November 25
St. Catherine of Alexandria
(287
– 305)
Roman Breviary
Matins
Lessons 4, 5, 6
Catharine was a noble maiden of Alexandria, who from her earliest years
joined the study of the liberal arts with fervent faith, and in a short while
came to such a height of holiness and learning, that when she was eighteen
years of age she prevailed over the chiefest wits. When she saw many diversely
tormented and haled to death by command of Maximin, because they professed the
Christian religion, she went boldly unto him and rebuked him for his savage
cruelty, bringing forward likewise most sage reasons why the faith of Christ
should be needful for salvation.
Maximin marvelled at her wisdom, and bade
keep her, while he gathered together the most learned men from all quarters and
offered them great rewards if they would confute Catharine and bring her from believing in Christ to worship
idols. But the event fell contrariwise, for many of the philosophers who had
come to dispute with her were overcome by the force and skill of her reasoning,
so that the love of Christ Jesus was kindled in them, and they were content
even to die for His sake. Then did Maximin strive to beguile Catharine with
fair words and promises, and when he found it was lost pains, he caused her to
be hided, and bruised with lead-laden whips, and so cast into prison, and
neither meat nor drink given to her for the space of eleven days.
At that time Maximin’s wife and Porphyry
the Captain of his host, went to the prison to see the damsel, and at her
preaching believed in Jesus Christ, and were afterwards crowned with martyrdom.
Then was Catharine brought out of ward, and a wheel was set, wherein were
fastened many and sharp blades, so that her virgin body might thereby be most
direfully cut and torn in pieces, but in a little while, as Catharine prayed,
this machine was broken in pieces, at the which marvel many believed in Christ.
But Maximin was hardened in his godlessness and cruelty, and commanded to
behead Catharine. She bravely offered her neck to the stroke and passed away
hence to receive the twain crowns of maidenhood and martyrdom, upon the 25th
day of November. Her body was marvellously laid by Angels upon Mount Sinai in
Arabia.
St. Catherine Virgin and Martyr
Double Red
Vestments
Missa ‘Loquebar’
INTROITUS - 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.
INTROIT
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.
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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