NOVEMBER 25. SAINT CATHARINE VIRGIN AND MARTYR. GERTRUDE the Great, from her very infancy, felt a special attraction towards the glorious virgin Catharine. As she was desirous of knowing how great were her merits, Our Lord showed her St. Catharine seated on a throne so lofty and so magnificent, that it seemed her glory was sufficient to have filled the courts of heaven, had she been its sole queen; while from her crown a marvellous brightness was reflected on her devout clients. It is well known how the Maid of Orleans, entrusted by St. Michael to the guidance of St. Catharine and St. Margaret, received aid and counsel from them during seven years; and how it was at Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois that she received her sword. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries the Crusaders of the West experienced the powerful assistance of the Alexandrian Martyr; and, on their return from the East, they introduced her cultus, which soon became extremely popular. An order of Knighthood was founded to protect the pilgrims visiting her holy body on Mount Sinai. Her feast 1 Legatus divinæ pietatis, iv. 57. was raised to the rank of first Class, and was observed as a holiday of obligation by many churches. She was honoured as patroness by Christian philosophers, scholars, orators, and attorneys. The senior advocate was called bastonier, because it was his privilege to carry her banner; while confraternities of young girls were formed under the invocation of St. Catharine, whose members vied with one another in their zeal for adorning her venerated image. She was classed among the helping Saints, as being a wise counsellor; and was claimed as patroness by various associations merely on account of their experience of her powerful intercession with our Lord. Her betrothal with the divine Child, and other scenes from her Legend, furnished Christian Art with many beautiful inspirations. The holy and learned Baronius regretted that even in his day the Acts of the great Oriental Martyr were open to discussion on certain points, which were eagerly seized upon by the extreme critics of the succeeding centuries, in order to lessen popular devotion towards her. There remains however this glory to Christian virginity, that in the person of St. Catharine it was honoured by pupils and masters, and became the guiding spirit in the development of human thought, during the centuries illustrated by such brilliant suns of learning as Albert the Great, Thomas of Aquin, and Bonaventure. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.2 Methodius, a bishop and martyr of the third century, thus speaks in his Banquet of Virgins: "The virgin must "have a very great love of sound doctrine; and she ought to hold an honourable place among the wise."3 66 66 1 BARON. Annal. ad ann. 307 Conviv. Oratio i. 1. 2 Matth. v. 8. 3 METHOD. Let us now read the abridged Legend of St. Catharine in the book of holy Church. Catharina, nobilis virgo Alexandrina, a prima ætate studia liberalium artium cum fidei ardore conjungens, brevi ad eam sanctitatis et doctrinæ perfectionem pervenit, ut decem et octo annos nata eruditissimum quemque superaret. Quæ cum Maximini jussu multos propter christianæ religionis professionem varie tormentis cruciatos, ad supplicium rapi videret, non dubitanter ipsum adiit Maximinum, eique nefariam immanitatem objiciens, sapientissimis rationibus Christi fidem ad salutem necessariam esse affirmavit. Cujus prudentiam Maximinus admiratus, retineri eam jubet, accersitis undique doctissimis hominibus, magnisque propositis præmiis, qui convictam Catharinam a Christi fide ad idolorum cultum perduxissent. Quod contra accidit. Nam plures philosophi, qui ad eam coarguendam convenerant, vi ac subtilitate ejus disputationis tanto Jesu Christi amore sunt incensi, ut pro illo mori non dubitaverint. Quamobrem Maximinus blanditiis ac promissis Catharinam de sententia deducere aggreditur: verum id frustra fieri intelligens, verberibus affectam, plumbatisque contusam, di Catharine, a noble virgin of Alexandria, united from early youth the study of the liberal arts with an ardent faith; and attained in a short time to such a degree of holiness and science, that at the age of eighteen she surpassed the most learned men. Seeing many, at the command of Maximin, cruelly tortured and executed for professing the Christian religion, she went boldly to Maximin himself and reproached him for his impious cruelty, showing him by wise reasons that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation. Maximin, marvelling at her wisdom, caused her to be kept in custody. Then he summoned the most learned men from all parts, and promised a large reward to him that should refute Catharine's arguments, and lead her from the faith of Christ to the worship of idols. But the result was contrary to his expectations. For many of the philosophers who had assembled to refute her were, by the force and subtility of her reasoning, so enkindled with love of Jesus Christ, that they were ready to die for him. Maximin next tried to seduce her by flatteries and promises; but seeing his labour lost, he caused her to be lashed and es undecim sine cibo ac potu inclusam tenet in carcere. Quo tempore Maximini uxor, et Porphyrius belli dux, visendæ virginis causa carcerem ingressi, et ejusdem prædicatione in Jesum Christum credentes, postea martyrio coronati sunt. Interim Catharina educitur e custodia, et rota expeditur, crebris et acutis præfixa gladiis, ut virginis corpus crudelissime dilaceraretur. Quæ machina brevi, Catharinæ oratione, confracta est: eoque miraculo multi Christi fidem susceperunt. Ipse Maximinus in impietate et crudelitate obstinatior, Catharinam securi percuti imperat. Quæ fortiter dato capite, ad duplicatum virginitatis et martyrii præmium evolavit, septimo calendas decembris: cujus corpus ab Angelis in Sina Arabiæ monte mirabiliter collocatum est. torn with scourges tipped with lead, and finally shut up in prison for eleven days without food or drink. During this interval, Maximin's wife, and Porphyrius general of the army, going to see the virgin in prison, were by her exhortations brought to believe in Jesus Christ, and were afterwards crowned with martyrdom. Meanwhile Catharine was brought out of prison, and a wheel was set up garnished with many sharp knives, to cruelly rend the virgin's body. But at Catharine's prayer the wheel was speedily broken; by which miracle many were converted to the faith of Christ. Maximin only grew more obstinate in wickedness and cruelty, and ordered Catharine to be beheaded. Offering her head bravely to the sword, she took her flight to heaven, adorned with the double crown of virginity and martyrdom, on the seventh of the Kalends of December. Her body was miraculously carried away by Angels and buried on Mount Sinai in Arabia. To-day's feast has inspired many liturgical compositions in the West. We will limit our selections to a Sequence from the Gradual of St. Victor's, and a beautiful and touching Responsory still used by the Friars Preachers. Vox sonora nostri chori SEQUENCE. Let the voices of our choir Nostro sonet Conditori, Qui disponit omnia, Per quem dimicat imbellis, Per quem datur et puellis De viris victoria; Per quem plebs Alexandri na Feminæ non feminina Stupuit ingenia, Hæc ad gloriam parentum Pulchrum dedit ornamentum Morum privilegia, Florem teneri decoris, Attrivere studia : In adolescentia. Bona transitoria, Et reduxit in contemptum Patris opes et parentum Larga patrimonia. Vasis oleum includens, Virgo sapiens et prudens Sponso pergit obvia, Ut, adventus ejus hora, Præparata, sine mora Intret ad convivia. Sistitur imperatori, Cupiens pro Christo mori; Cujus in præsentia Quinquaginta sapientes Mutos reddit et silentes Virginis facundia. resound in praise of our Creator, who disposes all things; by whom they fight who are unskilled in war, by whose power maidens triumph over men. Through him, the people of Alexandria stand amazed to see in blessed Catharine qualities that seem above her sex, when she vanquishes learned men by her science and the sword by her courage. To the glory of her race she adds the precious ornaments of incomparable virtue; and noble by birth, she becomes more noble still by grace and holy living. Tender is the flower of her beauty, yet she spares it neither labour nor study; and in early youth she masters earthly science and that which is of God. A chosen vessel full of virtue, she considers transitory goods as mire, contemning her father's wealth and her ample patrimony. Filling her vessel with oil, as a wise and prudent virgin, she goes to meet the Spouse; that, ready at the hour of his coming, she may enter without delay to the feast. Longing to die for Christ, she is led before the emperor; and in his presence, by her eloquence, puts fifty philosophers to silence, |