September 19 — Saint Thecla

sex. Together with holy Churoh, then, let us unite in the concert of praise unanimously lavished upon Thecla by the fathers of east and west. When the martyr pontiff Methodius gave his ' Banquet of virgins' to the Church, about the end of the third century, it is on the brow of the virgin of Iconium that he placed the fairest of the crowns distributed at the banquet of the Spouse. And justly so ; for had not Thecla been trained by Paul, who had made her more learned in the Gospel than she was before in philosophy and every science ? Heroism in her kept pace with knowledge; her magnanimity of purpose was equalled by her courage ; while, strong in the virginal purity of her soul and body, she triumphed over fire, wild beasts, and sea monsters, and won the glory of a triple martyrdom.

A fresh triumph is hers at the mysterious banquet. Wisdom has taken possession of her, and, like a divine harp, makes music in her soul, which is echoed on her lips in words of wondrous eloquence and sublime poetry. When the feast is over, and the virgins rise to give thanks to the Lord, Thecla leads the chorus, singing: 4 For thee, 0 Bridegroom, I keep myself pure; and with burning lamp I come to meet thee.

I have fled from the bitter pleasures of mortals, and the luxurious delights of life and its love ; under Thy life-giving arms I desire to be protected, and to gaze for ever on Thy beauty, 0 blessed One.

For Thee, 0 Bridegroom, I keep myself pure; and with burning lamp I come to meet Thee.

I have contemned union with mortal man ; I have left my golden home for Thee, 0 King ; I have oome in undefiled robes, that I may enter with Thee into Thy happy bridal chamber.

For Thee, 0 Bridegroom, I keep myself pure; pjad with burning lamp I come to meet Thee,

TIME AFTER FEKTEC08T

Having escaped the enchanting wiles of the serpent, and triumphed over the flaming fire and the attacks of wild beasts, I await Thee from heaven.

For Thee, 0 Bridegroom, I keep myself pure; and with burning lamp I come to meet Thee.

Through love of Thee, 0 Word, I have forgotten the land of my birth ; I have forgotten the virgins my companions, and even the desire of mother and of kindred ; for Thou, 0 Christ, art all things to me.

For Thee, 0 Bridegroom, I keep myself pure; and with burning lamp I come to meet Thee.' 1

PRAYER

Da, qusesumus, omnipo- Grant, we beseech thee, al- tens Dens: at qui beatee mighty God, that we, who

Theclse Virginia et martyris celebrate the festival of bless- tuffi natalitia colimus, et ed Thecla, thy virgin and mar- annua solemnitate Irate- tyr, may rejoice in her annual mur, et tantse fidei profici- solemnity, and make progress amus exemplo. Per Do- by the example of such great minum. faith. Through our Lord.

Method. Conviv* dee. virg, vii, viii, xi.

September 24

OUR LADY OF RANSOM

The Office of the time gives us, at the olose of September, the Books of Judith and Esther. These heroic women were figures of Mary, whose birthday is the honour of this month, and who comes at once to bring assistance to the world.

'Adonai, Lord Gtod, great and admirable, who hast wrought salvation by the hand of a woman:' 1 the Church thus introduces the history of the heroine, who delivered Bethulia by the sword, whereas Mardochai's niece rescued her people from death by her winsomeness and her intercession. The Queen of heaven, in her peerless perfection, outshines them both, in gentleness, in valour, and in beauty. To-day's feast is a memorial of the strength she puts forth for the deliveranoe of her people.

Finding their power crushed in Spain, and in the east checked by the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, the Saracens, in the twelfth century, became wholesale pirates, and scoured the seas to obtain slaves for the Afrioan markets. We shudder to think of the numberless victims, of every age, sex, and condition, suddenly carried off from the coasts of Christian lands, or captured on the high seas, and condemned to the disgrace of the harem or the miseries of the bagnio. Here, nevertheless, in many an obscure prison, were enacted scenes of heroism worthy to compare with those witnessed in the early perseou-

1 Magnificat ant. 1st Vesp. 4th Sunday of September.

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TIME AFTER PENTE008T tions ; here was a new field for Christian charity ; new horizons opened out for heroio self-devotion. Is not the spiritual good thenoe arising a sufficient reason for the permission of temporal ills P Without this permission, heaven would have for ever lacked a portion of its beauty.

When, in 1696, Innooent XII extended this feast to the whole Church, he afforded the world an opportunity of expressing its gratitude by a testimony as universal as the benefit reoeived.

Differing from the Order of holy Trinity, which had been already twenty years in existence, the Order of Mercy was founded as it were in the very faoe of the Moors; and henoe it originally numbered more knights than olerks among its members. It was called the royal, military, and religious Order of our Lady of Mercy for the ransom of captives. The olerios were oharged with the celebration of the Divine Office in the oommandaries; the knights guarded the ooasts, and undertook the perilous enterprise of ransoming Christian captives. St. Peter Nolasco was the first Commander or Grand Master of the Order; when his relios were discovered, he was found armed with sword and ouirass.

In the following lines the Church gives us her thoughts upon faots which we have already learnt. 1

Quo tempore major feli- At the time when the Sara- ciorque Hispaniarum pars cen yoke oppressed the larger diro Saracenorum opprime- and more fertile part of Spain, batur jugo, innumerique and great numbers of the faith- fideles sub immani servitu- ful were detained in cruel ser- te, maximo cum periculo vitude, at the great risk of christianae fidei abjurandae denying the Christian faith ammitendseque salutis aster- and losing their eternal salva- nae, infeliciter detinebantur, tion, the most blessed Queen

1 On the feasts of St. Peter Nolasco and St. Raymund of Pegnafort, January 31 and 23.

OTJR LADY OP RANSOM beatissima coelorum Regina, tot tantisque benigniter occurrens malis, nimiam caritatem suam in iis redimendis ostendit. Nam sancto Petro Nolasco, pietate et opibus florenti, qui Sanctis vacans meditationibus jugiter animo recogitabat qua ratione tot Christianorum serumnis sub Maurorum captivitate degentium succurri posset, ipsamet beatissima Yirgo serenafrontese conspiciendam dedit, et acceptissimum sibi ac unigenito suo Filio fore dixit, si suum in honorem institueretur Ordo religiosorum, quibus cura incumberet captivos e Turcarum tyrannise liberandi. Qua coelesti visione vir Dei recreatus, minim est, quo caritatis ardore flagrare coeperit, hoc unum servans in corde suo, ut ipse, ac instituenda ab eo religio maximam illam caritatem sedulo exercerent, ut quisque animam suam poneret pro amicis et proximis suis.

Ea ipsa nocte eadem Virgo sanctissima beato Raymundo de Pennafort, et Jacobo Aragoniae regi apparuit, idipsum de religiosis instituendis admonens, suadensque, ut opem pro constructione tanti operis ferrent. Petrus autem statim ad Raymundi pedes, qui ipsi erat a sacris conf essio- of heaven graciously came to remedy all these great evils, and showed her exceeding charity in redeeming her children. She appeared with beaming countenance to Peter Nolasco, a man conspicuous for wealth and piety, who in his holy meditations was ever striving to devise some means of helping the innumerable Christians living in misery as captives of the Moors. She told him it would be very pleasing to her and her only-begotten Son, if a religious Order were instituted in her honour, whose members should devote themselves to delivering captives from Turkish tyranny. Animated by this heavenly vision, the man of God was inflamed with burning love, having but one desire at heart, viz: that both he and the Order he was to found, might be devoted to the exercise of that highest charity, the laying down of life for one's friends and neighbours.

That same night, the most holy Virgin appeared also to blessed Raymund of Pegnafort, and to James king of Aragon, telling them of her wish to have the Order instituted, and exhorting them to lend their aid to so great an undertaking. Meanwhile Peter hastened to relate the whole matter to Raymund, nibus, advolans, ei rem omnem aperuit: quern etiam codlitus instraotum reperit, ej usque direction! se humillime subjecit. At superveniens Jacobus rex, quam et ipse acceperat a beatissima Virgine, revelationem exsequi statuit. Unde collatis inter se consiliis, et consentientibus animis, in honorem ejusdem Virginia Matris Ordinem instituere aggressi sunt, sub invocatione sanctsB MarisB de Mercede Redemptions captivorum.

Die igitur decima Augusti anno Domini millesimo ducentesimo decimo octavo, rex idem Jacobus earn institutionem jampridem ab iisdem Sanctis viris conceptam exsequi statuit, sodalibus quarto voto adstrictis, manendi in pignus sub paganorum potestate, si pro christianorum liberatione opus fuerit. Quibus rex ipse arma sua regia in pectore def erre concessit, et a Gregorio nono illud tarn praecellentis erga proximum caritatis institutum et religionem confirmari curavit. Sed et ipse Deus per Virginem Matrem incrementum dedit, ut talis institutio celerius ac f elicius totum per orbem divulgaretur, Sanctis - que viris floruerit caritate ac pietate insignibus, qui eleemosynas a Christi fide- wbo was bis confessor; and finding it had been already revealed to him from heaven, submitted humbly to his direction. King James next arrived, fully resolved to carry out the instructions he also had received from the blessed Virgin. Having therefore taken counsel together and being all of one mind, they set about instituting an Order in honour of the Virgin Mother, under the invocation of our Lady of Mercy for the ransom of captives.

On the tenth of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand two hundred and eighteen, king James put into execution what the two holy men had planned. The members of the Order bound themselves by a fourth vow to remain, when necessary, as securities in the power of the pagans, in order to deliver Christians. The king granted them licence to bear his royal arms upon their breast, and obtained from Gregory IX the confirmation of this religious institute distinguished by such eminent brotherly charity. God himself gave increase to the work, through his Virgin Mother; so that the Order spread rapidly and prosperously over the whole world. It soon reckoned many holy men remarkable for their charity and piety who col-

Otm tAD* 0* AANSOtt libus collectas in pretium lected alms from Christ's redemptionis suorum proxi- faithful, to be spent in re- morum expenderent, seque deeming their brethren; and ipsos interdum darent in re- sometimes gave themselves up demptionem multorum. Ut as ransom for many others, autem tanti beneficii et in- In order that due thanks stitutionis debitae Deo et might be rendered to God and

VirginiMatrireferanturgra- his Virgin Mother for the ties, Sedes apostolica hanc benefit of such an institution, peculiarem festivitatem ce- the apostolic See allowed this lebrari, et Officium recitari special feast and Office to be indulsit, cum alia fere in- celebrated, and also granted numera eidem Ordini privi- innumerable other privileges iegia pariter contulisset. to the Order.

Blessed be thou, 0 Mary, the honour and the joy of thy people! On the day of thy glorious Assumption, thou didst take possession of thy queenly dignity for our sake; and the annals of the human raoe are a record of thy merciful interventions. The captives whose chains thou hast broken, and whom thou hast set free from the degrading yoke of the Saracens, may be reckoned by millions. We are still rejoioing in the recollection of thy dear birthday ; and thy smile is sufficient to dry our tears and chase away the clouds of grief. And yet, what sorrows there are still upon the earth, where thou thyself didst drink such long draughts from the oup of suffering ! Sorrows are sanctifying and beneficial to some ; but there are other and unprofitable griefs, springing from social injustice: the drudgery of the faotory, or the tyranny of the strong over the weak, may be worse than slavery in Algiers or Tunis. Thou alone, 0 Mary, canst break the inextrioable chains, in whioh the cunning prince of darkness entangles the dupes he has deceived by the highsounding names of equality and liberty. Show thyself a Queen, by coming to the resoue. The whole

TIME AFTER PBNTBOOST earth, th$ entire human raoe, ones out to thee, in the words of Mardoohai: * Speak to the king for us, and deliver us from death ! 9 1

September 26 SAINT CYPBIAN MARTYR

AND SAINT JUSTINA VIRGIN AND MARTYR

4 Whosoever ye be, that are seduced by the mysteries of the demons, none of you ean equal the zeal I onoe had for these false gods, nor my researohes into their secrets, nor the vain power they had oommunicated to me, to me Cyprian, who from my infancy was given up to the servioe of the dragon in the oitadel of Minerva. Learn from me the deoeitfulness of their illusions. A virgin has proved to me that their power is but smoke. The king of the demons was arrested at the door of a mere ohild, and could not oross the threshold. He who promises so much is a liar. A woman makes sport of the boaster who vaunted he oould shake heaven and earth. The roaring lion beoomes a startled gnat before the Christian virgin Justina.' 2 ,

Cyprianus primum magus, Cyprian, who was first a ma- postea martyr, cum Justi- gician and afterwards a mar- nam, christianam virginem, tyr, attempted, by charms and quam juvenis quidam arden- spells, to make Justina, a Chris- ter amabat, cantionibus ac tian virgin, consent to the pas- veneficiis ad ejus libidinis sion of a certain young man.

1 Esther xr. 3. * Confessio Gypriani Antiochmi, I. 2.

He consulted the devil as to the best way to succeed, and was told in reply that no art would be of any service to him against the true disciples of Christ. This answer made so great an impression on Cyprian, that, grieving bitterly over his for-, mer manner of life, he abandoned his magical arts, and was completely converted to the faith of Christ our Lord. Accused of being a Christian, he was seized together with the virgin Justina, and they were both severely scourged. They were then thrown into prison to see if they would change their mind; but on being taken out, as they remained firm in the Christian religion, they were cast into a cauldron of boiling pitch, fat, and wax. Finally they were beheaded at Nicomedia. Their bodies were left six days unburied; after which some sailors carried them secretly by night to their ship, and conveyed them to Borne. They were first buried on the estate of a noble lady named Rufina, but afterwards were translated into the city and laid in Constantino's basilica, near the baptistery. assensum allicere conaretur, daemonem consuluit, quanam id re consequi posset. Cui daemon respondit, nullam ilii artem processuram adversus eos qui vere Christum colerent. Quo responso commotus Cyprianus, vehementer dolere coepit vitaa superioris institutum. Itaque relictis magicis artibus, se totum ad Christi Domini fidem convertit. Quam ob causam una cum virgine Justina comprehensus est, et ambo colaphis flagellisque caesi sunt: mox in carcerem conjecti,si forte sententiam commutarent. Verum inde postea emissi, cum in Christiana religione constantissimi reperirentur, in sartaginem plenam f erventis picis, adipis et cerae injecti sunt. Demum Nicomediae securi f eriuntur. Qu6rum projecta corpora, cum sex dies inhumata jacuissent, noctu quidam nautas clam ea in navem imposita Eomam portaverunt: ac primum in praadio Rufinae nobilis feminae sepulta sunt: postea translata in urbem, in basilica Constantiniana condita sunt prope baptisterium.

He who sought to ruin thee is now, 0 virgin, thv trophy of viotory ; and for thee, 0 Cyprian, the path of orime turned aside into the way of salvation. May you together triumph over satan in this age,

26d tflliB AtfTBA BtfTB008 when spirit-dealing is seduoing so many faltering, faithless souls. Teaoh Christians, after your example, to arm themselves, against this ana every other danger, with the sign of the cross; then will the enemy be foroed to sav again: *I saw a terrible sign and I trembled ; I beheld the sign of the Crucified, and my strength melted like wax.' 1

September 27 SAINTS COSMAS AND DAMTAN

MARTYRS

' Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the Most High hath created him. For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the king. The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall be praised. The Most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them. Was not bitter water made sweet with wood? The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and the Most High hath given knowledge to men, that He may be honoured in His wonders. By these he shall oure and shall allay their pains, and of these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end. For the peace of God is over the face of the earth. My son, in thy siokness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and He shall heal thee. Turn away from sin and

1 Acta Cypriani et Justina.