Thursday 24 April 2025    (other days)
Easter Thursday 

Using calendar: England - Portsmouth - Oxfordshire - North Hinksey. 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
Hic est dies verus Dei,
sancto serénus lúmine,
quo díluit sanguis sacer
probrósa mundi crímina.
Fidem refúndit pérditis
cæcósque visu illúminat;
quem non gravi solvit metu
latrónis absolútio?
Opus stupent et ángeli,
pœnam vidéntes córporis
Christóque adhæréntem reum
vitam beátam cárpere.
Mystérium mirábile,
ut ábluat mundi luem,
peccáta tollat ómnium
carnis vítia mundans caro,
Quid hoc potest sublímius,
ut culpa quærat grátiam,
metúmque solvat cáritas
reddátque mors vitam novam?
Esto perénne méntibus
paschále, Iesu, gáudium
et nos renátos grátiæ
tuis triúmphis ággrega.
Iesu, tibi sit glória,
qui morte victa prǽnites,
cum Patre et almo Spíritu,
in sempitérna sǽcula. 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 117:1-9
Vox iubilationis et salutis

“Hic est lapis, qui reprobatus est a vobis ædificatoribus, qui factus est in caput anguli” (Act 4, 11).

Dicat nunc Israel: In sǽculum misericórdia eius, allelúia.
1Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus,*
  quóniam in sǽculum misericórdia eius.
2Dicat nunc Israel, quóniam bonus,*
  quóniam in sǽculum misericórdia eius.
3Dicat nunc domus Aaron,*
  quóniam in sǽculum misericórdia eius.
4Dicant nunc, qui timent Dóminum,*
  quóniam in sǽculum misericórdia eius.
5De tribulatióne invocávi Dóminum,*
  et exaudívit me edúcens in latitúdinem Dóminus.
6Dóminus mecum,*
  non timébo, quid fáciat mihi homo.
7Dóminus mecum adiútor meus,*
  et ego despíciam inimícos meos.
8Bonum est confúgere ad Dóminum*
  quam confídere in hómine.
9Bonum est confúgere ad Dóminum*
  quam confídere in princípibus.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Dicat nunc Israel: In sǽculum misericórdia eius, allelúia.

Psalm 117 (118)
A cry of rejoicing and triumph

Let the sons of Israel say: ‘His love has no end, alleluia.’
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
  and his kindness is for ever.
Now let Israel say, he is good
  and his kindness is for ever.
Now let the house of Aaron say it too:
  that his kindness is for ever.
Now let all who fear the Lord say it too:
  that his kindness is for ever.
In my time of trial I called out to the Lord:
  he listened, and led me to freedom.
The Lord is with me,
  I will fear nothing that man can do.
The Lord, my help, is with me,
  and I shall look down upon my enemies.
It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,
  better than to trust in men.
It is good to seek shelter in the Lord,
  better than to trust in the leaders of men.
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.
Let the sons of Israel say: ‘His love has no end, alleluia.’

How to listen

Ps 117:10-18

Factus est mihi Dóminus in salútem, allelúia.
10Omnes gentes circuiérunt me,*
  et in nómine Dómini excídi eos.
11Circumdántes circumdedérunt me,*
  et in nómine Dómini excídi eos.
12Circumdedérunt me sicut apes†
  et exarsérunt sicut ignis in spinis,*
  et in nómine Dómini excídi eos.
13Impelléntes impulérunt me, ut cáderem,*
  et Dóminus adiúvit me.
14Fortitúdo mea et laus mea Dóminus*
  et factus est mihi in salútem.
15Vox iubilatiónis et salútis*
  in tabernáculis iustórum:
«Déxtera Dómini fecit virtútem!†
  16Déxtera Dómini exaltávit me;*
  déxtera Dómini fecit virtútem!».
17Non móriar, sed vivam*
  et narrábo ópera Dómini.
18Castígans castigávit me Dóminus*
  et morti non trádidit me.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
Factus est mihi Dóminus in salútem, allelúia.

Psalm 117 (118)

The Lord has become my saviour. Alleluia.
All the nations surrounded me,
  and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They crowded in and besieged me,
  and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They surrounded me like swarms of bees,
  they burned like a fire of dry thorns,
  and in the Lord’s name I slew them.
They chased and pursued me, to make me fall,
  and the Lord came to my help.
The Lord is my strength and my rejoicing:
  he has become my saviour.
A cry of joy and salvation
  in the dwellings of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has triumphed!
  The Lord’s right hand has raised me up;
  the Lord’s right hand has triumphed.”
I shall not die, but live,
  and tell of the works of the Lord.
The Lord chastised me severely
  but did not let me die.
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 Lord has become my saviour. Alleluia.

Ps 117:19-29

A Dómino factum est istud et est mirábile in óculis nostris, allelúia.
19Aperíte mihi portas iustítiæ;*
  ingréssus in eas confitébor Dómino.
20Hæc porta Dómini;*
  iusti intrábunt in eam.
21Confitébor tibi, quóniam exaudísti me*
  et factus es mihi in salútem.
22Lápidem, quem reprobavérunt ædificántes,*
  hic factus est in caput ánguli;
23a Dómino factum est istud*
  et est mirábile in óculis nostris.
24Hæc est dies, quam fecit Dóminus:*
  exsultémus et lætémur in ea.
25O Dómine, salvum me fac;*
  o Dómine, da prosperitátem!
26Benedíctus, qui venit in nómine Dómini.*
  Benedícimus vobis de domo Dómini.
27Deus Dóminus et illúxit nobis.*
  Instrúite sollemnitátem in ramis condénsis usque ad córnua altáris.
28Deus meus es tu, et confitébor tibi,*
  Deus meus, et exaltábo te.
29Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus,*
  quóniam in sǽculum misericórdia eius.
Glória Patri et Fílio*
  et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio et nunc et semper*
  et in sǽcula sæculórum.
Amen.
A Dómino factum est istud et est mirábile in óculis nostris, allelúia.

Psalm 117 (118)

This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. Alleluia.
Open the gates of righteousness:
  I will go in, and thank the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
  it is the upright who enter here.
I will thank you, for you listened to me,
  and became my saviour.
The stone that the builders rejected
  has become the corner-stone.
It was the Lord who did this –
  it is marvellous to behold.
This is the day that was made by the Lord:
  let us rejoice today, and be glad.
Lord, keep me safe;
  O Lord, let me prosper!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
  We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God: he shines upon us!
  Arrange the procession, with close-packed branches,
  up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, I will give thanks to you;
  my God, I will give you praise.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
  and his kindness is 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.
This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. Alleluia.
℣. In resurrectióne tua, Christe, allelúia.
℟. Cæli et terra læténtur, allelúia.
℣. Heaven and earth rejoice, O Christ, alleluia.
℟. Because you have risen from the dead, alleluia.
Lectio prior
De Epístola prima beáti Petri apóstoli 3, 1-17

De imitatione Christi

1Mulíeres súbditæ sint suis viris, ut et si qui non credunt verbo, per mulíerum conversatiónem sine verbo lucrifíant, 2considerántes castam in timóre conversatiónem vestram; 3quarum sit non extrínsecus capillatúræ aut circumdatiónis auri aut induménti vestimentórum cultus, 4sed qui abscónditus cordis est homo in incorruptibilitáte mitis et quiéti spíritus, qui est in conspéctu Dei lócuples. 5Sic enim aliquándo et sanctæ mulíeres sperántes in Deo ornábant se subiéctæ própriis viris, 6sicut Sara obœdiébat Abrahæ dóminum eum vocans; cuius estis fíliæ benefaciéntes et non timéntes ullam perturbatiónem.
  7 Viri simíliter cohabitántes secúndum sciéntiam quasi infirmióri vaso mulíebri impertiéntes honórem, tamquam et coherédibus grátiæ vitæ, uti ne impediántur oratiónes vestræ.
  8In fine autem omnes unánimes, compatiéntes, fraternitátis amatóres, misericórdes, húmiles, 9non reddéntes malum pro malo vel maledíctum pro maledícto, sed e contrário benedicéntes, quia in hoc vocáti estis, ut benedictiónem hereditáte accipiátis.
10«Qui enim vult vitam dilígere
et vidére dies bonos,
coérceat linguam suam a malo,
et lábia eius ne loquántur dolum;
11declínet autem a malo et fáciat bonum,
inquírat pacem et persequátur eam.
12Quia óculi Dómini super iustos,
et aures eius in preces eórum;
vultus autem Dómini super faciéntes mala».
13Et quis est qui vobis nóceat, si boni æmulatóres fuéritis? 14Sed et si patímini propter iustítiam, beáti! Timórem autem eórum ne timuéritis et non conturbémini, 15Dóminum autem Christum sanctificáte in córdibus vestris, paráti semper ad defensiónem omni poscénti vos ratiónem de ea, quæ in vobis est spe, 16sed cum mansuetúdine et timóre, consciéntiam habéntes bonam, ut in quo de vobis detrectátur, confundántur, qui calumniántur vestram bonam in Christo conversatiónem. 17Mélius est enim benefaciéntes, si velit volúntas Dei, pati quam malefaciéntes.
First Reading1 Peter 3:1-17

The imitation of Christ

Wives should be obedient to their husbands. Then, if there are some husbands who have not yet obeyed the word, they may find themselves won over, without a word spoken, by the way their wives behave, when they see how faithful and conscientious they are. Do not dress up for show: doing up your hair, wearing gold bracelets and fine clothes; all this should be inside, in a person’s heart, imperishable: the ornament of a sweet and gentle disposition – this is what is precious in the sight of God. That was how the holy women of the past dressed themselves attractively – they hoped in God and were tender and obedient to their husbands; like Sarah, who was obedient to Abraham, and called him her lord. You are now her children, as long as you live good lives and do not give way to fear or worry.
  In the same way, husbands must always treat their wives with consideration in their life together, respecting a woman as one who, though she may be the weaker partner, is equally an heir to the life of grace. This will stop anything from coming in the way of your prayers.
  Finally: you should all agree among yourselves and be sympathetic; love the brothers, have compassion and be self-effacing. Never pay back one wrong with another, or an angry word with another one; instead, pay back with a blessing. That is what you are called to do, so that you inherit a blessing yourself. Remember: Anyone who wants to have a happy life and to enjoy prosperity must banish malice from his tongue, deceitful conversation from his lips; he must never yield to evil but must practise good; he must seek peace and pursue it. Because the face of the Lord frowns on evil men, but the eyes of the Lord are turned towards the virtuous.
  No one can hurt you if you are determined to do only what is right; if you do have to suffer for being good, you will count it a blessing. There is no need to be afraid or to worry about them. Simply reverence the Lord Christ in your hearts, and always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have. But give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear conscience, so that those who slander you when you are living a good life in Christ may be proved wrong in the accusations that they bring. And if it is the will of God that you should suffer, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.
Responsorium
Lc 6, 22. 23 a; 1 Petr 3, 14 a
℟. Beáti éritis, cum vos óderint hómines et eiécerint nomen vestrum tamquam malum propter Fílium hóminis; * Gaudéte in illa die et exsultáte: ecce enim merces vestra multa in cælo, allelúia.
℣. Si patímini propter iustítiam, beáti. * Gaudéte.
Responsory
Lk 6:22-23; 1 P 3:14
℟. Happy are you when men hate you and say that you are evil, because of the Son of Man.* Rejoice when that day comes, and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven, alleluia.
℣. Even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are!* Rejoice when that day comes, and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven, alleluia.
Lectio altera
Ex Catechésibus Cyrílli Hierosolymitáni
(Cat. 20, Mystagogica 2, 4-6:
PG 33, 1079-1082)

Baptisma, signum passionis Christi

Ad sanctam divíni baptísmatis piscínam dedúcti estis, uti Christus a cruce ad posítum coram sepúlcrum.
  Et interrogátus est unusquísque utrum créderet in nomen Patris et Fílii et Spíritus Sancti. Confessíque estis salutárem confessiónem ac demérsi estis tértio in aquam, rursúmque emersístis; atque hic in imágine et in sýmbolo triduánam Christi significástis sepultúram.
  Sicut enim Salvátor noster tres dies et noctes tres in ventre terræ egit; sic et vos in prima emersióne primam quam in terra Christus exégit diem, et immersióne noctem, imitáti estis. Nam velut qui in nocte degit, non ámplius videt, qui vero in die, in lúmine versátur; sic et in mersióne, tamquam in nocte, nihil vidístis, in emersióne vero tamquam in die pósiti fuístis; eodémque moménto et mórtui et nati estis, illáque unda salutáris et sepúlcrum vobis et mater effécta est.
  Et quod de áliis rebus Sálomon dixit, vobis óptime convéniat; dicébat ille: Tempus pariéndi et tempus moriéndi; at vobis e convérso: tempus moriéndi et tempus nascéndi; unum tempus hæc utráque effécit, et cum morte natívitas vestra concúrrit.
  O novum inauditúmque rerum genus! Non sumus vere mórtui nec vere sepúlti, nec vere crucifíxi resurréximus; verum eárum rerum per imáginem imitátio expréssa est, at veritáte parta hinc salus.
  Christus vere crucifíxus est et vere sepúltus et vere surréxit; et hæc ómnia nobis per grátiam sunt impertíta, ut, per imitatiónem partícipes eius perpessiónum facti, in veritáte salútem lucrémur.
  O exuberántem in hómines amórem! Christus incontaminátis pédibus ac mánibus suis clavos excépit et dolórem pértulit: et mihi, dolóris et labóris inexpérto, per suórum dolórum communicatiónem, salútem gratificátur.
  Nemo ergo exístimet baptísma in remissióne peccatórum dumtáxat et in adoptiónis grátia consístere, sicut erat Ioánnis baptísma, quod solam peccatórum remissiónem conferébat; cum contra accuráte novérimus, illud, sicut peccátis expurgándis valet et Spíritus Sancti donum concíliat, ita et Christi passiónum antítypum atque expressiónem esse. Propter hoc enim et Paulus modo clamans aiébat: An ignorátis quod, quicúmque baptizáti sumus in Christum Iesum, in mortem eius baptizáti sumus? Consepúlti ergo ei sumus per baptísmum in mortem.
Second Reading
From the Jerusalem Catecheses

Baptism is a symbol of Christ's passion

You were led down to the font of holy baptism just as Christ was taken down from the cross and placed in the tomb which is before your eyes. Each of you was asked, “Do you believe in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?” You made the profession of faith that brings salvation, you were plunged into the water, and three times you rose again. This symbolised the three days Christ spent in the tomb.
  As our Saviour spent three days and three nights in the depths of the earth, so your first rising from the water represented the first day and your first immersion represented the first night. At night a man cannot see, but in the day he walks in the light. So when you were immersed in the water it was like night for you and you could not see, but when you rose again it was like coming into broad daylight. In the same instant you died and were born again; the saving water was both your tomb and your mother.
  Solomon’s phrase in another context is very apposite here. He spoke of a time to give birth, and a time to die. For you, however, it was the reverse: a time to die, and a time to be born, although in fact both events took place at the same time and your birth was simultaneous with your death.
  This is something amazing and unheard of! It was not we who actually died, were buried and rose again. We only did these things symbolically, but we have been saved in actual fact. It is Christ who was crucified, who was buried and who rose again, and all this has been attributed to us. We share in his sufferings symbolically and gain salvation in reality. What boundless love for men! Christ’s undefiled hands were pierced by the nails; he suffered the pain. I experience no pain, no anguish, yet by the share that I have in his sufferings he freely grants me salvation.
  Let no one imagine that baptism consists only in the forgiveness of sins and in the grace of adoption. Our baptism is not like the baptism of John, which conferred only the forgiveness of sins. We know perfectly well that baptism, besides washing away our sins and bringing us the gift of the Holy Spirit, is a symbol of the sufferings of Christ. This is why Paul exclaims: Do you not know that when we were baptized into Christ Jesus we were, by that very action, sharing in his death? By baptism we went with him into the tomb.
ResponsoriumCf. Ap 7, 9
℟. Isti sunt agni novélli, qui annuntiavérunt: allelúia; modo venérunt ad fontes, * Repléti sunt claritáte, allelúia.
℣. In conspéctu Agni amícti sunt stolis albis et palmæ in mánibus eórum. * Repléti.
Responsory
℟. These are the new-born lambs who have been crying out Alleluia. They have just come from the fount,* and they are filled with radiance, alleluia.
℣. They stand before the Lamb clothed in white garments and holding palms in their hands,* and they are filled with radiance, alleluia.
Canticum
Te Deum laudámus:* te Dóminum confitémur.
Te ætérnum Patrem,* omnis terra venerátur.
Tibi omnes ángeli,*
  tibi cæli et univérsæ potestátes:
tibi chérubim et séraphim*
  incessábili voce proclámant:
Sanctus,* Sanctus,* Sanctus*
  Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra* maiestátis glóriæ tuæ.
Te gloriósus* Apostolórum chorus,
te prophetárum* laudábilis númerus,
te mártyrum candidátus* laudat exércitus.
Te per orbem terrárum*
  sancta confitétur Ecclésia,
Patrem* imménsæ maiestátis;
venerándum tuum verum* et únicum Fílium;
Sanctum quoque* Paráclitum Spíritum.
Tu rex glóriæ,* Christe.
Tu Patris* sempitérnus es Fílius.
Tu, ad liberándum susceptúrus hóminem,*
  non horruísti Vírginis úterum.
Tu, devícto mortis acúleo,*
  aperuísti credéntibus regna cælórum.
Tu ad déxteram Dei sedes,* in glória Patris.
Iudex créderis* esse ventúrus.
Te ergo quæsumus, tuis fámulis súbveni,*
  quos pretióso sánguine redemísti.
Ætérna fac cum sanctis tuis* in glória numerári.
Haec ultima pars hymni ad libitum omitti potest:
Salvum fac pópulum tuum, Dómine,*
  et bénedic hereditáti tuæ.
Et rege eos,* et extólle illos usque in ætérnum.
Per síngulos dies* benedícimus te;
et laudámus nomen tuum in sæculum,*
  et in sæculum sæculi.
Dignáre, Dómine, die isto*
  sine peccáto nos custodíre.
Miserére nostri, Dómine,* miserére nostri.
Fiat misericórdia tua, Dómine, super nos,*
  quemádmodum sperávimus in te.
In te, Dómine, sperávi:*
  non confúndar in ætérnum.
CanticleTe Deum
God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!
You, the Father, the eternal –
all the earth venerates you.
All the angels, all the heavens, every power –
The cherubim, the seraphim –
unceasingly, they cry:
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:
heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!”
The glorious choir of Apostles –
The noble ranks of prophets –
The shining army of martyrs –
all praise you.
Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.
– Father of immeasurable majesty,
– True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,
– Holy Spirit, our Advocate.
You, Christ:
– You are the king of glory.
– You are the Father’s eternal Son.
– You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb.
– You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you.
– You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father.
– You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.
And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood.
Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.
The final part of the hymn may be omitted:
Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance.
Rule them and lift them high for ever.
Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever.
Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us.
Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you.
In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame.
Oremus.
  Deus, qui diversitátem géntium in confessióne tui nóminis adunásti, da, ut renátis fonte baptísmatis una sit fides méntium et píetas actiónum.
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,
  you have made one people
  out of many different races and nations,
  united through confessing the glory of your name.
They were born to new life in baptism:
  let there be one faith in their hearts,
  one love in their Christian way of life.
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.

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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Copyright © 1996-2025 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com. Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Hodder & Stoughton and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.
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