Add September Matins readings for pre-1955 sanctoral saints

St. Giles, St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Ss. Cornelius and Cyprian, Ss.
Euphemia/Lucy/Geminian, St. Januarius, the Vigil of St. Matthew, and
Ss. Cyprian and Justina.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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# Matins Nocturn 2 readings for Ss. Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian,
# Bishop, Martyrs (Sep 16) — pre-1955-but-post-1617 (no SanctiM/09-16*.txt
# at all). web/www/horas/Latin/Sancti/09-16.txt,
# English/Sancti/09-16.txt. Lectio4-5 (Cornelius's own vita) combined
# into one reading, no internal break. Lectio6 (Cyprian's vita, drawn
# from St. Jerome's De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis, ch. 67) is a
# genuinely distinct source/saint, kept separate. No responsory given.
id: ss-cornelius-and-cyprian
readings:
- nocturn: 2
isGospel: false
text:
la: >-
Cornélius Romanus, Gallo et Volusiáno imperatóribus pontificátum gerens, cum Lucina, femina
sanctíssima, córpora Apostolórum Petri et Pauli e catacumbis in opportuniórem locum
tránstulit; ac Pauli corpus Lucina in suo prædio via Ostiénsi, prope eum locum, ubi fuerat
gládio percússus, collocávit; Cornélius Principis Apostolórum corpus non longe inde, ubi
crucifixus fuerat, repósuit. Quod cum ad imperatóres delátum esset, et Pontifice auctore
multos fíeri Christiános, mittitur is in exsílium ad Centumcellas; ubi eum sanctus Cyprianus,
epíscopus Carthaginiénsis, per litteras est consolatus.
Hoc autem christianæ caritátis offícium cum frequens alter alteri persólveret, deteriórem in
partem id accipiéntes imperatóres, accersítum Romam Cornelium tamquam de majestáte reum
plumbátis cædi, raptumque ad Martis simulacrum, ei sacrificáre jubent. Quam impietátem cum
ille detestarétur, ei caput abscissum est décimo octavo Kalendas Octobris. Cujus corpus
beáta Lucina, clericis adjutóribus, humávit in arenaria prædii sui prope cœmetérium Callísti.
Vixit in pontificatu annos circiter duos.
en: >-
Cornelius was a Roman who held the Papacy during the reign of the Emperors Gallus and
Volusian. He, and that most holy Lady Lucina, took the bodies of the Apostles Peter and Paul
out of the Catacombs and put them in more convenient places. Lucina laid the body of Paul in
a farm of her own upon the road to Ostia, hard by the place where he had received the
sword-stroke. Cornelius placed that of the Prince of the Apostles hard by where he had been
crucified. When this was told to the Emperors, and likewise that Cornelius was the means of
making many Christians, he was banished to Civitavecchia, where Cyprian, the holy Bishop of
Carthage, comforted him by letters.
They continued thus to write often one to the other, till the Emperors took in bad part these
exchanges of Christian love, and sent for Cornelius to Rome. There they commanded him to be
lashed with scourges loaded with lead as though he were a traitor, and then to be carried to
offer sacrifice before the image of Mars. He firmly refused to commit this great wickedness,
and was forthwith beheaded, upon the 14th day of September. The blessed Lucina, with the help
of the clergy, buried his body in the sand-pit on her own farm, near the Cemetery of
Callistus. He lived as Pope about two years.
status: { la: verified, en: verified }
- nocturn: 2
isGospel: false
source: "St. Jerome, Priest, De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis, ch. 67"
text:
la: >-
Cyprianus, Afer, primum gloriose rhetoricam docuit. Exinde, suadénte presbytero Cæcílio, a
quo et cognoméntum sortitus est, christianus factus, omnem substantiam suam paupéribus
erogávit. Ac post non multum témporis, eléctus in presbyterum, étiam epíscopus
Carthaginiénsis constitútus est. Hujus ingenii superfluum est indicem téxere, cum sole
clarióra sint ejus opera. Passus est sub Valeriáno et Gallieno princípibus, persecutióne
octava, eodem die quo Romæ Cornélius, sed non eodem anno.
en: >-
Cyprian was an African. He was first distinguished as a teacher of Rhetoric. He afterwards
became a Christian at the persuasion of the Priest Caecilius, whose surname he took, and
parted all his goods among the poor. It was not long before he was chosen a Priest, and then
made Bishop of Carthage. It would be idle to enlarge upon his wit, seeing that his works are
as well known as the sun. He suffered under the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus, in the
eighth persecution, and upon the same day, though not in the same year, that Cornelius
testified at Rome.
status: { la: verified, en: verified }
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
# Matins Nocturn 2 reading for Ss. Cyprian and Justina, Martyrs (Sep 26)
# — pre-1955-but-post-1617 (no SanctiM/09-26*.txt at all; the "n" suffix
# variant at this date is a modern 20th-c. feast, not relevant).
# web/www/horas/Latin/Sancti/09-26.txt, English/Sancti/09-26.txt.
# Lectio2-3 is one continuous account, no internal break, combined into
# a single reading. No responsory given.
id: ss-cyprian-and-justina
readings:
- nocturn: 2
isGospel: false
text:
la: >-
Cypriánus, primum magus, póstea Martyr, cum Justínam, christiánam Vírginem, quam júvenis
quidam ardénter amábat, cantiónibus ac venefíciis ad ejus libídinis assénsum allícere
conarétur, dæmonem consúluit quanam id re cónsequi posset. Cui dæmon respóndit nullam illi
artem processúram advérsus eos, qui vere Christum cólerent. Quo respónso commótus Cypriánus,
veheménter dolére cœpit vitæ superióris institútum. Itaque, relíctis mágicis ártibus, se
totum ad Christi Dómini fidem convértit.
Quam ob causam una cum Vírgine Justína comprehénsus est, et ambo cólaphis flagellísque cæsi
sunt; mox in cárcerem conjécti, si forte senténtiam commutárent. Verum, inde póstea emíssi,
cum in christiána religióne constantíssimi reperiréntur, in sartáginem plenam fervéntis
picis, ádipis et ceræ injécti sunt. Demum Nicomedíæ secúri feriúntur. Quorum projécta córpora
cum sex dies inhumáta jacuíssent noctu quidam nautæ clam ea in navem impósita Romam
portavérunt. Ac primum in prædio Rufínæ nóbilis féminæ sepúlta sunt; póstea, transláta in
Urbem, in basílica Constantiniána cóndita sunt prope baptistérium.
en: >-
Cyprian was firstly a warlock and lastly a Martyr. A certain young man having a violent lust
after a Christian maiden named Justina, employed him to excite her to join in this lewdness,
by dint of incantations and philters. Cyprian thereupon asked counsel of the devil, how he
might best gain that end. But the devil answered him that these arts are only thrown away
upon true worshippers of Christ. This answer troubled Cyprian, and he began to repent
heartily of the course of life he had hitherto led. And then he forsook his arts magic, and
gave himself wholly up to the faith of the Lord Christ.
For this cause, he and the Virgin Justina were arrested together, beaten with blows and
scourging, and cast into prison, if haply they might change their mind. Being brought out of
the prison, but still standing fast in their Christian religion, they were dipped in a vessel
full of hot pitch, fat, and wax, and in the end beheaded, at Nicomedia. Their bodies were
thrown out, and lay unburied for the space of six days, at the end of which time some sailors
took them secretly by night on board a ship and carried them to Rome. They were first buried
on the farm of the noble Lady Rufina, but afterwards brought into the city, where they lie
hard by the Baptistery in the Church of Constantine.
status: { la: verified, en: verified }
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
# Matins Nocturn 2 reading for Ss. Euphemia, Lucy, and Geminian, Martyrs
# (Sep 16) — pre-1955-but-post-1617. Plain Sancti/09-16.txt is a
# different saint pairing (Ss. Cornelius and Cyprian, sourced separately
# in ss-cornelius-and-cyprian.yml) who share this date on the general
# calendar; Euphemia/Lucy/Geminian's own content is at the suffixed
# sibling file (see memory vu-matins-pre1955-saints's "critical
# wrinkle").
# web/www/horas/Latin/Sancti/09-16cc.txt, English/Sancti/09-16cc.txt.
# Single lesson (simplex-feast Lectio93), no responsory in the source.
id: ss-euphemia-lucia-and-geminianus
readings:
- nocturn: 2
isGospel: false
text:
la: >-
Euphemia, Lúcia et Geminianus, in persecutióne Diocletiáni, non eodem loco, sed eodem die,
martyrio coronáti sunt. Euphemia Virgo apud Chalcédonem, Prisco proconsule, varia
tormentórum genera, virgárum, equulei, rotárum, ignis constanter passa; demum béstiis
objecta, una ex iis morsum sancto corpori infigente, ceteris pedes ejus lambéntibus,
immaculátum spíritum Deo réddidit. Lúcia, vidua Romana, a fílio Eutropio quod Christum multos
annos coluísset accusata, in ollam pice ac plumbo ferventuem dimittitur; unde incólumis
evadens, cum ferro plumboque oneráta per Urbem ducerétur, Geminianum, nóbilem virum,
constántia fidei et martyrii ad Christum convértit. Quem étiam cum multis aliis ad fidem
perductis, varie tortum, gloriosi martyrii, abscisso cápite, socium hábuit. Quorum córpora
Maxima, mulier christiana, honorifice sepelívit.
en: >-
Euphemia, Lucy, and Geminian were all crowned with Martyrdom in the persecution under
Diocletian, upon the same day, though not in the same place. Euphemia was a maiden of
Chalcedon, who suffered diverse tortures under the Proconsul Priscus. She endured
unflinchingly the rods, the rack, the wheels, and the fire, and in the end was thrown to
wild beasts. These all licked her feet, save one, which gave her holy body such a bite, that
she forthwith resigned her guileless spirit to God. Lucy was a widow at Rome, who was
accused by her own son Eutropius, for that she had for many years worshipped Christ. She was
put into a vessel of hot pitch and lead, but came forth unhurt. As she was being haled
through the city loaded with iron and lead, the sight of her faith and unwavering
testification turned to Christ the nobleman Geminian. He was one of many whom she had
brought to the faith, and she had him for a comrade in her glorious martyrdom, for he was
diverse ways tormented, and then beheaded. Their bodies were given honourable burial by the
Christian lady Maxima.
status: { la: verified, en: verified }
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
# Matins Nocturn 2 reading for St. Giles, Abbot (Sep 1) —
# pre-1955-but-post-1617 (no SanctiM/09-01*.txt at all).
# web/www/horas/Latin/Sancti/09-01.txt, English/Sancti/09-01.txt. Single
# lesson (simplex-feast Lectio93), no responsory in the source.
id: st-giles
readings:
- nocturn: 2
isGospel: false
text:
la: >-
Ægidius Atheniénsis, regiæ stirpis, a prima ætate divinis litteris et caritátis officiis ita
déditus fuit, ut nihil præterea curare viderétur. Itaque, paréntibus mórtuis, totum
patrimónium in páuperes erogávit; quin étiam túnicam exuit, ut ægrotum egentem tégeret, qua
ille indútus, statim conváluit. Sed multis deinceps clarior miraculis, timens sui nóminis
celebritátem, Arelátem ad beátum Cæsárium contendit. A quo post biennium discédens, secessit
in eremum; ubi diutius herbárum radicibus et cervæ lacte, quæ statis ad eum horis veniebat,
admirábili sanctitáte vixit. Quæ cerva, insequéntibus quodam die cánibus regiis, cum in
antrum Ægidii refugísset, Galliæ regem ímpulit, ut ab eo summis precibus péteret, ut in loco
speluncæ monastérium éxstrui paterétur. Cujus administratiónem, flagitante rege, invitus
suscépit; eoque munere aliquot annis prudenter piéque gesto, migrávit in cælum.
en: >-
The holy Abbot Giles was by birth an Athenian, and of Royal lineage. From his youth he
showed ever such a love for sacred learning and for works of charity, that he seemed to care
for nothing else. When his father and mother were dead, he bestowed his whole inheritance
upon the poor. He took off even his own coat, to clothe a poor sick man withal, and the sick
man was healed forthwith as soon as he put it on him. As Giles became famous for working
miracles, he fled from glory among men, and betook him to Arles, to the company of blessed
Caesarius. After the space of two years he departed thence, and went into the desert, for he
lived in wonderful holiness for a long while upon the roots of herbs and the milk of an
hind, which came to him at regular hours. This hind was chased one day by the King's hounds,
and took refuge in Giles's cave. Thereby the King of France was moved earnestly to entreat of
him that he would suffer a monastery to be built in the place where this cave was. At the
instant desire of the King, he took the rule of this monastery, albeit himself unwilling, and
discharged this duty wisely and godly for some years, until he passed away to heaven.
status: { la: verified, en: verified }
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
# Matins Nocturn 2-3 readings for St. Januarius, Bishop, and Companions,
# Martyrs (Sep 19) — pre-1955-but-post-1617 (no SanctiM/09-19*.txt at
# all). web/www/horas/Latin/Sancti/09-19.txt,
# English/Sancti/09-19.txt.
#
# Lectio4-6 is this saint's own proper vita, one continuous account, no
# internal break, combined into a single reading.
#
# Nocturn 3's Lectio7 gives only the Gospel incipit ("Et réliqua", Matt
# 24:3-13) with no full pericope text, so the bare Gospel reading isn't
# authored here (deferred, pending the bulk Vulgate/Douay-Rheims
# import). Lectio7's own homily portion + Lectio8-9 is one continuous
# excerpt from St. Hilary's commentary, combined into a single reading.
# No responsory given for either reading in the source.
id: st-januarius
readings:
- nocturn: 2
isGospel: false
text:
la: >-
Januarius, Benevénti epíscopus, Diocletiáno et Maximiáno in Christiános sæviéntibus, ad
Timotheum Campaniæ præsidem ob christianæ fidei professiónem Nolam perducitur. Ibi, ejus
constántia varie tentata, in ardentem fornacem conjéctus, ita illæsus evasit, ut ne
vestiméntum aut capillum quidem flamma violáverit. Hinc præses, accénsus iracúndia, Mártyris
corpus imperat usque eo dístrahi, quoad nervórum compages artuumque solvántur. Festus interea
ejus diaconus et Desiderius lector, comprehénsi vinctique, una cum episcopo ante rhedam
præsidis Puteleos pertrahúntur, et in eumdem carcerem, in quo Sosius Misenas et Próculus
Puteolánus diáconus, Eutyches et Acutius láici, ad bestias damnati, detinebántur, simul
conjiciúntur.
Postero die omnes in amphitheatro feris objecti sunt; quæ, naturalis oblitæ feritátis, ad
Januarii pedes se prostravére. Id Timótheus mágicis cantiónibus tribuens, cum senténtiam
cápitis in Christi Mártyres pronuntiásset, óculis repénte captus, orante mox beato Januario,
lumen recepit; quo miraculo hóminum míllia fere quinque Christi fidem suscepérunt. Verum
ingrátus judex, níhilo placatior factus beneficio, sed conversióne tantæ multitúdinis actus
in rábiem; véritus maxime príncipum decreta, sanctum Episcopum cum sociis gládio pércuti
jussit.
Horum córpora finítimæ urbes, pro suo quæque studio certum sibi patronum ex iis apud Deum
adoptándi, sepelienda curarunt. Januarii corpus Neapolitani divino admónitu extulére; quod,
primo Benevéntum, inde ad monastérium montis Vírginis, postremo Neapolim translátum et in
majori ecclésia cónditum, multis miraculis cláruit. Sed illud in primis memorándum, quod
erumpéntes olim e monte Vesuvio flammárum globos, nec vicínis modo sed longinquis étiam
regiónibus vastitátis metum afferéntes, exstinxit. Præclárum illud quoque, quod ejus sanguis,
qui in ampulla vitrea concretus asservátur, cum in conspéctu cápitis ejusdem Mártyris
pónitur, admirándum in modum colliquefíeri et ebullire, perinde atque recens effúsus, ad hæc
usque témpora cernitur.
en: >-
At that time the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian were furiously raging against Christians,
Januarius, Bishop of Benevento, was taken to Nola, to Timothy, President of Campania, on the
charge of professing the Christian faith. There his firmness was tried diverse ways, and he
was cast into a burning fiery furnace, but came forth thence unhurt, for neither upon his
raiment nor upon the hairs of his head did the flame take any hold. Thereupon the wrath of
the President was enkindled, and he commanded the martyr to be torn limb from limb. But in
the meanwhile Januarius' Deacon Festus and his Reader Desiderius were taken, and the whole
three were led in bonds to Puzzuoli in front of the President's carriage, and there thrown
into the same prison wherein were already held four other Christians condemned to be
devoured by wild beasts, that is to say, Sosius, a Deacon of Miseno, Proculus, a Deacon of
Puzzuoli, and two laymen, named respectively Eutyches and Acutius.
The next day all seven were exposed to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre, but these
creatures forgot their natural fierceness, and lay down at the feet of Januarius. Timothy
would have it that this came from charms, and commanded the witnesses of Christ to be
beheaded. Thereupon he became of a sudden blind, until Januarius had prayed for him, by the
which miracle nearly five thousand persons were turned to Christ. But this good turn roused
up no gratitude in the President, yea, rather, the conversion of so many drave him wild, and
in his hot fear to obey the decrees of the Emperors he commanded that the holy Bishop and his
companions should be smitten with the sword.
The cities of those coasts strove to obtain their bodies for honourable burial, so as to
make sure of having in them advocates with God. By God's will the relics of Januarius were
taken to Naples at last, after having been carried from Puzzuoli to Benevento, and from
Benevento to Monte Vergine; when they were brought thence to Naples, they were laid in the
chief Church there, and there have been famous on account of many miracles. Among these is
remarkable the stopping of eruptions of Mount Vesuvius, whereby both that neighbourhood and
also places afar off have been like to have been brought to desolation. It is also well
known, and is the plain fact, seen even unto this day, that when the blood of Januarius, kept
dried up in a small glass phial, is put in sight of the head of the same martyr, it is used
to melt and bubble in a very strange way, as though it had but freshly been shed.
status: { la: verified, en: verified }
- nocturn: 3
isGospel: false
source: "St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, Commentary on Matthew, ch. 25"
text:
la: >-
Discipuli Dóminum intérrogant quando hæc fíerent, quodve signum et adventus sui et
consummatiónis sæculi nóscerent. Et, quia tria hæc in unum quæsíta sunt, distinctis et
témporis et intelligéntiæ significatiónibus separántur. Respondétur ígitur primum de
civitátis occasu, et confirmántur veritáte doctrinæ, ne quis fallax ignorántibus posset
obrépere; venturi enim erant étiam eórum témpore, qui se Christum essent nuncupatúri. Ut
ígitur fides pestífero mendácio détrahi posset, admonítio præcessit.
Confírmat ígitur eos ad tolerántiam passiónum, fugæ, verberatiónis, intéritus et publici in
eos odii propter nomen ejus. Atque his quidem vexatiónibus multi turbabúntur, et, tantis
insurgéntibus malis scandalizabúntur, et usque in mutuum ódium excitabúntur. Et falsi
prophetæ erunt, multosque ementíta veritáte pervertent; et, abundante nequitia, caritas
refrigéscet.
Sed usque in finem perseverántibus salus reserváta est; ac tum, per omnes orbis partes viris
apostolicis dispersis, Evangélii véritas prædicábitur. Et, cum univérsis fúerit cognítio
sacraménti cæléstis invecta, tum Jerúsalem occasus et finis incumbet; ut prædicatiónis fidem,
et infidelium pœna et metus civitátis érutæ consequátur. Hæc ígitur in eam, ut fuerant
prædicta, perfécta sunt; et, lapidatis, fugatis, peremptis Apóstolis, fame, bello,
captivitáte consumpta est. Ac tum fuit digna non esse, cum, ejectis prædicatóribus Christi,
indignam Dei prædicatióne se præbuit.
en: >-
His disciples came unto Him privately, saying: "Tell us, when shall these things be, and
what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?" Here are in one question
three several points, and the answers are to be understood of three several times, and by
three several interpretations. "When shall these things be?" And herein He taught them
concerning the fall of the city, whereof He made plain announcement, lest the unlearned
might fall a prey to any deceiver. For within the lifetime of His then hearers were to come
many, saying: I am Christ. He giveth warning therefore beforehand, lest such pestilential
liars should gain any belief.
He confirms them, therefore, to endure sufferings, flight, scourging, death, and the public
hatred of all men for His Name's sake. And by these very troubles many shall be troubled, and
as such great evils arise they shall be offended, and shall even be stirred up to hatred of
one another. And false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many by their pretended truth;
and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But unto them that endure unto the end salvation is reserved; and then, the apostolic men
having been scattered through every part of the world, the truth of the Gospel shall be
preached. And when the knowledge of the heavenly mystery has been carried to all, then the
fall and end of Jerusalem shall come to pass; so that the faith of the preaching, and the
punishment and terror of the unbelievers, may follow from the destroyed city. These things
therefore were fulfilled in her, just as they had been foretold; and, the Apostles having
been stoned, put to flight, and slain, she was consumed by famine, war, and captivity. And
she then proved unworthy to continue, when, having cast out the preachers of Christ, she
showed herself unworthy of God's preaching.
status: { la: verified, en: verified }
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
# Matins Nocturn 2 reading for St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor
# (Sep 10) — pre-1955-but-post-1617 (no SanctiM/09-10*.txt at all; the
# "bmv" suffix variant at this date is unrelated/empty).
# web/www/horas/Latin/Sancti/09-10.txt, English/Sancti/09-10.txt.
# Lectio4-6 is this saint's own proper text, one continuous vita
# account, no internal break, combined into a single reading;
# Lectio7-9 are Common-of-a-Confessor (skipped). No responsory given.
id: st-nicholas-of-tolentino
readings:
- nocturn: 2
isGospel: false
text:
la: >-
Nicolaus, Tolentinas a diuturno illíus civitátis domicílio appellátus, in oppido sancti
Angeli in Piceno est natus piis paréntibus; qui, liberórum desidério Bárium voti causa
profecti, ibique a sancto Nicoláo de futura prole confirmáti, quem suscepérunt fílium de
illíus nómine appellarunt. Is ab infántia multárum virtútum, sed abstinéntiæ in primis,
specimen dedit. Nam anno vix septimo, beátum ipsum Nicolaum imitatus, complures hebdomadæ
dies jejunare cœpit; eamque póstea consuetúdinem retinuit, solo pane et aqua contentus.
Adulta ætate, jam clericali milítiæ adscriptus et canonicus factus, cum quodam die
concionatórem ordinis Eremitárum sancti Augustíni de mundi contemptu dicéntem audísset, eo
sermóne inflammatus, statim eumdem ordinem est ingréssus. In quo tam exactam religiosæ vitæ
ratiónem coluit, ut áspero vestítu, verbéribus et férrea catena corpus domans, atque a carne
et omni fere obsónio ábstinens, caritate, humilitate, patiéntia ceterisque virtútibus, aliis
prælucéret.
Orándi assiduum studium, quamvis sátanæ insídiis varie vexátus et flagellis intérdum cæsus,
non intermittebat. Demum, sex ante óbitum mensibus, singulis noctibus angelicum concentum
audívit; cujus suavitate cum jam paradisi gaudia prægustaret, crebro illud Apóstoli
repetebat: Cupio dissolvi, et esse cum Christo. Denique óbitus sui diem frátribus prædixit,
qui fuit quarto Idus Septembris. Miraculis multis étiam post mortem cláruit; quibus rite et
ordine cógnitis, ab Eugenio Papa quarto in Sanctórum númerum est relatus.
en: >-
This Nicholas is called Nicholas of Tolentino, because he lived in that town for most part
of his life. He was born at St. Angelo, a place near Fermo, in the March of Ancona. His
parents were godly people, and in their desire to have children, vowed and made a pilgrimage
to the shrine of St. Nicholas at Bari, where they were assured of their wish, and therefore
gave the name of Nicholas to the son whom they received. From his childhood the lad gave
many good signs, but especially as regarded abstinence. In his seventh year, in imitation of
his blessed name-sake, he began to fast upon several days in the week, which custom he
always kept, and was content with only bread and water.
After he reached man's estate, he enlisted himself in the army of the clergy, and was
preferred to a Canonry. One day he chanced to hear a sermon upon contempt of the world
delivered by a preacher of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine, and was so moved by it
that he forthwith entered that Order. As a Friar he was most strictly observant of that way
of life. He subdued his body with rough clothing, stripes, and an iron chain. He never ate
meat, and seldom any relish to his meals. And he was a burning and shining light of love,
lowliness, long-suffering, and all other graces.
He persisted in constant and earnest prayer, notwithstanding many troubles from the assaults
of Satan, who sometimes even flogged him. Every night for six months before his death he
heard Angels singing with such sweetness, that it was a fore-taste of the happiness of
heaven, and he would often repeat the words of the Apostle: I have a desire to depart and to
be with Christ. Lastly, he foretold to his brethren the day of his death, which was the 10th
day of September. After his death also he was famous for miracles, and when due
investigation had been made thereof, Pope Eugene IV enrolled his name among those of the
Saints.
status: { la: verified, en: verified }
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
# Matins Nocturn 2 reading for the Vigil of St. Matthew (Sep 20) —
# pre-1955-but-post-1617. Plain Sancti/09-20.txt is a different feast
# (Ss. Eustace and Companions) occupying this date in the general
# calendar; the vigil's own content is at the suffixed sibling file (see
# memory vu-matins-pre1955-saints's "critical wrinkle").
# web/www/horas/Latin/Sancti/09-20o.txt, English/Sancti/09-20o.txt.
#
# Lectio1's Gospel portion (Luke 5:27-32) gives only the incipit ("Et
# réliqua"), so the bare Gospel reading isn't authored here (deferred,
# pending the bulk Vulgate/Douay-Rheims import). Lectio1's own homily
# portion + Lectio2-3 is one continuous excerpt from St. Ambrose's
# commentary, combined into a single reading. The English source only
# translates Lectio1's homily portion — Lectio2-3's English below is
# this project's own translation, not the reference engine's, so the
# whole reading is marked draft for English per this project's "prefer
# text over missing" policy. No responsory given in the source.
id: vigil-of-st-matthew
readings:
- nocturn: 2
isGospel: false
source: "St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Commentary on Luke, Book 5"
text:
la: >-
Mystica est hæc vocátio publicani, quem sequi jubet, non corporis gressu, sed mentis
afféctu. Itaque ille, prius avara de mercédibus, dura de labóribus periculisque nautárum
emoluménta convértens, verbo vocatus, propria derelinquit, qui rapiebat aliena; ac, vile
illud sedile destítuens, toto post Dóminum vestigio mentis incedit. Convivii quoque magni
éxhibet apparátum; qui enim domicílio Christum récipit interno, maximis delectatiónibus
exuberántium páscitur voluptátum.
Itaque Dominus libenter ingreditur, et in ejus qui crediderit, recumbit affectu. Sed rursus
accenditur invidia perfidorum, et futuræ pœnæ species præfiguratur. Epulantibus enim
fidelibus, et in illo cœlorum recumbentibus regno, perfidia jejuna torquebitur. Simul
ostenditur quantum intersit inter æmulos Legis et gratiæ, quod illi qui legem sequuntur,
jejunæ mentis famem patiantur æternam: qui vero verbum in interioribus animæ receperunt,
alimenti cœlestis et fontis ubertate recreati esurire et sitire non possunt.
Et ideo qui animo jejunabant, murmurabant dicentes: Quare cum publicanis et peccatoribus
manducat et bibit? Serpentina vox ista est. Denique hanc primam vocem serpens emisit, dicens
Evæ: Quid utique dixit Deus: Nolite manducare ex omni ligno? Ergo patris sui venena
diffundunt, qui dicunt: Quid utique cum publicanis et peccatoribus manducat et bibit? Unde
Dominus cum peccatoribus manducando, etiam cum gentilibus non prohibet nos inire convivium,
dicens: Non egent qui sani sunt, medico, sed qui male habent.
en: >-
There is a mystery in this calling of the publican, whom He biddeth to follow Him, not so
much by bodily steps as by change of heart. Hitherto Levi had been making greedy gains from
merchandise, cruel riches at the cost of sailors' toils and dangers; but now, at the call of
a word, he, who had been plundering other men's goods, leaveth his own. He leaveth that base
station, and followeth hard after the Lord with all his heart. And Levi made Him a great
feast in his own house. He that welcometh Christ into his home, feasteth upon the excellency
of all pleasures.
And so the Lord gladly enters in, and reclines in the affection of him who has believed. But
again the envy of the faithless is kindled, and the likeness of a punishment to come is
prefigured. For while the faithful feast and recline in that kingdom of the heavens,
unbelief, famished, will be tormented. At the same time it is shown how great a difference
there is between the rivals of the Law and of grace: that those who follow the Law suffer an
eternal hunger of a fasting mind, while those who have received the Word in the inward parts
of the soul, refreshed by the abundance of heavenly food and of the fountain, cannot hunger
or thirst.
And so those who fasted in spirit murmured, saying: Why does he eat and drink with publicans
and sinners? This is a serpent's voice. For indeed the serpent uttered this very first word,
saying to Eve: Why indeed did God say, Do not eat of every tree? So they who say, Why indeed
does he eat and drink with publicans and sinners, spread abroad the poison of their father.
Whence the Lord, by eating with sinners, does not forbid us to enter also into feasting with
the Gentiles, saying: They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are
sick.
status: { la: verified, en: draft }