Roman Breviary

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. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried: he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven; sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty: from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Alleluia.

Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our saviour. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. For the Lord will not cast off his people: for in his hand are all the ends of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are his.

For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. (genuflect) Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us: For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.

Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts: As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.

Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart. And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.

Son of a virgin, maker of thy mother,

Thou, rod and blossom from a stem unstainèd,

Now while a virgin fair of fame we honour,

Hear our devotion!

Fountain of mercy, hear the prayers she offers;

Purge our offences, pardon our transgressions,

So that hereafter we to thee may render

Praise with thanksgiving.

Thou, the All-Father, thou, the One-Begotten,

Thou, Holy Spirit, Three in One co-equal,

Glory be henceforth thine through all the ages,

World without ending.

Amen.

8:2 O Lord our Lord, * how admirable is thy name in the whole earth!

8:2 For thy magnificence is elevated * above the heavens.

8:3 Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings thou hast perfected praise, because of thy enemies, * that thou mayst destroy the enemy and the avenger.

8:4 For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers: * the moon and the stars which thou hast founded.

8:5 What is man that thou art mindful of him? * or the son of man that thou visitest him?

8:6 Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour: * and hast set him over the works of thy hands.

8:8 Thou hast subjected all things under his feet, * all sheep and oxen: moreover the beasts also of the fields.

8:9 The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, * that pass through the paths of the sea.

8:10 O Lord our Lord, * how admirable is thy name in all the earth!

18:2 The heavens shew forth the glory of God, * and the firmament declareth the work of his hands.

18:3 Day to day uttereth speech, * and night to night sheweth knowledge.

18:4 There are no speeches nor languages, * where their voices are not heard.

18:5 Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: * and their words unto the ends of the world.

18:6 He hath set his tabernacle in the sun: * and he, as a bridegroom coming out of his bride chamber,

18:6 Hath rejoiced as a giant to run the way: * his going out is from the end of heaven,

18:7 And his circuit even to the end thereof: * and there is no one that can hide himself from his heat.

18:8 The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls: * the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones.

18:9 The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts: * the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes.

18:10 The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever: * the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves.

18:11 More to be desired than gold and many precious stones: * and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.

18:12 For thy servant keepeth them, * and in keeping them there is a great reward.

18:13 Who can understand sins? from my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord: * and from those of others spare thy servant.

18:14 If they shall have no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot: * and I shall be cleansed from the greatest sin.

18:15 And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: * and the meditation of my heart always in thy sight.

18:15 O Lord, my helper, * and my redeemer.

23:1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof: * the world, and all they that dwell therein.

23:2 For he hath founded it upon the seas; * and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

23:3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: * or who shall stand in his holy place?

23:4 The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, * who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.

23:5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, * and mercy from God his Saviour.

23:6 This is the generation of them that seek him, * of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

23:7 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: * and the King of Glory shall enter in.

23:8 Who is this King of Glory? * the Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.

23:9 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: * and the King of Glory shall enter in.

23:10 Who is this King of Glory? * the Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

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.

Lesson from the book of Osee

1 The word of the Lord, that came to Osee the son of Beeri, in the days of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias kings of Juda, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joas king of Israel.

2 The beginning of the Lord's speaking by Osee: and the Lord said to Osee: Go, take thee a wife of fornications, and have of her children of fornications: for the land by fornication shall depart from the Lord.

3 So he went, and took Gomer the daughter of Debelaim: and she conceived and bore him a son.

4 And the Lord said to him: Call his name Jezrahel: for yet a little while, and I will visit the blood of Jezrahel upon the house of Jehu, and I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

5 And in that day I will break in pieces the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezrahel.

6 And she conceived again, and bore a daughter, and he said to him: Call her name, Without mercy: for I will not add any more to have mercy on the house of Israel, but I will utterly forget them.

7 And I will have mercy on the house of Juda, and I will save them by the Lord their God: and I will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, nor by horses, nor by horsemen.

8 And she weaned her that was called Without mercy. And she conceived, and bore a son.

9 And he said: Call his name, Not my people: for you are not my people, and I will not be yours.

10 And the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, that is without measure, and shall not be numbered. And it shall be in the place where it shall be said to them: You are not my people: it shall be said to them: Ye are the sons of the living God.

11 And the children of Juda, and the children of Israel shall be gathered together: and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall come up out of the land: for great is the day of Jezrahel.

44:2 My heart hath uttered a good word; * I speak my works to the King.

44:2 My tongue is the pen of a scrivener * that writeth swiftly.

44:3 Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; * therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.

44:4 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, * O thou most mighty.

44:5 With thy comeliness and thy beauty * set out, proceed prosperously, and reign.

44:5 Because of truth and meekness and justice: * and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.

44:6 Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, * into the hearts of the king’s enemies.

44:7 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: * the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.

44:8 Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: * therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

44:9 Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: * out of which the daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory.

44:10 The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; * surrounded with variety.

44:11 Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: * and forget thy people and thy father’s house.

44:12 And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; * for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.

44:13 And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, * yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.

44:14 All the glory of the king’s daughter is within, * in golden borders, clothed round about with varieties.

44:15 After her shall virgins be brought to the king: * her neighbours shall be brought to thee.

44:16 They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: * they shall be brought into the temple of the king.

44:17 Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: * thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.

44:18 They shall remember thy name * throughout all generations.

44:18 Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, * for ever and ever.

45:2 Our God is our refuge and strength: * a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.

45:3 Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled; * and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.

45:4 Their waters roared and were troubled: * the mountains were troubled with his strength.

45:5 The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: * the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle.

45:6 God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: * God will help it in the morning early.

45:7 Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down: * he uttered his voice, the earth trembled.

45:8 The Lord of armies is with us: * the God of Jacob is our protector.

45:9 Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath done upon earth, * making wars to cease even to the end of the earth.

45:10 He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: * and the shield he shall burn in the fire.

45:11 Be still and see that I am God; * I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.

45:12 The Lord of armies is with us: * the God of Jacob is our protector.

47:2 Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised * in the city of our God, in his holy mountain.

47:3 With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, * on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.

47:4 In her houses shall God be known, * when he shall protect her.

47:5 For behold the kings of the earth assembled themselves: * they gathered together.

47:6 So they saw, and they wondered, they were troubled, they were moved: * trembling took hold of them.

47:7 There were pains as of a woman in labour; * with a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of Tharsis.

47:9 As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: * God hath founded it for ever.

47:10 We have received thy mercy, O God, * in the midst of thy temple.

47:11 According to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: * thy right hand is full of justice.

47:12 Let mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Juda be glad; * because of thy judgments, O Lord.

47:13 Surround Sion, and encompass her: * tell ye in her towers.

47:14 Set your hearts on her strength; and distribute her houses, * that ye may relate it in another generation.

47:15 For this is God, our God unto eternity, and for ever and ever: * he shall rule us for evermore.

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.

Gertrude was born of a noble family at Eisleben, in Saxony, about the year of our Lord 1264. At five years of age she offered her virginity and herself to Jesus Christ, in the Benedictine nunnery at Rodalsdorf. From that time forth she was utterly estranged from earthly things, ever striving for things higher, and began to lead a kind of heavenly life. To learning in human letters she added knowledge of the things of God. In the thought thereof she earnestly desired, and soon reached, the perfection of a Christian soul. Of Christ, and of the things in His life, she spoke oftentimes with movings of spirit. The glory of God was the one end of all her thoughts, and to that her every longing and her every act were given. Though God had crowned her with so many and so noble gifts both of nature and of grace, her belief regarding herself was so humble that she was used to number as among the greatest of the wonders of His goodness that He had always in His mercy borne with one who was so utterly unworthy.

In the thirtieth year of her age she was elected Abbess of Rodalsdorf, where she had professed herself in the religious life, and afterwards of Heldelfs. This office she bore for forty years in love, wisdom, and zeal for strict observance, so that the house seemed like an ideal example of a sisterhood of perfect nuns. To each one she was a mother and a teacher, and yet would be as the least of all, being in sooth in all lowliness among them as she that served. That she might be more utterly God's only, she tormented her body with sleeplessness, hunger, and other afflictions, but withal ever true to herself, stood forth a pattern of innocency, gentleness, and long-suffering. The salvation of her neighbours was her constant earnest endeavour, and her godly toil bore abundant fruit. The love of God oftentimes threw her into trances, and she was given the grace of the deepest contemplation, even to union of spirit with God.

Christ Himself, to show what such a bride was to Him, revealed that He had in the heart of Gertrude a pleasant dwelling-place. The Virgin Mother of God she ever sought with deep reverence as a mother and warden whom she had received from Jesus Himself, and from her she had many benefits. Toward the most Divine Sacrament of the Eucharist, and the sufferings of the Lord, her soul was moved with love and gratitude, so that she sometimes wept abundantly. She helped with daily gifts and prayers the souls of the just condemned to the purifying fire. She wrote much for the fostering of godliness. She was glorified also by revelations from God, and by the gift of prophecy. Her last illness was rather the wasting of a home-sickness to be with God than a decay of the flesh, and she left this life (to live the undying life in Him, upon the 17th day of November,) in the year of our Lord 1292. God made her bright with miracles both during her life and after her death.

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.

From the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: The Kingdom of heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom and the Bride. And so on.

Homily by Pope St. Gregory the Great

Dearly beloved brethren oftentimes do I warn you to fly corrupt conversation, and to keep yourselves unspotted from the world. But the portion which is this day read from the Holy Gospel doth oblige me to say that even to these good things which ye do, ye must needs take all careful heed. Look ye well to it, that, when ye work righteousness, ye do it not as seeking the praise and admiration of men, for if the lust of praise do once creep in, that which seemeth so fair without, loseth its reward within. Behold how the Redeemer speaketh of these ten virgins. He calleth them all virgins, yet entered not all of them into the door of blessedness, for there were some of them who sought outwardly the honour of virginity, but would take no oil within their vessels with their lamps.

First of all, it is for us to ask What is the kingdom of Heaven? And wherefore shall the same be likened unto ten virgins, whereof, albeit five were wise, yet five were foolish For if the kingdom of heaven be such that there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, Apoc. xxi. 27, how can it be like unto five virgins which were foolish? But we must know that, in the word of God, the kingdom of heaven doth oftentimes signify the Church as she now is, touching the which the Lord saith in another place “The Son of Man shall send forth His Angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend.” Matth. xiii. 41. In that kingdom of Blessedness, wherein peace shall have her perfect reign, there shall be nothing found that offendeth for the angels to gather out.

«The body of every man doth consist of five senses, and five being doubled, is ten. Forasmuch, therefore, as the whole body of the faithful doth consist of two sexes, the Holy Church is likened unto ten virgins. And forasmuch as in the Church the good are for the present mingled with the bad, and the reprobate with the elect, it is rightly said that, of the ten virgins, five are wise and five are foolish. There are many who have self-control, which do keep themselves from lusting after things outward, whose hope beareth them to things inward, who chastise the flesh, who long with intense home-sickness for their Fatherland which is in heaven, who seek an eternal reward, and who will not to receive for their labours the praise of men. These are they who reckon their glory, not in the mouths of men, but in the testimony of their own conscience. And many there be likewise who afflict the body by self-control, and yet who seek for their self-control applause from men.»

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

At that time, Jesus said to the people a parable: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. And so on.

Homily by St. Jerome, Priest at Bethlehem.

The kingdom of heaven is the proclamation of the Gospel, and that knowledge of the Scriptures, which leadeth unto life, and whereof it is said to the Jews: The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Matth. xxi. 43 Therefore is this kingdom like to a grain of mustard-seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. By the man that sowed it in his field, many understand to be meant the Saviour, because He is the Sower That soweth in the souls of believers; others understand every man that soweth good seed in his own field, that is, in himself and in his own heart.

We praise thee, O God, * we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.

All the earth doth worship thee, * the Father everlasting.

To thee all Angels cry aloud, * the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.

To thee Cherubim and Seraphim * continually do cry.

bow head Holy, Holy, Holy * Lord God of Sabaoth;

Heaven and earth are full * of the Majesty of thy glory.

The glorious company of the Apostles * praise thee.

The goodly fellowship of the Prophets * praise thee.

The noble army of Martyrs * praise thee.

The holy Church throughout all the world * doth acknowledge thee;

The Father, * of an infinite Majesty.

Thine honourable, true, * and only Son;

Also the Holy Ghost, * the Comforter.

Thou art the King of Glory, * O Christ.

Thou art the everlasting * Son of the Father.

During the following verse all make a profound bow: When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, * thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.

When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, * thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God, * in the glory of the Father.

We believe that thou shalt come * to be our Judge.

Kneel for the following verse We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, * whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious Blood.

Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, * in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save thy people, * and bless thine heritage.

Govern them, * and lift them up for ever.

Day by day * we magnify thee;

During the following verse, by local custom, all make a profound bow. And we worship thy Name * ever, world without end.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us * this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, * have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, * as our trust is in thee.

O Lord, in thee have I trusted, * let me never be confounded.

Let us pray.

O God, Who didst make unto thyself a pleasant dwelling-place in the heart of thy blessed hand-maiden Gertrude, be Thou entreated for the same thy servant's sake, and by her prayers, to purge away in thy mercy all defilement from our hearts, and to grant us one day to rejoice with her in thy presence.

Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.