Universalis
Thursday 11 August 2022    (other days)
Saint Clare, Virgin 
 on Thursday of week 19 in Ordinary Time

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
Dulci deprómat cármine
devóta plebs sollémnia,
dum in cælórum cúlmine
hæc virgo micat glória.
Virgo, quæ Christi láudibus
vacávit iam viríliter,
sanctórum nunc agmínibus
coniúngitur felíciter.
Vicit per pudicítiam
infírmæ carnis vítium;
sprevit mundi blandítiam
Christi sequens vestígium.
Per hanc nos, Christe, dírige
servans a cunctis hóstibus;
culpárum lapsus córrige
nos ímbuens virtútibus.
Iesu, tibi sit glória,
qui natus es de Vírgine,
cum Patre et almo Spíritu,
in sempitérna sǽcula. Amen.
Hymn
Eternal Father, through your Word
You gave new life to Adam’s race,
And call us now to live in light,
New creatures by your saving grace.
To you who stooped to all who sin
We render homage and give praise:
To Father, Son and Spirit blest
Whose loving gift is endless days.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal

Ps 88:39-46
Lamentatio de ruina domus David

“Erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David” (Lc 1, 69).

Intuére, Dómine, et réspice oppróbrium nostrum.
39Tu vero reppulísti et reiecísti,*
  irátus es contra christum tuum;
40evertísti testaméntum servi tui,*
  profanásti in terram diadéma eius.
41Destruxísti omnes muros eius,*
  posuísti munitiónes eius in ruínas.
42Diripuérunt eum omnes transeúntes viam,*
  factus est oppróbrium vicínis suis.
43Exaltásti déxteram depriméntium eum,*
  lætificásti omnes inimícos eius.
44Avertísti áciem gládii eius*
  et non es auxiliátus ei in bello.
45Finem posuísti splendóri eius*
  et sedem eius in terram collisísti.
46Minorásti dies iuventútis eius,*
  perfudísti eum confusióne.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Intuére, Dómine, et réspice oppróbrium nostrum.

Psalm 88 (89)
A lament at the ruin of the house of David

Pay heed, Lord, and see how we are taunted.
But you have spurned and rejected him;
  you are enraged against your anointed.
You have repudiated the covenant of your servant,
  you have trampled his crown in the dust.
You have demolished his walls
  and laid his fortifications in ruins.
Anyone who passes can despoil him;
  he is a mockery among his neighbours.
You have strengthened the arm of those who oppress him,
  you have gladdened the hearts of his enemies.
You have turned back the sharp edge of his sword;
  you have deprived him of your help in battle.
You have put an end to his splendour,
  and cast his throne to the ground.
You have cut short the days of his youth;
  you have covered him from head to foot in shame.
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.
Pay heed, Lord, and see how we are taunted.

Ps 88:47-53

Ego sum radix et genus David, stella spléndida et matutína.
47Usquequo, Dómine, abscondéris in finem,*
  exardéscet sicut ignis ira tua?
48Memoráre, quam brevis mea substántia.*
  Ad quam vanitátem creásti omnes fílios hóminum?
49Quis est homo, qui vivet et non vidébit mortem,*
  éruet ánimam suam de manu ínferi?
50Ubi sunt misericórdiæ tuæ antíquæ, Dómine,*
  sicut iurásti David in veritáte tua?
51Memor esto, Dómine, oppróbrii servórum tuórum,*
  quod contínui in sinu meo, multárum géntium,
52quo exprobravérunt inimíci tui, Dómine,*
  quo exprobravérunt vestígia christi tui.
53Benedíctus Dóminus in ætérnum.*
  Fiat, fiat.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Ego sum radix et genus David, stella spléndida et matutína.

Psalm 88 (89)

I am the root and stock of David; I am the splendid morning star.
How long, O Lord, will you hide yourself? For ever?
  Will your anger always burn like fire?
Remember how short is my time.
  Was it truly so pointless, your creation of man?
Who is the man who can live and not die,
  who can save his life from the grasp of the underworld?
Where are the kindnesses you showed us of old?
  Where is the truth of your oath to David?
Remember, Lord, how your servants are taunted,
  the taunts I bear in my bosom, the taunts of the nations –
  the insults of your enemies, Lord,
  the insults that follow the steps of your anointed!
Blessed be the Lord for ever!
  Amen, amen!
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 am the root and stock of David; I am the splendid morning star.

Ps 89:1-17
Sit splendor Domini super nos

“Unus dies apud Dominum sicut mille anni, et mille anni sicut dies unus” (2 Petr 3, 8).

Anni nostri sicut herba tránseunt: a sǽculo tu es, Deus.
1Dómine, refúgium factus es nobis*
  a generatióne in generatiónem.
2Priúsquam montes nasceréntur†
  aut gignerétur terra et orbis,*
  a sǽculo et usque in sǽculum tu es Deus.
3Redúcis hóminem in púlverem;*
  et dixísti: «Revertímini, fílii hóminum».
4Quóniam mille anni ante óculos tuos tamquam dies hestérna, quæ prætériit,*
  et custódia in nocte.
5Auferes eos, sómnium erunt:*
  6mane sicut herba succréscens,
mane floret et crescit,*
  véspere décidit et aréscit.
7Quia defécimus in ira tua*
  et in furóre tuo turbáti sumus.
8Posuísti iniquitátes nostras in conspéctu tuo,*
  occúlta nostra in illuminatióne vultus tui.
9Quóniam omnes dies nostri evanuérunt in ira tua,*
  consúmpsimus ut suspírium annos nostros.
10Dies annórum nostrórum sunt septuagínta anni*
  aut in valéntibus octogínta anni,
et maior pars eórum labor et dolor,*
  quóniam cito tránseunt, et avolámus.
11Quis novit potestátem iræ tuæ*
  et secúndum timórem tuum indignatiónem tuam?
12Dinumeráre dies nostros sic doce nos,*
  ut inducámus cor ad sapiéntiam.
13Convértere, Dómine, úsquequo?*
  Et deprecábilis esto super servos tuos.
14Reple nos mane misericórdia tua,*
  et exsultábimus et delectábimur ómnibus diébus nostris.
15Lætífica nos pro diébus, quibus nos humiliásti,*
  pro annis, quibus vídimus mala.
16Appáreat servis tuis opus tuum*
  et decor tuus fíliis eórum.
17Et sit splendor Dómini Dei nostri super nos,†
  et ópera mánuum nostrárum confírma super nos*
  et opus mánuum nostrárum confírma.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Anni nostri sicut herba tránseunt: a sǽculo tu es, Deus.

Psalm 89 (90)
Let the Lord's glory shine upon us

Our years pass like grass; but you, God, are without beginning or end.
Lord, you have been our refuge
  from generation to generation.
Before the mountains were born,
  before earth and heaven were conceived,
  from all time to all time, you are God.
You turn men into dust,
  you say to them “go back, children of men.”
A thousand years in your sight
  are like yesterday, that has passed;
  like a short watch in the night.
When you take them away, they will be nothing but a dream;
  like the grass that sprouts in the morning:
in the morning it grows and flowers,
  in the evening it withers and dries.
For we are made weak by your anger,
  thrown into confusion by your wrath.
You have gazed upon our transgressions;
  the light of your face illuminates our secrets.
All our days vanish in your anger,
  we use up our years in a single breath.
Seventy years are what we have,
  or eighty for the stronger ones;
and most of that is labour and sadness –
  quickly they pass, and we are gone.
Who can comprehend the power of your wrath?
  Who can behold the violence of your anger?
Teach us to reckon our days like this,
  so that our hearts may be led at last to wisdom.
Turn to us, Lord, how long must we wait?
  Let your servants call on you and be answered.
Fill us with your kindness in the morning,
  and we shall rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
Give us joy for as long as you afflicted us,
  for all the years when we suffered.
Let your servants see your great works,
  and let their children see your glory.
Let the glory of the Lord God be upon us:
  make firm the work of your hands.
  Make firm the work of your hands.
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.
Our years pass like grass; but you, God, are without beginning or end.
℣. Notas mihi fecísti vias vitæ.
℟. Adimplébis me lætítia cum vultu tuo.
℣. You have shown me the path of life,
℟. The fullness of joy in your presence.
Lectio prior
De libro Michǽæ prophétæ 4, 14 — 5, 7

Messias erit pax

Hæc dicit Dóminus:
4,14«Nunc incíde te, fília incisiónis!
Obsidiónem posuérunt super nos;
in virga percútiunt
maxíllam iúdicis Israel.
5,1Sed tu, Béthlehem Ephratha,
párvulus in mílibus Iudæ,
ex te mihi egrediétur,
qui sit dominátor in Israel;
et egréssus eius a tempóribus antíquis,
a diébus æternitátis.
2Propter hoc dabit eos
usque ad tempus, in quo partúriens páriet;
et relíquiæ fratrum eius
converténtur ad fílios Israel.
3Et stabit et pascet in fortitúdine Dómini,
in sublimitáte nóminis Dómini Dei sui;
et habitábunt secúre, quia nunc magnus erit
usque ad términos terræ,
4et erit iste pax.
Assýrius cum vénerit in terram nostram
et quando calcáverit in dómibus nostris,
suscitábimus super eum septem pastóres
et octo primátes hóminum.
5Et pascent terram Assýriæ in gládio
et terram Nemrod in lánceis;
et liberábit ab Assýrio,
cum vénerit in terram nostram
et cum calcáverit in fínibus nostris.
6Et erunt relíquiæ Iacob
in médio populórum multórum
quasi ros a Dómino
et quasi imbres super herbam,
quæ non exspéctat virum
et non præstolátur fílios hóminum.
7Et erunt relíquiæ Iacob in géntibus,
in médio populórum multórum,
quasi leo in iuméntis silvárum
et quasi cátulus leónis in grégibus pécorum;
qui cum transíerit et conculcáverit et céperit,
non est qui éruat».
First ReadingMicah 4:14-5:7 ©

The Messiah will be peace

Now look to your fortifications, Fortress.
They have laid siege against us;
with a rod they strike on the cheek
the judge of Israel.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
the least of the clans of Judah,
out of you will be born for me
the one who is to rule over Israel;
his origin goes back to the distant past,
to the days of old.
The Lord is therefore going to abandon them
till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth.
Then the remnant of his brothers will come back
to the sons of Israel.
He will stand and feed his flock
with the power of the Lord,
with the majesty of the name of his God.
They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power
to the ends of the land.
He himself will be peace.
He will deliver us from Assyria should it invade our country,
should it set foot inside our frontiers.
As for Assyria, should it invade our country,
should it set foot on our soil,
we will raise seven shepherds against it,
eight leaders of men;
they will shepherd Assyria with the sword,
and the land of Nimrod with the sword blade.
Then among the many peoples,
the remnant of Jacob will be
like a dew from the Lord,
like raindrops on the grass,
putting no hope in men,
expecting nothing from mankind.
Then among the many peoples,
the remnant of Jacob will be
like a lion among beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep
trampling as he goes,
mangling his prey which no one takes from him.
Responsorium
Cf. Mic 5, 1. 3. 4; Zac 9, 10 bc
℟. Béthlehem, cívitas Dei summi, ex te éxiet Dominátor Israel et egréssus eius sicut a princípio diérum æternitátis et magnificábitur in médio univérsæ terræ:* Et pax erit in terra nostra.
℣. Loquétur pacem géntibus et impérium eius a mari usque ad mare.* Et pax.
Responsory
Mi 5:2,5; Zc 9:10
℟. You, Bethlehem, city of God the Most High: out of you will be born the one who is to rule over Israel: his origin goes back to the distant past and to days of old. He will extend his power to the ends of the land.* He himself will be peace.
℣. He will proclaim peace for the nations, and his empire will stretch from sea to sea.* He himself will be peace.
Lectio altera
Ex Epístola sanctæ Claræ vírginis ad beátam Agnétem de Praga (Edit. I. Omaechevarria, Escritos de Santa Clara, Madrid 1970, pp. 339-341)

Attende paupertatem, humilitatem et caritatem Christi

Felix certe cui sacro datur potíri convívio, ut ei adhæreátur totis cordis præcórdiis, cuius pulchritúdinem ómnia beáta cælórum ágmina incessabíliter admirántur, cuius afféctus áfficit, cuius contemplátio réficit, cuius implet benígnitas, cuius replet suávitas, cuius memória lucéscit suáviter, cuius odóre mórtui revivíscent, cuiúsque vísio gloriósa beatificábit omnes cives supérnæ Ierúsalem: quæ cum sit splendor ætérnæ glóriæ, candor lucis ætérnæ et spéculum sine mácula, hoc spéculum cotídie intuére, o regína, sponsa Iesu Christi, et in eo fáciem tuam iúgiter speculáre, ut sic totam intérius et extérius te adórnes amíctam circumdatámque varietátibus, ómnium virtútum flóribus et vestiméntis páriter adornátam, sicut decet fíliam et sponsam castíssimam summi Regis. In hoc autem spéculo refúlget beáta paupértas, sancta humílitas et ineffábilis cáritas, sicut per totum spéculum póteris cum Dei grátia contemplári.
  Atténde, inquam, princípium huius spéculi, paupertátem pósiti síquidem in præsépio et in pannículis involúti. O miránda humílitas, o stupénda paupértas. Rex angelórum, Dóminus cæli et terræ in præsépio reclinátur. In médio autem spéculi consídera humilitátem, saltem beátam paupertátem, labóres innúmeros ac pœnalitátes quas sustínuit pro redemptióne humáni géneris. In fine vero eiúsdem spéculi contempláre ineffábilem caritátem, qua pati vóluit in crucis stípite et in eódem mori omni mortis génere turpióre. Unde ipsum spéculum, in ligno crucis pósitum, hæc consideránda transeúntes monébat dicens: O vos omnes, qui transítis per viam, atténdite et vidéte si est dolor sicut dolor meus; respondeámus, inquit, ei clamánti et eiulánti una voce, uno spíritu: Memória memor ero et tabéscet in me ánima mea. Hinc ígitur caritátis ardóre accendáris iúgiter fórtius, o regína cæléstis regis.
  Contémplans ínsuper indicíbiles eius delícias, divítias et honóres perpétuos et suspirándo præ nímio cordis desidério et amóre proclámes; Trahe me, post te currémus in odórem unguentórum tuórum, sponse cæléstis. Curram nec defíciam, donec introdúcas me in cellam vináriam, donec læva tua sit sub cápite meo et déxtera felíciter amplexábitur me, et osculéris me felicíssimo tui oris ósculo. In hac contemplatióne pósita, hábeas memóriam paupérculæ matris tuæ, sciens quod ego tuam felícem memóriam descrípsi inseparabíliter in tábulis cordis mei, habens te præ ómnibus cariórem.
Second Reading
A letter of St Clare to Blessed Agnes of Prague

Consider the poverty, humility and charity of Christ

Happy the soul to whom it is given to attain this life with Christ, to cleave with all one’s heart to him whose beauty all the heavenly hosts behold forever, whose love inflames our love, the contemplation of whom is our refreshment, whose graciousness is our delight, whose gentleness fills us to overflowing, whose remembrance makes us glow with happiness, whose fragrance revives the dead, the glorious vision of whom will be the happiness of all the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem. For he is the brightness of eternal glory, the splendour of eternal light, the mirror without spot.
  Look into that mirror daily, O queen and spouse of Jesus Christ, and ever study therein your countenance, that within and without you may adorn yourself with all manner of virtues, and clothe yourself with the flowers and garments that become the daughter and chaste spouse of the most high King. In that mirror are reflected poverty, holy humility and ineffable charity, as, with the grace of God, you may perceive.
  Gaze first upon the poverty of Jesus, placed in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes. What marvellous humility! What astounding poverty! The King of angels, Lord of heaven and earth, is laid in a manger. Consider next the humility, the blessed poverty, the untold labours and burdens which he endured for the redemption of the human race. Then look upon the unutterable charity with which he willed to suffer on the tree of the cross and to die thereon the most shameful kind of death. This mirror, Christ himself, fixed upon the wood of the cross, bade the passers-by consider these things: ‘All you who pass this way look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow.’ With one voice and one mind let us answer him as he cries and laments, saying in his own words: ‘I will be mindful and remember and my soul shall languish within me.’ Thus, O queen of the heavenly King, may you ever burn more ardently with the fire of this love.
  Contemplate further the indescribable joys, the wealth and unending honours of the King, and sighing after them with great longing, cry to him: ‘Draw me after you: we shall run to the fragrance of your perfumes, O heavenly bridegroom.’ I will run and faint not until you bring me into the wine cellar, until your left hand be under my head and your right hand happily embrace me and you kiss me with the kiss of your mouth.
  In such contemplation be mindful of your poor little mother and know that I have inscribed your happy memory indelibly on the tablets of my heart, holding you dearer than all others.
Responsorium
Ps 72 (73), 26; Phil 3, 8 b
℟. Defécit caro mea et cor meum,* Deus cordis mei et pars mea Deus in ætérnum.
℣. Omnia detriméntum feci, ut Christum lucri fáciam et invéniar in illo.* Deus.
Responsory
℟. Though my heart and my flesh fail,* God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
℣. I have thrown everything else away as worthless, so that I may gain Christ, and be completely united with him;* God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
Oremus.
  Deus, qui beátam Claram ad paupertátis amórem misericórditer adduxísti, eius nobis intercessióne concéde, ut, in paupertáte spíritus Christum sequéntes, ad tui contemplatiónem in cælésti regno perveníre mereámur.
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.
Lord God, in your mercy
  you led Saint Clare to the love of poverty.
Help us, by her intercession,
  to follow Christ in poverty of spirit,
  so that, in the kingdom of heaven,
  we may see you in your 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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