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. When the city gate was about to be closed at nightfall, the men went out and I cannot say where they went. Follow them quickly, you may still overtake them.’
  She had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under stalks of flax she had heaped up there. The king’s men pursued them towards the Jordan, as far as the fords, and the gate was shut once the pursuers had gone through.
  The others had not yet lain down when Rahab came up to them on the roof. She said to them, ‘I know that the Lord has given you this land, that we ourselves are afraid of you and that all who live in this territory have been seized with terror at your approach; for we have heard how the Lord dried up the Sea of Reeds before you when you came out of Egypt and what you did with the two Amorite kings across the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put under the ban. When we heard this, our hearts failed us, and no courage is left in any of us to stand up to you, because the Lord your God is God both in heaven above and on earth beneath. Swear to me now by the Lord, then, since I myself have shown you kindness, that you too will show kindness to the people of my father’s house, and will give me a sure sign of this; that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters and all who belong to them, and will preserve us from death.’ Then the men answered her, ‘If we do not, it is we, not you, who will deserve to die, unless you tell of our agreement. When the Lord has given us the land, we will deal with you kindly and faithfully.’ Rahab let them down from the window by a rope, for her house was against the city wall and she lived inside the wall itself. She said, ‘You must make for the hills, to escape your pursuers. Hide there for three days till the pursuers have returned, and then go on your way.’ The men answered, ‘We for our part will be free of the oath you made us swear, except on these conditions. When we enter your land you must use this sign: you must tie this scarlet cord to the window from which you let us down, and you must gather with you in your house your father and mother and brothers and all your family. If anybody passes through the doors of your house to go out, his blood shall be on his own head and we are not to blame; but the blood of all who stay with you in the house shall be on our heads if a hand is laid on any of them. If you make this talk of ours known, we shall be free of the oath that you made us swear.’ She replied, ‘Let it be as you say.’ She let them go, and they left. Then she tied the scarlet cord to the window.
  They left her and made for the hills. They stayed there for three days, till the pursuers had returned, having scoured the countryside without finding them. Then the two men came down again from the hills, crossed the river and came to Joshua son of Nun; and they told him all that had happened to them. They said to Joshua, ‘The Lord has delivered the whole country into our hands, and its inhabitants all tremble already at the thought of us.’
Responsorium
Iac 2, 24-26; Hebr 11, 31
℟. Ex opéribus iustificátur homo, et non ex fide tantum. Rahab nonne ex opéribus iustificáta est, suscípiens núntios et ália via eíciens?* Sicut enim corpus sine spíritu, ita et fides sine opéribus mórtua est.
℣. Fide Rahab méretrix non périit cum incrédulis, quia excéperat exploratóres cum pace.* Sicut enim corpus sine spíritu, ita et fides sine opéribus mórtua est.
Responsory
Jm 2:24-26; Heb 11:31
℟. It is by doing something good, and not only by believing, that a man is justified. Rahab was justified by her deeds because she welcomed the messengers and helped them to escape by a different road.* A body dies when it is separated from the spirit, and in the same way faith is dead if it is separated from good deeds.
℣. It was by faith that Rahab welcomed the messengers and so was not killed with the unbelievers.* A body dies when it is separated from the spirit, and in the same way faith is dead if it is separated from good deeds.

Lectio altera
De Epístola sancti Ignátii Antiochéni epíscopi et mártyris ad Romános
(6, 1 — 9, 3: Funk 1, 219-223)

Amor meus crucifixus est

Nihil mihi próderunt mundi voluptátes neque huius sǽculi regna. Præstat mihi in Christo Iesu mori, quam fínibus terræ imperáre. Illum quæro, qui pro nobis mórtuus est; illum volo, qui propter nos resurréxit. Partus mihi instat. Ignóscite mihi, fratres! Ne me vívere impediátis, ne velítis me mori, me, Dei esse cupiéntem, mundo ne tradátis neque per matériam me seducátis; sínite me purum lumen percípere; ubi illuc advénero, homo ero. Concédite mihi imitatórem esse passiónis Dei mei. Si quis illum in seípso habet, intéllegat quid velim, et commisereátur mei, sciens quæ me coárctent.
  Princeps huius sǽculi rápere me vult meámque erga Deum voluntátem corrúmpere. Nemo ergo vestrum, qui adéstis, illum ádiuvet; mei pótius, id est Dei, efficiámini. Ne loquámini Iesum Christum, dum mundum concupíscitis. Invídia in vobis ne hábitet. Neque si ego præsens vos orárem, credátis mihi; his pótius, quæ vobis scribo, credátis. Vivens enim scribo vobis, mori desíderans. Amor meus crucifíxus est, nec est in me ignis matériæ amans; sed aqua vivens et loquens in me est, mihi intérius dicens: «Veni ad Patrem». Non deléctor aliménto corruptíbili neque voluptátibus huius mundi. Panem Dei volo, qui est caro Iesu Christi, qui ex sémine David factus est, et potum volo sánguinem ipsíus, qui est cáritas incorruptíbilis.
  Nolo ámplius secúndum hómines vívere. Id autem fiet, si vos voluéritis. Velítis precor, ut et vos benevoléntiam inveniátis. Paucis lítteris peto a vobis: crédite mihi. Iesus Christus vobis hæc patefáciet, quod vera loquor; ipse os verax in quo Pater vere locútus est. Pétite pro me, ut cónsequar. Non secúndum carnem, sed secúndum mentem Dei vobis scripsi. Si pátiar, bene mihi voluístis; sin reíciar, odístis.
  Mémores estóte in précibus vestris ecclésiæ Sýriæ, quæ mei loco Deo pastóre útitur. Solus Iesus Christus illam vice epíscopi reget atque vestra cáritas. Ego autem erubésco ex eórum número dici; non enim sum dignus, útpote qui sim últimus eórum et abortívus. Verum misericórdiam consecútus sum, ut essem áliquis, si Deum cónsequar. Salútat vos meus spíritus et cáritas Ecclesiárum, quæ me excepérunt in nómine Iesu Christi, non ut transeúntem. Etenim Ecclésiæ, quæ nihil ad me pertinébant in via, quæ secúndum carnem est, ad me in síngulas civitátes præcurrébant.
Second Reading
From St Ignatius of Antioch's letter to the Romans

My bodily desires have been crucified

All the kingdoms of this world are worth nothing to me. It is better for me to die in Christ Jesus than to be king over the ends of the earth. I seek him who died for our sake, I desire him who rose for us.
  The pains of birth are upon me. Be understanding, my brethren: do not hinder me from coming to life, do not wish me to die. I desire to belong to God: do not give me to the world, do not try to deceive me with material things. Allow me to receive the pure light: when I have reached it I shall become a man. Allow me to follow the example of the Passion of my God. If there is any man who has God within himself, let him understand what I wish, and let him sympathize with me, knowing the things which constrain me.
  The Prince of this world wishes to tear me in pieces and twist my mind away from God. Let none of you who are present help him, but be on my side: that is, on God’s. Do not speak of Jesus Christ but still desire the world. Let no envy dwell among you.
  Perhaps when I arrive I will ask you to save my life. Ignore what I say then, but give me what I am writing to ask you now. In the midst of life I write to you desiring death. My bodily desires have been crucified, and there is in me no fire of love for material things. Within me there is no fire, but only water living and speaking in me, and saying to me from within, “Come to the Father.” I have no pleasure in the food of corruption or in the delights of this life. I desire the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David, and for drink I desire his blood, which is incorruptible love.
  I want no more of what men call life. And I can receive what I want, if that is your desire. Desire it, so that you also may be desired. I beg you by this short letter; believe me. And Jesus Christ shall make this plain to you, that I am speaking the truth. He is the mouth which cannot lie, by which the Father has spoken truly. Pray for me that I may attain my goal. I am writing to you not according to the flesh, but according to the mind of God. If I am given suffering, it will be proof of your goodwill; if it is denied to me, that will be a proof of your disfavour.
  Remember in your prayers the Church in Syria. God has now taken my place as its shepherd. Its bishop shall be Jesus Christ — Jesus Christ and your love. For myself I am ashamed to be called a member of that church, for I am not worthy. I am the least of them, a foetus born before its time. Yet, if I succeed in reaching God, then I shall have received true mercy, and I shall have become a human being.
  My spirit greets you, and the love of the Churches which have received me in the name of Jesus Christ, not as a mere passer by. Even those which did not lie on my path (as the world measures it) have escorted me from one city to the next.
ResponsoriumCol 1, 24. 29
℟. Gáudeo in passiónibus,* Et adímpleo ea quæ desunt passiónum Christi, in carne mea pro córpore eius, quod est ecclésia.
℣. Labóro certándo secúndum operatiónem Christi, quæ operátur in me in virtúte.* Et adímpleo.
Responsory
℟. I am happy to suffer as I am suffering now,* and in my own body I do what I can to make up all that still has to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church.
℣. I struggle wearily on, helped by his power driving me irresistibly,* and in my own body I do what I can to make up all that still has to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church.

Oremus.
  Deus, a quo bona cuncta procédunt, tuis largíre supplícibus, ut cogitémus, te inspiránte, quæ recta sunt, et, te gubernánte, éadem faciámus.
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, source of all good,
  hear our prayer:
inspire us with good intentions,
  and help us to fulfil them.
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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