Tuesday 29 April 2025    (other days)
Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin, Doctor 
Feast

Using calendar: England - Portsmouth - Berkshire. You can change this.

Vespers (Evening Prayer)

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. Allelúia.
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. Alleluia.
Hymnus
Te, Catharína, máximis
nunc venerámur láudibus,
cunctæ lumen Ecclésiæ,
sertis ornáta plúrimis.
Magnis aucta virtútibus
et vita florens ínclita,
húmili mente ac strénua
per crucis pergis trámitem.
Stella vidéris pópulis
salúbris pacis núntia;
mores restáuras óptimos,
feróces mulces ánimos.
Sancto compúlsa Spíritu,
igníta verba lóqueris,
quæ lucem sapiéntiæ,
æstus amóris íngerunt.
Tuis confísos précibus,
virgo dilécta Dómino,
nos caritáte cóncitos
fac Sponsi regna quǽrere.
Iesu, tibi sit glória,
qui natus es de Vírgine,
cum Patre et almo Spíritu
in sempitérna sǽcula. Amen.
Hymn
All hail the power of Jesus’ name;
  Let Angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
  To crown him Lord of all.
Crown him, ye Martyrs of your God,
  Who from his altar call;
Praise him whose way of pain ye trod,
  And crown him Lord of all.
Hail him, ye heirs of David’s line,
  Whom David Lord did call;
The God Incarnate, Man Divine,
  And crown him Lord of all.
Let every tribe and every tongue
  To him their hearts enthral,
Lift high the universal song,
  And crown him Lord of all.

Ps 121:1-9
Civitas sancta Ierusalem

“Accessistis ad Sion montem et civitatem Dei viventis, Ierusalem cælestem” (Hebr 12, 22).

Tibi me servo castam et splendéntem tenens lámpadem, Sponse, tibi occúrro, allelúia.
1Lætátus sum in eo quod dixérunt mihi:*
  «In domum Dómini íbimus».
2Stantes iam sunt pedes nostri*
  in portis tuis, Ierúsalem.
3Ierúsalem, quæ ædificáta est ut cívitas,*
  sibi compácta in idípsum.
4Illuc enim ascendérunt tribus, tribus Dómini,*
  testimónium Israel, ad confiténdum nómini Dómini.
5Quia illic sedérunt sedes ad iudícium,*
  sedes domus David.
6Rogáte, quæ ad pacem sunt Ierúsalem:*
  «Secúri sint diligéntes te!
7Fiat pax in muris tuis,*
  et secúritas in túrribus tuis!».
8Propter fratres meos et próximos meos*
  loquar: «Pax in te!».
9Propter domum Dómini Dei nostri*
  exquíram bona tibi.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Tibi me servo castam et splendéntem tenens lámpadem, Sponse, tibi occúrro, allelúia.

Psalm 121 (122)
Jerusalem, the holy city

I will keep myself chaste for you. I will meet you, the bridegroom, carrying a brightly shining lamp, alleluia.
They filled me with joy when they said,
  “We will go to the house of the Lord.”
Now our feet are standing
  within your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, built as a city,
  whole and self-contained:
there the tribes have gone up,
  the tribes of the Lord –
the witness of Israel,
  to praise the Lord’s name.
For there are the thrones of justice,
  the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
  “Safety for those who care for you,
peace inside your walls,
  security within your ramparts!”
For my brethren and those near to me I will say
  “Peace be upon you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
  I will call blessings upon 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.
I will keep myself chaste for you. I will meet you, the bridegroom, carrying a brightly shining lamp, alleluia.

How to listen

Ps 126:1-5
Vanus labor sine Domino

“Dei ædificatio estis” (1 Cor 3, 9).

Beáti mundo corde, quóniam ipsi Deum vidébunt, allelúia.
1Nisi Dóminus ædificáverit domum,*
  in vanum labórant, qui ædíficant eam.
Nisi Dóminus custodíerit civitátem,*
  frustra vígilat, qui custódit eam.
2Vanum est vobis ante lucem súrgere et sero quiéscere,†
  qui manducátis panem labóris,*
  quia dabit diléctis suis somnum.
3Ecce heréditas Dómini fílii,*
  merces fructus ventris.
4Sicut sagíttæ in manu poténtis,*
  ita fílii iuventútis.
5Beátus vir, qui implévit pháretram suam ex ipsis:*
  non confundétur, cum loquétur inimícis suis in porta.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Beáti mundo corde, quóniam ipsi Deum vidébunt, allelúia.

Psalm 126 (127)
Without the Lord, we labour in vain

Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God, alleluia.
If the Lord does not build the house,
  its builders labour in vain.
If the Lord does not watch over a city,
  its watchmen guard it in vain.
It is vain for you to rise before the dawn
  and go late to your rest,
  eating the bread of toil –
  to those he loves, the Lord gives sleep.
The Lord bestows sons as an heirloom,
  the fruit of the womb as a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior –
  so are the sons of one’s youth.
Happy the man who fills his quiver thus:
  when he disputes with his enemies at the gate,
  he will not be the loser.
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.
Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God, alleluia.
Canticumcf. Eph 1:3-10

De Deo salvatore

Mens mea solidáta est et in Christo fundáta, allelúia.
3Benedíctus Deus et Pater Dómini nostri Iesu Christi,*
  qui benedíxit nos in omni benedictióne spiritáli in cæléstibus in Christo,
4sicut elégit nos in ipso ante mundi constitutiónem,†
  ut essémus sancti et immaculáti*
  in conspéctu eius in caritáte,
5qui prædestinávit nos in adoptiónem filiórum†
  per Iesum Christum in ipsum,*
  secúndum beneplácitum voluntátis suæ,
6in laudem glóriæ grátiæ suæ,*
  in qua gratificávit nos in Dilécto,
7in quo habémus redemptiónem per sánguinem eius,*
  remissiónem peccatórum,
secúndum divítias grátiæ eius,†
  8quae superabundávit in nobis*
  in omni sapiéntia et prudéntia,
9notum fáciens nobis mystérium voluntátis suæ,*
  secúndum beneplácitum eius,
quod propósuit in eo,*
  10in dispensatiónem plenitúdinis témporum:
recapituláre ómnia in Christo,*
  quæ in cælis et quæ in terra.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Mens mea solidáta est et in Christo fundáta, allelúia.
CanticleEphesians 1

God the Saviour

My firm hope will not be moved; it is based on Christ like a house on a rock, alleluia.
Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
  who has blessed us, in Christ,
  with every spiritual blessing in heaven.
In love, he chose us before the creation of the world,
  to be holy and spotless in his sight.
He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ,
  simply because it pleased him to do so.
This he did for the praise of the glory of his grace,
  of his free gift to us in his Beloved,
in whose blood we have gained redemption,
  and the forgiveness of our sins.
This he did according to the riches of his grace,
  which he gave us in abundance,
with all wisdom and discernment,
  revealing to us the mysteries of his will,
  because it pleased him to do so.
In this action he has planned, in the fulfilment of time,
  to bring all things together in Christ,
  from the heavens and from the earth.
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.
My firm hope will not be moved; it is based on Christ like a house on a rock, alleluia.
Lectio brevis1 Cor 7:32,34
Qui sine uxóre est, sollícitus est, quæ Dómini sunt, quómodo pláceat Dómino. Et múlier innúpta et virgo cógitat, quæ Dómini sunt, ut sit sancta et córpore et spíritu.
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 7:32,34
An unmarried man can devote himself to the Lord’s affairs, all he need worry about is pleasing the Lord. In the same way an unmarried woman, like a young girl, can devote herself to the Lord’s affairs; all she need worry about is being holy in body and spirit.
Responsorium breve
℣. Afferéntur Regi vírgines in exsultatióne, * Allelúia, allelúia. Afferéntur.
℟. Adducéntur in templum Regis.* Allelúia, allelúia. Glória Patri. Afferéntur.
Short Responsory
The virgins come before the king. They sing for joy. Alleluia, alleluia.
– The virgins come before the king. They sing for joy. Alleluia, alleluia.
They are led into the temple of the king.
– The virgins come before the king. They sing for joy. Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– The virgins come before the king. They sing for joy. Alleluia, alleluia.
Canticum

Exsultatio animæ in Domino

Semper et ubíque Catharína Deum quærébat, et inveniébat, et possidébat per actuálem afféctum et amóris uniónem, allelúia.
Magníficat*
  ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus*
  in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ suæ.*
  Ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est,*
  et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies et progénies*
  timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,*
  dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede*
  et exaltávit húmiles;
esuriéntes implévit bonis*
  et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Israel púerum suum,*
  recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,*
  Abraham et sémini eius in sǽcula.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Semper et ubíque Catharína Deum quærébat, et inveniébat, et possidébat per actuálem afféctum et amóris uniónem, allelúia.
CanticleMagnificat

My soul rejoices in the Lord

At all times and in all places, Catherine sought God. She found him and was united to him in love, alleluia.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
  and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
  me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
  because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
  his mercy lasts for generation after generation
  for those who revere him.
He has put forth his strength:
  he has scattered the proud and conceited,
  torn princes from their thrones;
  but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
  the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
  he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
  to Abraham and his children for ever.
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.
At all times and in all places, Catherine sought God. She found him and was united to him in love, alleluia.
Preces
Christum, qui virginitátem propter regnum cælórum coléntes laudávit, festíve celebrémus et exorémus, dicéntes:
– Iesu, rex vírginum, audi nos.
Christe, qui Ecclésiam vírginem castam tibi uni Sponso exhibuísti,
  immaculátam eam redde et sanctam.
– Iesu, rex vírginum, audi nos.
Christe, cui óbviam vírgines sanctæ cum lampádibus exiérunt,
  ne permíttas umquam fidelitátis óleum in lampádibus tibi devotárum ancillárum defícere.
– Iesu, rex vírginum, audi nos.
Dómine, cui Ecclésia virgo fidem tibi datam íntegram et puram iúgiter custodívit,
  concéde christiánis ómnibus fídei integritátem et puritátem.
– Iesu, rex vírginum, audi nos.
Qui tríbuis pópulo tuo de sanctæ vírginis N. festivitáte gaudére,
  præsta, ut de eius étiam semper intercessióne lætétur.
– Iesu, rex vírginum, audi nos.
Qui ad cenam nuptiárum tuárum sanctas vírgines recepísti,
  defúnctos in aulam cæléstis convívii benígnus admítte.
– Iesu, rex vírginum, audi nos.
Prayers and intercessions
Christ the Lord praised those who follow the way of virginity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let us proclaim his love and pray:
– Jesus, king of virgins, hear us.
Christ our Lord, you presented the Church to yourself, as a chaste virgin to her only husband;
  make her pure, holy and faultless.
– Jesus, king of virgins, hear us.
Christ Jesus, the holy virgins went to meet you with lamps burning bright;
  keep alive the flame of fidelity in the hearts of religious women.
– Jesus, king of virgins, hear us.
Lord, you have always preserved your Church in purity and soundness of faith;
  grant to all Christians a faith that is true and complete.
– Jesus, king of virgins, hear us.
You bring joy to the lives of your faithful as they celebrate the feast of your holy virgin N.;
  may they also rejoice in her constant intercession.
– Jesus, king of virgins, hear us.
You have welcomed your holy virgins to the wedding feast of heaven;
  invite all the dead to the feast of eternal life.
– Jesus, king of virgins, hear us.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
sanctificétur nomen tuum;
advéniat regnum tuum;
fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidiánum da nobis hódie;
et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris;
et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem;
sed líbera nos a malo.
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.
Deus, qui beátam Catharínam, in contemplatióne domínicæ passiónis et in Ecclésiæ tuæ servítio, divíno amóre flagráre fecísti, ipsíus intercessióne concéde, ut pópulus tuus, Christi mystério sociátus, in eius glóriæ revelatióne semper exsúltet.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum,
qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus,
per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Almighty God, you made Saint Catherine of Siena
  a contemplative lover of the Lord’s sufferings
  and an ardent servant of your church.
Grant through her prayer
  that your people may be united to Christ in his mystery,
  and rejoice for ever in the revelation of his glory.
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.
Dóminus nos benedícat, et ab omni malo deféndat, et ad vitam perdúcat ætérnam.
  Amen.
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
  Amen.

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