In Festo Sanctae Luciae (Dec. 13), Acta

In Festo Sanctae Luciae (Dec. 13), Acta

From Matins of St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Source: www.breviary.net

Second Nocturn
Absolutio: Ipsíus píetas et misericórdia nos ádjuvet, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum. R.  Amen.	Absolution:  May his loving-kindness and mercy assist us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever. R.  Amen.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 4: Deus Pater omnípotens sit nobis propítius et clemens. R.  Amen.	Benediction 4:  May God the Father Almighty shew us his mercy and pity. R.  Amen.
Lesson iv
Lúcia virgo Syracusána, génere et christiána fide ab infántia nóbilis, una cum matre Eutychia, quæ sánguinis fluxu laborábat, Cátanam ad venerándum corpus beátæ Agathæ venit : quæ ad ejus sepúlcrum cum supplíciter orásset, Agathæ intercessióne matri sanitátem impetrávit.  Statim vero matrem exorávit, ut quam dotem sibi datúra esset, Christi paupéribus tríbui paterétur.  Ut ígitur Syracúsas rédiit, omnem pecúniam, quam ex facultátibus  vénditis redégerat, paupéribus distríbuit.	Lucy was a maiden of Syracuse, the daughter of a noble Christian family.  Her mother Eutychia, being afflicted with an issue of blood, went with her to Catania, to pray before the body of the blessed Agatha.  Lucy, by her earnest prayers at the grave, ordained her mother's cure, through the intercession of Agatha, and then immediately begged her to give to Christ's poor the whole dowry which had been set apart for herself.  As soon, therefore, as they returned to Syracuse, they sold the property, and distributed the money among the poor.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
The Church of Santa Lucia, Syracuse
R.  Lúcia virgo, quid a me petis quod ipsa póteris præstáre contínuo matri tuæ? nam et fides tua illi subvénit, et ecce salváta est : *Quia jucúndum Deo in tua virginitáte habitáculum præparásti. V.  Sicut per me cívitas Catanénsium sublimátur a Christo, ita per te Syracusána cívitas decorábitur. R.  Quia jucúndum Deo in tua virginitáte habitáculum præparásti.	R.  Maiden Lucy, why seekest thou of me that which thou thyself canst presently give thy mother? for thy faith hath holpen her, and, behold, she is made whole : * Because thou hast made in thy virginity a pleasant dwelling-place for thy God. V.  Even as Christ hath by me glorified Catania, so by thee shall he glorify Syracuse. R.  Because thou hast made in thy virginity a pleasant dwelling-place for thy God.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ. R.  Amen.	Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal. R.  Amen.
Lesson v
Quod ubi rescivísset is, cui eam paréntes contra Vírginis voluntátem despónderant, apud Paschásium præféctum Lúciam, quod christiána esset, accusávit.  Quam ille cum nec précibus, nec minis ad cultum idolórum posset perdúcere ; immo tanto magis incénsam vidéret ad celebrándas christiánæ fídei laudes, quanto magis ipse eam a senténtia avértere conabátur : Cessábunt, inquit, verba, cum véntum erit ad vérbera.  Cui Virgo : Dei servis verba deésse non possunt, quibus a Christo Dómino dictum est : Cum stetéritis ante reges et præsides, nolíte cogitáre quómodo aut quid loquámini ; dábitur enim vobis in illa hora quid loquámini ; non enim vos estis qui loquímini, sed Spíritus Sanctus, qui lóquitur in vobis.	When this came to the ears of one to whom her parents had betrothed her against her will, he accused Lucy before Paschasius the Prefect of being a Christian.  The Prefect could not move her to commit idolatry, either by his entreaties or by his threats ; nay, the more he strove to persuade her, so much the bolder did she become in her confession.  Then, seeing that he could prevail nothing, Words, saith he, will cease when we come to blows.  To whom the virgin answered : God's servants will never want words, for the Lord Christ hath said : When ye shall stand before kings and governors, take no thought how or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak, for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost which speaketh in you.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
The Last Communion of St. Lucy
R.  Rogávi Dóminum meum Jesum Christum, ut ignis iste non dominétur mei : * Et impetrávi a Dómino indúcias martyrii mei. V.  Pro eo ut me dilígerent, detrahébant mihi : ego autem orábam. R.  Et impetrávi a Dómino indúcias martyrii mei.	R.  I besought my Lord Jesus Christ that this fire might not take hold upon me ; * And I obtained from the Lord that I should not finish my testimony for yet a while. V.  For so much as they loved me, so bitterly spake they against me : but I gave myself unto prayer. R.  And I obtained from the Lord that I should not finish my testimony for yet a while.
V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.	V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.
Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris. R.  Amen.	Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love. R.  Amen.
Lesson vi
The Martyrdom of St. Lucy about the year 304
Quam cum Paschásius interrogásset, Estne in te Spíritus Sanctus? respóndit : Caste et pie vivéntes templum sunt Spíritus Sancti.  At ille, Jubébo te ad lupánar duci, ut te Spíritus Sanctus déserat.  Cui virgo : Si invítam jússeris violári, cástitas mihi duplicábitur ad corónam.  Quare Paschásius ira inflammátus, Lúciam eo trahi jussit, ubi ejus virgínitas violarétur : sed divínitus factum est, ut firma virgo ita consísteret, ut nulla vi de loco dimovéri posset.  Quam ob rem præféctus circum ipsam, pice, resína, ac fervénti óleo perfúsam, ignem accéndi imperávit : sed cum ne flamma quidem eam læderet, multis torméntis excruciátæ guttur gládio transfígitur.  Quo vúlnere accépto, Lúcia prædícens Ecclésiæ tranquillitátem, quæ futúra erat Diocletiáno et Maximiáno mórtuis, Idibus Decémbris spíritum Deo réddidit.  Cujus corpus Syracúsis sepúltum, deínde Constantinópolim, postrémo Venétias translátum est.	Then Paschasius asked her, saying, Is the Holy Ghost in thee?  Whereto she answered, They that live in chastity and piety are the temples of the Holy Ghost.  Then, said he, I will send thee to be prostituted in a brothel, and get the Holy Ghost out of thee.  To whom she made reply, Thou canst not prostitute my will.  If thou cause this poor body to be violated, the crown of my soul's purity will be brighter through suffering.  Then he bade them take her to the place of shame but by the power of God it became impossible to move her.  Whereupon, being inflamed with anger, he had pitch, resin, and boiling oil poured upon her, and then set on fire.  But the fire did not take hold upon her.  Therefore he practised many other cruelties upon her, and at last thrust a sword through her neck.  When Lucy had received this wound, she began to speak of the peace of the Church, which it should enjoy after the death of Diocletian and Maximian, and presently returned her soul into the hands of God.  She testified on the thirteenth day of December.  Her body was buried at Syracuse, but afterwards taken to Constantinople, and lastly to Venice.
V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis. R.  Deo grátias.	V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. R.  Thanks be to God.
The Body of St. Lucy in the Church of Ss. Jeremiah and Lucy, Venice
R.  Grata facta est a Dómino in certámine, quia apud Deum et apud hómines glorificáta est : in conspéctu príncipis loquebátur sapiéntiam : * Et Dóminus ómnium diléxit eam. V.  Adjuvábit eam Deus vultu suo : Deus in médio ejus, non commovébitur. R.  Et Dóminus ómnium diléxit eam. V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. R.  Et Dóminus ómnium diléxit eam.	R.  The Lord made her to prevail in the battle, and she was glorified in the sight of God and man : she spake wisdom before princes : * And the almighty Lord of all did love her. V.  God shall help her with his countenance : God is in the midst of her : therefore shall she not be removed. R.  And the almighty Lord of all did love her. V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. R.  And the almighty Lord of all did love her.