Roman Breviary, 1954 (Divino Afflatu)

Thursday, 19 November 2026

S. Elisabeth ViduæSt. Elizabeth, Widow

Duplex

Commemoratio: S. Pontiani Papæ et Martyris

Commemoration: St. Pontianus, Pope and Martyr

Lectio I

Lesson I

Incipit Amos Prophéta

Lesson from the book of Amos

Amos 1:1-2

Verba Amos, qui fuit in pastóribus de Thécue, quæ vidit super Israël in diébus Ozíæ, regis Juda, et in diébus Jeróboam, fílii Joas, regis Israël, ante duos annos terræmótus. Et dixit: Dóminus de Sion rúgiet, et de Jerúsalem dabit vocem suam; et luxérunt speciósa pastórum, et exsiccátus est vertex Carméli.

The words of Amos, who was among herdsmen of Thecua: which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Ozias king of Juda, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joas king of Israel two years before the earthquake. And he said: The Lord will roar from Sion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem: and the beautiful places of the shepherds have mourned, and the top of Carmel is withered.

℟. 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

Amos 1:3-5

Hæc dicit Dóminus: Super tribus sceléribus Damásci, et super quátuor non convértam eum, eo quod trituráverint in plaustris férreis Gálaad. Et mittam ignem in domum Azaël, et devorábit domos Bénadad. Et cónteram vectem Damásci: et dispérdam habitatórem de campo idóli, et tenéntem sceptrum de domo voluptátis: et transferétur pópulus Sýriæ Cyrénen, dicit Dóminus.

Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Damascus, and for four I will not convert it: because they have thrashed Galaad with iron wains. And I will send a fire into the house of Azael, and it shall devour the houses of Benadad. And I will break the bar of Damascus: and I will cut off the inhabitants from the plain of the idol, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of pleasure: and the people of Syria shall be carried away to Cyrene, saith the Lord.

℟. 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

Amos 1:6-8

Hæc dicit Dóminus: Super tribus sceléribus Gazæ, et super quátuor non convértam eum, eo quod transtúlerint captivitátem perféctam, ut conclúderent eam in Idumǽa. Et mittam ignem in murum Gazæ, et devorábit ædes ejus. Et dispérdam habitatórem de Azóto, et tenéntem sceptrum de Ascalóne: et convértam manum meam super Accaron, et períbunt réliqui Philisthinórum, dicit Dóminus Deus.

Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Gaza, and for four I will not convert it: because they have carried away a perfect captivity to shut them up in Edom. And I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour the houses thereof. And I will cut off the inhabitant from Azotus, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ascalon: and I will turn my hand against Accaron, and the rest of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God.

℟. 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

Elisabeth, Andréæ regis Hungariæ fília, ab infántia Deum timere cœpit; et, crescens ætate, crevit étiam pietáte. Ludovíco Lantgrávio Hássiæ et Thuríngiæ in cónjugem copulata, non minori cura quæ Dei quam quæ viri sui erant, exsequebátur. Surgens enim noctúrno témpore, oratióni diu incumbebat; ac, variis misericórdiæ officiis dédita, viduis, pupíllis, ægrotis, egéntibus sedulo inserviébat, gravique fame urgente, domus suæ fruménta liberáliter erogábat. Leprosos hospítio suscípiens, manus eórum et pedes osculabátur. Curandis autem et aléndis paupéribus insigne xenodochíum construxit.

Elisabeth, daughter of Andrew II., King of Hungary, (was born in the year 1207.) She began to fear God even from a little child, and grew in grace as she grew in years. (In her fourteenth year) she was married to Lewis, Landgrave of Hesse and Thuringia, and thenceforth gave herself up to the things of her husband, with as much zeal as to the things of God. She rose in the night to make long prayers. She consecrated herself to works of mercy. She waited continually on widows and orphans, the sick and the needy. When a sore famine came (in the year 1225,) she provided corn bountifully from her own house. She founded an house of refuge for lepers, and would even kiss their hands and feet. She built also a great hospital for the suffering and starving poor.

℟. Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam: * Et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua.

℟. Because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness; * And thy right hand shall lead thee wonderfully.

℣. Spécie tua et pulchritúdine tua inténde, próspere procéde, et regna.

℣. In thy comeliness, and thy beauty, go forward, fare prosperously, and reign.

℟. Et dedúcet te mirabíliter déxtera tua.

℟. And thy right hand shall lead thee wonderfully.

Lectio V

Lesson V

Defuncto cónjuge, ut Deo liberius serviret, depositis ómnibus sæcularis glóriæ induméntis, vili túnica induta est, atque, ordinem Pœniténtium sancti Francisci ingressa, patiéntiæ et humilitátis virtúte maxime enituit. Nam, bonis ómnibus exuta, a propriis ædibus ejecta, ab ómnibus derelicta, contumelias, irrisiónes, obtrectatiónes invicto animo tolerávit, adeo ut summopere gaudéret se talia pro Deo pati. Ad ínfima quæque ministeria erga páuperes et ægrotos se abjíciens, eis necessaria procurabat, solis oléribus et legumínibus pro suo victu contenta.

After husband died (on his way to the Holy War, on the eleventh day of September, 1227.) Then Elizabeth, more utterly to be God's only, laid aside all the garments of earthly state, clad herself in mean raiment, and entered the Third Order of St. Francis, wherein she was a burning and shining light of longsuffering and lowliness. (Her brotherin-law) stripped her (and her three little children) of all their goods, and turned them out of their own house. She was deserted by all, and assailed with insults, gibes, and calumnies, but she bore it all with patience, yea, even rejoicing that she suffered such things for God's sake. She gave herself to the meanest services toward the poor and sick, and sought for them the needfuls of life, while she lived herself only on potherbs and vegetables.

℟. Dilexísti justítiam, et odísti iniquitátem: * Proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ.

℟. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; * Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.

℣. Propter veritátem, et mansuetúdinem, et justítiam.

℣. Because of truth, and meekness, and righteousness.

℟. Proptérea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, óleo lætítiæ.

℟. Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness.

Lectio VI

Lesson VI

Cum vero in his aliisque plurimis sanctis opéribus vitam religiosíssime transegísset, finis tandem suæ peregrinatiónis advenit, quem domesticis suis ante prædixit. Cumque, defixis in cælum óculis, divinæ contemplatióni vacaret, a Deo mirabíliter recreáta et sacramentis refecta, obdormívit in Dómino. Statimque plurima ad ejus tumulum miracula patráta sunt. Quibus auditis et rite probátis, Gregórius nonus Sanctórum número eam adscripsit.

In these and many other holy works she prayerfully passed the rest of her life, till (in the twenty-fourth year of her age,) the end of her earthly pilgrimage came, as she had already foretold to her servants. With her eyes fixed on heaven, absorbed in the thought of God, by Him wondrously comforted, and strengthened by the Sacraments, she fell asleep in the Lord, (upon the 19th day of November, in the year of salvation 1231.) Forthwith many miracles were wrought at her grave, which being known and duly proved, Gregory IX. numbered her name among those of the Saints.

℟. Fallax grátia, et vana est pulchritúdo: * Múlier timens Dóminum, ipsa laudábitur.

℟. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain * A woman that feareth God she shall be praised.

℣. Date ei de fructu mánuum suárum, et laudent eam in portis ópera ejus.

℣. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

℟. Múlier timens Dóminum, ipsa laudábitur.

℟. A woman that feareth God she shall be praised.

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

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

℟. Múlier timens Dóminum, ipsa laudábitur.

℟. A woman that feareth God she shall be praised.

Lectio VII

Lesson VII

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthǽum

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew

Matt 13:44-52

In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis suis parábolam hanc: Simile est regnum cælórum thesáuro abscóndito in agro. Et réliqua.

At that time Jesus spake unto His disciples this parable The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field. And so on.

Homilía sancti Gregórii Papæ

Homily by Pope St Gregory the Great

Homilia 11 in Evangelia

11th on the Gospels

Cælórum regnum, fratres caríssimi, idcírco terrénis rebus símile dícitur, ut, ex his quæ ánimus novit, surgat ad incógnita, quæ non novit: quátenus exémplo visibílium se ad invisibília rápiat, et, per ea quæ usu dídicit quasi confricátus incaléscat; ut per hoc, quod scit notum dilígere, discat et incógnita amáre. Ecce enim cælórum regnum thesáuro abscóndito in agro comparátur; quem, qui invénit homo, abscóndit, et præ gáudio illíus vadit, et vendit univérsa quæ habet, et emit agrum illum.

Dearly beloved brethren, the kingdom of heaven is likened unto the things of earth, to the end that by the mean of things which we know, our mind may rise to the contemplation of the things which we know not by the example of things which are seen, may fix her gaze on things which are not seen by the touch of things which she useth, may be warmed towards the things which she useth not; by things which she knoweth and loveth, to love also the things which she knoweth not. For, behold, “the kingdom of heaven is likened unto treasure hid in a field, the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and, for joy thereof, goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field.”

℟. Os suum apéruit sapiéntiæ, et lex cleméntiæ in lingua ejus: considerávit sémitas domus suæ, * Et panem otiósa non comédit.

℟. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household * And eateth not the bread of idleness.

℣. Gustávit et vidit quia bona est negotiátio ejus: non exstinguétur in nocte lucérna ejus.

℣. She tasteth and perceiveth that her merchandise is good. Her candle goeth not out by night.

℟. Et panem otiósa non comédit.

℟. And she eateth not the bread of idleness.

Lectio VIII

Lesson VIII

Qua in re hoc quoque notándum est, quod invéntus thesáurus abscónditur, ut servétur: quia stúdium cæléstis desidérii a malígnis spirítibus custodíre non súfficit, qui hoc ab humánis láudibus non abscóndit. In præsénti étenim vita, quasi in via sumus, qua ad pátriam pérgimus. Malígni autem spíritus iter nostrum quasi quidam latrúnculi óbsident. Deprædári ergo desíderat, qui thesáurum públice portat in via. Hoc autem dico, non ut próximi ópera nostra bona non vídeant, cum scriptum sit: Vídeant ópera vestra bona, et gloríficent Patrem vestrum qui in cælis est; sed, ut per hoc quod ágimus, laudes extérius non quærámus. Sic autem sit opus in público, quátenus inténtio máneat in occúlto; ut, et de bono ópere próximis præbeámus exémplum, et tamen per intentiónem, qua Deo soli placére quǽrimus, semper optémus secrétum.

And herein we must remark that the treasure, when once it hath been found, is hidden to keep it safe. He whose intimate yearnings after God are not hidden from the praise of men, is open thereby to the attacks of evil spirits. In this life we are, as it were, journeying homewards on a road beset by evil spirits who are like highwaymen. He therefore inviteth robbery who carrieth his treasure ostentatiously. Doubtless our neighbour should be able to see our good works, as it is written: “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” But this is not to be understood to mean that we are to seek the praise of men by what we do. Rather, let us in such wise work in the open that the inner intention of devotion is not advertised. So we shall give an example to our neighbour, and yet keep hidden, except from the sight of God, our purpose of pleasing him.

℟. Regnum mundi et omnem ornátum sǽculi contémpsi, propter amórem Dómini mei Jesu Christi: * Quem vidi, quem amávi, in quem crédidi, quem diléxi.

℟. The kingdom of this world and all the beauty of life I have esteemed as nothing, for the excellency of the love of Jesus Christ my Lord * Whom, having seen, I loved Whom, having believed, I longed after.

℣. Eructávit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego ópera mea Regi.

℣. My heart is overflowing with a good matter I speak of my works unto the King.

℟. Quem vidi, quem amávi, in quem crédidi, quem diléxi.

℟. Whom, having seen, I loved Whom, having believed, I longed after.

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

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

℟. Quem vidi, quem amávi, in quem crédidi, quem diléxi.

℟. Whom, having seen, I loved Whom, having believed, I longed after.

Lectio IX

Lesson IX

Commemoratio: S. Pontiani Papæ et Martyris

Commemoration of: St. Pontianus, Pope and Martyr

Pontianus, Romanus, præfuit Ecclésiæ Alexandro imperatóre; qui sanctum Pontificem, propter christianæ fidei confessiónem, in Sardiniam insulam cum Hippólyto presbytero relegávit. Ubi is, pro Christi fide multis calamitátibus afflíctus, tertio Kalendas Novembris e vita migrávit. Ejus corpus, Fabiáno Pontifice, cum clero Romam delátum, in cœmeterio Callísti via Appia sepelítur. Sedit annos quatuor, menses quatuor, dies viginti quinque. Fecit ordinatiónes duas mense Decembri, quibus creávit presbyteros sex, diaconos quinque, episcopos per diversa loca sex.

Pontian was a Roman, who ruled the Church in the reign of the Emperor Alexander. This Emperor banished him into the Island of Sardinia, along with the Priest Hippolytus, on account of their profession of the Christian faith. There he. endured many hardships because of his belief in Christ, and departed this life upon the 19th day of November, (in the year of our Lord 235.) His body was brought to Rome by Pope Fabian and his clergy, and buried in the cemetery of Kallistus, upon the Appian Way. He sat in the seat of Peter four years, four months, and twentyfive days. He held two Ordinations in the month of December, wherein he made six Priests, five Deacons, and six Bishops for diverse places. At Lauds a Commemoration is made of the holy Martyr.

Te Deum