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Matins readings for Wednesday in Holy Week

(Jeremiah 17:13-18; 18:13-23)


Lectio 1: De Ieremía Prophéta - Exspectátio Israël, Dómine: omnes, qui te derelínquunt, confundéntur: recedéntes a te, in terra scribéntur: quóniam dereliquérunt venam aquárum vivéntium Dóminum. Sana me, Dómine, et sanábor: salvum me fac, et salvus ero: quóniam laus mea tu es. Ecce ipsi dicunt ad me: Ubi est verbum Dómini? véniat. Et ego non sum turbátus, te pastórem sequens: et diem hóminis non desiderávi, tu scis. Quod egréssum est de lábiis meis, rectum in conspéctu tuo fuit. Non sis tu mihi formídini, spes mea tu in die afflictiónis. Confundántur qui me persequúntur, et non confúndar ego: páveant illi, et non páveam ego: induc super eos diem afflictiónis, et dúplici contritióne cóntere eos.
Reading 1: From the prophet Jeremiah - O Lord the hope of Israel: all that forsake thee shall be confounded: they that depart from thee, shall be written in the earth: because they have forsaken the Lord, the vein of living waters. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed: save me, and I shall be saved, for thou art my praise. Behold they say to me: Where is the word of the Lord? let it come.  And I am not troubled, following thee for my pastor, and I have not desired the day of man, thou knowest. That which went out of my lips, hath been right in thy sight.  Be not thou a terror unto me, thou art my hope in the day of affliction. Let them be confounded that persecute me, and let not me be confounded: let them be afraid, and let not me be afraid: bring upon them the day of affliction, and with a double destruction, destroy them.

. Locúti sunt / advérsum me lingua dolósa, et sermónibus odii circumdedérunt me: † pro eo ut me dilígerent, detrahébant mihi: * Ego autem orábam, et exaudísti me, † Dómine, Deus meus.
. Et posuérunt advérsum me mala pro bonis, † et ódium pro dilectióne mea.
. Ego autem orábam, et exaudísti me, † Dómine, Deus meus.
. They have spoken against me with a lying tongue; they compassed me about also with words of hatred: in return for my love they were my adversaries: * But I gave myself unto prayer; and Thou hast heard me, Lord my God!
. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
. But I gave myself unto prayer; and Thou hast heard me, Lord my God!
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Lectio 2: Quis audívit talia horribília, quæ fecit nimis virgo Israël? Numquid defíciet de petra agri nix Líbani? aut evelli possunt aquæ erumpéntes frígidæ, et defluéntes? Quia oblítus est mei pópulus meus, frustra libántes, et impingéntes in viis suis, in sémitis sǽculi, ut ambulárent per eas in itinere non trito: Ut fieret terra eórum in desolatiónem, et in síbilum sempitérnum: omnis qui præteríerit per eam obstupéscet, et movébit caput suum. Sicut ventus urens dispérgam eos coram inimíco: dorsum, et non fáciem osténdam eis in die perditiónis eórum. Et dixérunt: Veníte et cogitémus contra Ieremíam cogitatiónes: non enim períbit lex a sacerdóte, neque consílium a sapiénte, nec sermo a prophéta: veníte, et percutiámus eum lingua, et non attendámus ad univérsos sermónes eius.
Reading 2: Who hath heard such horrible things, as the virgin of Israel hath done to excess? Shall the snow of Libanus fail from the rock of the field? Or can the cold waters that gush out and run down, be taken away? Because my people have forgotten me, sacrificing in vain, and stumbling in their ways, in ancient paths, to walk by them in a way not trodden: That their land might be given up to desolation, and to a perpetual hissing: every one that shall pass by it, shall be astonished, and wag his head. As a burning will I scatter them before the enemy: I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their destruction. And they said: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet: come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words.

. Dixérunt / ímpii apud se, non recte cogitántes: † Circumveniámus iustum, quóniam contrárius est opéribus nostris: † promíttit se sciéntiam Dei habére, Fílium Dei se nóminat, et gloriátur patrem se habére Deum: * Videámus si sermónes illíus veri sunt: † et si est vere Fílius Dei, líberet eum de mánibus nostris: † morte turpíssima condemnémus eum.
. Tamquam nugáces æstimáti sumus ab illo, et ábstinet se a viis nostris tamquam ab immundítiis: † et præfert novíssima iustórum.
. Videámus si sermónes illíus veri sunt: † et si est vere Fílius Dei, líberet eum de mánibus nostris: † morte turpíssima condemnémus eum.
. The ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not aright; Let us lie in wait for the righteous, because he is clean contrary to our doings he professeth to have the knowledge of God, he calleth himself the Son of God, and boasteth that he hath God to his Father. * Let us see if his words be true; and, if he be indeed the Son of God, let Him deliver him from our hand; let us condemn him with a shameful death.
. We are esteemed of him as counterfeits, and he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness, and commendeth the end of the just.
. Let us see if his words be true; and, if he be indeed the Son of God, let Him deliver him from our hand; let us condemn him with a shameful death.
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Lectio 3: Attende, Dómine, ad me, et audi vocem adversariórum meórum. Numquid rédditur pro bono malum, quia fodérunt fóveam ánimæ meæ? Recordáre quod stéterim in conspéctu tuo, ut lóquerer pro eis bonum, et avérterem indignatiónem tuam ab eis. Proptérea da fílios eórum in famem, et deduc eos in manus gládii: fiant uxores eórum absque líberis, et víduæ: et viri eárum interficiántur morte: iúvenes eórum confodiántur gládio in prǽlio. Audiátur clamor de dómibus eórum: addúces enim super eos latrónem repénte: quia fodérunt fóveam ut cáperent me, et láqueos abscondérunt pédibus meis. Tu autem, Dómine, scis omne consílium eórum advérsum me in mortem: ne propitiéris iniquitáti eórum, et peccátum eórum a fácie tua non deleátur: fiant corruéntes in conspéctu tuo, in témpore furoris tui abútere eis.
Reading 3: Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries. Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit for my soul? Remember that I have stood in thy sight, so speak good for them, and turn away thy indignation from them. Therefore deliver up their children to famine, and bring them into the hands of the sword: let their wives be bereaved of children and widows: and let their husbands be slain by death: let their young men be stabbed with the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard out of their houses: for thou shalt bring the robber upon them suddenly: because they have digged a pit to take me, and have hid snares for my feet. But thou, O Lord, knowest all their counsel against me unto death: forgive not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from thy sight: let them be overthrown before thy eyes, in the time of thy wrath do thou destroy them.

. Circumdedérunt me / viri mendáces; sine causa flagéllis cecidérunt me: * Sed tu, Dómine defénsor, víndica me.
. Quóniam tribulátio próxima est, et non est qui ádiuvet.
. Sed tu, Dómine defénsor, víndica me.
. Circumdedérunt me viri mendáces; sine causa flagéllis cecidérunt me: * Sed tu, Dómine defénsor, víndica me.
. Liars are come round about me, they have fallen upon me with scourges without a cause. * But do Thou, O Lord my Redeemer, avenge me!
. For trouble is near, and there is none to help.
. But do Thou, O Lord my Redeemer, avenge me!
. Liars are come round about me, they have fallen upon me with scourges without a cause. * But do Thou, O Lord my Redeemer, avenge me!
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Oratio: Præsta, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: † ut, qui nostris excéssibus incessánter afflígimur, * per unigéniti Fílii tui passiónem liberémur: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
. Amen. 
Collect: O Almighty God, we beseech Thee that we whose transgressions do unceasingly harm us, may find freedom in the Suffering of Thine Only-begotten Son. Who with thee liveth and reigneth, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
. Amen.


Matins readings for Tuesday in Holy Week


(Jeremiah 11:15-20; 12:14, 7-11)

Lectio 1: De Ieremía Propheta - Quid est quod diléctus meus in domo mea fecit scelera multa? Numquid carnes sanctæ auferent a te malítias tuas, in quibus gloriáta es? Olívam úberem, pulchram, fructíferam, speciósam vocávit Dóminus nomen tuum: ad vocem loquélæ, grandis exársit ignis in ea, et combusta sunt frutéta eius. Et Dóminus exercituum, qui plantávit te, locútus est super te malum: pro malis domus Israël et domus Iuda, quæ fecérunt sibi ad irritándum me, libántes Báalim. Tu autem, Dómine, demonstrásti mihi, et cognóvi: tunc ostendísti mihi stúdia eórum. Et ego quasi agnus mansuetus, qui portátur ad víctimam: et non cognóvi quia cogitavérunt super me consília, dicéntes: Mittámus lignum in panem eius, et eradámus eum de terra vivéntium, et nomen eius non memorétur ámplius. Tu autem, Dómine Sabaoth, qui iúdicas iuste, et probas renes et corda, vídeam ultiónem tuam ex eis: tibi enim revelavi causam meam.

Reading 1: From the Prophet Jeremiah - What is the meaning that my beloved hath wrought much wickedness in my house? Shall the holy flesh take away from thee thy crimes, in which thou hast boasted?  The Lord called thy name, a plentiful olive tree, fair, fruitful, and beautiful: at the noise of a word, a great fire was kindled in it and the branches thereof are burnt. And the Lord of hosts that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee: for the evils of the house of Israel, and the house of Juda, which they have done to themselves, to provoke me, offering sacrifice to Baalim.  But thou, O Lord, hast shewn me, and I have known: then thou shewedst me their doings.  And I was as a meek lamb, that is carried to be a victim: and I knew not that they had devised counsels against me, saying: Let us put wood on his bread, and cut him off from the land of the living, and let his name be remembered no more.  But thou, O Lord of Sabaoth, who judgest justly, and triest the reins and hearts, let me see thy revenge on them: for to thee I have revealed my cause.

. Contumélias / et terróres passus sum ab eis, qui erant pacífici mei, et custodiéntes latus meum, † dicéntes: Decipiámus eum, et prævaleámus illi: † sed tu, Dómine, mecum es tamquam bellátor fortis. * Cadant in oppróbrium sempitérnum, ut vídeam vindíctam in eis, † quia tibi revelávi causam meam.
. Iúdica, Dómine, causam ánimæ meæ, defensor vitæ meæ.
. Cadant in oppróbrium sempitérnum, ut vídeam vindíctam in eis, † quia tibi revelávi causam meam.
. I have suffered defaming and fear from them that were my familiars they watched for my halting, saying Let us entice him, and prevail against him. But Thou, O Lord, art with me, as a Mighty Terrible One. * Let them stumble into everlasting confusion, that I may see thy vengeance upon them, for unto thee have I opened my cause.
. O Lord, plead Thou the cause of my soul, Thou That art the Redeemer of my life.
. Let them stumble into everlasting confusion, that I may see thy vengeance upon them, for unto thee have I opened my cause.
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Lectio 2: Iustus quidem tu es, Dómine, si díspútem tecum: verúmtamen iusta loquar ad te: Quare via impiórum prosperátur: bene est ómnibus, qui prævaricántur, et iníque agunt? Plantásti eos, et radícem misérunt: profíciunt et faciunt fructum: prope es tu ori eórum, et longe a renibus eórum. Et tu, Dómine, nosti me, vidísti me, et probásti cor meum tecum: cóngrega eos quasi gregem ad víctimam, et sanctifica eos in die occisiónis. Usquequo lugébit terra, et herba omnis regiónis siccábitur propter malítiam habitántium in ea? Consumptum est animal et vólucre, quóniam dixérunt: Non vidébit novíssima nostra.
Reading 2: Thou indeed, O Lord, art just, if I plead with thee, but yet I will speak what is just to thee: Why doth the way of the wicked prosper: why is it well with all them that transgress, and do wickedly? Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root: they prosper and bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins. And thou, O Lord, hast known me, thou hast seen me, and proved my heart with thee: gather them together as sheep for a sacrifice, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.  How long shall the land mourn, and the herb of every field wither for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? The beasts and the birds are consumed: because they have said: He shall not see our last end.

. Deus Israël, / propter te sustínui impropérium, opéruit reveréntia fáciem meam, † extraneus factus sum frátribus meis, et hospes fíliis matris meæ: * Quóniam zelus domus tuæ comédit me.
. Inténde ánimæ meæ, et líbera eam, † propter inimícos meos éripe me.
. Quóniam zelus domus tuæ comédit me.
. For thy sake, O God of Israel, I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face; I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. * For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it; deliver me, because of mine enemies.
. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
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Lectio 3: Relíqui domum meam, dimísi hereditátem meam: dedi diléctam ánimam meam in manu inimicórum eius. Facta est mihi heréditas mea quasi leo in silva: dedit contra me vocem, ideo odívi eam. Numquid avis díscolor heréditas mea mihi? numquid avis tincta per totum? Veníte, congregámini, omnes béstiæ terræ, properáte ad devorándum. Pastores multi demolíti sunt víneam meam, conculcavérunt partem meam: dedérunt portiónem meam desiderábilem in desértum solitúdinis. Posuérunt eam in díssipatiónem, luxitque super me: desolatióne desoláta est omnis terra, quia nullus est qui recógitet corde.
Reading 3: I have forsaken my house, I have left my inheritance: I have given my dear soul into the land of her enemies. My inheritance is become to me as a lion in the wood: is hath cried out against me, therefore have I hated it. Is my inheritance to me as a speckled bird? Is it as a bird died throughout? Come ye, assemble yourselves, all the beasts of the earth, make haste to devour. Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot: they have changed my delightful portion into a desolate wilderness. They have laid it waste, and it hath mourned for me. With desolation is all the land made desolate; because there is none that considereth in the heart.

. Synagóga / populórum circumdedérunt me: et non réddidi retribuéntibus mihi mala. * Consumétur, Dómine, nequítia peccatórum, et díriges iustum.
. Iúdica me, Dómine, secúndum iustítiam meam, † et secúndum innocéntiam meam super me.
. Consumétur, Dómine, nequítia peccatórum, et díriges iustum.
. Synagóga populórum circumdedérunt me: et non réddidi retribuéntibus mihi mala. * Consumétur, Dómine, nequítia peccatórum, et díriges iustum.
. The congregation of the people hath compassed me about, but I rewarded no evil unto him that rewarded evil unto me. * O Lord, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just.
. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
. O Lord, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just.
. The congregation of the people hath compassed me about, but I rewarded no evil unto him that rewarded evil unto me. * O Lord, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just. 
NR 367

Oratio: Omnípotens sempitérne Deus: † da nobis ita Domínicæ passiónis sacraménta perágere; * ut indulgéntiam percípere meréamur. Per eúndem Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
. Amen. 
Collect: O Almighty and everlasting God, give us grace so to use the solemn and mysterious memorial of the Lord's Suffering, that the same may be unto us a mean whereby worthily to win thy forgiveness. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
. Amen.


Matins readings and responsories for Monday in Holy Week


(Jn 12:1-9; Augustine tract 50)

Lectio 1: Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Ioánnem - Ante sex dies Paschæ venit Iesus Bethániam, ubi Lázarus fuerat mórtuus, quem suscitávit Iesus. Et réliqua.

Homilía sancti Augustíni Epíscopi - Ne putárent hómines phantásma esse factum, quia mórtuus resurréxit, Lázarus unus erat ex recumbéntibus: vivébat, loquebátur, epulabátur, véritas osténdebátur, infidelitas Iudæórum confundebátur. Discumbébat ergo Iesus cum Lázaro, et céteris: ministrábat Martha, una ex soróribus Lázari. Maria vero, áltera soror Lázari, accépit libram unguénti nardi pístici pretiósi, et unxit pedes Iesu, et extérsit capíllis suis pedes eius, et domus impléta est ex odore unguenti. Factum audívimus: mystérium requirámus.

Reading 1: From the holy Gospel according to John - Six days before the pasch, Jesus came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life.

Homily by St Augustine, Bishop - There they made Him a supper and Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table lest men should deem that it was but by an ocular delusion that they had seen him arise from the dead. He lived therefore, spake, and ate; to the manifestation of the truth, and the confusion of the unbelieving Jews. Jesus, then, sat down to meat with Lazarus and others, and Martha, being one of Lazarus' sisters, served. But Mary, Lazarus' other sister, took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the Feet of Jesus, and wiped His Feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. We have now heard that which was done; let us search out the mystic meaning thereof.

. Viri ímpii / dixérunt: Opprimámus virum iustum iniúste, et deglutiámus eum tamquam inférnus vivum: † auferámus memóriam illíus de terra: et de spóliis eius sortem mittámus inter nos: † ipsi enim homicídæ thesaurizavérunt sibi mala. * Insipiéntes et malígni odérunt sapiéntiam: † et rei facti sunt in cogitatiónibus suis.
. Hæc cogitavérunt, et erravérunt: † et excæcávit illos malítia eórum.
. Insipiéntes et malígni odérunt sapiéntiam: † et rei facti sunt in cogitatiónibus suis.
. The ungodly said Let us oppress the righteous man without cause, and swallow him up alive, as the grave let us make his memorial to perish from the earth, and cast lots among us for his spoils and those murderers laid by store for themselves, but of evil. * Fools and haters loathe wisdom, and are guilty in their thoughts.
. Such things they did imagine, and were deceived, for their own wickedness blinded them.
. Fools and haters loathe wisdom, and are guilty in their thoughts.
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Lectio 2: Quæcúmque ánima fidélis vis esse, cum María unge pedes Dómini pretióso unguento. Unguéntum illud iustítia fuit, ideo libra fuit: erat autem unguéntum nardi pístici pretiósi. Quod ait, pístici, locum aliquem credere debemus, unde hoc erat unguéntum pretiósum: nec tamen hoc vacat, et sacraménto optime cónsonat. Pístis Græce, fides Latine dícitur. Quærébas operari iustítiam. Iustus ex fide vivit. Unge pedes Iesu bene vivéndo: Dominica sectáre vestígia. Capillis terge: si habes supérflua, da paupéribus, et Dómini pedes tersísti: capílli enim supérflua corporis vidéntur. Habes quod agas de superfluis tuis: tibi supérflua sunt, sed Dómini pédibus necessária sunt. Forte in terra Dómini pedes índigent.
Reading 2: Whatsover thou art that wilt be a faithful soul, seek with Mary to anoint the Feet of the Lord with costly ointment. This ointment was a figure of justice, and therefore is there said to have been a pound thereof, a pound being a weight used in scales. The word pistikes used by the Evangelist as the name of this ointment, we must believe to be that of some place, from which this costly perfume was imported. Neither is this name meaningless for us, but agreeth well with our mystic interpretation, since Pistis is the Greek word which signifieth Faith, and whosoever will do justice must know that: The just shall live by faith. Anoint therefore the Feet of Jesus by thy good life, following in the marks which those Feet of the Lord have traced. Wipe His Feet likewise with thy hair; that is, if thou have aught which is not needful to thee, give it to the poor; and then thou hast wiped the Feet of Jesus with thy hair, that is, with that which thou needest not, and which is therefore to thee as is hair, being a needless out-growth to the body. Here thou hast what to do with that which thou needest not. To thee it is needless, but the Lord's Feet have need of it; yea, the Feet which the Lord hath on earth are sorely needy.

. Oppróbrium / factus sum nimis inimícis meis: † vidérunt me, et movérunt cápita sua:* Adiúva me, Dómine, Deus meus.
. Locúti sunt advérsum me lingua dolósa, † et sermónibus odii circumdedérunt me.
. Adiúva me, Dómine, Deus meus.
. I became a reproach unto mine enemies they looked upon me and shaked their heads. * Help me, O Lord my God!
. They have spoken against me with a lying tongue they compassed me about also with words of hatred.
. Help me, O Lord my God!
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Lectio 3: De quibus enim, nisi de membris suis in fine dicturus est: Cum uni ex minimis meis fecístis, mihi fecístis? Supérflua vestra impendístis: sed pédibus meis obsecúti estis. Domus autem impléta est odore: mundus impletus est fama bona: nam odor bonus, fama bona est. Qui male vivunt, et Christiáni vocántur, iniúriam Christo fáciunt: de quálibus dictum est, quod per eos nomen Dómini blasphemátur. Si per tales nomen Dei blasphemátur, per bonos nomen Dómini laudátur. Audi Apóstolum: Christi bonus odor sumus, inquit, in omni loco.

Reading 3: For of whom save of His members, will He say at the latter day: Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me. That is ye have spent nothing save that which ye needed not, but ye have ministered unto My Feet. And the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. That is, the fragrance of your good example filleth the world; for this odour is a figure of reputation. They which are called Christians, and yet live bad lives, cast a slur on Christ and it is even such as they unto whom it is said The Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you.  But if, through such, the Name of God be blasphemed, through the godly is praise ascribed to the Same His Holy Name, as the Apostle doth likewise say In every place we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.

. Insurrexérunt / in me viri iníqui absque misericórdia, quæsiérunt me interfícere: † et non pepercérunt in fáciem meam spúere, et lánceis suis vulneravérunt me: † et concússa sunt ómnia ossa mea: * Ego autem existimábam me tamquam mórtuum super terram.
. Effudérunt furórem suum in me: † fremuérunt contra me déntibus suis.
. Ego autem existimábam me tamquam mórtuum super terram.
. Insurrexérunt in me viri iníqui absque misericórdia, quæsiérunt me interfícere: † et non pepercérunt in fáciem meam spúere, et lánceis suis vulneravérunt me: † et concússa sunt ómnia ossa mea: * Ego autem existimábam me tamquam mórtuum super terram.
. False witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty they have gone about to kill me, neither spared they to spit in my face; their spears have wounded me, and all my bones are out of joint.* But as for me, I counted myself as one that is dead upon the earth.
. They poured forth their fury upon me, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
. But as for me, I counted myself as one that is dead upon the earth.
. False witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty they have gone about to kill me, neither spared they to spit in my face; their spears have wounded me, and all my bones are out of joint.* But as for me, I counted myself as one that is dead upon the earth.
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Oratio: Da, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: † ut, qui in tot advérsis ex nostra infirmitáte defícimus; * intercedénte unigéniti Fílii tui passióne respirémus: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
. Amen.
Collect: O Almighty God, Which knowest that we be set in such straits that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves, we pray thee mercifully to relieve us, for whom continually pleadeth the suffering of thine Only Begotten Son. Who with thee liveth and reigneth, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
. Amen