Lectio altera |
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Ex vita auctóre coǽvo conscrípta (Acta Sanctorum, Aprilis, III, pp. 186-187) |
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Crucem toto corpore complexus est
Cóngregat se úndique iners vulgus, et quid de sancto Adalbérto dóminus villæ foret actúrus, furibúnda voce et caníno rictu exspéctant. Tunc sanctus vir, quis et unde esset, vel ob quam causam illuc veníret interrogátus, tália e contra miti voce respóndit: «Sum nativitáte Bohémus, nómine Adalbértus, professióne mónachus, ordine quondam Epíscopus, offício nunc vester apóstolus. Causa nostri itíneris est vestra salus, ut relinquéntes simulácra surda et muta, agnoscátis Creatórem vestrum, qui solus et extra quem alter Deus non est; ut credéntes in nómine eius vitam habeátis, et átriis immarcescibílibus cæléstium gaudiórum prǽmia percípere mereámini». Hæc sanctus Adalbértus. Illi autem iamdúdum indignántes, et cum clamóre blasphéma verba advérsus eum proclamántes, mortem sibi minántur.
Ad últimum áffuit pagánicus furor, et irruérunt super eum et sócios ímpetu magno et iniecérunt omnes in víncula. Sanctus Adalbértus stans, contra Gaudéntium et álium fratrem ligátum, «Fratres —inquit— nolíte contristári! Scitis nos hæc pati pro nómine Dómini, cuius virtus ultra omnes virtútes, pulchritúdo super omnes decóres, poténtia inenarrábilis, píetas singuláris: quid enim fórtius, quid púlchrius, quam dulcem pro dulcíssimo Iesu fúndere vitam?».
Prosílit ex furibúndo ágmine ígneus Siggo, et totis víribus ingens iáculum movens, transfíxit eius penetrália cordis. Prófluit purpúreus sanguis per forámina utriúsque láteris. Ille óculis ac mánibus stat orans in cælum. Exiit rubens amnis dívite vena, et exstráctæ hastæ septem ingéntia vúlnera pandunt.
Ille solútis vínculis exténdit manus in modum crucis et supplíciter fusis précibus pro sua et persecutórum salúte ad Dóminum clamat. Sic illa sancta ánima cárcere suo évolat, sic nóbile corpus proténta Cruce terram óccupat: sic quoque multo sánguine vitam fundens, beátis sédibus et semper caríssimo tandem frúitur Christo.
| Second Reading |
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From his life, written by a contemporary |
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He embraced the Cross with his whole body
With angry cries and sharpened teeth the idle crowd gathered from all around in anticipation of what the village chief would do with the holy man Adalbert. The saint, for his part, questioned as to who he was, where he came from and why he had come there, by contrast replied with an affable voice: “I was born in Bohemia, my name is Adalbert and I am a monk by profession, consecrated bishop; my task now is to be your apostle. The reason for our journey is your salvation, that you turn away from those deaf and mute idols and recognise your Creator, the only God, apart from whom there is no other, so that believing in his name you may have life and may merit in reward to receive celestial joy in the eternal courts”. Thus spoke saint Adalbert. They, however, already infuriated, shouting blasphemous words against him, threatened him with death.
Finally a pagan fury came upon them, and they swooped down on Adalbert and his companions with great violence and bound them all. Saint Adalbert, who was standing in front of Gaudentius and another of the bound brothers, said: “Brothers, do not be sad! You know that we suffer this for the name of the Lord, with power beyond all powers, beauty exceeding all fairness, of indescribable strength and singular piety. What is stronger, more beautiful, than to give a beloved life for the most beloved Jesus?”
At this, a certain Siggo, full of passion, came out of the enraged crowd and, thrusting a large spear with all his might, pierced Adalbert’s heart. Purple blood flows from the wounds in all directions. He stands praying with eyes and hands raised towards heaven. They extract the spears leaving seven large wounds open; blood flows abundantly like a red river.
Once untied, he extends his hands in the form of a cross and humbly pours out prayers to the Lord for his own salvation and that of his persecutors. Just as that saintly soul escapes from its prison, so his venerable body lies on the ground in the form of the Cross. Thus shedding much blood and with that his life, he forever enjoys a blessed dwelling with Christ whom he so much loved.
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Responsorium |
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1 Th 2, 8; Gal 4, 19 |
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℟. Cúpide volebámus trádere vobis non solum Evangélium, sed étiam ánimas nostras:* Quóniam caríssimi nobis facti estis, allelúia.
℣. Filíoli mei, quos íterum partúrio, donec formétur Christus in vobis.* Quóniam.
| ℟. In our great longing for you, we desired nothing better than to offer you our own lives, as well as God’s gospel,* so greatly had we learned to love you, alleluia.
℣. My little children, I am in travail over you afresh, until I can see Christ’s image formed in you,* so greatly had we learned to love you, alleluia.
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