Monastic Breviary

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.

1:1 Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, * nor sat in the chair of pestilence.

1:2 But his will is in the law of the Lord, * and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

1:3 And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, * which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season.

1:3 And his leaf shall not fall off: * and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

1:4 Not so the wicked, not so: * but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.

1:5 Therefore the wicked shall not rise again in judgment: * nor sinners in the council of the just.

1:6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: * and the way of the wicked shall perish.

2:1 Why have the Gentiles raged, * and the people devised vain things?

2:2 The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, * against the Lord and against his Christ.

2:3 Let us break their bonds asunder: * and let us cast away their yoke from us.

2:4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: * and the Lord shall deride them.

2:5 Then shall he speak to them in his anger, * and trouble them in his rage.

2:6 But I am appointed king by him over Sion his holy mountain, * preaching his commandment.

2:7 The Lord hath said to me: * Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee.

2:8 Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, * and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.

2:9 Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, * and shalt break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

2:10 And now, O ye kings, understand: * receive instruction, you that judge the earth.

2:11 Serve ye the Lord with fear: * and rejoice unto him with trembling.

2:12 Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, * and you perish from the just way.

2:13 When his wrath shall be kindled in a short time, * blessed are all they that trust in him.

6:2 Lord, rebuke me not in thy indignation, * nor chastise me in thy wrath.

6:3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: * heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

6:4 And my soul is troubled exceedingly: * but thou, O Lord, how long?

6:5 Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul: * O save me for thy mercy’s sake.

6:6 For there is no one in death, that is mindful of thee: * and who shall confess to thee in hell?

6:7 I have laboured in my groanings, every night I will wash my bed: * I will water my couch with my tears.

6:8 My eye is troubled through indignation: * I have grown old amongst all my enemies.

6:9 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity: * for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

6:10 The Lord hath heard my supplication: * the Lord hath received my prayer.

6:11 Let all my enemies be ashamed, and be very much troubled: * let them be turned back, and be ashamed very speedily.

Now to the king of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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, our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, who has safely brought us to the beginning of this day: defend us by thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always what is righteous in thy sight.

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

November 17th 2026, the 7th day of the Moon, were born into the better life:

At Neo-Caesarea, in Pontus, (about the year 270,) holy Gregory, Archbishop of that see, who was famous for teaching and holiness, and who came to be called the Wonder-worker, on account of the great signs and wonders which he worked to the great glory of the churches, whose feast we keep upon the 27th day of this present month of November.

Helpíthi, in Saxónia, item natális sanctæ Gertrúdis, Vírginis, ex Ordine sancti Benedícti, quæ dono revelatiónum clara éxstitit. Ipsíus tamen festívitas prídie hujus diéi celebrátur.

In Palestine, the holy martyrs Alphaeus and Zacchaeus, who were put to death after suffering many torments, in the first year of the persecution under the Emperor Diocletian.

At Cordova, the holy brother and sister Acisclus and Victoria, both martyrs, who in the same persecution by Diocletian aforesaid, were most cruelly tortured by command of the President Dion, and earned crowns of glory from the hand of the Lord.

At Alexandria, holy Denys, Bishop (of that see,) a man of great learning, and glorious on account of his many confessions and his diverse sufferings and torments, who at length fell asleep in the Lord, full of days but still a Confessor, in the time of the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus, (in the year 265.)

At Orleans, (in the year 453,) holy Anian, Bishop (of that see,) the preciousness of whose death, in the sight of the Lord, is attested by many miracles.

In England, holy Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln. He was a Charter House Monk, who was called to rule the Church of Lincoln, was famous for many miracles, and died an holy death, (in the year 1200.)

At Tours, (in the year 595,) holy Gregory, Bishop (of that see.)

At Florence, the holy Confessor Eugene, a Deacon of blessed Zenobius, Bishop of that see.

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 38: Concerning the Weekly Reader

Reading ought not to be wanting to the brethren when they eat at table: and let not anyone presume to read there because he happens to have casually picked up the book, but let one who is to read for the whole week enter upon his office on the Lord’s day: and when he enters upon his office let him, after the Mass and Communion, beg of all prayers for himself that God avert from him the spirit of pride: and let this versicle be said in the oratory thrice by all, he himself however beginning it: “Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord; and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise”; and so having received his blessing let him enter upon his office of reading: and let complete silence be kept so that the whispering of none be heard there, nor the voice of any but of him only who is reading: and let the brethren who are eating and drinking pass each other such things as they require so that no one may have to ask for anything; but if it should be necessary, it were better to make request by means of some sound-signal rather than by word of mouth: and let not anyone presume to ask any question there whether about the reading or otherwise, that occasion be not given for talking, unless by chance the superior wish to say anything briefly for the purpose of edification.

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

129:1 Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: * Lord, hear my voice.

129:2 Let thy ears be attentive * to the voice of my supplication.

129:3 If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: * Lord, who shall stand it.

129:4 For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: * and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord.

129:4 My soul hath relied on his word: * my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

129:6 From the morning watch even until night, * let Israel hope in the Lord.

129:7 Because with the Lord there is mercy: * and with him plentiful redemption.

129:8 And he shall redeem Israel * from all his iniquities.

skip second «O Lord, hear my prayer»

Let us pray.

O God the giver of pardon, and the lover of human salvation, we beseech thy clemency: that thou grant the brethren of our congregation, kinsfolk, and benefactors, which are departed out of this world, blessed Mary ever Virgin making intercession with all the saints, to come to the fellowship of eternal blessedness.

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