S. Joannis Cantii Confessoris.

Et hoc est exémplum epistolárum, quas scripsit Jónathas Spartiátis: Jónathas summus sacérdos, et senióres gentis, et sacerdótes, et réliquus pópulus Judæórum Spartiátis frátribus salútem. Jam pridem missæ erant epístolæ ad Oníam summum sacerdótem ab Arío, qui regnábat apud vos, quóniam estis fratres nostri, sicut rescríptum cóntinet, quod subjéctum est. Et suscépit Onías virum, qui missus fúerat, cum honóre: et accépit epístolas, in quibus significabátur de societáte, et amicítia.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

And this is a copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Spartans: Jonathan the high priest, and the ancients of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to the Spartans, their brethren, greeting. There were letters sent long ago to Onias the high priest from Arius who reigned then among you, to signify that you are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify. And Onias received the ambassador with honour: and received the letters wherein there was mention made of the alliance, and amity.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Nos cum nullo horum indigerémus, habéntes solátio sanctos libros, qui sunt in mánibus nostris, malúimus míttere ad vos renováre fraternitátem, et amicítiam, ne forte aliéni efficiámur a vobis: multa enim témpora transiérunt, ex quo misístis ad nos. Nos ergo in omni témpore sine intermissióne in diébus solémnibus, et céteris, quibus opórtet, mémores sumus vestri in sacrifíciis, quæ offérimus, et in observatiónibus, sicut fas est, et decet meminísse fratrum.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

We, though we needed none of these things, having for our comfort the holy books that are in our hands, Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers to you altogether: for there is a long time passed since you sent to us. We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our festivals, and other days, wherein it is convenient, remember you in the sacrifices that we offer, and in our observances, as it is meet, and becoming to remember brethren.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Quidquid témporis ab stúdio supérerat, partim salúti proximórum, sacris præsértim conciónibus curándæ, partim oratióni dabat, in qua cœléstibus quandóque visiónibus et collóquiis dignátus fertur. Christi vero passióne sic afficiebátur, ut in ea contemplánda totas intérdum noctes dúceret insómnes, ejúsque causa mélius recoléndæ Hierosólymam peregrinátus sit: ubi et martýrii desidério flagrans, Turcis ipsis Christum crucifíxum prædicáre non dubitávit. Quater étiam ad Apostolórum límina pedes, atque viária onústus sárcina Romam venit, tum ut Sedem apostólicam, cui máxime addíctus fuit, honoráret, tum ut sui (sic enim ajébat) purgatórii pœnas expósita illic quotídie peccatórum vénia redímeret. Quo in itínere a latrónibus olim spoliátus, et numquid habéret prætérea interrogátus, cum negásset, aúreos deínde áliquot suo insútos pállio recordátus, fugiéntibus hos étiam clamans óbtulit latrónibus: qui viri sancti candórem simul, et largitátem admiráti, étiam ablátos ultro reddidére. Aliénæ famæ ne quis detráheret descríptis beáti Augustíni exémplo, in paríete versículis, se atque álios perpétuo vóluit admónitos. Famélicos de suo étiam obsónio satiábat: nudos autem non emptis modo, sed detráctis quoque sibi véstibus et cálceis operiébat, demísso ipse ínterim usque ad terram pállio, ne domum núdipes redíre viderétur.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

What time was left him over from his work, he gave up partly to the profit of his neighbour, more especially in preaching, and partly in prayer, wherein he is said sometimes to have had heavenly visions and messages. The sufferings of Christ took such hold upon him, that he sometimes passed whole nights without sleep in thinking thereon, and that he might more keenly realize them, he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. There he was seized with such a passionate longing to be a martyr, that he preached Christ crucified even to the Turks. He went four times to Rome to the thresholds of the Apostles, on foot, and laden with a wallet, partly to do honour to the Apostolic See, for which he had a great reverence, and partly (to use his own expression) that he might clear off the pains of his own purgatory by use of the Pardons for sin which are there daily offered. In one of these journeys he was set upon by highway robbers, who plundered him, and having asked him if he had any more, whereto he answered, Nay, left him and fled. Then he remembered that he had some gold pieces sewn up in his clothes. So he ran after the robbers with shouts, and offered them these also, but they were so amazed at the simplicity and charity of the holy man, that they gave him back even that which they had already taken. To hinder scandal-mongering, he wrote up upon the walls, after the example of holy Augustine, certain texts, to be an unceasing warning to himself and others. He gave his own bread to the hungry, and clothed the naked, not with bought raiment only, but by stripping himself of his own garments and shoes, himself meanwhile letting down his own cloak to trail upon the ground, lest any should see that he returned home barefoot.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Brevis illi somnus, atque humi; vestis, quæ nuditátem, cibus, qui mortem dumtáxat arcéret. Virginálem pudicítiam, velut lílium inter spinas, áspero cilício, flagéllis atque jejúniis custodívit. Quin et per annos ante óbitum trigínta círciter et quinque ab esu cárnium perpétuo abstínuit. Tandem diérum juxta ac meritórum plenus, cum vicínæ, quam præsénsit, morti se diu diligentérque præparásset, ne qua re ámplius tenerétur, si quid domi supérerat, id omníno paupéribus distríbuit. Tum Ecclésiæ sacraméntis rite munítus, dissólvi jam cúpiens, et esse cum Christo, prídie Nativitátis ejus, in cœlum evolávit miráculis ante et post mortem clarus. Mórtuus ad próximam academíæ ecclésiam sanctæ Annæ delátus est, ibíque honorífice sepúltus. Auctáque in dies pópuli veneratióne ac frequéntia inter primários Polóniæ ac Lithuániæ Patrónos religiosíssime cólitur. Novísque corúscans miráculis, a Cleménte décimo tértio Pontífice Máximo décimo séptimo Kaléndas Augústi, anno millésimo septingentésimo sexagésimo séptimo, solémni ritu sanctórum fastis adscríptus est.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

He slept very little, and that upon the ground; his clothing was enough only to clothe his nakedness, and his food to keep him alive. He kept his virgin purity guarded like a lily among thorns by rough hair-cloth, scourging, and fasting. For about thirty-five years before his death he never tasted flesh- meat. At length, when he was full of days and good works, he felt that death was near, and made himself ready to meet it by a long and careful preparation, and to be the freer, he gave to the poor everything that was left in his house. Strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church, and having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, he took flight to heaven upon the 24th day of December, (in the year of our Lord 1473.) He was famous for miracles both before and after his death. His body was carried into the University Church of St. Anne, hard by his dwelling, and there honourably buried. The popular reverence and the crowds around his sepulchre grew greater day by day, till he hath come to be held in honour as one of the chiefest holy defenders of Poland and Lithuania. At the glory of more wonders, Pope Clement XIII, upon the 16th day of July, in the year 1767, with solemn pomp, enrolled his name among those of the Saints.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Duo autem sunt, quæ jubéntur, et lumbos restríngere, et lucérnas tenére: ut et mundítia sit castitátis in operatióne. Redemptóri étenim nostro unum sine áltero placére nequáquam potest: si aut is qui bona agit, adhuc luxúriæ inquinaménta non déserit: aut is qui castitáte præéminet, necdum se per bona ópera exércet. Nec cástitas ergo magna est sine bono ópere, nec opus bonum est áliquod sine castitáte. Sed et si utrúmque ágitur, restat, ut quisquis ille est, spe ad supérnam pátriam tendat, et nequáquam se a vítiis pro mundi hujus honestáte contíneat.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

Here, then, are two commandments, to gird our loins about, and to keep our lights burning: the cleanness of purity in our body, and the light of the truth in our works. Whoso hath the one and not the other, pleaseth not thereby our Redeemer; that is, he pleaseth Him not which doth good works, but bridleth not himself from the pollutions of lust, neither he which is eminent in chastity, but exerciseth not himself in good works. Neither is chastity a great thing without good works, nor good works anything without chastity. And if any man do both, it remaineth that he must look by hope toward our Fatherland above, and not have for his reason wherethrough he turneth himself away from vice, the love of honour in this present world.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Et vos símiles homínibus exspectántibus dóminum suum, quando revertátur a núptiis: ut cum vénerit et pulsáverit, conféstim apériant ei. Venit quippe Dóminus, cum ad judícium próperat: pulsat vero, cum jam per ægritúdinis moléstias esse mortem vicínam desígnat. Cui conféstim apérimus, si hunc cum amóre suscípimus. Aperíre enim júdici pulsánti non vult, qui exíre de córpore trépidat: et vidére eum, quem contempsísse se méminit, júdicem formídat. Qui autem de sua spe et operatióne secúrus est, pulsánti conféstim áperit, quia lætus júdicem sústinet. Et cum tempus propínquæ mortis advénerit, de glória retributiónis hilaréscit.
Tu autem Dómine miserére nobis.
℟. Deo grátias.

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding: that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. The Lord cometh at the hour of judgment: He knocketh when, by the pains of sickness, He biddeth us know that death is nigh. To Him open we immediately, if we receive Him in love. Whoso feareth to leave this body, will not open to the Judge when He knocketh, for he dreadeth to see that Judge, Whom he knoweth that he hath despised. But whosoever knoweth that his hope and works are built upon a good foundation, when he heareth the Judge knock, openeth to Him immediately, for to such an one that coming is blessed, yea, when the hour of death is at hand, such an one haileth with gladness a glorious reward.
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.