Universalis
Tuesday 16 December 2025    (other days)
Tuesday of the 3rd week of Advent

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

Mid-Morning Prayer (Terce)

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
Nunc, Sancte, nobis, Spíritus
unum Patri cum Fílio,
dignáre promptus íngeri
nostro refúsus péctori.
Os, lingua, mens, sensus, vigor
confessiónem pérsonent,
flamméscat igne cáritas,
accéndat ardor próximos.
Per te sciámus da Patrem
noscámus atque Fílium,
te utriúsque Spíritum
credámus omni témpore. Amen.
Hymn
Come, Holy Spirit, live in us
With God the Father and the Son,
And grant us your abundant grace
To sanctify and make us one.
May mind and tongue made strong in love
Your praise throughout the world proclaim,
And may that love within our hearts
Set fire to others with its flame.
Most blessèd Trinity of love,
For whom the heart of man was made,
To you be praise in timeless song,
And everlasting homage paid.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal

Psalms of the day

Complementary psalms

The psalms of the day are shown here. If you are reciting more than one daytime hour (Terce, Sext, None) today, use the psalms of the day at one hour and the complementary psalms at the others.
SPECIAL FOR TODAY: If you are celebrating Sext today, you must use the psalms of the day at Sext, and use the complementary psalms now.

PSALMS OF THE DAY

Ps 118:97-104
Meditatio verbi Domini in lege

“Hoc mandátum habémus ab eo, ut, qui díligit Deum, díligat et fratrem suum” (1 Io 4, 21)

Prophétæ prædicavérunt nasci Salvatórem de Vírgine María.
97Quómodo diléxi legem tuam, Dómine;*
  tota die meditátio mea est.
98Super inimícos meos sapiéntem me fecit præcéptum tuum,*
  quia in ætérnum mihi est.
99Super omnes docéntes me prudens factus sum,*
  quia testimónia tua meditátio mea est.
100Super senes intelléxi,*
  quia mandáta tua servávi.
101Ab omni via mala prohíbui pedes meos,*
  ut custódiam verba tua.
102A iudíciis tuis non declinávi,*
  quia tu legem posuísti mihi.
103Quam dúlcia fáucibus meis elóquia tua,*
  super mel ori meo.
104A mandátis tuis intelléxi;*
  proptérea odívi omnem viam mendácii.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.

Psalm 118(119): 97-104

The prophets foretold that the Saviour would be born of the Virgin Mary.
Lord, how I love your law!
  I ponder it all day long.
Your teachings have made me wise,
  far above my enemies:
  your law is mine for ever.
I am wiser than all my teachers,
  because I ponder your teachings.
I am wiser than the elders
  because I have followed your precepts.
I have kept my feet away from evil paths
  to obey your commandments.
I have not fallen away from your decrees,
  for you have given me a law to live by.
Sweet to the taste are your promises,
  sweeter than honey in my mouth.
Your precepts have given me wisdom
  and I hate the path of deception.
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.

Ps 73:1-12
Lamentatio propter templum vastatum

“Nolite timere eos, qui occidunt corpus” (Mt 10, 28).

1Ut quid, Deus, reppulísti in finem,*
  irátus est furor tuus super oves páscuæ tuæ?
2Memor esto congregatiónis tuæ,*
  quam possedísti ab inítio.
Redemísti virgam hereditátis tuæ,*
  mons Sion, in quo habitásti.
3Leva gressus tuos in ruínas sempitérnas:*
  ómnia vastávit inimícus in sancto.
4Rugiérunt, qui odérunt te, in médio congregatiónis tuæ;*
  posuérunt signa sua in signa.
5Visi sunt quasi in altum secúrim vibrántes*
  in silva condénsa.
6Excidérunt iánuas eius in idípsum;*
  in secúri et áscia deiecérunt.
7Incendérunt igni sanctuárium tuum,*
  in terram polluérunt tabernáculum nóminis tui;
8dixérunt in corde suo: «Opprimámus eos simul».*
  Combussérunt omnes congregatiónes Dei in terra.
9Signa nostra non vídimus,†
  iam non est prophéta,*
  et apud nos non est qui cognóscat ámplius.
10Usquequo, Deus, improperábit inimícus,*
  spernet adversárius nomen tuum in finem?
11Ut quid avértis manum tuam*
  et tenes déxteram tuam in médio sinu tuo?
12Deus autem rex noster ante sǽcula,*
  operátus est salútes in médio terræ.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.

Psalm 73 (74)
Lament over the ruined Temple

Why, God, have you rejected us so finally?
  Why this rage against the sheep of your flock?
Remember those you have gathered,
  those who were yours from the beginning.
The stock you redeemed to be your own possession;
  the mountain of Zion, where you chose to dwell.
Turn your steps towards the final devastation:
  the enemy has laid waste the sanctuary.
Those who hate you have roared
  in the midst of your flock.
They have set up their emblems,
  taking the place of your own.
They have raised their axes high,
  hewing the wood.
With hatchets and axes
  they have hewn down the doors.
They set fire to the sanctuary,
  profaned and trampled your tabernacle.
They said to themselves, ‘Let us crush them
  once and for all.’
They burned to the ground
  every shrine of God in the land.
Our emblems have vanished,
  our prophets are gone,
  and none of us knows any more.
How long, O God, will the enemy deride?
  Will he insult your name forever?
Why do you keep your hand away?
  Why do you fold your arms?
God is our king since the beginning,
  he has given us help throughout 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.

Ps 73:13-23

13Tu conscidísti in virtúte tua mare,*
  contribulásti cápita dracónum in aquis.
14Tu confregísti cápita Levíathan,*
  dedísti eum escam monstris maris.
15Tu dirupísti fontes et torréntes;*
  tu siccásti flúvios perénnes.
16Tuus est dies et tua est nox,*
  tu fabricátus es luminária et solem.
17Tu statuísti omnes términos terræ,*
  æstátem et híemem, tu plasmásti ea.
18Memor esto huius:†
  inimícus improperávit Dómino,*
  et pópulus insípiens sprevit nomen tuum.
19Ne tradas béstiis ánimas confiténtes tibi*
  et ánimas páuperum tuórum ne obliviscáris in finem.
20Réspice in testaméntum,*
  quia repléta sunt latíbula terræ tentóriis violéntiæ.
21Ne revertátur húmilis factus confúsus;*
  pauper et inops laudábunt nomen tuum.
22Exsúrge, Deus, iúdica causam tuam;†
  memor esto improperiórum tuórum,*
  quæ ab insipiénte fiunt tota die.
23Ne obliviscáris voces inimicórum tuórum;*
  tumúltus adversariórum tuórum ascéndit semper.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Prophétæ prædicavérunt nasci Salvatórem de Vírgine María.

Psalm 73 (74)

You divided the sea with your power,
  you smashed the heads of dragons in the water.
You smashed the head of Leviathan
  and fed him to the sea-monsters.
You opened up springs and torrents
  but dried up rivers that had flowed for ever.
Yours is the day and the night:
  you made the sun and the other lights.
You fixed the bounds of the earth,
  you created both summer and winter.
Remember all this:
  and now the enemy mocks you
  and a foolish people despises your name.
Do not give to the beasts
  the lives of those who proclaim you.
Do not forget forever
  the lives of your poor.
Think of your covenant –
  every cave in the land is a refuge for the violent.
Let the humble not return ashamed:
  the poor and the destitute will praise your name.
Rise up, O God, and judge your own cause!
  Remember the insults you have received
  all day long, from fools.
Do not forget the sound of your enemies’ voices:
  their noise, growing louder.
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.
The prophets foretold that the Saviour would be born of the Virgin Mary.

Continue

OR:

At the daytime hours (Terce, Sext, None) when you don’t choose to use the psalms of the day, use the complementary psalms instead.

COMPLEMENTARY PSALMS

Ps 119:1-7
Desiderium pacis

“In tribulatione patientes, orationi instantes” (Rom 12, 12).

Prophétæ prædicavérunt nasci Salvatórem de Vírgine María.
1Ad Dóminum, cum tribulárer, clamávi,*
  et exaudívit me.
2Dómine, líbera ánimam meam a lábiis mendácii,*
  a lingua dolósa.
3Quid detur tibi aut quid apponátur tibi,*
  lingua dolósa?
4Sagíttæ poténtis acútæ*
  cum carbónibus iuniperórum.
5Heu mihi, quia peregrinátus sum in Mosoch,*
  habitávi ad tabernácula Cedar!
6Multum íncola fuit ánima mea*
  cum his, qui odérunt pacem.
7Ego eram pacíficus;*
  cum loquébar, illi impugnábant me.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.

Psalm 119 (120)
Longing for peace

The prophets foretold that the Saviour would be born of the Virgin Mary.
I was in trouble, and cried to the Lord;
  and he answered me.
Lord, free me from the lips of liars,
  from deceitful tongues.
What will be given you, what will you receive,
  deceitful tongue?
Sharp arrows from the warrior,
  hardened in the flames.
Alas, I am an exile in Meshech;
  I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
My soul has lived too long
  with those who hate peace.
I am for making peace;
  but whenever I spoke, they attacked me.
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.

Ps 120:1-8
Custos populi

“Non esurient amplius, neque sitient amplius, neque cadet super illos sol neque ullus æstus” (Ap 7, 16).

1Levábo óculos meos in montes:*
  unde véniet auxílium mihi?
2Auxílium meum a Dómino,*
  qui fecit cælum et terram.
3Non dabit in commotiónem pedem tuum,*
  neque dormitábit, qui custódit te.
4Ecce non dormitábit neque dórmiet,*
  qui custódit Israel.
5Dóminus custódit te,†
  Dóminus umbráculum tuum,*
  ad manum déxteram tuam.
6Per diem sol non percútiet te,*
  neque luna per noctem.
7Dóminus custódiet te ab omni malo;*
  custódiet ánimam tuam Dóminus.
8Dóminus custódiet intróitum tuum et éxitum tuum*
  ex hoc nunc et usque in sǽculum.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.

Psalm 120 (121)
The guardian of the people

I shall lift my eyes to the hills:
  where is my help to come from?
My help will come from the Lord,
  who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip:
  he will not doze, your guardian.
Behold, he will not doze or sleep,
  the guardian of Israel.
The Lord is your guardian, the Lord is your shade;
  he is at your right hand.
By day the sun will not strike you;
  nor the moon by night.
The Lord will guard you from all harm;
  the Lord will guard your life.
The Lord will guard your coming and your going
  both now and 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.

Ps 121:1-9
Civitas sancta Ierusalem

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

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.
Prophétæ prædicavérunt nasci Salvatórem de Vírgine María.

Psalm 121 (122)
Jerusalem, the holy city

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.
The prophets foretold that the Saviour would be born of the Virgin Mary.

Continue

CONCLUSION

Lectio brevisIer 23:5
Ecce dies véniunt, dicit Dóminus, et suscitábo David germen iustum; et regnábit rex et sápiens erit et fáciet iudícium et iustítiam in terra.
Scripture ReadingJeremiah 23:5
See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David, who will reign as true king and be wise, practising honesty and integrity in the land.
℣. Timébunt gentes nomen tuum, Dómine.
℟. Et omnes reges terræ glóriam tuam.
℣. The nations shall fear your name, O Lord.
℟. And all the kings of the earth your glory.
Oremus.
  Deus, qui novam creatúram per Unigénitum tuum nos esse fecísti, in ópera misericórdiæ tuæ propítius intuére et in advéntu Fílii tui ab ómnibus nos máculis vetustátis emúnda.
  Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
  Amen.
Let us pray.
Father,
  through your Son you have made us a new people.
Look on us now as the new creation of your love,
  and by the coming of your Son, cleanse us from every stain of sin.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Benedicámus Dómino.
– Deo grátias.
Let us praise the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.

The psalms and canticles here are our own translation from the Latin. The Grail translation of the psalms, which is used liturgically in most of the English-speaking world, cannot be displayed on the Web for copyright reasons. The Universalis apps and programs do contain the Grail translation of the psalms.

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