Roman Breviary, 1954 (Divino Afflatu)

Sunday, 8 November 2026

Dominica V Post EpiphaniamFifth Sunday after Epiphany

Semiduplex

Commemorationes: In Octava Omnium Sanctorum; Ss. Quatuor Coronatorum Martyrum

Commemorations: Octave of All Saints; Four Crowned Martyrs

Lectio I

Lesson I

Incipit liber Daniélis Prophétæ

Lesson from the book of Daniel

Dan 1:1-4

Anno tértio regni Jóakim regis Juda, venit Nabuchodónosor, rex Babylónis, in Jerúsalem et obsédit eam: Et trádidit Dóminus in manu ejus Jóakim, regem Juda, et partem vasórum domus Dei: et asportávit ea in terra Sénnaar in domum dei sui, et vasa íntulit in domum thesáuri dei sui. Et ait rex Asphenez præpósito eunuchórum, ut introdúceret de fíliis Israël, et de sémine régio et tyrannórum, Púeros, in quibus nulla esset mácula, decóros forma, et erudítos omni sapiéntia, cautos sciéntia, et doctos disciplína, et qui possent stare in palátio regis, ut docéret eos lítteras et linguam Chaldæórum.

In the third year of the reign of Joakim king of Juda, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim the king of Juda, and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he brought into the treasure house of his god. And the king spoke to Asphenez the master of the eunuchs, that he should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed and of the princes, Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such as might stand in the king's palace, that he might teach them the learning, and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

℟. Vidi Dóminum sedéntem super sólium excélsum et elevátum, et plena erat omnis terra majestáte ejus: * Et ea, quæ sub ipso erant, replébant templum.

℟. I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the whole earth was full of His glory; * And His train filled the temple.

℣. Séraphim stabant super illud: sex alæ uni, et sex alæ álteri.

℣. Above it stood the Seraphim each one had six wings.

℟. Et ea, quæ sub ipso erant, replébant templum.

℟. And His train filled the temple.

Lectio II

Lesson II

Dan 1:5-9

Et constítuit eis rex annónam per síngulos dies de cibis suis, et de vino unde bibébat ipse, ut enutríti tribus annis, póstea starent in conspéctu regis. Fuérunt ergo inter eos de fíliis Juda, Dániel, Ananías, Mísaël, et Azarías. Et impósuit eis præpósitus eunuchórum nómina: Daniéli, Baltássar; Ananíæ, Sidrach; Misaéli, Misach; et Azaríæ, Abdénago. Propósuit autem Dániel in corde suo, ne polluerétur de mensa regis, neque de vino potus ejus: et rogávit eunuchórum præpósitum ne contaminarétur. Dedit autem Deus Daniéli grátiam et misericórdiam in conspéctu príncipis eunuchórum.

And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three years, afterwards they might stand before the king. Now there were among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias. And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, Abdenago. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled. And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.

℟. Aspice, Dómine, de sede sancta tua, et cógita de nobis: inclína, Deus meus, aurem tuam et audi: * Aperi óculos tuos et vide tribulatiónem nostram.

℟. Look down, O Lord, from the dwelling-place of thine holiness, and take thought for us. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear. * Open thine eyes, and behold our desolation.

℣. Qui regis Israël, inténde, qui dedúcis velut ovem Joseph.

℣. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou That leadest Joseph like a flock.

℟. Aperi óculos tuos et vide tribulatiónem nostram.

℟. Open thine eyes, and behold our desolation.

Lectio III

Lesson III

Dan 1:10-15

Et ait princeps eunuchórum ad Daniélem: Tímeo ego dóminum meum regem, qui constítuit vobis cibum et potum: qui, si víderit vultus vestros macilentióres præ céteris adolescéntibus coǽvis vestris, condemnábitis caput meum regi. Et dixit Dániel ad Málasar, quem constitúerat princeps eunuchórum super Daniélem, Ananíam, Misaélem et Azaríam: Tenta nos, óbsecro, servos tuos, diébus decem, et dentur nobis legúmina ad vescéndum, et aqua ad bibéndum: Et contempláre vultus nostros, et vultus puerórum, qui vescúntur cibo régio: et, sicut víderis, fácies cum servis tuis. Qui, audíto sermóne hujuscémodi, tentávit eos diébus decem. Post dies autem decem, apparuérunt vultus eórum melióres, et corpulentióres præ ómnibus púeris, qui vescebántur cibo régio.

And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your faces leaner than those of the other youths your equals, you shall endanger my head to the king. And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be given us to eat, and water to drink: And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat of the king's meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants. And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days. And after ten days their faces appeared fairer and fatter than all the children that ate of the king's meat.

℟. Aspice, Dómine, quia facta est desoláta cívitas plena divítiis, sedet in tristítia dómina géntium: * Non est qui consolétur eam, nisi tu, Deus noster.

℟. Consider, O Lord, how that the city sitteth solitary that was full of riches; how is she become as a widow, she that was great among the nations; * She hath none to comfort her, save thee, O our God.

℣. Plorans plorávit in nocte, et lácrimæ ejus in maxíllis ejus.

℣. She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks.

℟. Non est qui consolétur eam, nisi tu, Deus noster.

℟. She hath none to comfort her, save thee, O our God.

℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

℟. Non est qui consolétur eam, nisi tu, Deus noster.

℟. She hath none to comfort her, save thee, O our God.

Lectio IV

Lesson IV

Ex libro sancti Athanásii Epíscopi ad Vírgines

From the Book addressed To Virgins by St. Athanasius, Pope (of Alexandria.)

Liber de Virginitate, post initium.

Bk. ii.

Si accédant áliqui, e dicant tibi: Ne frequénter jejúnes, ne imbecíllior fias; ne credas illis, neque auscúltes: per istos enim inimícus hæc súggerit. Reminíscere ejus quod scriptum est, quod, cum tres púeri, et Dániel, et álii adolescéntuli, captívi ducti essent a Nabuchodónosor rege Babylónis, jussúmque esset ut de ipsíus mensa régia coméderent et de vino bíberent; Dániel et tres púeri illi noluérunt póllui ex mensa regis, sed dixérunt eunúcho qui eos curándos suscéperat: Da nobis de semínibus terræ, et vescémur. Quibus ait eunúchus: Tímeo ego regem, qui constítuit vobis cibum et potum, ne forte fácies vestræ appáreant regi squalidióres præ céteris púeris qui régia mensa alúntur, et púniat me.

If any should come and say unto thee, Fast not so often, lest thou injure thine health, believe them not, neither listen to them. They are but the tools of the great enemy to suggest such a thing unto thee. Remember how it is written that when the three children, and Daniel, and the other lads, were led captives by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon, and it was commanded them to eat of his Royal table, and to drink of his wine, Daniel and those three children would not defile themselves with the King's table, but said unto the eunuch into whose keeping they had been given, Give us of the fruits of the earth, and we will eat. And the eunuch answered them, I fear my lord the King, who hath appointed your meat and your drink, lest perchance your faces should appear unto the King worse - liking than the other children, who are fed from his Royal table, and he should punish me.

℟. Super muros tuos, Jerúsalem, constítui custódes; * Tota die et nocte non tacébunt laudáre nomen Dómini.

℟. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem; * Which shall never hold their peace day nor night, to praise the name of the Lord.

℣. Prædicábunt pópulis fortitúdinem meam, et annuntiábunt géntibus glóriam meam.

℣. They shall proclaim My might unto the nations, and declare My glory unto the Gentiles.

℟. Tota die et nocte non tacébunt laudáre nomen Dómini.

℟. Which shall never hold their peace day nor night, to praise the name of the Lord.

Lectio V

Lesson V

Cui dixérunt illi: Tenta servos tuos dies decem, et da nobis de semínibus. Et dedit eis legúmina ad vescéndum, et aquam ad bibéndum; et introdúxit eos in conspéctu regis, et visæ sunt fácies ipsórum speciosióres præter céteros púeros, qui régiæ mensæ cibis nutriebántur. Vidésne quid fáciat jejúnium? Morbos sanat, distillatiónes córporis exsíccat, dǽmones fugat, pravas cogitatiónes expéllit, mentem clariórem reddit, cor mundum éfficit, corpus sanctíficat, dénique ad thronum Dei hóminem sistit. Et ne putes hæc témere dici; habes hujus rei testimónium in Evangéliis a Salvatóre prolátum. Cum enim quæsivíssent discípuli quonam modo immúndi spíritus ejiceréntur, respóndit Dóminus: Hoc genus non ejícitur, nisi in oratióne et jejúnio.

Then they said unto him Prove thy servants ten days, and give us herbs. And he gave them pulse to eat and water to drink and, when he brought them in before the King, their countenances appeared fairer than all the children which did eat the portion of the King's meat. Seest thou what fasting doth It healeth diseases, it drieth up the humours of the body, it scareth away devils, it purgeth forth unclean thoughts, it maketh the intellect clearer, it purifieth the heart, it sanctifieth the body, and in the end it leadeth a man unto the throne of God. Think not that this is rash talking. Thou hast the testimony of this in the Gospels under the sanction of the Saviour Himself. His disciples asked Him why they could not cast out an evil spirit, and He said unto them This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting. (Mark ix. 28.)

℟. Muro tuo inexpugnábili circumcínge nos, Dómine, et armis tuæ poténtiæ prótege nos semper: * Líbera, Dómine, Deus Israël, clamántes ad te.

℟. Hedge us about with thy wall that cannot be broken down, O Lord, and shield us continually with the arms of thy might. * O Lord God of Israel, deliver them that cry unto thee.

℣. Erue nos in mirabílibus tuis, et da glóriam nómini tuo.

℣. Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and give glory to thy Name.

℟. Líbera, Dómine, Deus Israël, clamántes ad te.

℟. O Lord God of Israel, deliver them that cry unto thee.

Lectio VI

Lesson VI

Quisquis ígitur ab immúndo spíritu vexátur, si hoc animadvértat, et hoc phármaco utátur, jejúnio inquam, statim spíritus malus oppréssus abscédet, vim jejúnii métuens. Valde enim dǽmones oblectántur crápula et ebrietáte et córporis cómmodis. Magna vis in jejúnio, et magna ac præclára fiunt per illud. Alióquin unde hómines tam mirífica præstárent, et signa per eos fíerent, et sanitátem infírmis per ipsos largirétur Deus, nisi plane ob exercitatiónes spirituáles, et humilitátem ánimi, et conversatiónem bonam? Jejúnium enim Angelórum cibus est: et qui eo útitur, órdinis angélici censéndus est.

If any man therefore be troubled with an unclean spirit, if he bethink him of this, and have recourse to this remedy, namely, fasting, the evil spirit will be forthwith compelled to leave him from dread of the power of fasting. Devils take great delight in fulness, and drunkenness, and bodily comfort. There is great power in fasting, and great and glorious things are wrought thereby. How cometh it that men work such wonders, and that signs are done by them, and that God through them giveth health to the sick, unless it be from their ghostly exercises, and the meekness of their souls, and their godly conversation To fast is to banquet with Angels, and he that fasteth is to be reckoned, so far, among the Angelic host.

℟. Sustinúimus pacem, et non venit: quæsívimus bona, et ecce turbátio: cognóvimus, Dómine, peccáta nostra; * Non in perpétuum obliviscáris nos.

℟. We looked for peace, and it came not we asked for good, and behold trouble. We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness. * Forget us not for ever.

℣. Peccávimus, ímpie géssimus, iniquitátem fécimus, Dómine, in omnem justítiam tuam.

℣. O Lord (our God) we have sinned, we have done ungodly, we have dealt unrighteously in all thine ordinances.

℟. Non in perpétuum obliviscáris nos.

℟. Forget us not for ever.

℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

℟. Non in perpétuum obliviscáris nos.

℟. Forget us not for ever.

Lectio VII

Lesson VII

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Matt 13:24-30

In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus turbis parábolam hanc: Símile factum est regnum cælórum hómini, qui seminávit bonum semen in agro suo. Et réliqua.

At that time, Jesus said to the people a parable: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seeds in his field. And so on.

Homilía S. Augustíni Epíscopi

Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop (of Hippo.)

Liber Quæst. Evang. in Matth. cap. 11, tom. 4

Quest. Evang. Matth. xi, Bk. 4

Cum negligéntius ágerent præpósiti Ecclésiæ, aut cum dormitiónem mortis accíperent Apóstoli, venit diábolus, et superseminávit eos, quos malos fílios Dóminus interpretátur. Sed quǽritur: utrum hærétici sint, an male vivéntes cathólici? Possunt enim dici fílii mali étiam hærétici, quia ex eódem Evangélii sémine, et Christi nómine procreáti, pravis opiniónibus ad falsa dógmata convertúntur.

When the Shepherds of the Church wax careless, and since the Apostles sleep the sleep of death, cometh the devil, and soweth them whom the Lord calleth a seed of evil-doers. Now, are these seed of evil-doers the heretics, or Catholics of bad lives? It is possible to call even the heretics a seed of evil-doers because they have sprung up from the seed of the Gospel, and been begotten in the Name of Christ, though afterwards they have turned after crooked ways and lying doctrines.

℟. Laudábilis pópulus, * Quem Dóminus exercítuum benedíxit dicens: Opus mánuum meárum tu es, heréditas mea Israël.

℟. Blessed is the people * Whom the Lord of hosts hath blessed, saying O Israel thou art the work of Mine own hands, thou art Mine own inheritance.

℣. Beáta gens, cujus est Dóminus Deus, pópulus eléctus in hereditátem.

℣. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.

℟. Quem Dóminus exercítuum benedíxit dicens: Opus mánuum meárum tu es, heréditas mea Israël.

℟. Whom the Lord of hosts hath blessed, saying O Israel thou art the work of Mine own hands, thou art Mine own inheritance.

Lectio VIII

Lesson VIII

Sed quod dicit eos in médio trítici seminátos, quasi vidéntur illi significári, qui uníus communiónis sunt. Verúmtamen quóniam Dóminus agrum ipsum, non Ecclésiam, sed hunc mundum interpretátus est: bene intelligúntur hærétici, quia non societáte uníus Ecclésiæ, vel uníus fídei, sed societáte solíus nóminis christiáni in hoc mundo permiscéntur bonis. At illi, qui in eádem fide mali sunt, pálea pótius quam zizánia reputántur: quia pálea étiam fundaméntum ipsum habet cum fruménto, radicémque commúnem.

But whereas it is written that they were sown in the midst of the wheat, we ought haply to understand that they are of one communion with the righteous. Nevertheless, forasmuch as the Lord saith, The field is the world, (and not, the Church,) we may well understand that the seed of evil doers are the heretics, since in this world they are mingled together with the good, not in one common Communion, but only under one common name of Christian. But they which are of one faith with the good seed, and yet are themselves worthless, may more fitly be likened to straw than to tares, since the straw springeth from one soil and one root with the good ear.

℟. Duo Séraphim clamábant alter ad álterum: * Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dóminus Deus Sábaoth: * Plena est omnis terra glória ejus.

℟. One Seraph cried unto another: * Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.

℣. Tres sunt qui testimónium dant in cælo: Pater, Verbum, et Spíritus Sanctus: et hi tres unum sunt.

℣. There are Three That bear record in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these Three are One.

℟. Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.

℟. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of hosts.

℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.

℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.

℟. Plena est omnis terra glória ejus.

℟. The whole earth is full of His glory.

Lectio IX

Lesson IX

In illa plane sagéna, qua concludúntur et mali et boni pisces, non absúrde mali cathólici intelligúntur. Aliud est enim mare, quod magis mundum istum signíficat: áliud sagéna, quæ uníus fídei, vel uníus Ecclésiæ communiónem vidétur osténdere. Inter hæréticos et malos cathólicos hoc ínterest, quod hærétici falsa credunt: illi autem, vera credéntes, non vivunt ita ut credunt.

However, as touching the net cast into the sea, and enclosing a great multitude of fishes, both bad and good, we may well understand that by the bad are meant Catholics of bad lives. For the sea is one thing whereby we may understand to be signified the world; and the net another, which seemeth to signify our faith, or the Communion of one Church. Between heretics and sinful Catholics there is this difference, that heretics believe a lie, and sinful Catholics believe the truth, but live not as they believe.

Te Deum