Saint Dorothy. Virgin And Martyr. Feast Day, Today, 6 February.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Saint Dorothy.
   Virgin and Martyr.
   Feast Day 6 February.

Simple.

Red Vestments.

Saint Dorothy.

Artist: The Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472–1553).

Date: Circa 1530.

Current location: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Austria.

References: Web Gallery of Art.

Source/Photographer: [2]

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Life of Saint Dorothy.

Available on YouTube at

YOU TUBE

Saint Dorothy, a Virgin of Cæsarea, in Cappadocia, was condemned to be beheaded. She received The Double Palm of Virginity and Martyrdom at the end of the 3rd-Century A.D.

Mass: Me exspectavérunt (of The Common of Virgins).

Saint Dorothy.

Artist: Francisco de Zurbarán (1598–1664).

Date: 1640-1650,

Source/Photographer: Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla.

Collection: Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla(Inventory)

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from “The Liturgical Year”.

   By: Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.

   Translated from the French by Dom Laurence Shepherd, O.S.B.

   Volume 4.

   Septuagesima.

Today, again, it is one of the most amiable of Christ's brides that comes to console us by her presence; it is Saint Dorothy, the simple and intrepid Virgin, who strews the path of her Martyrdom with prodigies of sweetest Charity.

The Religion of Christ alone can produce in timid women, like the Saint of today, an energy which at times surpasses that of the most valiant Martyrs among men.. Thus, does Our Lord glorify His infinite power, by crushing Satan's head with what is by nature so weak.

The enmity put by God between the woman and the serpent [Genesis iii. 15], is for ever showing itself in those sublime Acts of The Martyrs, where the rebel angel is defeated by an enemy whom he knew to be weak, and, therefore, scorned to fear; but that very weakness, which made her victory the grander, made his humiliation the bitterer.

Bramley's Seedling Apples.

Photo: 22 October 2009.

Source: Flickr: Bramley's Seedling Apples

Author: David Wright

(Wikimedia Commons)

Surely, such history must have taught him how powerful an enemy he has in a Christian woman; and we, who can boast of having so many heroines among the ancestors of our Holy Faith, should cherish their memory, and confide in their protection, for their intercession is powerful with Him for Whom they died.

One of the noblest of these comes to us today; let us celebrate her victory, and merit her patronage.

The Lessons given in The Dominican Breviary are so much fuller than the legend of The Roman Liturgy that we have not hesitated to insert them here:

English: Red Roses (Rosa x cultivar),

opening buds, in a garden, France.

Français: Roses rouges (Rosa x cultivar),

boutons, dans un jardin, France.

Photo: 31 May 2012.

Source: Own work.

Author: JLPC

Attribution: Photo: JLPC /

Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

(Wikimedia Commons)

“The Holy Virgin, Dorothy of Cæsarea, in Cappadocia, was apprehended by Apricius, the Governor of that Province, for professing The Faith of Christ. She was put under the care of her two sisters, Chrysta and Callista, who had apostatised from The Faith, and would be able to shake the resolute constancy of Dorothy.

But she brought them back to The Faith, for which they were burnt to death in a cauldron. The Governor ordered Dorothy to be hoisted on The Rack, and she said to him, as she lay upon it: “Never in my whole life have I felt such joy, as I do today”.

Then, the Governor ordered the executioners to burn her sides with lighted lamps, and beat her for a very long time on the face, and, finally, behead her with the sword.

While she was being led to the place of execution, she said: “I give Thee thanks, O Thou lover of our Souls, that Thou callest me to thy Paradise !!!” Theophilus, one of the Governor's officers, hearing her words, laughed, and said to her: “Hear me, Bride of Christ !!! I ask thee to send me some apples and roses from this Paradise of thy Spouse”.

Dorothy replied: “Well, and so I will”. Before she was beheaded, she was allowed a moment for Prayer; when, Lo !!!, a beautiful child came to her, bringing with him in a napkin three apples and three roses.

She said to him: “Take them, I Pray thee, to Theophilus”. Then, the executioner struck her head off with his sword, and her Soul fled to Christ.

While Theophilus was jocosely telling his fellows the promise made him by Dorothy, he sees a boy bringing him, in a napkin, three fine apples, and three most lovely roses, who, as he gave them, said: “Lo !!!, The Most Holy Virgin, Dorothy, sends thee, as she promised, gifts from the Paradise of her Spouse”.

Theophilus was beside himself with surprise, for it was February, and the frost most sharp; but, taking the gifts, he exclaimed: “Christ is truly God !!!”

He openly professed The Christian Faith, and courageously suffered for the same Faith a most painful Martyrdom.