S. CATHARINÆ SENENSIS

There was an earlier office of St. Catherine before the Pius II/ Schifaldo office. One presumes that these two fine hymns belonged to the earlier office. Certainly these older hymns are to be preferred over the later compositions. The hymn for the Office of Readings nicely combines the customary reference to the wise virgins with the themes of nuptial spirituality, the ecstasy of St. Catherine and the stigmata. The second hymn is more generic but perhaps we can detect just a bit of St. Catherine’s work for the restoration of the unity of the papacy in the line feróces mulces ánimos.

Ad Officium lectionis: saec. XIV

Virgo prudéntum comitáta cœtum

óbviam sponso véniens paráta,

noctis horréndæ rémovet tenébras

  lámpade pura.

Ille fulgéntem nítidis lapíllis

ánulum miri tríbuit decóris

vírgini dicens: «Tibi trado sancti

  pignus amóris».

Mota flagrántis stímulo calóris

mentis excéssu rápitur frequénti,

fixa dum portat Catharína membris

  vúlnera Christi.

Unde ter felix quater et beáta

in sinu sponsi requiévit almi,

inter illústres ánimas reláta

  lux nova cæli.

Sit Deus cæli résidens in arce,

trinus et simplex benedíctus ille,

qui potens totum stábili gubérnat

  órdine mundum. Amen.

A virgin in the company of the wise virgins comes prepared to meet the bridegroom  and remove the fearful darkness of night with an unsullied lamp. A bright ring glittering with  shining stones, wondrous in beauty, he gives to the virgin, saying “I hand over to you a pledge of my holy love.” Moved by a prick of burning heat Catherine is caught up in rapture beyond human thought, while she carries fixed in her body the wounds of Christ.  Whence three times happy and four times blessed she rested on the breast of her nourishing spouse, she is now a new light brought among the illustrious souls of heaven.  Blessed be God Triune and simple residing in the height of heaven who powerfully governs the world in a certain order. Amen.

Ad Laudes matutinas & Ad Vesperas: Saec. XIV

Te, Catharína, máximis

nunc venerámur láudibus,

cunctæ lumen Ecclésiæ,

sertis ornáta plúrimis.

Magnis aucta virtútibus

et vita florens ínclita,

húmili mente ac strénua

per crucis pergis trámitem.

Stella vidéris pópulis

salúbris pacis núntia;

mores restáuras óptimos,

feróces mulces ánimos.

Sancto compúlsa Spíritu,

igníta verba lóqueris,

quæ lucem sapiéntiæ,

æstus amóris íngerunt.

Tuis confísos précibus,

virgo dilécta Dómino,

nos caritáte cóncitos

fac Sponsi regna quærere.

You, O Catherine, now we venerate with the greatest praises, light of the whole Church, adorned with many garlands. Enriched with great virtues and flourishing with a noble life, a humble and strong soul you trod the way of the cross. You appeared as a star to the people, a herald of saving peace; you restored the best ways of life and calmed angry souls. Driven by the Holy Spirit you spoke fiery words which engendered the light of wisdom and ardor of love. O virgin beloved by the Lord, make us, who trust in your prayers, aroused by love to seek the kingdom of your spouse.