St. Elizabeth
Hymn
(Matins)
(Matins)
Pure, meek, with soul serene,
Sweeter to her it was to serve unseen
Her God, than reign a Queen.
Now far above our sight,
Enthroned in the azure, starry height,
She reigns in realms of light.
So long as time shall flow,
Teaching to all who sit on thrones below
The good that power can do.
Praise to the Father be.
Praise to the Son, praise, Holy Ghost, to
Thee! Through all eternity. Amen.
St. Elizabeth
of Portugal
Elizabeth of Portugal, Saint, Queen (sometimes known
as The Peacemaker); b. in 1271; d. in 1336. She was named after her great-aunt,
the great Elizabeth of Hungary, but is known in Portuguese history by the
Spanish form of that name, Isabel. The daughter of Pedro III, King of Aragon,
and Constantia, grandchild of Emperor Frederick II, she was educated very
piously, and led a life of strict regularity and self-denial from her
childhood; she said the full Divine Office daily, fasted and did other
penances, and gave up amusement.
Elizabeth was married very early to Diniz
(Denis), King of Portugal, a poet, and known as Ré Lavrador, or the
"working king", from his hard work in his country's service. His
morals, however, were extremely bad, and the court to which his young wife was
brought consequently most corrupt. Nevertheless, Elizabeth quietly pursued the
regular religious practices of her maidenhood, whilst doing her best to win her
husband's affections by gentleness and extraordinary forbearance. She was
devoted to the poor and sick, and gave every moment she could spare to helping
them, even pressing her court ladies into their service. Naturally, such a life
was a reproach to many around her, and caused ill will in some quarters. A
popular story is told of how her husband's jealousy was roused by an
evil-speaking page; of how he condemned the queen's supposed guilty accomplice
to a cruel death; and was finally convinced of her innocence by the strange
accidental substitution of her accuser for the intended victim.
Diniz does not appear to have reformed in morals till
late in life, when we are told that the saint won him to repentance by her
prayers and unfailing sweetness. They had two children, a daughter Constantia
and a son Affonso. The latter so greatly resented the favors shown to the
king's illegitimate sons that he rebelled, and in 1323 war was declared between
him and his father. St. Elizabeth, however, rode in person between the opposing
armies, and so reconciled her husband and son. Diniz died in 1325, his son
succeeding him as Affonso IV. St. Elizabeth then retired to a convent of Poor
Clares which she had founded at Coimbra, where she took the Franciscan Tertiary
habit, wishing to devote the rest of her life to the poor and sick in
obscurity. But she was called forth to act once more as peacemaker. In 1336
Affonso IV marched his troops against the King of Castile, to whom he had
married his daughter Maria, and who had neglected and ill-treated her. In spite
of age and weakness, the holy queen dowager insisted on hurrying to Estremoz,
where the two kings' armies were drawn up. She again stopped the fighting and
caused terms of peace to be arranged. But the exertion brought on her final
illness; and as soon as her mission was fulfilled she died of a fever, full of
heavenly joy, and exhorting her son to the love of holiness and peace. St.
Elizabeth was buried at Coimbra, and miracles followed her death. She was
canonized by Urban VIII in 1625, and her feast is kept on July 8.
Catholic
Encyclopedia -1913
St. Elizabeth
QUEEN OF PORTUGAL AND WIDOW
Semi-double – White vestments
Missa ‘Cognovi, Domine’
INTROITUS
Psalm 118: 75, 120
Cognovi, Domine, quia æquitas judicia tua, et in
veritate tua humiliasti me: confige timore tuo carnes meas, a mandatis tuis
timui. Ps. Beati immaculati in via: qui ambulant in lege Domini.
Gloria Patri.
INTROIT
I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are equity, and in
Thy truth Thou hast humbled me: pierce Thou my flesh with Thy fear, I am afraid
of Thy judgments. Ps. Blessed are the undefiled in the way
who walk in the law of the Lord. Glory be to the Father.
COLLECT
Most merciful God, Who, among other noble gifts, didst
adorn Elizabeth, the blessed queen, with the gift of allaying the furies of
war: grant us, by her intercession, after the peace which we seek in this
mortal life, to attain unto everlasting joys. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE
Proverbs 31: 10-31
Who shall find a valiant woman? Far and from the
uttermost coasts is the price of her. The heart of her husband trusteth in her,
and he shall have no need of spoils. She will render him good, and not evil,
all the days of her life. She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by
the counsel of her hands. She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her
bread from afar. And she hath risen in the night, and given prey to her
household, and victuals to her maidens. She hath considered a field, and bought
it: with the fruit of her hand she hath planted a vineyard. She hath girded her
loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm. She hath tasted and seen
that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night. She hath
put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the
spindle. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to
the poor. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her
domestics are clothed with double garments. She hath made for herself clothing
of tapestry: fine linen and purple is her covering. Her husband is honourable
in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land. She made fine
linen and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite. Strength and
beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day. She hath opened
her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue. She hath looked
well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle. Her children
rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her. Many
daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all. Favour
is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be
praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in
the gates.
GRADUAL
Ps. 44:3, 5
Grace is poured abroad in thy lips: therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever and for ages of ages. Because of truth, and meekness, and
justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.
ALLELUIA
Ps. 44, 5
Alleluia, alleluia. With thy comeliness, and thy
beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 13: 44-52
At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to His
disciples: The kingdom of Heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in a field;
which a man having found, hid it, and for joy thereof goeth, and selleth all
that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like to a
merchant seeking good pearls. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went
his way and sold all that he had, and bought it. Again, the kingdom of Heaven
is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kinds of
fishes; which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore,
they chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth. So shall it
be at the end of the world. The angels shall go out, and shall separate the
wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have ye understood all these things?
They say to Him, Yes. He said unto them, Therefore, every scribe instructed in
the kingdom of Heaven, is like to a man who is a householder, who bringeth
forth out of his treasure new things and old.
OFFERTORY
Psalm 44: 3
Grace is poured abroad in thy lips: therefore God hath
blessed thee for ever and for ages of ages.
SECRET
At May the
offerings of thy holy people be accepted by Thee, O Lord, in honour of Thy
saints, through whose merits they know that they have received aid in time of
trouble. Through our Lord.
COMMON PREFACE
At 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, everlasting
God: through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the
Dominations worship it, the 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 44: 8
Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore
God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
POSTCOMMUNION
Having fed Thy family, O Lord, with holy gifts, we
beseech Thee, ever to comfort us by the intercession of her whose festival we
celebrate. Through our Lord.
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