Office of Readings
If the Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary is observed, the complete texts may be found in the ‘Commons’ section of the iBreviary. The ferial texts of the Saturday are given below:
INVITATORY
The Invitatory is said when this is the first ‘hour’ of the day.
Go to the Hymn
Go to the Psalmody
Lord, + open my lips.
— And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
The antiphon is repeated. In individual recitation, the antiphon may be said only at the beginning of the psalm; it need not be repeated after each strophe.
Psalm 24
Psalm 67
Psalm 100
Psalm 95
A call to praise God
Encourage each other daily while it is still today (Hebrews 3:13).
Come, let us sing to the Lord *
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving *
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
The Lord is God, the mighty God, *
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth *
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him, *
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Come, then, let us bow down and worship, *
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people, *
the flock he shepherds.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Today, listen to the voice of the Lord: †
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness, *
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me, *
Although they had seen all of my works.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Forty years I endured that generation. *
I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways.”
So I swore in my anger, *
“They shall not enter into my rest.”
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
If the Invitatory is not said, then the following is used:
God, + come to my assistance.
— Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Alternate Hymn
During the night or at dawn:
Light eternal, Light almighty,
day that neither wanes nor fails;
vanquisher of night and shadow,
great restorer of the light,
bold destroyer of the darkness,
splendor of the mind and heart:
By your birth our hearts are gladdened,
at your call we rise from sleep;
by your action we are blessed,
at your leaving, filled with grief;
freed from death by your salvation,
we are radiant in your light.
You have given us the vict’ry
over death, the world, and night;
therefore grant us, King eternal,
heaven’s light and radiant dawn
darkened by no night or shadow,
joyful in your light alone.
Praise to you and to the Father,
honor to the Spirit blest,
to the name beyond all sweetness,
to the holy will divine,
God of peace and life and splendor,
wholly One yet perfect Three. Amen.
Tune: WESTMINSTER ABBEY, 8 7 8 7 8 7
Music: adapted from an anthem by Henry Purcell, 1659-1695
or Mode II, melody 34; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983*
Text: Lux æterna, lumen potens, Gottschalk of Fulda, O. S. B., ca. 808-868, © 2023 ICEL
During the day:
O God, sole unbegotten source,
O God from God, begotten Son,
O God proceeding from them both,
come dwell in us and bring your aid.
May you remain our sole desire
and be our deepest love and joy;
may all our longing rest in you
and may you be our heart’s delight.
O Father, Lord of all that is;
with Christ your Son, the Virgin-born,
come rule us by the Spirit blest,
our rampart and our help within.
Remember, Holy Trinity,
the wondrous works your goodness wrought,
when first you made the human race
and then remade it, cleansed by blood.
Those whom the Three in One have made
the charity of Christ redeemed;
enduring death, he loved us then:
now may he love us as his own.
All joy and peace, all pow’r and might,
all beauty and omnipotence,
all rev’rence, honor, glory, praise
to God the blessed Three in One. Amen.
Tune: ABENDS, 8 8 8 8
Music: Herbert Stanley Oakley, 1830-1903
or Mode II, melody 43; Liber Hymnarius, Solesmes, 1983
Text: Deus de nullo veniens, ca. 14th c., © 2023 ICEL
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 None but the Lord has done such marvels; his love endures for ever.
Psalm 136
Paschal Hymn
We praise God by recalling his marvelous deeds (Cassiodorus).
I
O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, *
for his love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods *
for his love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, *
for his love endures for ever;
who alone has wrought marvelous works, *
for his love endures for ever;
whose wisdom it was made the skies, *
for his love endures for ever;
who fixed the earth firmly on the seas, *
for his love endures for ever.
It was he who made the great lights, *
for his love endures for ever,
the sun to rule in the day, *
for his love endures for ever,
the moon and the stars in the night, *
for his love endures for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. None but the Lord has done such marvels; his love endures for ever.
Ant. 2 He brought Israel out of Egypt with powerful hand and arm outstretched.
II
The first-born of the Egyptians he smote, *
for his love endures for ever.
He brought Israel out from their midst, *
for his love endures for ever;
arm outstretched, with power in his hand, *
for his love endures for ever.
He divided the Red Sea in two, *
for his love endures for ever;
he made Israel pass through the midst, *
for his love endures for ever;
he flung Pharaoh and his force in the sea, *
for his love endures for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. He brought Israel out of Egypt with powerful hand and arm outstretched.
Ant. 3 Give praise to the God of heaven; he has ransomed us from our enemies.
III
Through the desert his people he led, *
for his love endures for ever.
Nations in their greatness he struck, *
for his love endures for ever.
Kings in their splendor he slew, *
for his love endures for ever.
Sihon, king of the Amorites, *
for his love endures for ever,
and Og, the king of Bashan, *
for his love endures for ever.
He let Israel inherit their land, *
for his love endures for ever.
On his servant their land he bestowed, *
for his love endures for ever.
He remembered us in our distress, *
for his love endures for ever.
And he snatched us away from our foes, *
for his love endures for ever.
He gives food to all living things, *
for his love endures for ever.
To the God of heaven give thanks, *
for his love endures for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Psalm Prayer
Almighty God, remember our lowliness and have mercy. Once you gave our fathers a foreign land to inherit. Free us today from sin and give us a share in your inheritance.
Ant. Give praise to the God of heaven; he has ransomed us from our enemies.
Lord, show me your ways.
— Teach me to walk in your footsteps.
READINGS
FIRST READING
From the book of Sirach
47:12-25
The history of the fathers from Solomon to Jeroboam
Because of his merits David had as his successor
a wise son, who lived in security:
Solomon reigned during an era of peace,
for God made tranquil all his borders.
He built a house to the name of God,
and established a lasting sanctuary.
How wise you were when you were young,
overflowing with instruction, like the Nile in flood!
Your understanding covered the whole earth,
and, like a sea, filled it with knowledge.
Your fame reached distant coasts,
and their peoples came to hear you;
With song and story and riddle,
and with your answers, you astounded the nations.
You were called by that glorious name
which was conferred upon Israel.
Gold you gathered like so much iron,
you heaped up silver as though it were lead;
But you abandoned yourself to women
and gave them dominion over your body.
You brought dishonor upon your reputation,
shame upon your marriage,
Wrath upon your descendants,
and groaning upon your domain;
Thus two governments came into being,
when in Ephraim kingship was usurped.
But God does not withdraw his mercy,
nor permit even one of his promises to fail.
He does not uproot the posterity of his chosen one,
nor destroy the offspring of his friend.
So he gave to Jacob a remnant,
to David a root from his own family.
Solomon finally slept with his fathers,
and left behind him one of his sons,
Expansive in folly, limited in sense,
Rehoboam, who by his policy made the people rebel;
Until one arose who should not be remembered,
the sinner who led Israel into sin,
Who brought ruin to Ephraim
and caused them to be exiled from their land.
Their sinfulness grew more and more,
and they lent themselves to every evil.
RESPONSORY
Ezekiel 37:21, 22, 23, 24; John 10:16
I shall gather the Israelites together.
No longer shall they be two nations;
no longer shall they defile themselves with their idols.
— They shall be my people,
and they shall have one shepherd.
I have other sheep that are not of this fold.
I must lead them also,
and there shall be one flock.
— They shall be my people,
and they shall have one shepherd.
SECOND READING
From a discourse on the psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop
(Ps. 126,2 CCL 40, 1857, 1858)
Jesus Christ, the true Solomon
The temple that Solomon built to the Lord was a type and figure of the future Church as well as of the body of the Lord. For this reason Christ says in the Gospel: Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again. For just as Solomon built the ancient temple, so the true Solomon, the true peacemaker, our Lord Jesus Christ, built a temple for himself. Now Solomon means peacemaker; Jesus, however, is the true peacemaker, of whom Saint Paul says: He is our peace, uniting the two into one. The true peacemaker brought together in himself two walls coming from different angles and himself became the cornerstone. One wall was formed of the circumcised believers and the other of the uncircumcised gentiles who had faith. And of these two peoples he made one Church, with himself as the cornerstone and, therefore, the true peacemaker.
And so when Solomon the king of Israel, the son of David and Bathsheba, built his temple, he acted as a figure of Christ, the true Solomon and peacemaker. But I do not think it was Solomon of old, the type of Christ, who really built God’s dwelling. As the beginning of the psalm tells us: Unless the Lord build the house, in vain have the builders labored on it. Thus it is the Lord who builds the house; it is the Lord Jesus who builds his own dwelling. Many may toil on its building, but unless he builds it, in vain have the builders labored on it.
And who are those who labor on it? All those who preach God’s word in the Church, who are ministers of his sacraments. All of us now rush, work and build, and before us other men rushed, worked and built; still, unless the Lord build the house, in vain have the builders labored on it. The apostles, and Paul specifically, saw some of them fail, and said: You observe the days, the years, the months and the seasons; I fear that I may have toiled for you to no purpose. For realizing that he was the result of the Lord’s building from within, he was sorrowful because he had toiled for them to no avail. Hence, we are the ones who speak from without, but he builds from within. We notice the fact that you are listening, but he alone knows what you are thinking, for he sees our thoughts. He is the one who builds, admonishes, instills fear, opens the mind, and bends the perceptions to the act of belief. Yet we too, his ministers, labor, and are as it were his workmen.
RESPONSORY
When the building of the temple was finished,
the glory of the Lord filled its hall;
and the king, rejoicing, said:
— Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
for all he has promised to David my father.
Destroy this temple and in three days I will rebuild it.
— Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
for all he has promised to David my father.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Father,
through the obedience of Jesus,
your servant and your Son,
you raised a fallen world.
Free us from sin
and bring us the joy that lasts for ever.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
Or:
O God, who in the abasement of your Son
have raised up a fallen world,
fill your faithful with holy joy,
for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin
you bestow eternal gladness.
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.
ACCLAMATION
Let us praise the Lord.
— And give him thanks.
******
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Psalm 24
The Lord’s entry into his temple
Christ opened heaven for us in the manhood he assumed (Saint Irenaeus).
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, *
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas; *
on the waters he made it firm.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? *
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart, †
who desires not worthless things, *
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord *
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him, *
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Who is he, the king of glory? †
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Continue with the Hymn
Psalm 67
People of all nations will worship the Lord
You must know that God is offering his salvation to all the world (Acts 28:28).
O God, be gracious and bless us *
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth *
and all nations learn your saving help.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Let the nations be glad and exult *
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples, *
you guide the nations on earth.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
The earth has yielded its fruit *
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing *
till the ends of the earth revere him.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Continue with the Hymn
Psalm 100
The joyful song of those entering God’s temple
The Lord calls his ransomed people to sing songs of victory (Saint Athanasius).
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. †
Serve the Lord with gladness. *
Come before him, singing for joy.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Know that he, the Lord, is God. †
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Go within his gates, giving thanks. †
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Let us listen to the voice of God; let us enter into his rest.
Continue with the Hymn
Praise the Lord, ye heavens, adore him;
Praise him, angels in the height;
Sun and moon, rejoice before him;
Praise him, all ye stars of light.
Praise the Lord for he has spoken;
Worlds his mighty voice obeyed;
Laws which never shall be broken,
For their guidance he has made.
Praise the Lord, for he is glorious,
Never shall his promise fail;
God hath made his saints victorious,
Sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our salvation;
Hosts on high his power proclaim;
Heaven and earth and all creation,
Praise and magnify his name.
Worship, honor, glory, blessing,
Lord, we offer unto thee;
Young and old, thy praise expressing,
In glad homage bend the knee.
All the saints in heaven adore thee,
We would bow before thy throne;
As thine angels serve before thee,
So on earth thy will be done.
Tune: Austria 87.87 D
Music: Franz Josef Haydn, 1797
Text: Stanzas 1 and 2, Foundling Hospital Collection, c. 1801; stanza 3, Edward Osler, 1836
Continue with the Psalmody