Tuesday 29 April 2025    (other days)
Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin, Doctor 
 on Tuesday of the 2nd week of Eastertide

Using calendar: Asia - Singapore. You can change this.

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. 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
Virgo prudéntum comitáta cœtum
óbviam sponso véniens paráta,
noctis horréndæ rémovet ténebras
lámpade pura.
Ille fulgéntem nítidis lapíllis
ánulum miri tríbuit decóris
vírgini dicens: «Tibi trado sancti
pignus amóris».
Mota flagrántis stímulo calóris
mentis excéssu rápitur frequénti,
fixa dum portat Catharína membris
vúlnera Christi.
Unde ter felix quater et beáta
in sinu sponsi requiévit almi,
inter illústres ánimas reláta
lux nova cæli.
Sit Deus cæli résidens in arce,
trinus et simplex benedíctus ille,
qui potens totum stábili gubérnat
órdine mundum. Amen.
Hymn
Love’s redeeming work is done,
fought the fight, the battle won.
Lo, our Sun’s eclipse is o’er!
Lo, he sets in blood no more!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal!
Christ has burst the gates of hell;
death in vain forbids him rise;
Christ has opened paradise.
Lives again our victor King;
where, O death, is now thy sting?
Dying once, he all doth save;
where thy victory, O grave?
Soar we now where Christ has led,
following our exalted Head;
made like him, like him we rise,
ours the cross, the grave, the skies.
Hail the Lord of earth and heaven!
Praise to thee by both be given:
thee we greet triumphant now;
hail, the Resurrection thou!

Ps 36:1-11
Sors malorum et iustorum

“Beati mites, quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram” (Mt 5, 5).

Commítte Dómino viam tuam et ipse fáciet, allelúia.
1Noli æmulári in malignántibus,*
  neque zeláveris faciéntes iniquitátem,
2quóniam tamquam fenum velóciter aréscent*
  et quemádmodum herba virens décident.
3Spera in Dómino et fac bonitátem,*
  et inhabitábis terram et pascéris in fide.
4Delectáre in Dómino,*
  et dabit tibi petitiónes cordis tui.
5Commítte Dómino viam tuam et spera in eo,*
  et ipse fáciet;
6et edúcet quasi lumen iustítiam tuam*
  et iudícium tuum tamquam merídiem.
7Quiésce in Dómino et exspécta eum;†
  noli æmulári in eo, qui prosperátur in via sua,*
  in hómine, qui molítur insídias.
8Désine ab ira et derelínque furórem,*
  noli æmulári, quod vertit ad malum,
9quóniam qui malignántur, exterminabúntur,*
  sustinéntes autem Dóminum ipsi hereditábunt terram.
10Et adhuc pusíllum et non erit peccátor,*
  et quæres locum eius et non invénies.
11Mansuéti autem hereditábunt terram*
  et delectabúntur in multitúdine pacis.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Commítte Dómino viam tuam et ipse fáciet, allelúia.

Psalm 36 (37)
The fate of the evil and the righteous

Commit your life to the Lord, and he will act on your behalf. Alleluia.
Do not envy the wicked;
  do not be jealous of those that do evil.
They will dry up as quickly as hay;
  they will wither like the grass.
Put your trust in the Lord and do good,
  and your land and habitation will be secure.
Take your delight in the Lord,
  and he will give you what your heart desires.
Entrust your journey to the Lord, and hope in him:
  and he will act.
He will make your uprightness shine like the light,
  your judgement like the sun at noon.
Take your rest in the Lord, and hope in him:
  do not envy the one who thrives in his own way,
  the man who weaves plots.
Abstain from wrath, abandon anger:
  do not envy him who turns to evil,
for those who do evil will be destroyed,
  but those on the side of the Lord
  will inherit the earth.
A moment yet – and the sinner will be gone:
  you will look where he was and find nothing.
But the meek will inherit the land
  and delight in abundant peace.
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.
Commit your life to the Lord, and he will act on your behalf. Alleluia.

How to listen

Ps 36:12-29

Declína a malo et fac bonum; confírmat iustos Dóminus, allelúia.
12Insidiábitur peccátor iusto*
  et stridébit super eum déntibus suis.
13Dóminus autem irridébit eum,*
  quóniam próspicit quod véniet dies eius.
14Gládium evaginavérunt peccatóres,*
  intendérunt arcum suum,
ut deíciant páuperem et ínopem,*
  ut trucídent recte ambulántes in via.
15Gládius eórum intrábit in corda ipsórum,*
  et arcus eórum confringétur.
16Mélius est módicum iusto*
  super divítias peccatórum multas,
17quóniam bráchia peccatórum conteréntur,*
  confírmat autem iustos Dóminus.
18Novit Dóminus dies immaculatórum,*
  et heréditas eórum in ætérnum erit.
19Non confundéntur in témpore malo*
  et in diébus famis saturabúntur.
20Quia peccatóres períbunt,†
  inimíci vero Dómini ut decor campórum defícient,*
  quemádmodum fumus defícient.
21Mutuátur peccátor et non solvet,*
  iustus autem miserétur et tríbuet.
22Quia benedícti eius hereditábunt terram,*
  maledícti autem eius exterminabúntur.
23A Dómino gressus hóminis confirmántur,*
  et viam eius volet.
24Cum cecíderit, non collidétur,*
  quia Dóminus susténtat manum eius.
25Iúnior fui et sénui†
  et non vidi iustum derelíctum,*
  nec semen eius quærens panem.
26Tota die miserétur et cómmodat,*
  et semen illíus in benedictióne erit.
27Declína a malo et fac bonum,*
  et inhabitábis in sǽculum sǽculi,
28quia Dóminus amat iudícium*
  et non derelínquet sanctos suos.
Iniústi in ætérnum disperíbunt,*
  et semen impiórum exterminábitur.
29Iusti autem hereditábunt terram*
  et inhabitábunt in sǽculum sǽculi super eam.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Declína a malo et fac bonum; confírmat iustos Dóminus, allelúia.

Psalm 36 (37)

Turn away from evil and do good: the Lord will support the just. Alleluia.
The wicked will plot against the righteous
  and gnash his teeth at him;
but the Lord will deride him in his turn,
  for the Lord has seen what awaits him.
The wicked have pulled out their swords,
  the wicked have drawn their bows,
to throw down the poor and the destitute,
  to murder whoever follows the straight path.
But their swords will enter their own hearts,
  and their bows will splinter.
For the righteous, the little they have is better
  than the abundant wealth of the wicked.
The limbs of the wicked will be broken
  while the Lord gives his strength to the just.
The Lord knows when the day of the perfect will come;
  and their inheritance will be eternal.
They will not be troubled in evil times,
  and in times of famine they will have more than enough.
For the wicked will perish:
  the enemies of the Lord will be like the flowers of the fields,
  and like smoke they will vanish away.
The wicked man borrows and does not return;
  but the righteous takes pity and gives.
The blessed ones of the Lord will inherit the earth,
  but those whom he curses will be cut off.
It is the Lord who strengthens the steps of man
  and chooses his path.
Even if he trips he will not fall flat,
  for the Lord is holding his hand.
I was young and I have grown old,
  but I have not seen the righteous man abandoned
  nor his children seeking for bread.
All day long he takes pity and lends,
  and his seed will be blessed.
Shun evil and do good,
  and you will live for ever.
For the Lord loves right judgement,
  and will not abandon his chosen ones.
The unjust will be destroyed for ever,
  and the seed of the wicked will be cut off,
but the righteous will inherit the earth
  and live there from age to age.
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.
Turn away from evil and do good: the Lord will support the just. Alleluia.

Ps 36:30-40

Exspécta Dóminum et custódi viam eius, allelúia.
30Os iusti meditábitur sapiéntiam,*
  et lingua eius loquétur iudícium;
31lex Dei eius in corde ipsíus,*
  et non vacillábunt gressus eius.
32Consíderat peccátor iustum*
  et quærit mortificáre eum;
33Dóminus autem non derelínquet eum in mánibus eius,*
  nec damnábit eum, cum iudicábitur illi.
34Exspécta Dóminum et custódi viam eius,†
  et exaltábit te, ut hereditáte cápias terram;*
  cum exterminabúntur peccatóres, vidébis.
35Vidi ímpium superexaltátum*
  et elevátum sicut cedrum viréntem;
36et transívit, et ecce non erat,*
  et quæsívi eum, et non est invéntus.
37Obsérva innocéntiam et vide æquitátem,*
  quóniam est postéritas hómini pacífico.
38Iniústi autem disperíbunt simul,*
  postéritas impiórum exterminábitur.
39Salus autem iustórum a Dómino,*
  et protéctor eórum in témpore tribulatiónis.
40Et adiuvábit eos Dóminus et liberábit eos†
  et éruet eos a peccatóribus et salvábit eos,*
  quia speravérunt in eo.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Exspécta Dóminum et custódi viam eius, allelúia.

Psalm 36 (37)

Wait for the Lord, keep to his way. Alleluia.
The mouth of the righteous will speak wisdom,
  and his tongue will utter right judgement.
The law of his God is in his heart
  and his steps will not stumble.
The wicked man watches the just
  and seeks to kill him;
but the Lord will rescue the just man from his hands
  and not condemn the just in the time of judgement.
Put your hope in the Lord and follow his paths,
  and he will raise you up and make the land your inheritance,
  let you watch as the wicked are cut off.
I have seen the sinner triumph,
  flourish like a green cedar,
but he is gone, he is there no longer:
  I have looked for him but have not found him.
Preserve innocence, follow uprightness:
  for the future belongs to the man of peace.
The unrighteous will be destroyed altogether,
  their posterity will be cut off.
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord,
  and their protection in time of trouble.
The Lord will come to their help and free them,
  rescue them from the wicked and save them,
  because they have put their trust in him.
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.
Wait for the Lord, keep to his way. Alleluia.
℣. Notas mihi fecísti vias vitæ, allelúia.
℟. Adimplébis me lætítia cum vultu tuo, allelúia.
℣. You have shown me the path of life, alleluia,
℟. The fullness of joy in your presence, alleluia.
Lectio prior
De libro Apocalýpsis beáti Ioánnis apóstoli 2, 1-11

Ad Ecclesias Ephesi et Smyrnæ

Ego Ioánnes audívi Dóminum dicéntem mihi:
  1Angelo ecclésiæ, quæ est Ephesi, scribe:
  Hæc dicit, qui tenet septem stellas in déxtera sua, qui ámbulat in médio septem candelabrórum aureórum: 2Scio ópera tua et labórem et patiéntiam tuam, et quia non potes sustinére malos et tentásti eos, qui se dicunt apóstolos et non sunt, et invenísti eos mendáces; 3et patiéntiam habes et sustinuísti propter nomen meum et non defecísti. 4Sed hábeo advérsus te quod caritátem tuam primam reliquísti. 5Memor esto ítaque unde excíderis, et age pæniténtiam et prima ópera fac; sin autem, vénio tibi et movébo candelábrum tuum de loco suo, nisi pæniténtiam égeris. 6Sed hoc habes, quia odísti facta Nicolaitárum, quæ et ego odi.
  7Qui habet aurem, áudiat quid Spíritus dicat ecclésiis. Vincénti dabo ei édere de ligno vitæ, quod est in paradíso Dei.
  8Et ángelo ecclésiæ, quæ est Smyrnæ, scribe:
  Hæc dicit Primus et Novíssimus, qui fuit mórtuus et vixit: 9Scio tribulatiónem tuam et paupertátem tuam —sed dives es— et blasphémiam ab his, qui se dicunt Iudǽos esse et non sunt, sed sunt synagóga Sátanæ. 10Nihil horum tímeas, quæ passúrus es. Ecce missúrus est Diábolus ex vobis in cárcerem, ut tentémini, et habébitis tribulatiónem diébus decem. Esto fidélis usque ad mortem, et dabo tibi corónam vitæ.
  11Qui habet aurem, áudiat quid Spíritus dicat ecclésiis. Qui vícerit, non lædétur a morte secúnda.
First Reading
Apocalypse 2:1-11

To the churches at Ephesus and Smyrna

Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus and say, “Here is the message of the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who lives surrounded by the seven golden lamp-stands: I know all about you: how hard you work and how much you put up with. I know you cannot stand wicked men, and how you tested the impostors who called themselves apostles and proved they were liars. Know, too, that you have patience, and have suffered for my name without growing tired. Nevertheless, I have this complaint to make; you have less love now than you used to. Think where you were before you fell; repent, and do as you used to at first, or else, if you will not repent, I shall come to you and take your lamp-stand from its place. It is in your favour, nevertheless, that you loathe as I do what the Nicolaitans are doing. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: those who prove victorious I will feed from the tree of life set in God’s paradise.”
  Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna and say, “Here is the message of the First and the Last, who was dead and has come to life again: I know the trials you have had, and how poor you are – though you are rich – and the slanderous accusations that have been made by the people who profess to be Jews but are really members of the synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of the sufferings that are coming to you: I tell you, the devil is going to send some of you to prison to test you, and you must face an ordeal for ten days. Even if you have to die, keep faithful, and I will give you the crown of life for your prize. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: for those who prove victorious there is nothing to be afraid of in the second death.”
Responsorium
Ap 2, 10 c. 11 b; Eccli 4, 33
℟. Esto fidélis usque ad mortem, et dabo tibi corónam vitæ.* Qui vícerit non lædétur a morte secúnda, allelúia.
℣. Usque ad mortem agonizáre pro iustítia et Deus expugnábit pro te inimícos tuos.* Qui vícerit.
Responsory
Rv 2:10-11; Si 4:28
℟. Be faithful to me, even if it means death, and I will give you the crown of life:* those who win the victory will not be hurt by the second death, alleluia.
℣. Fight to the death for truth, and the Lord God will fight on your side:* those who win the victory will not be hurt by the second death, alleluia.
Lectio altera
E Diálogo sanctæ Catharínæ Senénsis vírginis de divína Providéntia (Cap. 167, Gratiarum actio ad Trinitatem: ed. lat., Ingolstadii, 1583, f. 290v-291)

Gustavi et vidi

O Déitas ætérna, o ætérna Trínitas, quæ per uniónem divínæ natúræ fecísti tantum valére prétium sánguinis unigéniti Fílii tui! Tu, Trínitas ætérna, es quoddam mare profúndum, in quo quanto plus quæro, plus invénio; et quanto plus invénio, plus quæro te. Tu quodámmodo insatiabíliter ánimam sátias; quóniam in abýsso tua ita sátias ánimam, quod semper remáneat esúriens atque famélica, te, Trínitas ætérna, peróptans desideránsque te vidére lumen in lúmine tuo.
  Gustávi et vidi cum lúmine intelléctus, in lúmine tuo abýssum tuam, ætérna Trínitas, atque pulchritúdinem creatúræ tuæ: propter quod intuéndo meípsam in te, vidi me fore tuam imáginem: donánte vidélicet mihi te, Pater ætérne, de poténtia tua et de sapiéntia tua, quæ sapiéntia Unigénito tuo est appropriáta. Spíritus vero Sanctus, qui procédit a te Patre et a Fílio tuo, dedit mihi voluntátem, per quam me facit aptam ad amándum.
  Nam tu, Trínitas ætérna, factor es, et ego factúra: unde cognóvi, te illuminánte, in recreatióne quam de me fecísti per sánguinem unigéniti Fílii tui, quod amóre captus es de pulchritúdine factúræ tuæ.
  O abýssus, o Trínitas ætérna, o Déitas, o mare profúndum: et quid maius mihi dare póteras quam teípsum? Tu es ignis qui semper ardes et non consúmeris; tu es qui consúmis calóre tuo quemcúmque próprium amórem ánimæ. Tu es íterum ignis qui tollis omnem frigiditátem, et illúminas mentes lúmine tuo, quo lúmine fecísti me cognóscere veritátem tuam.
  In huius lúminis spéculo cognósco te summum bonum, bonum super omne bonum, bonum felix, bonum incomprehensíbile, bonum inæstimábile: pulchritúdinem super omnem pulchritúdinem, sapiéntiam super omnem sapiéntiam: quia tu es ipsa sapiéntia, tu cibus angelórum, qui igne caritátis te dedísti homínibus.
  Tu vestiméntum coopériens nuditátem meam, pascis nos famélicos tua dulcédine, quia dulcis es absque ulla amaritúdine. O Trínitas ætérna!
Second Reading
From the dialogue On Divine Providence by Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor

I tasted and I saw

Eternal God, eternal Trinity, you have made the blood of Christ so precious through his sharing in your divine nature. You are a mystery as deep as the sea; the more I search, the more I find, and the more I find the more I search for you. But I can never be satisfied; what I receive will ever leave me desiring more. When you fill my soul I have an even greater hunger, and I grow more famished for your light. I desire above all to see you, the true light, as you really are.
  I have tasted and seen the depth of your mystery and the beauty of your creation with the light of my understanding. I have clothed myself with your likeness and have seen what I shall be. Eternal Father, you have given me a share in your power and the wisdom that Christ claims as his own, and your Holy Spirit has given me the desire to love you. You are my Creator, eternal Trinity, and I am your creature. You have made of me a new creation in the blood of your Son, and I know that you are moved with love at the beauty of your creation, for you have enlightened me.
  Eternal Trinity, Godhead, mystery deep as the sea, you could give me no greater gift than the gift of yourself. For you are a fire ever burning and never consumed, which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being. Yes, you are a fire that takes away the coldness, illuminates the mind with its light and causes me to know your truth. By this light, reflected as it were in a mirror, I recognise that you are the highest good, one we can neither comprehend nor fathom. And I know that you are beauty and wisdom itself. The food of angels, you gave yourself to man in the fire of your love.
  You are the garment which covers our nakedness, and in our hunger you are a satisfying food, for you are sweetness and in you there is no taste of bitterness, O triune God!
Responsorium
℟. Aperi mihi, soror mea, regni mei cohéres effécta; amíca mea, quæ cognovísti meæ veritátis arcána;* Spíritus mei dono ditáta, effusióne sánguinis mei ab omni labe purgáta, allelúia.
℣. Egrédere de quiéte contemplatiónis, et ad testimónium meæ veritátis te constánter impénde.* Spíritus.
Responsory
℟. Now that you are endowed with the gift of my Spirit, cleansed from all stain by the outpouring of my blood,* leave the quiet of contemplation and resolutely take up the work of witnessing to my truth, alleluia.
℣. Open your heart to me, my sister, co-heir with me of my kingdom; my beloved, who have understood Truth’s hidden mysteries;* leave the quiet of contemplation and resolutely take up the work of witnessing to my truth, alleluia.
Oremus.
  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.
Let us pray.
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.
Benedicámus Dómino.
– Deo grátias.
Let us praise the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.

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