November 22 — Saint Cjecilia

slave, known or unknown, every man was the object of a boundless devotedness for these hearts filled with the charity of Christ. One has but to read the Aots of the Apostles, and their Epistles, to learn on what an immense scale the apostolate was carried on in those early days ; and the ardour of that zeal remained 'long uncooled. Henoe the pagans used to say : " See how they love one another ! " And how could they help loving one another ? For in the order of faith they were fathers and children.

What maternal tenderness Csecilia felt for the souls of her brethren, from the mere fact that she was a Christian ! After her we might name a thousand others, in proof of the fact that the conquest of the world by Christianity and its deliverance from the yoke of pagan depravity, are due to such acts of devotedness performed in a thousand places at once, and. at length producing universal renovation. Let us imitate in something at least, these examples to which we owe so much. Let us waste less of our time and eloquence in bewailing evils which are only too real. Let each one of us set to work, and gain one of his brethren : and soon the number of the faithful will surpass that of unbelievers. Without doubt, this zeal is not extinct ; it still works in some, and its fruits rejoice and console the Church ; but why does it slumber so profoundly in so many hearts which God had prepared to be its active centres ?

The cause is unhappily to be traced to that general coldness, produced by effeminacy, which might be taken by itself alone as the type of the age ; but we must add thereto another sentiment, proceeding from the same source, which would suffice, if of long duration, to render the debasement of a nation incurable. This sentiment is fear ; and it may be said to extend at present to its utmost limit. Men fear the loss of goods or position, fear the loss of comforts $n ease. fear the loss of life. Needless to say, nothing oan be more enervating, and consequently more dangerous to the world, than this humiliating pre-oooupation ; but above all, we must confess that it is anything but Christian. Have we forgotten that we are merely pilgrims on this earth P And has the hope of future good died out of our hearts P Csecilia will teach us how to rid ourselves of this sentiment of fear. In her days, life was less secure than now. There certainly was then some reason to fear ; and yet Christians were so courageous, that the powerful pagans often trembled at the words of their victims.

God knows what he has in store for us ; but if fear does not soon make way for a sentiment more worthy of men and of Christians, all particular existences will be swallowed up in the political crisis. Come what may, it is time to learn our history over again. The lesson will not be lost, if we oome to understand this much : had the first Christians feared, they would have betrayed us, for the word of life would never have come down to us ; if we fear, we shall betray future generations, for we are expected to transmit to them the deposit we have received from our fathers. 1

The Passio Sanctw Ccecilice is marked in the most anoient Calendars on the 16 th September, 2 and took place, aocording to the primitive Acts, under the emperors Marcus Aurelius and Com modus. The great feast of November 22 nd , preceded by a Vigil, was one of the most solemn on the Roman Cycle ; it recalled the dedication of the church raised on the site of that palace which had been sanctified by the blood of the descendant of the Metelli, and had been bequeathed by her when dying to Bishop Urban, representative of Pope Eleutherius. This Urban

1 Don Guerangbr, ubi supra. * Martyrology of St. Jerome.

NOV. 22. SAINT CLECILIA. having been later on oonfounded with the Pope of the same name, who governed the Church in the time of Alexander Severus, the martyrdom of our Saint was thought to have occurred half a century later, as we still read in the Legend of the Office.

It was most probably in the year 178 that Cseoilia joined Valerian in heaven, whence, a few months before, the Angel of the Lord had descended, bringing wreaths of lilies and roses to the two spouses.

She was buried by Urban, just as she lay at the moment of death. In the beginning of the following century, the family crypt was given by her relatives to the Roman church, and was set apart for the burial of the Popes. In the ninth century, Paschal I. found her surrounded by these venerable tombs, and brought her back in triumph on May 8 th , 822, to her house in the Trastevere, where she remains to this day.

On the 20 th October, 1599, in the course of the excavations required for the restoration of the basilica, OsBcilia was once more brought forth to the admiring gaze of the city and of the world. She was clad in her robe of cloth of gold, on which traces of her virginal blood were still discernable ; at her feet were some pieces of linen steeped in the purple of her martyrdom. Lying on her right side with her arms stretched before her, she seemed in a deep sleep. Her neck still bore the marks of the wounds inflicted by the executioner's sword ; her head, in a mysterious and touching position, was turned towards the bottom of the coffin. The body was in a state of perfect preservation ; and the whole attitude, retained by an unique prodigy during so many centuries in all its grace and modesty, brought before the eyes with a striking truthfulness Csecilia breathing her last sigh stretched on the floor of the bath chamber.

The spectators were carried baok in thought to th$ day when the holy bishop "Urban had enclosed the saored body in the cypress chest, without altering the position chosen by the bride of Christ to breathe forth her soul iDto the arms of her divine Spouse. They admired also the discretion of Pope Paschal, who had not disturbed the virgin's repose, but had preserved for posterity so magnificent a spectacle. 1

Cardinal Sfondrate, titular of St. Csecilia, who directed the works, found also in the chapel called of the Bath the heating-stove and vents of the mdatorium, where the Saint passed a day and a night in the midst of scalding vapours. Recent excavations have brought to light other objects belonging to the patrician home, which by their style, belong to the early days of the Republic.

Let us now read the liturgical history of the illustrious Virgin and Martyr.

Csecilia, virgo Komana, nobili genere nata, a prima setate christian se fidei prseceptis instituta, virginitatem suam Deo vovit. Sed cum postea contra suam voluntatem data esset in matrimonium Valeriano, prima nuptianim nocte hunc cum eo sermonem habuit : Ego, Valeriane, in Angeli tutela sum, qui virginitatem meam custodit : quare ne quid in me committas, quo ira Dei in te concitetur. Quibus verbis commotus Valeria - nus, illam attingere non est ausus: quin etiam addidit, se in Christum crediturum, si eum Angelum videret. Cui Csecilia, cum sine bap-

Csecilia, a Roman virgin of noble origin, was brought up from her infancy in the Christian faith, and vowed her virginity to God. Against her will, she was given in marriage to Valerian ; but on the first night of the nuptials she thus addressed him : Valerian, I am under the care of an Angel, who is the guardian of my virginity; wherefore beware of doing what might kindle God's wrath against thee. Valerian moved by these words respected her wishes, and even said that he would believe in Christ if he could see the Angel. On Csecilia telling him that this could not be unless he received Baptism, he, being

1 Pom Gueranger, Sainte Cecile et la §oeiete romaine,

NOV. 22. SAINT CJECILIA. tismo negaret id fieri posse, incensus cupiditate videndi Angelum, se baptizari velle respondit. Quare hortatu virginis ad Urbanum Papain, qui propter persecutionem in Martyrum sepulchris via Appia latebat, veniens, ab eo baptizatur.

Inde ad Cseciliam reversus, orantem et cum ea Angelum divino splendore fulgentem invenit. Quo aspeetu obstupefactus, ut primum ex timore confirmatus est, Tiburtium fratrem suum accersit : qui a Csecilia Chri8ti fide imbutus, et ab eodem Urbano baptizatus, ipse etiam ejusdem Angeli, quern f rater ejus viderat, aspectu dignatus est. Uterque autem paulo post Almachio prsefecto constanter martyrium subiit. Qui mox Cseciliam comprehendi imperat, ab eaque primum, ubi Tiburtii et Valeriani facultates sint, exquirit.

Cui cum virgo omnia illorum pauperibus distributa esse respondisset, eo furore concitatus est, ut earn in ipsius sedes reductam, in balneo comburi jusserit. Quo in loco cum diem noctemque ita fuisset, ut ne flam ma quidem illam attingeret ; eo immissus est carnifex, qui ter securi ictam, cum caput abscindere non potuisset, semivivam reli' very desirous of seeing the Angjel, replied that he was willing to be baptized. Taking the virgin's advice, he went to Pope Urban, who on account of the persecution was hiding among the tombs of the Martyrs on the Appian Way, and by him he was baptized.

Then returning to Csecilia, he found her at prayer, and beside her an Angel shining with divine brightness. He was amazed at the sight ; but as soon as he had recovered from his fear, he sought out his brother Tiburtius ; who also was instructed by Csecilia in the faith of Christ, and after being baptized by Pope Urban, was favoured like nis brother with the sight of the Angel. Both of them shortly afterwards courageously suffered martyrdom under the prefect Almachius. This latter next commanded Csecilia to be apprehended, and commenced by asking her what had become of the property of Tiburtius and Valerian.

The virgin answered that it had all been distributed among the poor ; at which the prefect was so enraged, that he commanded her to be led back to her own house, and put to death by the heat of the bath. When, after spending a day and a night there, she remainunhurt by the fire, an executioner was sent to dispatch her; who, not being able with three strokes of the axe to cut off he?

quit. Ula triduo post, decimo calendas decembris Alexandro imperatore duplici virginitatis et martyrii palma decorata, evolavit in coelum. Cujus corpus ab ipso Urbano Papa in Callisti coemeterio sepultum est, in ejus sedibus ecclesia ipsius Caociliae nomine consecrata. Ejus et Urbani ac Lucii Pontificum, Tiburtii, Valeriani et Maximi corpora a Pascbali primo Pontifice inde translata in Urbem, in eadem sanctse Csecilise ecclesia coadita sunt. head, left her half dead. Three days later, on the tenth of the Kalends of December, she took her night to heaven, adorned with the double glory of virginity and martyrdom. It was in the reign of the emperor Alexander. Pope Urban buried her body in the cemetery of Oallixtus ; and her house was converted into a church and dedicated in her name. Pope Paschal I. translated her body into the city, together with those of Popes Urban and Lucius, and of Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus, and placed them all in this church of St. Csecilia.

The Antiphons and Responsories for the 22 nd November are all taken from the Acts of the Saint, and are the same as were used in the time of St. Gregory. We choose such of them as will complete the foregoing history. The first Responsory represents the virgin as singing in her heart to God amid the profane music of the nuptial feast. It was this silent melody, superior to all earthly concerts, that inspired the happy idea of picturing St. Cseoilia as the queen of harmony, and proclaiming her patroness of the most attractive of arts.

ANTIPHONS AND RKSPONSORIKS. ft. Cantantibus organis Csecilia virgo in corde suo soli Domino decantabat, dicens: * Fiat Domine cor meum et corpus meum immaculatum, ut non confundar. f, Biduanis et triduams ft. Amid the harmony of musical instruments, the virgin Csecilia sang in her heart to the Lord alone, saying: * Let my heart, 0 Lord, and my body be spotless, that I may not be confounded. f. During two days and

NOV. 22. SAINT CECILIA. lejuniis orans, commendabat Domino quod timebat.

• Fiat. ft. 0 beata Caecilia, quae duos fratres convertisti, Almacbium judicem superasti,

• Urbanum episcopum in vultu angelicodemonstrasti. 1 y. Quasi apis argumentosa Domino deservisti. * Urbanum. ft. Virgo gloriosa semper Evangelium Christi gerebat in pectore, et non diebus neque noctibus vacabat. * A colloquiis divinis et oratione.

Expansis manibus orabat ad Dominum, et cor ejus igne coelesti ardebat.

• A colloquiis. ft. Cilicio Caecilia membra domabat, Deum gemitibus exorabat : * Tiburtium et Valerianum ad coronas vocabat. f. Haec est virgo sapiens, et una de numero prudentum. * Tiburtium. ft. Domine Jesu Christe, ti consilii, suscipe seminum fructu quos in Caecilia setua quasi apis* tibi argumentosa deservit. pastor bone, seminator casminasti : * Caecilia famula y. Nam sponsum, quern quasi leonem ferocem accepit, ad te quasi agnum man- three days of fasting and prayer, she commended to the Lord what she feared. * Let my heart. ft. 0 blessed Caecilia, who didst convert the two brothers, and overcome the judge Almachius. * Urban the bishop of angelic countenance thou didst show to them. 1 p. As a busy bee thou didst serve the Lord. * Urban. ft. The glorious virgin carried always the Gospel of Christ on her heart; and by day and by night she ceased not * From divine colloquies and prayer.

^. With outstretched hands she prayed to the Lord, and her heart burned with a heavenly fire. * From divine. ft. Caecilia subdued her flesh with hair-cloth, and besought God with groanings.

• Tiburtius and Valerian she called to their crowns. y. This is a wise virgin, one of those who are prudent.

• Tiburtius. ft. 0 Lord Jesus Christ, good Shepherd, Author of chaste resolutions, receive the fruits of the seed thou didst sow in Caecilia : * Caecilia thy handmaid serves thee like a busy bee.* y. For the spouse whom she had received like a fierce lion, she led to thee as a gentle urn virum, Urbanum nomine, in quo est aspectus angelicut. Tiburtius. 2 et ovis simul morabuntur. xL 6.

Acts, words of Valerian to The ancieDt legend had the word ovis, which recalls the text of Isaias : Leo The lion and the sheep shall abide together. Isaias suetis8imum destinavit. * Csecilia. Gloria Patri. * Csecilia.

Ant. Est secretum Valeriane, quod tibi volo dicere : Angelum Dei habeo amatorem, qui nimio zelo custodit corpus meum.

Ant. Beata Csecilia dixit ad Tiburtium : Hodie te fateor meum cognatum, quia amor Dei te fecit esse contemptorem idolorum.

Ant. Credimus Christum Filium Dei verum Deum esse, qui sibi talem elegit famulam.

Ant. Dum aurora finem daret, Csecilia exclamavit, dicens : Eia milites Christi, abjicite opera tenebrarum, et induimini arma lucis.

Ant. Triduana a Domino poposci inducias, ut domum meam ecclesiam consecrarem. lamb. * Csecilia. Glory be to the Father. * Csecilia.

Ant. I have a secret, Valerian, which I wish to tell thee : I have an Angel of God, who loves me, and with diligent zeal watches over my body.

Ant. Blessed Csecilia said to Tiburtius : To-day I acknowledge thee for my brother, because the love of God has made thee become a contemner of idols.

Ant. We believe that Christ the Son of God, who chose for himself such a handmaid, is true God.

Ant. As dawn was breaking into day, Csecilia cried out saying : Courage, soldiers of Christ, cast away the deeds of darkness, and put on the armour of light.

Ant. Ccecilia dying said : I have asked of the Lord three days' delay, that I may consecrate my house into a church.

The two following hymns were approved by the Apostolic See in 1852.

HYMN.

Terrena cessent organa, Cor sestuans Csecilise Coeleste fundit canticum, Deoque totum jubilat.

Dum nuptiali nobilis Domus resultat gaudio, Hsec sola tristis candido Gemit columba pectore.

Hushed be the music of earth : Csecilia' s burning heart pours out the heavenly song she sings to her God alone.

While the noble house resounds with the nuptial joy, this dove alone is sad, and her pure heart sighs out ;

NOV. 22. SAINT CiECILIA.

0 Christe mi dulcissime, Cni me sacra vit eharitas, Serva pudoris integram, Averte labem corpore.

Ovis leonem sedula Agnum facit mitissimum: Hie fonte lotus mystico, Coelo repente militat.

Solvit Tiburtium soror Errori a caligine ; Factoque fratris asseclee Ad astra pandit semitam.

Seges per illam plurima Superna replet horrea : Verbo potens, fit particeps Apostolorum glorise.

Delapsus arce siderum IUam tuetur Angelus ; Bosseque mixtae liliis Ambire orines gestiunt.

Sertum rubens et candidum

Affertur una conjugi, Quern castitatis semulum Coelestis ardor efficit.

0 Christ, most sweet, to whom I am bound by love, preserve my purity of soul and body.

The diligent sheep converts the lion into a meek lamb ; and he, washed in the mystic font, begins at once to fight for the King of heaven.

Sister now of Tiburtius, she frees him from darksome error, and bidding him follow his brother, points out the path to heaven.

Through her efforts an abundant harvest fills the heavenly granaries; powerful in word, she shares the glory of the Apostles.

An Angel comes down from the highest heavens to protect her; a rose and lily wreath entwines her flowing locks.

White and ruddy also is the crown brought to her spouse, whom heavenly love has led to emulate her purity.

Te, sponse, Jesu, virgi- May the happy choirs of num virgins praise thee, 0 Jesus,

Beata laudent agmina ; their Spouse ; to the Father

Patrique cum Paraclito and the Paraclete be equal

Par sit per sevum gloria. and eternal glory. Amen.

Amen.

HYMN.

Nunc, ad coronas pergite, Clamat suis Csecilia : Mox ipsa virgo sistitur Ad judicis prretorium.

Now haste ye to your crowns, cries Cracilia to her brethren ; and soon the virgin herself is led before the judge.

Minantis iram despicit, Et falsa ridet numina : Jam morte digna ducitur Puella culpae nescia.

Inclusa perstat balneo : Ardent calore fornices Ast urit intus virginem Divinus ignis fortior.

Intaminatam barbarus Ter ense lictor percutit : Scelus tamen non porficit ; Christus moras dat martyri.

Horse supremse proxima, Deo sacrandas devovet M&oa avitas, libera Volatque ad Agni nnptias.

Salveto, corpus martyris, Diu sub antris abditum : Nova ref ulgens gloria Bomse parenti redderis.

Ne flos tenebris areat, Te Yirgo servat virginum ; Rubens cruoris purpura Stola micante cingeris.

Dormi silenti marmore, Dum sede lsetus coelica Indulget hymnis spiritus, Votisque dexter annuit.

Te, sponse, Jesu, virginum Beata laudent agmina ; Patrique cum Paraclito Par sit per sevum gloria.

Amen.

She despises his angry threats and laughs at his false gods ; wherefore the innocent maiden is declared deserving of death.

She remains long inclosed in the bath, while the furnace rages beneath; but stronger is the divine fire that burns in the virgin's heart.

Thrice does the barbarous lictor strike the innocent victim : he cannot accomplish his crime, for Christ has granted a delay to the martyr.

As her last hour draws nigh, she devotes her ancestral mansion to God, then free she wings her flight to the nuptials of the Lamb.

Hail ! body of the martyr, long hidden in the sombre crypt; shining with a new glory, thou art restored to thy mother Rome.

The Virgin of virgins watches over thee, lest thou fade as a flower in the darkness, while thou liest empurpled with the blood of thy martyrdom, and clad in thy golden robe.

Sleep in thy silent marble tomb, while thy spirit enthroned in heaven hymns its glad joy, and graciously receives our prayers.

May the happy choirs of virgins praise tnee, 0 Jesus, their Spouse ; to the Father and the Paraclete be equal and eternal glory. Amen.

NOV. 22. SAINT CL2BCILIA.

It would need the language of Angels worthily to celebrate thy greatness, 0 bride of Christ ! and we have but the faltering, timid accents of mortals and sinners. 0 queen, who standest at the King's right hand, clad in the vesture of gold of which the Psalmist sings, look down upon us with a favourable eye, and deign to acoept this offering of our praise, which we lay on the lowest step of thy lofty throne. We make bold to join thereto a prayer for the holy Church, whose humble daughter thou wast heretofore, as now thou art her hope and her support. In the dark night of this present life the Bridegroom is long a-coming. In the midst of this solemn and mysterious silence he suffers the virgin to slumber till the cry shall announce his arrival. We honour the repose earned by thy victories, 0 Csecilia, but we know that thou dost not forget us, for the Bride says in the Canticle : J sleep, and my heart watcheth.

The hour draws nigh when the Spouse is to appear, calling all who are his to gather under the standard of his Cross. Soon will the cry be heard : Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him. Then, 0 Caecilia, thou wilt say to all Christians what thou saidst to the faithful band grouped around thee at the hour of thy combat : " Soldiers of Christ ! " Cast off the works of darkness, and put on the ardour of light." 1

The Church daily pronounces thy name with love v and confidence, in the Canon of the Mass; and she looks for thy assistance, 0 Caecilia, knowing it will not fail her. Prepare a victory for her, by raising up the hearts of Christians to the realities, which they too often forget while they run after the vain shadows from which thou didst win Tiburtius. When the minds of men become once more fixed up-

1 Acta S. Caeciliae. ent. yu 2 1 on the thought of their eternal destiny, the salvation and peace of nations will be secured.

Be thou for ever, 0 Cracilia, the delight of thy divine Spouse. Breathe eternally the heavenly fragrance of his roses and lilies ; and be unceasingly enraptured with the ineffable harmony of which he is the source. From the midst of thy glory thou wilt watch over us ; and when our last hour draws nigh, we beseech thee by the merits of thy heroic martyrdom, assist us on our death-bed. Receive our soul into thy arms, and bear it up to the everlasting abode, where the sight of the bliss thou enjoyest will give us to understand the value of Virginity, of the Apostolate, and of Martyrdom. 1

1 Dom Guerangeb, Histoire de sainte Cecile, conclusion.

POPE AND MARTYR.

The memory of St. Clement has been surrounded with a peculiar glory from the very beginning of the Roman Church. After the death of the Apostles, he seems to eclipse Linus and Cletus, although these preceded him in the Pontificate. We pass as it were naturally from Peter to Clement ; and the East celebrates his memory with no less honour than the West. He was in truth the universal Pontiff, and his acts as well as his writings are renowned throughout the entire Church. This wide-spread reputation caused numbers of apocryphal writings to be attributed to him, which, however, it is easy to distinguish from his own. But it is remarkable that all the falsifiers who have thought fit to put his name to their own works, or to invent stories concerning him, agree in declaring that he was of imperial descent.

With only one exception, all the documents whioh attest Clement's intervention in the affairs of distant churches, have perished with time ; but the one that remains, shows us in full action the monarchical

1 Bom Gukbangbb, Sainte Cecile et la societe romaine, ch. vii. Saint Clement. power of the Bishop of Rome at that primitive epoch. The church of Corinth was disturbed with intestine quarrels, caused by jealousy against oertain pastors. These divisions, the germ of which had appeared even in St. Paul's time, had destroyed all peace, and were causing scandal to the very pagans. The Corinthians at last felt the necessity of putting an end to a disorder, which might be prejudicial to the extension of the Christian faith ; and for this purpose it was requisite to seek assistance from outside. The Apostles had all departed this life, except St. John, who was still the light of the Church. It was no great distance from Corinth to Ephesus, where the Apostle resided : yet it was not to Ephesus but to Rome that the Churoh of Corinth turned. Clement examined the case referred to his judgment by that Church, and sent to Corinth five commissaries to represent the Apostolic See. They were bearers of a letter, whioh St. Irenseus calls potentmimas litteras 1 . It was considered at the time so beautiful and so apostolic, that it was long read in many churches as a sort of continuation of the canonical Scriptures. Its tone is dignified bat paternal, according to Saint Peter's advice to pastors. There is nothing in it of a domineering spirit ; but the grave and solemn language bespeaks the universal pastor, whom none can disobey without disobeying God himself. These words so solemn and so firm wrought the desired effect : peace was re-established in the church of Corinth, and the messengers of the Roman Pontiff soon brought back the happy news. A century later, St. Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth, expressed to Pope St. Soter the gratitude still felt by his flook towards St. Clement for the service he had rendered.

Brought up in the school of the Apostles, Clement

1 Contra hsereses, iii. 3.