Roman Breviary, 1954 (Divino Afflatu)
Wednesday, 18 November 2026
In Dedicatione Basilicarum Ss. Apostolorum Petri et PauliDedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul
Duplex majus
Lectio I
Lesson I
De libro Apocalýpsis beáti Joánnis Apóstoli.
Lesson from the book of Revelation
Apo 21:18-20
Rev 21:18-20
Et erat structúra muri ejus ex lápide jáspide; ipsa vero cívitas aurum mundum símile vitro mundo. Et fundaménta muri civitátis omni lápide pretióso ornáta. Fundaméntum primum jaspis, secúndum sapphírus, tértium chalcedónius, quartum smarágdus, Quintum sárdonyx, sextum sárdius, séptimum chrysólithus, octávum berýllus, nonum topázius, décimum chrysóprasus, undécimum hyacínthus, duodécimum amethýstus.
And the building of the wall thereof was of jasper stone: but the city itself pure gold, like to clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper: the second, sapphire: the third, a chalcedony: the fourth, an emerald: The fifth, sardonyx: the sixth, sardius: the seventh, chrysolite: the eighth, beryl: the ninth, a topaz: the tenth, a chrysoprasus: the eleventh, a jacinth: the twelfth, an amethyst.
℟. In dedicatióne templi decantábat pópulus laudem: * Et in ore eórum dulcis resonábat sonus.
℟. When the Temple was dedicated the people sang praise; * And sweet in their mouths was the sound.
℣. Fundáta est domus Dómini supra vérticem móntium, et vénient ad eam omnes gentes.
℣. The Lord's house is established in the top of the mountains; and all nations shall flow unto it.
℟. Et in ore eórum dulcis resonábat sonus.
℟. And sweet in their mouths was the sound.
Lectio II
Lesson II
Apo 21:21-23
Rev 21:21-23
Et duódecim portæ duódecim margarítæ sunt, per síngulas: et síngulæ portæ erant ex síngulis margarítis: et platéa civitátis aurum mundum, tamquam vitrum perlúcidum. Et templum non vidi in ea; Dóminus enim Deus omnípotens templum illíus est, et Agnus. Et cívitas non eget sole neque luna, ut lúceant in ea; nam cláritas Dei illuminávit eam, et lucérna ejus est Agnus.
And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, one to each: and every several gate was of one several pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein. For the Lord God Almighty is the temple thereof, and the Lamb. And the city hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it. For the glory of God hath enlightened it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof.
℟. Fundáta est domus Dómini supra vérticem móntium, et exaltáta est super omnes colles: * Et vénient ad eam omnes gentes, et dicent: Glória tibi, Dómine.
℟. The Lord's house is established in the top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills; * And all nations shall flow unto it, and shall say: Glory be to thee, O Lord!
℣. Veniéntes autem vénient cum exsultatióne, portántes manípulos suos.
℣. They shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.
℟. Et vénient ad eam omnes gentes, et dicent: Glória tibi, Dómine.
℟. And all nations shall flow unto it, and shall say: Glory be to thee, O Lord!
Lectio III
Lesson III
Apo 21:24-27
Rev 21:24-27
Et ambulábunt gentes in lúmine ejus: et reges terræ áfferent glóriam suam et honórem in illam. Et portæ ejus non claudéntur per diem: nox enim non erit illic. Et áfferent glóriam et honórem géntium in illam. Non intrábit in eam áliquod coinquinátum, aut abominatiónem fáciens et mendácium, nisi qui scripti sunt in libro vitæ Agni.
And the nations shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates thereof shall not be shut by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. There shall not enter into it any thing defiled, or that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they that are written in the book of life of the Lamb.
℟. Bénedic, Dómine, domum istam, quam ædificávi nómini tuo: veniéntium in loco isto * Exáudi preces in excélso sólio glóriæ tuæ.
℟. O Lord, bless this house which I have built unto thy name. whosoever shall come unto this place and pray, then * Hear thou from the excellent throne of thy glory.
℣. Dómine, si convérsus fúerit pópulus tuus, et oráverit ad sanctuárium tuum.
℣. O Lord, if thy people turn and pray toward thy sanctuary.
℟. Exáudi preces in excélso sólio glóriæ tuæ.
℟. Hear thou from the excellent throne of thy glory.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. Exáudi preces in excélso sólio glóriæ tuæ.
℟. Hear Thou from the excellent throne of thy glory.
Lectio IV
Lesson IV
Ex locis sacris quæ olim apud Christiános veneratiónem habuérunt, illa celebérrima et frequentíssima fuérunt, in quibus cóndita Sanctórum córpora, vel áliquod Mártyrum vestígium aut monuméntum esset. In quorum número sanctórum sanctórum locórum, in primis semper fuit insígnis ea Vaticáni pars, quam sancti Petri Confessiónem appellábant. Nam eo Christiáni ex ómnibus orbis terræ pártibus, tamquam ad fídei petram et Ecclésiæ fundaméntum conveniéntes, locum, Príncipis Apostolórum sepúlcro consecrátum, summa religióne ac pietáte venerabántur.
Among the hallowed places which have from of old time been held in honour among Christians, the most famous and sought after were those where the bodies of the Saints were buried, or where there was some trace or token of the Martyrs. Among these spots so hallowed hath been ever among the most noteworthy that place on the Vatican Hill which is called the Confession of St. Peter. Thither Christians do come from all parts of the earth as unto the rock of faith and the foundation-stone of the Church, and surround with godly reverence and love the spot hallowed by the grave of the Prince of the Apostles.
℟. Orántibus in loco isto, * Dimítte peccáta pópuli tui, Deus, et osténde eis viam bonam per quam ámbulent, et da glóriam in loco isto.
℟. If they pray toward this place, * Forgive the sin of thy people, O God, and teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and manifest forth thy glory in this place.
℣. Qui regis Israël inténde, qui dedúcis velut ovem Joseph, qui sedes super Chérubim.
℣. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock, thou that sittest upon the cherubim.
℟. Dimítte peccáta pópuli tui, Deus, et osténde eis viam bonam per quam ámbulent, et da glóriam in loco isto.
℟. Forgive the sin of thy people, O God, and teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and manifest forth thy glory in this place.
Lectio V
Lesson V
Illuc Constantínus Magnus imperátor octávo die post suscéptum baptísmum venit, depositóque diadémate, et humi jacens, vim lacrimárum profúdit. Mox, sumpto ligóne ac bidénte, terram éruit; indéque duódecim terræ cóphinis, honóris causa duódecim Apostolórum, ablátis, ac loco basílicæ Príncipis Apostolórum designáto, ecclésiam ædificávit. Quam sanctus Silvéster Papa décimo quarto Kaléndas Decémbris, eo modo quo Lateranénsem ecclésiam quinto Idus Novémbris consecráverat, dedicávit, et in ea altáre lapídeum, chrísmate delibútum, eréxit; atque ex eo témpore sancívit ne deínceps altária nisi ex lápide fíerent.
Idem beátus Silvester basilicam sancti Pauli Apóstoli, in via Ostiénsi ab eodem Constantino imperatóre magnificentíssime ædificatam, dedicávit. Quas basilicas idem imperátor multis prædiis attributis locupletávit, ac munéribus amplíssimis exornávit.
Whither came the Emperor Constantine the Great upon the eighth day after his Baptism, and, taking off his crown, cast himself down upon the ground, and wept abundantly. Then presently he took a spade and pick-axe, and began to break up the earth, whereof he carried away twelve baskets-full in honour of the twelve Apostles, and built a Church upon that spot, appointed for the Cathedral Church of the Prince of the Apostles. This Church was hallowed by holy Pope Sylvester upon the 18th day of November, in like manner as he had hallowed the Church of the Lateran upon the 9th day of the same month. In this Church did the Pope set up an altar of stone, and pour ointment thereon, and ordain that from thenceforth no altars should be set up, save of stone. The same Emperor Constantine likewise built a very stately Church upon the road to Ostia, in honour of the holy Apostle Paul, which Church also was hallowed by the blessed Sylvester. These Churches the Emperor enriched by grants of much land, and adorned with exceedingly rich gifts.
℟. O quam metuéndus est locus iste: * Vere non est hic áliud nisi domus Dei et porta cæli.
℟. How dreadful is this place! * Surely this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
℣. Hæc est domus Dómini fírmiter ædificáta, bene fundáta est supra firmam petram.
℣. This is the house of God, stoutly builded, well founded upon a sure rock.
℟. Vere non est hic áliud nisi domus Dei et porta cæli.
℟. Surely this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Lectio VI
Lesson VI
Porro Vaticanam basilicam, vetustáte jampridem collabentem, ac proptérea multórum Pontificum pietáte latius ac magnificentius a fundamentis erectam, Urbanus octavus, hac eádem recurrénte die anni millesimi sexcentésimi vigesimi sexti, solemni ritu consecrávit. Basilicam vero Ostiensem, quum dira incendii vis anno millesimo octingentésimo vigesimo tertio penitus consumpsísset, indefessa quatuor Pontificum cura splendidius quam antea erectam, et ab intéritu véluti vindicátum, Pius nonus, auspicatíssimam nactus occasiónem qua dogma de immaculáta beátæ Maríæ Vírginis Conceptióne, nuper ab ipso proclamátum, ingentem cardinalium et episcopórum númerum ex dissitis étiam catholici orbis regiónibus Romam attraxerat; die décima Decembris anni millesimi octingentésimi quinquagesimi quarti, tanta circúmdatus purpuratórum patrum et antistitum coróna, solemniter dedicávit, ejusque celebritátis memóriam hac die recoléndam decrevit.
The Church of St. Peter upon the Vatican fell in course of time to ruins, and having been rebuilt from the foundations, enlarged and garnished, by the zeal of many Popes, was solemnly consecrated anew by Urban VIII, upon the same day, in the year 1628. The Church of St. Paul upon the road to Ostia was almost entirely consumed by fire in the year 1823, but was rebuilt in a more splendid form and, as it were, raised from the dead, by the unwearied zeal of four successive Popes. In the year 1854 Pius IX seized the happy occasion when the doctrine concerning the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which he had just set forth, had drawn together to Rome a great multitude of Cardinals and Bishops from all quarters of the Catholic world, solemnly to dedicate this new Church in their presence upon the 10th day of December in the year aforesaid; but he decreed that the yearly Feast in honour of that dedication should be kept upon this day, being the same as that of the Dedication of the Church of St. Peter.
℟. Mane surgens Jacob, erigébat lápidem in títulum, fundens óleum désuper; votum vovit Dómino: * Vere locus iste sanctus est, et ego nesciébam.
℟. Jacob rose up early in the morning, and set up the stone for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it, and vowed a vow unto the Lord. * Surely this place is holy, and I knew it not.
℣. Cumque evigilásset Jacob de somno, ait.
℣. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said
℟. Vere locus iste sanctus est, et ego nesciébam.
℟. Surely this place is holy, and I knew it not.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. Vere locus iste sanctus est, et ego nesciébam.
℟. Surely this place is holy, and I knew it not.
Lectio VII
Lesson VII
Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Lucam.
From the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luc 19:1-10
Luke 19:1-10
In illo témpore: Ingréssus Jesus perambulábat Jéricho. Et ecce vir nómine Zachǽus: et hic princeps erat publicanórum, et ipse dives. Et réliqua.
At that time: Jesus entering in, he walked through Jericho. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And so on.
Homilía sancti Gregórii Papæ.
Homily by Pope St. Gregory (the Great)
Lib. 27. Moralium, cap. 27. post medium.
Bk. xxviii of Moral Reflections on Job, ch. 27
Si veráciter sapiéntes esse, atque ipsam sapiéntiam contemplári appétimus, stultos nos humíliter cognoscámus. Relinquámus nóxiam sapiéntiam, discámus laudábilem fatuitátem. Hinc quippe scriptum est: Stulta mundi elégit Deus, ut confúndat sapiéntes. Hinc rursum dícitur: Si quis vidétur inter vos sápiens esse in hoc sǽculo, stultus fiat, ut sit sápiens. Hinc evangélicæ históriæ verba testántur: quia Zachǽus cum vidére præ turba nihil posset, sycómori árborem ascéndit, ut transeúntem Dóminum cérneret. Sycómorus quippe ficus fátua dícitur.
If we would be truly wise, and behold wisdom herself, we must humbly acknowledge ourselves to be fools. Let us cast away harmful wisdom, and learn praiseworthy folly. For this reason indeed is it written God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise. (1 Cor. 1:27) And again it is said If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. (3:18.) And unto this doth the very Gospel bear witness, wherein it is said that Zacchaeus sought to see Jesus, Who He was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him; for He was to pass that way. For this name Sycamore, being interpreted, signifieth the Foolish Fig.
℟. Domus mea, domus oratiónis vocábitur, dicit Dóminus: in ea omnis qui petit, áccipit; et qui quærit, ínvenit; * Et pulsánti aperiétur.
℟. My house shall be called the house of prayer, saith the Lord. Therein, he that asketh, receiveth; he that seeketh, findeth; * And to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
℣. Pétite, et accipiétis; quǽrite, et inveniétis.
℣. Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find.
℟. Et pulsánti aperiétur.
℟. And to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
Lectio VIII
Lesson VIII
Pusíllus ítaque Zachǽus sycómorum súbiit, et Dóminum vidit: quia qui mundi stultítiam humíliter éligunt, ipsi Dei sapiéntiam subtíliter contemplántur. Pusillitátem namque nostram ad vidéndum Dóminum turba prǽpedit: quia infirmitátem humánæ mentis, ne lucem veritátis inténdat, curárum sæculárium tumúltus premit. Sed prudénter sycómorum ascéndimus, si próvide eam quæ divínitus præcípitur, stultítiam mente tenémus. Quid enim in hoc mundo stúltius quam amíssa non quǽrere, posséssa rapiéntibus relaxáre, nullam pro accéptis injúriis injúriam réddere, immo adjúnctis áliis patiéntiam præbére?
Little Zacchaeus therefore accepted the humiliation of having recourse to the sycamore and saw the Lord. They who humbly choose to be fools in the estimation of the world, have a deep insight into the wisdom of God. The press standeth in our way, on account of our little stature, when we are fain to see the Lord; for the toilsome din of worldly business tormenteth our weak minds, so as to hinder our perceiving the light of the truth. But we climb up wisely into the sycamore tree, if we willingly give up our minds to that folly which God giveth unto us. What can be more utter folly (in this world) than not to seek for that we have lost, to leave that whereof we have been robbed in the hands of our despoilers, to take no revenge for wrongs which have been done us, yea, even to offer to him that taketh away our cloak, our coat also, and be patient?
℟. Lápides pretiósi omnes muri tui, * Et turres Jerúsalem gemmis ædificabúntur.
℟. All thy walls are of stones most precious. * The towers of Jerusalem shall be built up with jewels.
℣. Portæ Jerúsalem ex sapphíro et smarágdo ædificabúntur, et ex lápide pretióso omnis circúitus muri ejus.
℣. The gates of Jerusalem shall be built up with the sapphire stone, and the emerald, and all her walls round about with stones most precious.
℟. Et turres Jerúsalem gemmis ædificabúntur.
℟. The towers of Jerusalem shall be built up with jewels.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. Et turres Jerúsalem gemmis ædificabúntur.
℟. The towers of Jerusalem shall be built up with jewels.
Lectio IX
Lesson IX
Quasi enim sycómorum nos ascéndere Dóminus prǽcipit, cum dicit: Qui aufert quæ tua sunt, ne répetas. Et rursum: Si quis te percússerit in déxteram maxíllam, præbe illi et álteram. Per sycómorum Dóminus tránsiens cérnitur: quia per hanc sapiéntem stultítiam, etsi necdum, ut est, sólide, jam tamen per contemplatiónis lumen Dei sapiéntia quasi in tránsitu vidétur, quam vidére néqueunt qui sibi sapiéntes esse vidéntur: quia ad conspiciéndum Dóminum, in eláta cogitatiónum suárum turba deprehénsi, adhuc sycómori árborem non invenérunt.
The Lord biddeth us, as it were, to climb up into the sycamore, where He saith Of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again. (Luke 6:30.) And again Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ~(Matth. 5:39.) From the boughs of this sycamore tree, the Lord is seen passing by. He may indeed, as yet, not be seen face to Face, but by this wise folly the inward eye may see the Wisdom of God, as it were, passing by, even that Wisdom Which they that are wise in their own conceit cannot see. They are mixed up in the overbearing press of their own imaginations, and have not yet found the sycamore tree where into to climb up, if they would see the Lord.
Te Deum
Te Deum