S. Agatha, Virgin Martyr

 

The Liturgica Horarum relies on the Common of a Virgin Martyr for the hymns of this memorial. However, this hymn is attributed to St. Damasus, Pope, and was found in the Ambrosian Liturgy.

 

Martyris ecce dies Agathae

Virginis emicat eximiae,

Christus eam sibi qua sociat,

Et diadema duplex decorat.

 

Stirpe decens, elegans specie,

Sed magis actibus atque fide,

Terrea prospera nil reputans,

Jussa Dei sibi corde ligans;

 

Fortior haec trucibusque viris,

Exposuit sua membra flagris.

Pectore quam fuerit valido,

Torta mamilla docet patulo.

 

Deliciae cui carcer erat;

Pastor ovem Petrus hanc recreat.

Laetior inde, magisque flagrans,

Cuncta flagella cucurrit ovans.

 

Ethnica turba, rogem fugiens,

Hujus et ipsa meretur opem;

Quos fidei titulus decorat,

His Venerem magis ipsa premat.

 

Jam renitens, quasi sponsa, polo,

Pro misero rogita Damaso.

Sic sua festa coli faciat,

Se celebrantibus ut faveat.

 

Gloria cum Patre sit Genito,

Spirituique proinde sacro,

Qui Deus unus et omnipotens

Hanc nostri faciat memorem. Amen.

 

Lo! is come the bright festal day of the glorious Martyr and Virgin Agatha, when Christ took her to himself, and a double crown wreathed her brow.

Though noble by birth and blessed with beauty, her grandest riches were her deeds and her faith. Earthly prosperity was nothing in her eyes, but her whole heart was on the precepts of her God.

Her bravery tired out the men that tortured her; she flinched not as they lashed her limbs; and her wounded breast reveals a dauntless heart.

Her prison was her paradise, where the Pastor Peter heals his bleeding lamb; and thence once more she runs to suffer, gladder and braver at every wound.

A Pagan city, once in flames, was saved by Agatha’s prayer. The same can check, in Christian hears, the threatening fire of lust.

Now that though are in Heaven, clad as a bride of Christ, intercede with him for us miserable sinners, that He may us so to spend thy Feast, that our celebration may draw down His Grace.

Glory be to the Son, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost. May the One Almighty God grant that this his Saint be mindful of us. Amen

 

Translation From Gueranger, Liturgical Year, Vol. 4 pg. 248

Common of a virgin martyr

Lauds: 15^th Century: Ambrosian Breviary

 

O castitátis sígnifer (1)

et fortitúdo mártyrum,

utrísque reddens præmia,(2)

audi benígnus súpplices.

 

Hæc virgo magni péctoris,

beáta sorte dúplici

bináque palma nóbilis,

hic tóllitur præcóniis.

 

Hæc te fatéri pértinax,

tortóris acre brácchium

armávit in se strénue

tibíque fudit spíritum.

 

Sic sæviéntis vúlnera

et blandiéntis víncere

mundi docens illécebram,

fidem docet nos íntegram.

 

Huius favóre débita

nobis remíttas ómnia,

foménta tollens críminum

tuámque subdens grátiam.

 

 

1.       O castitátis sígnifer /et fortitúdo mártyrum=Christ; 2. Everything is double for the Virgin Martyr: chastity and fortitude, bearing the rewards of both, blessed by a double portion, ennobled with a twofold palm, teaching us to conquer both the wounds of the cruel and the alluring flattery of the world.

 

O Standard Bearer of chastity and Strength of martyrs, bearing the rewards of both, kindly hear our prayers.  This virgin great in heart and blessed by a double portion, ennobled with a twofold palm, extolled by proclamations.  This woman resolute in confessing you, obstinately provoked the bitter arm of the torturer and poured out her spirit for you. In this way teaching us to conquer both the wounds of the cruel and the alluring flattery of the world, taught us integrity. By her merit forgive us all our sins, taking away the attraction of sin and giving us your grace.

 

The Office of Readings: before 9^th Century

 

O Christe, flos convállium,

te láudibus extóllimus,

quod hanc ornásti vírginem

palmis quoque martýrii.

 

Hæc prudens, fortis, sápiens, (1)

fidem proféssa líbere,

pro te dira supplícia

excépit impertérrita.

 

Sic spreto mundi príncipe,

tuo ditáta múnere,

cruénto parta prœlio  (2)

ætérna tulit præmia.

 

Huius, Redémptor, méritis

nos pius adde sócios,

ut, mente pura, frúctibus

tui fruámur sánguinis. (3)

 

1.       These manly virtues, we might say, military values, belong to the virgin martyrs, indeed, they are the virtues of every martyr, male or female; 2. Indeed the virgin martyr dies cruénto parta prœlio: 3. The virgin martyr imitates Christ and so her blood too is to be enjoyed.

 

O Christ, flower of the valleys, we raise our praises to you, because you have adorned this virgin also with the palms of martyrdom.  Prudent, strong and wise, professing openly the faith, she fearlessly endured severe punishments for your sake.  In this way, spurning the prince of this world, enriched by your gifts, dying in the bloody battle, she attained eternal rewards. By her merits, O holy Redeemer, make us her companions, that with pure minds we may enjoy the fruits of our blood.

 

Vespers: 9^th Century

 

Vírginis Proles opiféxque Matris, (1)

Virgo quem gessit peperítque Virgo,

vírginis festum cánimus tropæum:

  áccipe votum.

 

Hæc tua virgo, dúplici beáta

sorte dum gestit frágilem domáre

córporis sexum, dómuit cruéntum

  córpore sæclum.

 

Inde nec mortem nec amíca mortis

sæva pœnárum génera pavéscens,

sánguine fuso méruit sacrátum

  scándere cælum.

 

Huius obténtu, Deus alme, nostris

parce iam culpis, vítiis revúlsis,

quo tibi puri résonet per ævum

  péctoris hymnus. Amen.

 

1.       The virginity of the Virgin is the source of  the holy virgin’s virginity; 2. dúplici beáta: again doubly blessed by conquering herself and the cruelty of the world;

 

Off spring of the Virgin and Mother of the Creator, the Virgin who gave birth and remained a Virgin, we sing the festal triumph of a virgin: receive our prayer. This your virgin was twice blessed by lot: while she fought to conquer the bodily fragility of her sex, she triumphed also with her body the cruelty of the world.   Therefore fearing not death, nor the savage punishments that come with death, she was found worthy through the shedding of her blood to scale up to holy heaven. By her intercession, O gracious God, now forgive us our sins, uproot our vices, that this hymn from a pure heart may resound through the ages. Amen.