Universalis
Friday 29 March 2024    (other days)
Good Friday 

Using calendar: England. You can pick a diocese or region.

Office of Readings

If this is the first Hour that you are reciting today, you should precede it with the Invitatory Psalm.
INTRODUCTION
Deus, in adiutórium meum inténde.
  Dómine, ad adiuvándum me festína.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
INTRODUCTION
O God, come to our aid.
  O Lord, make haste to help us.
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.

Hymnus
Pange, lingua, gloriósi
prœ́lium certáminis,
et super crucis tropǽo
dic triúmphum nóbilem,
quáliter redémptor orbis
immolátus vícerit.
De paréntis protoplásti
fraude factor cóndolens,
quando pomi noxiális
morte morsu córruit,
ipse lignum tunc notávit,
damna ligni ut sólveret.
Hoc opus nostræ salútis
ordo depopóscerat,
multifórmis perditóris
arte ut artem fálleret,
et medélam ferret inde,
hostis unde lǽserat.
Quando venit ergo sacri
plenitúdo témporis,
missus est ab arce Patris
Natus, orbis cónditor,
atque ventre virgináli
carne factus pródiit.
Lustra sex qui iam perácta
tempus implens córporis,
se volénte, natus ad hoc,
passióni déditus,
agnus in crucis levátur
immolándus stípite.
Æqua Patri Filióque,
ínclito Paráclito,
sempitérna sit Beátæ
Trinitáti glória,
cuius alma nos redémit
atque servat grátia. Amen.
Hymn
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle,
sing the last, the dread affray;
o’er the cross, the victor’s trophy,
sound the high triumphal lay,
how, the pains of death enduring,
earth’s Redeemer won the day.
When at length the appointed fullness
of the sacred time was come,
he was sent, the world’s Creator,
from the Father’s heavenly home,
and was found in human fashion,
offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Now the thirty years are ended
which on earth he willed to see.
Willingly he meets his passion,
born to set his people free:
on the cross the Lamb is lifted,
there the sacrifice to be.
There the nails and spear he suffers,
vinegar and gall and reed.
From his sacred body piercèd
blood and water both proceed:
precious flood, which all creation
from the stain of sin hath freed.
Faithful Cross, above all other,
one and only noble Tree.
none in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peer may be.
Sweet the wood and sweet the iron,
and thy load, most sweet is he.
Bend, O lofty Tree, thy branches,
thy too rigid sinews bend;
and awhile the stubborn harshness,
which thy birth bestowed, suspend;
and the limbs of heaven’s high Monarch
gently on thine arms extend.
Thou alone wast counted worthy
this world’s ransom to sustain,
that a shipwrecked race for ever
might a port of refuge gain,
with the sacred Blood anointed
of the Lamb for sinners slain.
Praise and honour to the Father,
praise and honour to the Son,
praise and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One:
One in might and One in glory,
while eternal ages run.

Ps 2:1-12
Messias rex et victor

Convenerunt vere adversus puerum tuum Iesum, quem unxisti” (Act 4, 27).

Astitérunt reges terræ et príncipes convenérunt in unum, advérsus Dóminum et advérsus Christum eius.
1Quare fremuérunt gentes, *
  et pópuli meditáti sunt inánia?
2Astitérunt reges terræ †
  et príncipes convenérunt in unum *
  advérsus Dóminum et advérsus christum eius:
3Dirumpámus víncula eórum, *
  et proiciámus a nobis iugum ipsórum!”
4Qui hábitat in cælis irridébit eos, *
  Dóminus subsannábit eos.
5Tunc loquétur ad eos in ira sua, *
  et in furóre suo conturbábit eos:
6Ego autem constítui regem meum *
  super Sion, montem sanctum meum!”.
7Prædicábo decrétum eius: †
  Dóminus dixit ad me: “Fílius meus es tu, *
  ego hódie génui te.
8Póstula a me, et dabo tibi gentes hereditátem tuam, *
  et possessiónem tuam términos terræ.
9Reges eos in virga férrea, *
  et tamquam vas fíguli confrínges eos”.
10Et nunc, reges, intellégite, *
  erudímini, qui iudicátis terram.
11Servíte Dómino in timóre, *
  et exsultáte ei cum tremóre.
12Apprehéndite disciplínam, †
  ne quando irascátur, et pereátis de via, *
  cum exárserit in brevi ira eius.
Beáti omnes *
  qui confídunt in eo.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Astitérunt reges terræ et príncipes convenérunt in unum, advérsus Dóminum et advérsus Christum eius.

Psalm 2
The Messiah, king and victor

They arise, the kings of the earth; princes plot against the Lord and his anointed.
Why are the nations in a ferment?
  Why do the people make their vain plans?
The kings of the earth have risen up;
  the leaders have united against the Lord,
  against his anointed.
“Let us break their chains, that bind us;
  let us throw off their yoke from our shoulders!”
The Lord laughs at them,
  he who lives in the heavens derides them.
Then he speaks to them in his anger;
  in his fury he throws them into confusion:
“But I – I have set up my king on Zion,
my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the Lord’s decrees.
The Lord has said to me: “You are my son: today I have begotten you.
  Ask me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance,
  the ends of the earth for you to possess.
You will rule them with a rod of iron,
  break them in pieces like an earthen pot.”
So now, kings, listen: understand, you who rule the land.
  Serve the Lord in fear, tremble even as you praise him.
Learn his teaching, lest he take anger,
  lest you perish when his anger bursts into flame.
Blessed are all who put their trust in the Lord.
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.
They arise, the kings of the earth; princes plot against the Lord and his anointed.

Ps 21:2-32
Afflictio iusti et exauditio

Clamavit Iesus voce magna: «Eli, Eli, lema sabacthani?»” (Mt 27, 46).

Divisérunt sibi vestiménta mea et super vestem meam misérunt sortem.
2Deus, Deus meus, quare me dereliquísti?*
  Longe a salúte mea verba rugítus mei.
3Deus meus, clamo per diem, et non exáudis,*
  et nocte, et non est réquies mihi.
4Tu autem sanctus es,*
  qui hábitas in láudibus Israel.
5In te speravérunt patres nostri,*
  speravérunt et liberásti eos;
6ad te clamavérunt et salvi facti sunt,*
  in te speravérunt et non sunt confúsi.
7Ego autem sum vermis et non homo,*
  oppróbrium hóminum et abiéctio plebis.
8Omnes vidéntes me derisérunt me;*
  torquéntes lábia movérunt caput:
«9Sperávit in Dómino: erípiat eum,*
  salvum fáciat eum, quóniam vult eum».
10Quóniam tu es qui extraxísti me de ventre,*
  spes mea ad úbera matris meæ.
11In te proiéctus sum ex útero,*
  de ventre matris meæ Deus meus es tu.
12Ne longe fias a me,†
  quóniam tribulátio próxima est,*
  quóniam non est qui ádiuvet.
13Circumdedérunt me vítuli multi,*
  tauri Basan obsedérunt me.
14Aperuérunt super me os suum*
  sicut leo rápiens et rúgiens.
15Sicut aqua effúsus sum,*
  et dissolúta sunt ómnia ossa mea.
Factum est cor meum tamquam cera*
  liquéscens in médio ventris mei.
16Aruit tamquam testa palátum meum,†
  et lingua mea adhǽsit fáucibus meis,*
  et in púlverem mortis deduxísti me.
17Quóniam circumdedérunt me canes multi,*
  concílium malignántium obsédit me.
Fodérunt manus meas et pedes meos,*
  18et dinumerávi ómnia ossa mea.
Ipsi vero consideravérunt et inspexérunt me;†
  19divisérunt sibi vestiménta mea*
  et super vestem meam misérunt sortem.
20Tu autem, Dómine, ne elongáveris,*
  fortitúdo mea, ad adiuvándum me festína.
21Erue a frámea ánimam meam*
  et de manu canis únicam meam.
22Salva me ex ore leónis*
  et a córnibus unicórnium humilitátem meam.
23Narrábo nomen tuum frátribus meis,*
  in médio ecclésiæ laudábo te.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Divisérunt sibi vestiménta mea et super vestem meam misérunt sortem.

Psalm 21 (22)
The just man suffers; the Lord hears him

They divided my clothing among them. They cast lots for my robe.
God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
  The words that I groan do not reach my saviour.
My God, I call by day and you do not listen.
  I call to you by night, but no rest comes.
But still you are holy,
  the one whom Israel praises.
Our fathers put their hope in you;
  they gave you their trust and you freed them.
They called on you and they were saved,
  they trusted and were not disappointed.
But I am a worm and no man,
  despised by mankind and rejected by the people.
All who see me deride me,
  they make faces and toss their heads:
“He trusted in the Lord, so let the Lord rescue him:
  let him save him, if he truly delights in him!”
Indeed, you drew me from my mother’s womb,
  you set me to suck at her breasts.
I have depended on you since before I was born,
  from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
Do not be far from me now,
  for my tribulation is close at hand,
  for there is no-one who will help.
I am surrounded by many cattle,
  the bulls of Bashan hem me in.
Their mouths open wide before me,
  like a fierce and roaring lion.
I have flowed away like water,
  and all my bones come apart.
My heart has turned to wax,
  it melts away within me.
My mouth is dry as burnt clay,
  my tongue sticks in my throat:
  you have laid me in the dust of death.
I am surrounded by many dogs,
  my enemies unite and hem me in.
They have pierced my hands and my feet:
  I can count all my bones.
They gaze on me, they inspect me.
They have divided my clothing between them,
  they have cast lots for my garment.
So you, Lord, do not stay away:
  Lord, my strength, hurry to my help.
Rescue my soul from the sword,
  my only child from the teeth of the dogs.
Save me from the lion’s mouth,
  from the wild oxen’s horns that brought me low.
I will tell of your glory to my brethren;
  I will praise you in the midst of the assembly.
Praise the Lord, you who fear him!
  Give him glory, all the seed of Jacob.
Let Israel tremble before him,
  for he does not spurn the poor or ignore their plight.
He does not turn his face away –
  whoever calls on him, he listens.
I shall cry out your praise in the great assembly,
  I shall fulfil my vows before all those who fear you.
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.
They divided my clothing among them. They cast lots for my robe.

Ps 37:2-23
Obsecratio peccatoris in extremo periculo constituti

Stabant omnes noti eius a longe” (Lc 23, 49).

Vim faciébant, qui quærébant ánimam meam.
2Dómine, ne in furóre tuo árguas me,*
  neque in ira tua corrípias me,
3quóniam sagíttæ tuæ infíxæ sunt mihi,*
  et descéndit super me manus tua.
4Non est sánitas in carne mea a fácie indignatiónis tuæ,*
  non est pax óssibus meis a fácie peccatórum meórum.
5Quóniam iniquitátes meæ supergréssæ sunt caput meum*
  et sicut onus grave gravant me nimis.
6Putruérunt et corrúpti sunt livóres mei*
  a fácie insipiéntiæ meæ.
7Inclinátus sum et incurvátus nimis;*
  tota die contristátus ingrediébar.
8Quóniam lumbi mei impléti sunt ardóribus,*
  et non est sánitas in carne mea.
9Afflíctus sum et humiliátus sum nimis,*
  rugiébam a gémitu cordis mei.
10Dómine, ante te omne desidérium meum,*
  et gémitus meus a te non est abscónditus.
11Palpitávit cor meum, derelíquit me virtus mea,*
  et lumen oculórum meórum, et ipsum non est mecum.
12Amíci mei et próximi mei procul a plaga mea stetérunt,*
  et propínqui mei de longe stetérunt.
13Et láqueos posuérunt, qui quærébant ánimam meam,†
  et, qui requirébant mala mihi, locúti sunt insídias*
  et dolos tota die meditabántur.
14Ego autem tamquam surdus non audiébam*
  et sicut mutus non apériens os suum;
15et factus sum sicut homo non áudiens*
  et non habens in ore suo redargutiónes.
16Quóniam in te, Dómine, sperávi,*
  tu exáudies, Dómine Deus meus.
17Quia dixi: «Nequándo supergáudeant mihi;*
  dum commovéntur pedes mei, magnificántur super me».
18Quóniam ego in lapsum parátus sum,*
  et dolor meus in conspéctu meo semper.
19Quóniam iniquitátem meam annuntiábo*
  et sollícitus sum de peccáto meo.
20Inimíci autem mei vivunt et confirmáti sunt,*
  et multiplicáti sunt, qui odérunt me iníque.
21Retribuéntes mala pro bonis detrahébant mihi*
  pro eo quod sequébar bonitátem.
22Ne derelínquas me, Dómine;*
  Deus meus, ne discésseris a me.
23Festína in adiutórium meum,*
  Dómine, salus mea.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Vim faciébant, qui quærébant ánimam meam.

Psalm 37 (38)
The plea of a sinner in great peril

Those who sought my life used violence against me.
Lord, do not rebuke me in your wrath,
  do not ruin me in your anger:
for I am pierced by your arrows
  and crushed beneath your hand.
In the face of your anger
  there is no health in my body.
There is no peace for my bones,
  no rest from my sins.
My transgressions rise higher than my head:
  a heavy burden, they weigh me down.
My wounds are corruption and decay
  because of my foolishness.
I am bowed down and bent,
  bent under grief all day long.
For a fire burns up my loins,
  and there is no health in my body.
I am afflicted, utterly cast down,
  I cry out from the sadness of my heart.
Lord, all that I desire is known to you;
  my sighs are not hidden from you.
My heart grows weak, my strength leaves me,
  and the light of my eyes – even that has gone.
My friends and my neighbours
  keep far from my wounds.
Those closest to me keep far away,
  while those who would kill me set traps,
  those who would harm me make their plots:
  they plan mischief all through the day.
But I, like a deaf man, do not hear;
  like one who is dumb, I do not open my mouth.
I am like someone who cannot hear,
  in whose mouth there is no reply.
For in you, Lord, I put my trust:
  you will listen to me, Lord, my God.
For I have said, “Let them never triumph over me:
  if my feet stumble, they will gloat.”
For I am ready to fall:
  my suffering is before me always.
For I shall proclaim my wrongdoing:
  I am anxious because of my sins.
All the time my enemies live and grow stronger;
  they are so many, those who hate me without cause.
Returning evil for good they dragged me down,
  because I followed the way of goodness.
Do not abandon me, Lord:
  my God, do not leave me.
Hurry to my aid,
  O Lord, my saviour.
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.
Those who sought my life used violence against me.

℣. Insurrexérunt in me testes iníqui.
℟. Et mentíta est iníquitas sibi.
℣. False witnesses have risen against me,
℟. And falsehood has deceived itself.

Lectio prior
De Epístola ad Hebrǽos 9, 11-28

Christus pontifex per proprium sanguinem introivit semel in Sancta

Fratres: 11Christus cum advénit póntifex futurórum bonórum, per ámplius et perféctius tabernáculum, non manufáctum, id est non huius creatiónis, 12neque per sánguinem hircórum et vitulórum sed per próprium sánguinem introívit semel in Sancta, ætérna redemptióne invénta. 13Si enim sanguis hircórum et taurórum et cinis vítulæ aspérsus inquinátos sanctíficat ad emundatiónem carnis, 14quanto magis sanguis Christi, qui per Spíritum ætérnum semetípsum óbtulit immaculátum Deo, emundábit consciéntiam nostram ab opéribus mórtuis ad serviéndum Deo vivénti.
  15Et ídeo novi testaménti mediátor est, ut, morte intercedénte, in redemptiónem eárum prævaricatiónum, quæ erant sub prióre testaménto, repromissiónem accípiant, qui vocáti sunt ætérnæ hereditátis. 16Ubi enim testaméntum, mors necésse est afferátur testatóris; 17testaméntum autem in mórtuis est confirmátum, nondum enim valet, dum vivit, qui testátus est. 18Unde ne prius quidem sine sánguine dedicátum est; 19enuntiáto enim omni mandáto secúndum legem a Móyse univérso pópulo, accípiens sánguinem vitulórum et hircórum cum aqua et lana coccínea et hyssópo, ipsum librum et omnem pópulum aspérsit 20dicens: «Hic sanguis testaménti, quod mandávit ad vos Deus»; 21étiam tabernáculum et ómnia vasa ministérii sánguine simíliter aspérsit. 22Et ómnia pæne in sánguine mundántur secúndum legem et sine sánguinis effusióne non fit remíssio.
  23Necésse erat ergo figúras quidem cæléstium his mundári, ipsa autem cæléstia melióribus hóstiis quam istis. 24Non enim in manufácta Sancta Christus introívit, quæ sunt similitúdo verórum, sed in ipsum cælum, ut appáreat nunc vúltui Dei pro nobis; 25neque ut sæpe ófferat semetípsum, quemádmodum póntifex intrat in Sancta per síngulos annos in sánguine aliéno. 26Alióquin oportébat eum frequénter pati ab orígine mundi; nunc autem semel in consummatióne sæculórum ad destitutiónem peccáti per sacrifícium sui manifestátus est. 27Et quemádmodum statútum est homínibus semel mori, post hoc autem iudícium, 28sic et Christus, semel oblátus ad multórum auferénda peccáta, secúndo sine peccáto apparébit exspectántibus se in salútem.
First ReadingHebrews 9:11-28 ©

The new Covenant in the blood of Christ

Now Christ has come, as the high priest of all the blessings which were to come. He has passed through the greater, the more perfect tent, which is better than the one made by men’s hands because it is not of this created order; and he has entered the sanctuary once and for all, taking with him not the blood of goats and bull calves, but his own blood, having won an eternal redemption for us. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer are sprinkled on those who have incurred defilement and they restore the holiness of their outward lives; how much more effectively the blood of Christ, who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice to God through the eternal Spirit, can purify our inner self from dead actions so that we do our service to the living God.
  He brings a new covenant, as the mediator, only so that the people who were called to an eternal inheritance may actually receive what was promised: his death took place to cancel the sins that infringed the earlier covenant. Now wherever a will is in question, the death of the testator must be established; indeed, it only becomes valid with that death, since it is not meant to have any effect while the testator is still alive. That explains why even the earlier covenant needed something to be killed in order to take effect, and why, after Moses had announced all the commandments of the Law to the people, he took the calves’ blood, the goats’ blood and some water, and with these he sprinkled the book itself and all the people, using scarlet wool and hyssop; saying as he did so: This is the blood of the covenant that God has laid down for you. After that, he sprinkled the tent and all the liturgical vessels with blood in the same way. In fact, according to the Law almost everything has to be purified with blood; and if there is no shedding of blood, there is no remission. Obviously, only the copies of heavenly things can be purified in this way, and the heavenly things themselves have to be purified by a higher sort of sacrifice than this. It is not as though Christ had entered a man-made sanctuary which was only modelled on the real one; but it was heaven itself, so that he could appear in the actual presence of God on our behalf. And he does not have to offer himself again and again, like the high priest going into the sanctuary year after year with the blood that is not his own, or else he would have had to suffer over and over again since the world began. Instead of that, he has made his appearance once and for all, now at the end of the last age, to do away with sin by sacrificing himself. Since men only die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ, too, offers himself only once to take the faults of many on himself, and when he appears a second time, it will not be to deal with sin but to reward with salvation those who are waiting for him.
Responsorium
Cf. Is 53, 7. 12
℟. Sicut ovis ad occisiónem ductus est et, dum male tractarétur, non apéruit os suum; tráditus est ad mortem,* Ut vivificáret pópulum suum.
℣. Trádidit in mortem ánimam suam et inter scelerátos reputátus est.* Ut vivificáret.
Responsory
Heb 9:28; Is 53:11
℟. He was led out as a lamb that is led to the slaughterhouse; harshly dealt with, he never opened his mouth; he was given over to death,* so as to give life to his people.
℣. He surrendered himself to death and was ranked with sinners,* so as to give life to his people.

Lectio altera
Ex Catechésibus sancti Ioánnis Chrysóstomi epíscopi (Cat. 3, 13-19: SCh 50, 174-177)

Virtus sanguinis Christi

Vis Christi sánguinis audíre virtútem? Redeámus ad eius exémplum et priórem typum recordémur et prístinam scriptúram narrémus.
  Occídite, inquit Móyses, agnum annículum et sánguine eius liníte iánuas. Quid ais, Móyses? Sanguis ovis rationábilem hóminem liberáre consuévit? Valde, inquit, non eo quod sanguis est, sed quia domínici sánguinis per eum demonstrátur exémplum. Nunc ergo si víderit inimícus non póstibus impósitum sánguinem typi, sed fidélium ore lucéntem sánguinem veritátis, Christi templi póstibus dedicátum, multo magis se súbtrahit.
  Vis et áliam huius sánguinis scrutári virtútem? Volo unde primum cucúrrit inspícias et de quo fonte manávit. De ipsa primum cruce procéssit, latus illud domínicum inítium fuit. Mórtuo enim, ait, Iesu et adhuc in cruce pendénte, appróximat miles, latus láncea percússit et exínde aqua fluxit et sanguis. Unum baptísmatis sýmbolum, áliud sacraménti. Latus miles apéruit et templi sancti paríetem patefécit et ego thesáurum præclárum invéni et fulgéntes divítias me grátulor reperíre. Sic et de illo agno factum est. Iudǽi ovem occidérunt et ego fructum de sacrifício cognóvi.
  De látere sanguis et aqua. Nolo tam fácile, audítor, tránseas tanti secréta mystérii. Restat enim mihi mýstica atque secretális orátio. Dixi baptísmatis sýmbolum et mysteriórum aquam illam et sánguinem demonstrári. Ex his enim sancta fundáta est Ecclésia, per lavácri regeneratiónem et renovatiónem Spíritus Sancti, per baptísma, inquam, et mystéria quæ ex látere vidéntur esse proláta. Ex látere ígitur suo Christus ædificávit Ecclésiam, sicut de látere Adam eius coniux Eva proláta est.
  Nam hac de causa Paulus quoque testátur dicens: De córpore eius et de óssibus sumus, latus signíficans. Nam sicut de illo látere Deus fecit féminam procreári, sic et de suo látere Christus aquam nobis et sánguinem dedit, unde repararétur Ecclésia. Et sicut in sopóre quiescéntis Adæ, Deus láteris membra patefécit, sic modo post mortem aquam nobis donávit et sánguinem.
  Vidéte quemádmodum sponsam sibi Christus coniúnxit, vidéte quo nos cibo enútrit. Eódem cibo náscimur et nutrímur. Nam sicut múlier, affectiónis natúra cogénte, génitum álere lacte suo et sánguine festínat, sic et Christus quos ipse regénerat suo sánguine semper enútrit.
Second Reading
From the Catecheses by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop

The power of Christ's blood

If we wish to understand the power of Christ’s blood, we should go back to the ancient account of its prefiguration in Egypt. “Sacrifice a lamb without blemish,” commanded Moses, “and sprinkle its blood on your doors.” If we were to ask him what he meant, and how the blood of an irrational beast could possibly save men endowed with reason, his answer would be that the saving power lies not in the blood itself, but in the fact that it is a sign of the Lord’s blood. In those days, when the destroying angel saw the blood on the doors he did not dare to enter, so how much less will the devil approach now when he sees, not that figurative blood on the doors, but the true blood on the lips of believers, the doors of the temple of Christ.
  If you desire further proof of the power of this blood, remember where it came from, how it ran down from the cross, flowing from the Master’s side. The gospel records that when Christ was dead, but still hung on the cross, a soldier came and pierced his side with a lance and immediately there poured out water and blood. Now the water was a symbol of baptism and the blood, of the holy Eucharist. The soldier pierced the Lord’s side, he breached the wall of the sacred temple, and I have found the treasure and made it my own. So also with the lamb: the Jews sacrificed the victim and I have been saved by it.
  “There flowed from his side water and blood.” Beloved, do not pass over this mystery without thought; it has yet another hidden meaning, which I will explain to you. I said that water and blood symbolised baptism and the holy Eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from baptism, “the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit,” and from the holy Eucharist. Since the symbols of baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam. Moses gives a hint of this when he tells the story of the first man and makes him exclaim: “Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh!” As God then took a rib from Adam’s side to fashion a woman, so Christ has given us blood and water from his side to fashion the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way Christ gave us the blood and the water after his own death.
  Do you understand, then, how Christ has united his bride to himself and what food he gives us all to eat? By one and the same food we are both brought into being and nourished. As a woman nourishes her child with her own blood and milk, so does Christ unceasingly nourish with his own blood those to whom he himself has given life.
Responsorium
Cf. 1 Petr 1, 18-19; Eph 2, 18; 1 Io 1, 7
℟. Non corruptibílibus argénto vel auro redémpti estis, sed pretióso sánguine quasi Agni immaculáti Christi.* Per ipsum habémus accéssum omnes in uno Spíritu ad Patrem.
℣. Sanguis Iesu Christi Fílii Dei emúndat nos ab omni peccáto.* Per ipsum.
Responsory
℟. Your ransom was not paid in anything corruptible, neither in silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish.* Through him we all have access to the Father in the one Spirit.
℣. The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, purifies us from all sin.* Through him we all have access to the Father in the one Spirit.

Oremus.
  Réspice, quǽsumus, Dómine, super hanc famíliam tuam, pro qua Dóminus noster Iesus Christus non dubitávit mánibus tradi nocéntium et crucis subíre torméntum.
Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Let us pray.
Be mindful, Lord, of this your family,
  for whose sake our Lord Jesus Christ, when betrayed,
did not hesitate to yield himself into his enemies’ hands
  and undergo the agony of the cross.
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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