# Matins Nocturn 2 reading for St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and
# Martyr (Nov 25) — pre-1955-but-post-1617 (no SanctiM/11-25*.txt at
# all). web/www/horas/Latin/Sancti/11-25.txt,
# English/Sancti/11-25.txt. Lectio4-6 is this saint's own proper text,
# one continuous vita account, no internal break, combined into a single
# reading; Lectio7-9 (not present in this file, implicitly Common)
# skipped. No responsory given.
id: st-catherine
readings:
  - nocturn: 2
    isGospel: false
    text:
      la: >-
        Catharina, nobilis virgo Alexandrina, a prima ætate stúdia liberalium artium cum fidei
        ardore conjungens, brevi ad eam sanctitátis et doctrinæ perfectiónem pervenit, ut, decem et
        octo annos nata, eruditíssimum quemque superaret. Quæ cum Maximíni jussu multos, propter
        christianæ religiónis professiónem varie tormentis cruciatos, ad supplícium rapi vidéret, non
        dubitanter ipsum adiit Maximinum, eique nefariam immanitátem objíciens, sapientíssimis
        ratiónibus Christi fidem ad salútem necessariam esse affirmavit.


        Cujus prudéntiam Maximinus admiratus, retineri eam jubet, accersitis undique doctíssimis
        homínibus, magnisque propositis præmiis, qui convictam Catharinam a Christi fide ad idolórum
        cultum perduxissent. Quod contra áccidit. Nam plures philosophi, qui ad eam coarguéndam
        convenerant, vi ac subtilitate ejus disputatiónis tanto Jesu Christi amóre sunt incénsi, ut
        pro illo mori non dubitaverint. Quam ob rem Maximinus blanditiis ac promissis Catharinam de
        senténtia dedúcere aggréditur; verum, id frustra fíeri intélligens, verbéribus affectam
        plumbátisque contusam, dies undecim sine cibo ac potu inclusam tenet in carcere.


        Quo témpore Maximíni uxor et Porphyrius belli dux, visendæ Vírginis causa carcerem ingressi,
        et ejusdem prædicatióne in Jesum Christum credéntes, póstea martyrio coronáti sunt. Interim
        Catharina edúcitur e custódia; et rota expedítur, crebris et acutis præfixa gládiis, ut
        Vírginis corpus crudelíssime dilacerarétur. Quæ máchina, brevi Catharinæ oratióne, confracta
        est; eoque miraculo multi Christi fidem suscepérunt. Ipse Maximinus, in impietáte et
        crudelitate obstinatior, Catharinam secúri pércuti imperat. Quæ, fortiter dato cápite, ad
        duplicátum virginitátis et martyrii præmium evolávit septimo Kalendas Decembris; cujus corpus
        ab Angelis in Sina, Arábiæ monte, mirabíliter collocátum est.
      en: >-
        This 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 an 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 beaten, 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 marvelously laid by angels upon Mount Sinai in Arabia.
    status: { la: verified, en: verified }
