ON ST. REGINA of Ostrevant
TOWARD THE END OF THE EIGHTH CENTURY.
COMMENTARY. On Denain, the cult of St. Regina, and the uncertain Acts of her and of her daughter St. Ragenfreda.
Regina widow, at Denain in Belgium (S.)
BY J. B. S.
Among the more illustrious convents of Belgium is deservedly numbered the noble monastery of Denain, situated two Belgic leagues beyond Valenciennes toward Douai, where the nuns, says Miræus on this day in the Belgic Calendar, Denain founded by St. Ragenfreda or by her parents, are today called, or at least wish to be called, Canonesses, that I may use a word known to all. The same Colvener admonished in the notes to Baldric's chronicle page 523: Today they are called Canonesses and Ladies. The memorable battle of the year 1712, named from the very place, added celebrity. Moreover, if the conjecture of our Rosweyde did not altogether stray, it is probable enough that Denain began to be called by many in the following age, as it were Domnonium, from the very appellation of Ladies, or Domnæ, because perhaps at that time such nuns were not known there, and distinguished by such a title. The conjecture is confirmed by Baldric, Bishop of Noyon and Tournai, a most approved writer of the eleventh century, whose text entire we shall give below: it confirms, I say, the conjecture of Rosweyde, when he names the aforesaid monastery, not Denain but Duneng. But whatever etymology underlies it, the people of Denain trace their origin from Saints Aldebert and Regina, whom they acknowledge as the founders of their monastery, although the opinion of Baldric pleases more, to be elucidated elsewhere in its place.
[2] On blessed Adalbert, or rather Aldebert, commonly Aubert, the husband of our holy Regina, it honors those three as Saints; and honored with her and with St. Ragenfreda her daughter in the monastery of Denain, Henschenius wove a brief commentary on April 22, comprising only those things which pertained to the appellation and limits of the county of Ostrevant, to the cult of the Blessed one, and the lessons from the proper of Denain. On the same convent of Denain Papebroch treated in volume 3 of April page 628, in the brief commentary on B. Ava Virgin. More about Aldebert Henschenius had read in the Annals of Hainaut, extracted from the books of Jacques Guise, and three volumes printed in French in the year 1531, where in volume 2 from folio 47 the monastery of Denain is treated: but he studiously avoided discussing those things which, both by Guise and in several of our Mss., most well known to him too, about both holy parents and their ten daughters, are handed down more fully than truly, especially in a long French Ms. history of 88 pages in folio, whose title is this, rendered from French into Latin: Here begins the first generation of the noble French line, from which arose holy Regina, as thou wilt understand from what follows, and from the Trojan kings. He continues in the same tenor, forming the third title thus: On the Trojans, who dwelt at Cologne, and set over themselves a King of the lineage of Priam.
[3] What could be drawn from a fabler of this kind, Henschenius easily perceived; but a history besprinkled with many fables, nor do the Annals of Guise mention much more excellent things, although in several they are more succinct and so more correct than the Latin Ms., containing ten chapters, from 26 to 35, taken, I think, from the greater work of Guise, which Valerius Andreas testifies is kept in manuscript at Mons in Hainaut, among the Franciscan Fathers, in three volumes. Further, the already-praised writings comprise the life of the parents and the ten daughters, especially of the elder Ragenfreda and her miracles, with the foundation of the monastery of Denain, its overthrow by the Normans, and the restoration thereupon made. But all those being set aside and neglected, Henschenius preferred to follow only the lessons proper to the convent printed in the year 1625, even in them observing some things which he wished to be confirmed by older monuments. To follow the example of the Master here is my determination, since after a fairly long inquiry, and all diligence employed for finding more certain things, I in no way see by what reason those things can be exacted to exact criticism, which both in the Mss. and in Guise are reported. And this I understand to be the more permitted me, because those long histories, even by La Barre, in the great Ms. collection on abbeys in volume 6 part 2 adorned in more than one way, pertain to St. Ragenfreda rather than to the parents.
[4] And indeed that the aforesaid histories were either invented, or at least dressed up, on the occasion of St. Ragenfreda, which will be examined on October 8, is persuaded to me by the authority of Baldric, the most ancient and most excellent writer among all the Belgians, whose Chronicle the editor, the most Illustrious George Colvener, rightly reckons to pertain to the times of Gerard the First of Cambrai, and so to the middle of the eleventh century. It persuades, I say, that Chronicle, that in the age of Bishop Gerard and the restorer of the monastery of Denain, the history had not yet prevailed, that SS. Aldebert and Regina were the parents of the ten Virgins, and the founders of the aforesaid convent. Behold his words in book 2, chapter 28: Again also in the village of Duneng, blessed Rainfreda founded a cell from things of her own right, and, nuns being constituted, she herself as abbess held the government. But afterward, want pressing, few canons inhabited this declined cell; until by the counsel of Lord Gerard the Bishop and Abbot Leduwin (other editions add Vedastinus) in modern time Count Baldwin restored it to its former state, and there, nuns being regularly instituted, set over them an abbess by name Ermentrude. Most clear is the opinion of the author, by which he ascribes the foundation of Denain to St. Ragenfreda alone, to whom therefore pertain those longer narrations, to be examined expressly on her natal October 8.
[5] with other things pertaining to the same. I dare to hope that meanwhile I shall obtain some answer from the monastery of Denain itself, to several doubts which I took care to transmit thither in the month of May of the year 1715, both about the Acts themselves, which ineptly confuse Pepin of Herstal, victor of King Theoderic at Tertry in the year 691, with Pepin the Short, parent of Charlemagne, and mix in other things, either false, or verbosely signifying nothing. As much is required for explaining the diploma, whose chronological characters are expressed otherwise in the Mss., otherwise in the diplomas of Miræus volume 2 chapter 12, otherwise by Locrius for the year 805; but by Le Cointe the whole instrument is rejected, for the aforesaid year 805 number 108, who is also to be consulted for the year 764 number 16 and following. All those things I am compelled to pass over in silence, until those Canonesses of Denain, whom it concerns, shall have suggested such monuments, which I have abundantly shown to be necessary for illustrating the deeds of their Saints, about to use them diligently, if they shall be communicated to me. Now for their sake I have performed as much as was permitted; whatever can be supplied hereafter, even about their institution, the ancient and present manner of life, the habit, etc., will find a place, as I have already said, in the Acts of St. Ragenfreda on the said October 8, to which we remit all things. Meanwhile can be seen, and adapted hither, those things which Bolland discussed about St. Aldegund, on January 30, but especially about St. Waldetrude on April 9, page 829.
[6] On account of the translation Regina is venerated on this day, Moreover hither pertain, and from the commentary of Henschenius I would have inserted nearly in this place, those things which he has in the whole of number 1, both from the Belgic Hierogazophylacium of Arnold Raissius, and from Henry Doutreman, in part 3 of the history of Valenciennes chapter 5, which most plainly demonstrate not only the solemn cult of St. Ragenfreda, but also of both spouses St. Aldebert and our St. Regina. Nor is there doubt that the last festivity was long ago celebrated on this day July 1, nevertheless I reckon the day of her death as uncertain as several other things are, pertaining to her origin, age, daughters, and the foundation of the convent. If any faith is to be given to the writer of the longer French history cited just now, who perhaps was John d'Arleux Chaplain of the church of Denain already mentioned above, July 1 was specially consecrated to the cult of St. Regina, because on that day about the year 1400 her body, still entire, was translated by the Bishop of Arras, who was then John Canard, into a silver shrine, and deposited with the sacred remains of her husband and her daughter St. Ragenfreda in a more illustrious place. Hear again Miræus: Moreover in the parochial church of Denain are seen the tombs of Aldebert and St. Regina, but the bodies are elevated and kept in the greater altar of the monastery, enclosed in silver biers; St. Ragenfreda in the middle, B. Aldebert (who however is not venerated as a Saint) on the right side, and St. Regina on the left.
[7] inserted into the Belgic calendar not so long ago, Into the sacred Belgic calendars, at least the printed ones, John Molanus first inserted St. Regina, in his last additions to Usuard, in the first edition in these words: Likewise at the monastery of Denain, St. Regina, mother of St. Rainfreda; received, unless I am mistaken, from some Martyrology prolonged by a certain Regular of the monastery of St. Paul of Rouge-Cloître in Soignes. In the later ones, the phrase being a little amplified: On the same day, the solemnity of St. Regina, who rests near Valenciennes in the monastery of Denain. Whether he rightly placed in the same the elevation on March 17, I forbear to ask. A neat elogium the same Molanus wove, or he who under his name published the Natales of the Saints of Belgium, from the Office of Denain, which we shall subjoin below. A little meager are the other things which Miræus has; but Raissius, annexing an appendix to Molanus, adds the ten virgin daughters, about whom see Henschenius, as companions to the mother. There follow Gazaeus in the ecclesiastical history page 187, Laherius in the Menology, Willot and others everywhere. Add the monastic Martyrologists, Menard and Bucelinus: but in the Benedictine Acts she is passed over. Nor is Ferrarius to be passed over, who followed Molanus, who ought to have read the elevation on March 17. Finally see also similar elogia in Ghini, Saussay, and Arthur du Monstier. Gelenius in the Cologne calendar reads thus: Likewise St. Regina, granddaughter of Pepin, King of the people of Cologne, but wife of Adelbert, Count of Ostrevant. All which at least give an undoubted testimony for the most celebrated cult of St. Regina.
[8] If those things were as certain which are written about her nobility and other matters, whose office is here reported. scarcely any Saint in our Belgium would be more brilliantly adorned: but neither does the office itself, long wont to be sung by the people of Denain, lack several blemishes, confusing with a grosser wit the last Merovingian Kings or at least their times, and the Pepins, which the editors and abridgers of Guise more prudently omitted. The lessons were transcribed and sent by the Reverend D. Paul de Longastre, pastor of Denain, to Father Servius on November 21, 1599, afterward found among the papers of Rosweyde by Bolland. The first eight, however verbose, are somehow ordered; but the thread of the history is interrupted, when in the following, which is read among the octaves, it is treated of the death of the daughters, of whom no memory in the former. Briefer and neater is the compendium of Molanus. Moreover to the aforesaid lessons is prefixed this title: The lessons which on July 1, on the solemnity of St. Regina, are sung by the nuns of the monastery of Denain. The aforesaid elogium in the Natales of Molanus does not much differ from the present lessons of the Proper of Denain, from which, since Henschenius took his things for Aldebert, namely from the edition of the year 1625, we too from the same subjoin the whole office of St. Regina to the compendium of Molanus, those longer Mss. being passed over for a while; about to give more on the so-often-cited day October 8, if the desired things be supplied.
From the Office of Denain, on the holy Regina and Ragenfreda, in Molanus in the Natales for July 1.
Regina widow, at Denain in Belgium (S.)
From the OFFICE OF DENAIN.
In the monastery of Denain, the solemnity of St. Regina. Who was Regina Queen by name, Regina nonetheless by the lineage of Kings and by affinity; A brief compendium of her whole life and virtues. Regina also by the distinguished governance of her morals, and finally Regina by the endowment of the supernal King. She by the counsel of her parents, and of King Pepin (whose granddaughter she was) received into conjugal partnership Aldebert, of the chief nobles of the palace, renowned for probity and military service before the King; most renowned for virtue of mind and grace before Christ the King. For he was renowned not only for nobility of blood and opulence of estates, but also for every kind of goodness of morals and the experience of his acts. Joined in the bond of charity, they studied to please first God, and afterward through God each other, decently adorning the whole course of their life. They were made richer by alms, more powerful by humility. For naked Christ did not die before their doors, did not suffer hunger or thirst, but they relieved those straitened by want and oppressed by prejudice. To whom also God, from the blessing of supernal felicity, gave ten daughters, who, not dissimilar to the morals of their parents, all chose the celibate life, that, their course finished, they might meet God more pleasing. The parents of these virgins also built by the river Scheldt, in the place which is called Denain, a convent to the honor of the Mother of God, and likewise a church in veneration of St. Martin: where they instituted a numerous number of nuns, over whom blessed Ragenfreda the daughter presided; and a flock of clerics of God, with revenues and estates decently bequeathed to the service of God. Their tombs are seen in the parochial church, but the bodies are elevated and rest in the high altar of the monastery, in silver biers; St. Ragenfreda in the middle, blessed Aldebert (who however is not canonized) on the right side, and on the left St. Regina. The terrible punishment of an invader of the goods of Denain. About the secondary feast are the words of the proper of the church: On the sixteenth of the Kalends of April, at Denain the elevation of the body of St. Regina. Moreover the lessons of this day contain that the sacred body was carried into Saxony, when, justice being there denied, the estates of St. Regina were invaded. But before they reached there, a certain man, the boundaries being cast down, had invaded the estates of the monastery, and when he was corrected neither by blindness nor by other plagues, he cast out all his inward parts through the secret passages of nature, and so the wretch lost the estate together with his soul. Afterward the body of the advocate being brought to the estate, the boundaries of the estate were divinely distinguished, and the body was carried back to Denain with worthy veneration. How the Saint is depicted. But there is a place near Valenciennes, on the borders of the diocese of Arras, which the Scheldt terminates in that place; and there St. Regina is painted with a crown on her head, whose cause can be gathered from the aforesaid; and with an abbatial staff, because either she first presided, or, if the daughter be mentioned as first, she herself as foundress was more than an abbess. But she lacks the black veil on account of her lost virginity, and perhaps for that cause she judged it absurd to set herself before the holy Virgins. Thus far from the Natales of Molanus, or rather of Lowius. Behold now the modern Office of Denain.
ON JULY 1. On the feast of St. Regina foundress of Denain, double of the 2nd class.
At Vespers Antiphon; O how precious is the death of the Saints, with the rest from Lauds. The Psalms from the common of Virgins.
Chapter.
Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her: The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
Hymn.
By the solar orb doubled there shines, the festal light of the earth, on which, resigning her aged flesh, the Mother excelling in merits, triumphing, sought the stars. On this day at length she gleamed, putting off the old flesh, in sacred newness she flourished, cutting away what was of luxury, she lived soberly. She had married a just Count, the grace of Christ favoring, to whom holy offspring is given, in number and in act consonant with the law. She bore ten blessed Virgins, whom mother Zion with mystic savor cherished as her own, by whom the heavenly throng, increased, grew anew. Glory to the Father, and to the begotten Offspring, and to thee ever equal of both, kindly Spirit, one God, in every age of the world. Amen.
Verse. In thy comeliness and thy beauty. Response. Bend thy bow, prosperously proceed, and reign.
At the Magnificat Antiphon.
The royal spouse, the bridal gem, the bejeweled necklace of ten daughters in the Church, blessed mother Regina, clemently offers our prayers to the highest piety.
Prayer.
Grant we beseech thee, almighty God, that by the intervening merits of blessed Regina thy handmaid, we may be freed from present straits, and may deserve to enjoy eternal joys. Through the Lord. Then a commemoration is made of St. Paul by the Antiphon, Peter the Apostle and Paul the doctor of the gentiles. Verse, Thou shalt set. Prayer, O God who on this day. Afterward the octave of St. John, as in first Vespers, Antiphon, Zacharias having entered. Verse, There was a man sent from God. Response, Whose name was John. Prayer, O God who hast made the present day. But of the octave of the Apostles, no commemoration is made, neither in first nor in second Vespers, nor at Lauds.
At Matins, Invitatory.
Let us adore the King of kings, who for a temporal kingdom gave Regina an eternal one. Psalm, Come let us exult to the Lord. Hymn, as in first Vespers.
In the First Nocturn, Antiphon.
Holy Regina, sprung of royal birth, adorned the times of her infancy with mature morals. Psalm from the Common of Virgins, O Lord our God. Antiphon. The flower of the kingdom, the glory of her parents, among the thorns of the palace shines forth like a lily. Psalm, The heavens declare the glory of God. Antiphon. Having entered the years of puberty she is given in marriage to holy Aldebert, by the providence of God. Psalm, The earth is the Lord's. Verse, In thy comeliness, and thy beauty. Response, Bend thy bow, prosperously proceed, and reign.
Lessons of the First Nocturn. Who shall find a valiant woman.
as in the common not of virgins.
First Responsory.
The glorious Mother Regina, procreated of the sublime blood of kings, * adorned the times of infancy with chaste morals. Verse. From the pricking thorn beautifully reddening arises the rose. With morals.
Second Responsory.
Among the flowers of the royal court flourishing with the grace of supernal probity, * she obtains a spouse of the first nobility, Verse. Holy Aldebert divinely destined to her. She obtains.
Third Responsory.
The fruitfulness of so great parents becomes the propagation of ten Virgins, * for whom the kingdom of heaven is prepared. Verse. Sisters from the womb, sisters in purpose. For whom is prepared. Glory to the Father and to the Son. For whom is prepared.
In the Second Nocturn. Antiphon.
The womb of the Mother is made fruitful, and poured forth the fruit of virginity. Psalm, My heart hath uttered.
Antiphon. Through the successions of the years the mother Regina conceives, and bears the gems of ten daughters. Psalm, Our God is a refuge.
Antiphon. After the course of childhood, the well-mannered ones happily follow the morals of their parent. Psalm, Great is the Lord. ℣. God will help her with his countenance. ℞. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.
Lesson IV.
In the time of the renowned King of the Franks Pepin, father of Charlemagne, like a royal gem in the royal treasures, there flourished a noble girl, and of most noble disposition, granddaughter of the said Pepin, Regina by name, Regina nonetheless by the lineage of Kings and by affinity; Regina also by the distinguished governance of her morals, and finally Regina by the endowment of the supernal King. She, by the disposition of divine providence, by the counsel of her parents and of King Pepin, received into conjugal partnership Aldebert, of the chief nobles of the palace, renowned for probity and the acts of military service before the King, most renowned for virtue of mind and grace before Christ the King.
Response. O truly golden womb, in which such fruit is brought forth, * which the holy angelic host praises. Verse. O piety of maternal milk, by which so many sisters are nourished. Which holy.
Lesson V.
Joined in the bond of charity, they studied to please first God, and afterward through God each other, decently adorning the whole course of their life, that amid the honor of the world and the allurements of riches, they should love the honesty of morals more than external splendor. They were made humble in heart, rich in works of blessing, richer by alms, more powerful by humility. Naked Christ does not die before their doors, suffers neither hunger nor thirst: but those straitened by want, and oppressed by prejudice, are relieved by their bestowal, and so in every way they show themselves in their marriage, that, made superior to the world, they would rather choose to reign with Christ than to rejoice with the world.
Response. The impediments of the world being laid aside, * free she follows the Lord of majesty.
Verse. After the bestowal of alms, after the service of holy acts. Free she follows.
Lesson VI.
To whom therefore also God, from the blessing of supernal felicity, gave ten daughters, who, not dissimilar to the morals of their parents, all chose celibacy, that, the course of the present life being passed, they might meet God more pleasing. Indeed, the love of their parents being set after the divine love, they went on pilgrimage into distant regions to visit the places of the Saints. But blessed Regina, freed from the conjugal bond, leading a life worthy of God and edifying to her neighbors, in every kind and exercise of the virtues, at length called by God to the blessed reward, migrated into heaven on the Kalends of July. Her venerable body, which had been the living dwelling of the holy Spirit, was buried in the church of blessed Martin, together with the body of her husband holy Aldebert, but afterward translated into the church of B. Mary, where by her merits they afford aids to those who devoutly invoke them.
Response. The blessed mother among the legions of Angels, * when with the stars of her ten daughters she entered the Jerusalem of the supernal citizens.
Verse. O truly golden womb, which the angelic host praises. When with the stars. Glory to the Father. When with the stars.
In the Third Nocturn.
Antiphon. Holy Regina, like a royal gem, shone in the royal treasures. Psalm, Sing to the Lord a new song.
Antiphon. By her instance, her ten daughters, animated to celibacy, are fitted to the purpose of religion. Psalm, The Lord hath reigned, let it exult.
Antiphon. Sisters from the womb, sisters in purpose, together shall they rejoice in heaven. Psalm, Sing to the Lord a new song: for he hath done marvelous things.
Verse. God hath chosen her, and preferred her.
Response. He maketh her to dwell in his tabernacle.
A Lesson of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Lesson VII. Chapter 12.
At that time, Jesus speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him. And the rest.
A Homily of St. Jerome the priest.
The Lord was occupied in the work of the sermon, in the teaching of the peoples, in the office of preaching: his mother and brethren come, and stand without, and desire to speak to him. Then someone announces to the Savior that his mother and brethren stand without, seeking him. It seems to me that this one who announces does not announce by chance and simply, but lays a snare for the Savior: whether he prefers flesh and blood to spiritual work. Whence also the Lord, not because he denied his Mother and brethren, disdained to go out, but because he answered the one snaring, stretching out his hand over his disciples he says.
Response. Holy Regina, freed from the conjugal bond, * married the supernal King to be crowned.
Verse. Free after the yoke, her husband sent ahead to the kingdom. The supernal King.
Lesson VIII.
Behold my mother and my brethren, these are my mother, who daily generate me in the souls of believers: these are my brethren, who do the works of my Father. Therefore he did not, according to Marcion and Manichaeus, deny his mother, that he might be thought born of a phantasm: but he preferred the Apostles to kinship, as we too, in the comparison of love, should prefer the spirit to the flesh. Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking thee: some suspect the brethren of the Lord to be sons of Joseph by another wife, following the ravings of the apocrypha, and inventing from a certain little woman Escha.
Response. Regina, her course excellently consummated, and the contest happily fought out, * today to be crowned slept in the Lord.
Verse. O sleep of peace, by which the flesh is loosed to the lands, and the soul is restored to the heavens. Today to be crowned. Glory to the Father. Today to be crowned.
Lesson IX.
But we, as is contained in the book which we wrote against Helvidius: understand the brethren of the Lord, not sons of Joseph, but cousins of the Savior, children of Mary, the maternal aunt of the Lord; who is said to be the mother of James the less and Joseph and Jude, whom in another place of the Gospel we read called the brethren of the Lord. But that cousins are called brethren, all scripture demonstrates. Let us say also otherwise: The Savior speaks to the multitudes, meanwhile he instructs the nations. His mother and brethren, that is the Synagogue and the people of the Jews, stand without, and desire to enter, and are made unworthy of his discourse.
We praise thee, O God.
AT LAUDS. And through the Hours Antiphon.
O how precious is the death of the Saints, happily seeking the celestial things. Psalm, The Lord hath reigned, with the rest. Antiphon. Holy Aldebert, taken from human things, has obtained divine things. Antiphon. Nor does Christ the King of Kings delay to crown holy Regina after her spouse. Antiphon. Happy crowns of parents, adorned in heaven with the gems of ten daughters. Antiphon. They praise God in the heavens; whom alone they had loved on earth. Chapter, Who shall find a valiant woman, as in first Vespers.
Hymn.
O mother renowned for wondrous piety, succor the wretched in morals, and with the hammer of prayers break the chains of guilt, by which we are badly held. Render the Thunderer, whom our crime calls to fury, appeased by prayers, that he may grant us, remaining ignorant of crime, his light. Glory to the Father, and to the begotten Offspring, and to thee ever equal of both, kindly Spirit, one God, in every age of the world.
Verse. Grace is poured out on thy lips.
Response. Therefore God hath blessed thee forever.
At the Benedictus Antiphon.
The excellent mother Regina, gloriously joined to the supernal king, the chosen angels and all the Saints rejoicing, in the celestial court perennially sings praises to God.
Prayer as in first Vespers.
Then a commemoration is made of the octave of St. John. The mouth of Zacharias was opened.
Verse. This child shall be great. Response. For also his hand. Prayer, O God who hast made the present day.
At Terce Antiphon, Holy Aldebert.
Short Response: In thy comeliness. As in the common of virgins.
At Sext Antiphon, Nor does Christ delay.
Chapter.
She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her palms to the poor: she shall not fear for her house from the colds of snow.
Short Response. He will help her.
At None Antiphon, They praise God in the heavens.
Chapter.
Many daughters have gathered riches, thou hast surpassed them all: grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain, the woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Short Response. He hath chosen her.
In second Vespers Antiphon, Psalms, Chapter, and Hymn as in first Vespers.
Verse. Grace is poured out on thy lips.
Response. Therefore.
At the Magnificat Antiphon.
The glorious Mother Regina, remember what is our material, and receiving the prayers of those standing by, make us reign with thee in the celestial court.
Then a commemoration is made of the Visitation of the B. Virgin Mary: Antiphon, Blessed art thou Mary. Verse, Blessed art thou among women. Response, And blessed. Prayer, To thy servants. Afterward of the octave of St. John, Antiphon, The child who is born. Verse, This child shall be great. Prayer, O God who hast made the present day. Afterward a commemoration of the holy Martyrs Processus and Martinian. The prayer is proper.
THE MASS. On the Feast of St. Regina. Introit.
Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
Psalm. My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the King. Glory to the Father.
Prayer.
Grant we beseech thee, almighty God, that by the intervening merits of blessed Regina thy handmaid, we may be freed from present straits, and may deserve to enjoy eternal joys. Through the Lord.
A Lesson from the book of Wisdom.
Who shall find a valiant woman? as on July 10 in the Roman Missal, or in the common neither of a Virgin nor of a Martyr.
Gradual. For the sake of truth, and meekness, and justice, and thy right hand shall lead thee wonderfully.
Verse. Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear, because the king hath desired thy beauty. Alleluia, Alleluia. Come my chosen one, and I will set my throne in thee, because the king hath desired thy beauty. Alleluia.
A Lesson of the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
At that time, Jesus speaking to the multitudes: behold his Mother, and brethren stood without, as in the Roman missal July 10.
And the Creed is said.
Offertory.
The daughters of Kings in thy honor, the Queen stood at thy right hand in gilded clothing, surrounded with variety.
Secret.
Look propitiously, O Lord, on the prayers of thy people, and make us rejoice in the suffrages of her whose solemnity thou grantest us to celebrate. Through our Lord.
Communion.
Whosoever shall do the will of my Father, who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and Mother, says the Lord.
Post-Communion.
We beseech thee, almighty God, that by the intercession of blessed Regina thy handmaid, we may receive the effect of that salvation, of which through these mysteries we have received the pledge. Through our Lord.
On March 17.
On the feast of the elevation of St. Regina, double.
All as in the principal feast, July 1, except those things which here are proper.
In the Second Nocturn.
Lesson IV.
After it pleased God that so great a lamp should no longer lie hidden under a bushel, but, placed upon a candlestick, should send forth the rays of its brightness farther; the sacred body of blessed Regina was raised from the earth, and laid in a worthy coffin in the church of the holy Mother. Which when it was done, God willed to manifest it by certain signs not only to that place and the neighboring ones: but also a little after among the Saxons, he deigned to illustrate it by such an indication. For when in Saxony her estates were invaded, which she had handed over to the cenobites of the church of Denain serving God, they determine to transfer thither holy Regina their advocate, that whatever they were less able to obtain from men through justice, they might more efficaciously obtain from God through her presence. The holy body therefore being carried thither, and before they came thither, it was celebrated through that region by the spreading report.
Lesson V.
Whence, some rejoicing, and devoutly preparing themselves for her reception; but others, on account of the injustice done by them, conceiving fear and penitence in their heart, a certain most powerful man, who ought rather to have repented, brought upon himself greater iniquity. For having an estate contiguous to the estate of holy Regina, the day before her coming, lest their boundaries should be recognized, continuing her borders with his own borders, he ordered the plow to be driven in. When his wife resisted him, he, moved with gall against her, goes out of the house, and laboring in that field, returns at the hour of the midday meal, and seeking water to refresh himself, asked for his meal. But that wretch, persevering in the obstinacy once conceived, is mulcted by divine vengeance with the blindness not only of heart, but also of eyes, so that he did not see the water brought. To whom his wife, Behold, she says, the water, but thou seest not, because already the sentence of God punishes thee, and the providence of God anticipates holy Regina still absent.
Lesson VI.
He is therefore washed, the table and cloth are set, food and drink are placed, the cooked flesh is rendered raw and bloody, the wine is turned into blood, and the wretch is not converted to penitence. So great a bestowal of divine clemency does not bend him, the blindness of his eyes does not enlighten his heart, the terrible mutation of food and drink does not terrify him, and therefore no delay of perishing is made. The house is disturbed, the household runs up, the table is taken away with grief, he rises, stumbling with hands and feet, because he was blind, seeks the latrines, into which, like Arius of old, he sends forth all his inward parts through the secret passages of nature, and so the wretch loses life and estate at once: the matter done did not escape the notice of the neighbors, but was everywhere divulged to the greater reverence of holy Regina, so that a throng of every age and sex ran to meet her. But the body of the advocate being brought to the estate, the boundaries of the estate were divinely distinguished, and the body was carried back to Denain with worthy veneration.