St. Catherine of Alexandria - (287 – 305)
St.
Catherine was born at Alexandria, of pagan parents. She was gifted with great
personal beauty, and possessed so extraordinary a mind, that she mastered all
the sciences which, at that period, nourished in her native city. The only
science of which she had no knowledge was that of eternal salvation; but this,
too, she at last obtained in the following manner: It seemed to her, in her
sleep, that the Queen of Heaven was standing before her in wondrous beauty,
carrying her divine Son in her arms. But the latter, turning His face from her
in displeasure, said that Catherine was ugly, because she had not been baptized.
Catherine awoke, and, while thinking over her dream, she was inspired by Heaven
to resolve to become a Christian. When sufficiently instructed, she received
holy baptism, after which the Blessed Virgin again appeared to her with Christ,
who, looking tenderly at Catherine, placed a ring on her finger, as a sign that
He had chosen her for His bride. On awaking, she found a ring on her finger,
and, without delay, determined to consecrate her virginity to the Lord, and to
become a more zealous Christian. Maximin, the emperor, had appointed a certain
day to celebrate a public sacrifice in honor of the false gods, and all the
inhabitants of the city were commanded to take part in it. Catherine was deeply
grieved to see that the people should thus honor the devil, and not have any
knowledge of the true God. Arming herself with courage, she went fearlessly
into the temple, where the emperor personally assisted at the sacrifice, and,
ad dressing him with Christian freedom, she represented to him his blindness in
worshipping idols, and endeavored to convince him of the truth of Christianity.
The emperor was greatly surprised that a maiden should dare to speak thus to
him, but was, at the same time, fascinated by the appearance and eloquence of Catherine.
No sooner had he returned to his palace, than Catherine again appeared before
him, and spoke so forcibly of the falsity of the heathen gods, and of the truth
of the Christian religion, that the emperor knew not what to reply. What he was
unable to do, he thought others could do for him; therefore he summoned some of
the most learned men into his presence, to answer Catherine's arguments, and
persuade her to renounce the Christian faith.
But the Almighty, who, by a
feeble maiden, could bring to naught the wisdom of the pagan sages, inspired
St. Catherine with such eloquence, that she succeeded in convincing them of
their error so completely, that they publicly renounced it, and proclaimed the
Christian faith as the only true one. The emperor, enraged at so unexpected an
issue, ordered these new confessors of Christ to be immediately executed. He
then endeavored to win Catherine from her faith by flatteries and promises; and
when he found that his words made no impression on the mind of the virgin, he
began to threaten, and finally sent her away to be tortured. She was scourged
so cruelly and so long, that her whole body was covered with wounds, from which
the blood flowed in streams. The spectators wept with pity; but Catherine,
strengthened by God, stood with her eyes raised to heaven, without giving a
sign of suffering or fear; After this cruel treatment she was dragged into a dungeon,
and, by the command of the emperor, was left without food, in order that she
might slowly pine away. But God sent an Angel, who healed her wounds and filled
her heart with indescribable comfort. The Lord Himself appeared to her,
encouraged her to fight bravely, and promised her the crown of everlasting
glory. Some writers add, that the empress, having heard much of Catherine's
wonderful learning, eloquence and fortitude, had deep compassion upon her, and
secretly went at night with Porphyrius, the captain of the guard, to visit her
in her dungeon. When she beheld Catherine's wounds healed, and the virgin
resplendent with more than human beauty, she was speechless with surprise.
Catherine made this miracle an occasion to speak to her of the omnipotence of
the Most High, and of the falsity of the heathen gods. She spoke with such
overwhelming eloquence, that the empress, as well as Porphyrius, promised to
embrace Christianity. Some days later, when the emperor was informed that Catherine
was not only still alive but in better health than ever, he had her brought
before him, and again assailed her with promises and menaces. Finding, however,
that she was as firm as before, he gave orders that she should be bound to a
wheel studded with sharply-pointed spikes and knives. The Christian heroine was
not horrified at this inhuman order, but called with unwavering trust on God.
When the executioners had seized her, and bound her on the wheel, the Almighty
sent an Angel, who loosened the fetters and broke the wheel to pieces.
Many of
the spectators, on beholding this miracle, cried aloud: “Great is the God of
the Christians! He alone is the true God! “Maximin remained blind, and was
thinking of new torments, when the empress came forward, reproached him with
his barbarity towards a weak and innocent maiden, and boldly confessed that
she herself recognized and worshipped no other god but the God of the
Christians. The tyrant, hearing these words, lost all control over himself, and
ordered the empress and Porphyrius to be immediately beheaded, and Catherine,
as an enemy of the gods, to be taken to the public market-place and put to
death by the sword. The fearless virgin went joyfully to the appointed place,
exhorted all the people who had come to witness her death to abandon idolatry,
prayed to God for their conversion, and then received the stroke that sent her
soul to heaven. Ancient authors testify that milk flowed from the body of St.
Catherine instead of blood, as had formerly happened at the death of St. Paul.
Her body, they add, was miraculously carried by angels and buried on Mount
Sinai, in Arabia.
November 25
St. Catherine Virgin and
Martyr,
Double/Red Vestments
Missa ‘Loquebar’
INTROIT - Psalm 118: 46-47, 1
Loquebar
de testimoniis tuis in conspectu regum, et non confundebar: et meditabar in
mandatis tuis, quæ dilexi nimis. Ps. Beati immaculate in via: qui ambulant in lege
Domini. Gloria Patri.
I
spoke of Thy testimonies before kings, and I was not ashamed: I meditated also
on Thy commandments, which I loved. Ps. Blessed are the undefiled in
the way: who walk in the law of the Lord. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
O
God, Who didst give the law to Moses on the summit of Mount Sinai and by means
of Thy holy angels didst miraculously place there the body of blessed
Catherine, Thy Virgin and Martyr: grant we beseech Thee, that, by her merits
and intercession, we may be able to come unto the mountain which is Christ.
Through our Lord.
EPISTLE - Ecclus. 51: 1-8; 12
I
will give glory to Thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise Thee, O God my
Saviour. I will give glory to Thy Name, for Thou hast been a helper and
protector to me, and hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of
an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies; and in the sight of
them that stood by Thou hast been my helper. And Thou hast delivered me,
according to the multitude of the mercy of Thy Name, from them that did roar,
prepared to devour; out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the
gates of afflictions which compassed me about: from the oppression of the flame
which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt: from the
depth of the body of hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words,
from an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue. My soul shall praise the
Lord even unto death: because Thou, O Lord our God, deliverest them that wait
for Thee, and savest them out of the hands of the nations.
GRADUAL - Psalm 44: 8
Thou
hast loved justice and hated iniquity. Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed
thee with the oil of gladness.
The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of
Alexandria and Saint Catherine of Siena, Ambrogio Bergognone
ALLELUIA - Psalm 44: 15, 16
Alleluia,
alleluia. After her shall virgins be brought to the King: her neighbours shall
be brought to Thee with gladness. Alleluia.
GOSPEL - Matthew 25: 1-13
At
that time, Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable: The kingdom of Heaven
shall be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the
bridegroom and the bride. And five of them were foolish, and five wise; but the
five foolish having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them: but the wise
took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all
slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the
bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and
trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for
our lamps are gone out. The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not
enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for
yourselves. Now, whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that
were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. But at last
came also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answering
said: Amen I say to you, I know you not. Watch ye therefore, because you know
not the day nor the hour.
OFFERTORY - Psalm 44: 15-16
After
her shall virgins be brought to the King: her neighbours shall be brought to
Thee with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the King,
the Lord.
SECRET
Receive,
O Lord, the gifts which we bring Thee, on the feast of blessed Catherine, Thy
Virgin and Martyr, by whose patronage we hope to be delivered. Through our
Lord.
COMMON PREFACE
It
is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation that we should at all times
and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal
God: through Christ our Lord. through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty,
Dominations worship, Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts
together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it.
Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be
admitted, while we say in lowly praise…
COMMUNION - Psalm 118: 78, 80
Let
the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly towards me: but I will be
employed in Thy commandments and in Thy justifications, that I may not be
confounded.
POSTCOMMUNION
May
the Mysteries which we have received, help us, O Lord; and by the intercession
of blessed Catherine, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may we ever enjoy their
protection. Through our Lord.
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