Monastic Breviary

118:1 (Aleph) Blessed are the undefiled in the way, * who walk in the law of the Lord.

118:2 Blessed are they that search his testimonies: * that seek him with their whole heart.

118:3 For they that work iniquity, * have not walked in his ways.

118:4 Thou hast commanded * thy commandments to be kept most diligently.

118:5 O! that my ways may be directed * to keep thy justifications.

118:6 Then shall I not be confounded, * when I shall look into all thy commandments.

118:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, * when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.

118:8 I will keep thy justifications: * O! do not thou utterly forsake me.

118:9 (Béth) By what doth a young man correct his way? * By observing thy words.

118:10 With my whole heart have I sought after thee: * let me not stray from thy commandments.

118:11 Thy words have I hidden in my heart, * that I may not sin against thee.

118:12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: * teach me thy justifications.

118:13 With my lips * I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth.

118:14 I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, * as in all riches.

118:15 I will meditate on thy commandments: * and I will consider thy ways.

118:16 I will think of thy justifications: * I will not forget thy words.

118:17 (Ghimel) Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me * and I shall keep thy words.

118:18 Open thou my eyes: * and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.

118:19 I am a sojourner on the earth: * hide not thy commandments from me.

118:20 My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, * at all times.

118:21 Thou hast rebuked the proud: * they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.

118:22 Remove from me reproach and contempt: * because I have sought after thy testimonies.

118:23 For princes sat, and spoke against me: * but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.

118:24 For thy testimonies are my meditation: * and thy justifications my counsel.

118:25 (Daleth) My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: * quicken thou me according to thy word.

118:26 I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: * teach me thy justifications.

118:27 Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: * and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.

118:28 My soul hath slumbered through heaviness: * strengthen thou me in thy words.

118:29 Remove from me the way of iniquity: * and out of thy law have mercy on me.

118:30 I have chosen the way of truth: * thy judgments I have not forgotten.

118:31 I have stuck to thy testimonies, O Lord: * put me not to shame.

118:32 I have run the way of thy commandments, * when thou didst enlarge my heart.

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.

skip second «O Lord, hear my prayer»

Let us pray.

O God, who art thyself at once the Maker and the Redeemer of all thy faithful ones, grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids remission of all their sins, making of our entreaties unto our great Father a mean whereby they may have that forgiveness which they have ever hoped for.

Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.

November 16th 2026, the 6th day of the Moon, were born into the better life:

Sanctæ Gertrúdis Vírginis, cujus natális sequénti die recensétur.

Edimbúrgi, in Scótia, natális sanctæ Margarítæ Víduæ, Scotórum Regínæ, amóre in páuperes et voluntária paupertáte célebris. Ipsíus tamen festívitas quarto Idus Júnii celebrátur.

In Africa, the holy martyrs Rufinus, Mark, Valerius, and their Companions.

On the same day, the holy martyrs Elpidius, Marcellus, Eustochius, and their Companions. Elpidius was of the Senatorial Order, and steadfastly confessed the Christian faith in the presence of the Emperor Julian the Apostate. He and his Companions were first tied to unbroken horses, and so dragged about, but afterwards cast into the fire, and so achieved a glorious martyrdom, (in the fourth century.)

At Lyon, the holy Confessor Eucherius, Bishop of that see, a man of wonderful faith and teaching. He was of the noblest of the Senatorial Order, and adopted the life and dress of a monk. For a long while he shut himself up in a cave, where he served Christ in fastings and prayers. He was called through the revelation of an angel to occupy the See of Lyons, and was therein solemnly placed. (He died about the year 450.)

At Padua, holy Fidentius, Bishop (of that see, in the year 168.)

At Canterbury, in England, the holy Confessor Edmund Rich, Archbishop of that see, who was driven into exile (at Pontigny) for his defense of the rights of his Church, and died a holy death near Provins, (in Champagne, in the year 1242,) and whose name Innocent IV enrolled among those of the Saints.

On the same day, (in the year 759,) the holy Othmar, Abbot (of St. Gall, in Switzerland.)

Holy Mary and all the Saints, intercede for us with the Lord, our God, so that we may merit His help and salvation, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us, Lord have mercy upon us.

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.

Let us pray.

O Lord, Almighty God, King of heaven and earth, Saviour of the world, bless, lead, rule and govern our hearts and bodies, our senses, words and deeds today, following thy law and commandments, that here and for eternity with thy help we shall be saved in freedom. Who livest and reignest, world without end.

The Rule of our Holy Father Benedict. Chapter 37: Concerning the Old and Infants

Although human nature of itself be drawn to feel pity towards these two times of life, namely that of the aged and that of infants, yet let the authority of the rule also provide for them. Let their weakness always have consideration and on no account let the strictness of the rule in respect to food be held to as regards them, but let there be gentle consideration exercised in their case and let them anticipate the regular hours for meals.

And the Lord direct your hearts, in the charity of God, and the patience of Christ.