Feast of Saint Lawrence

Saint: Saint Lawrence, Deacon, Martyr (-258)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 57 The Artisans of the Monastery 

Mass: 2 Cor 9:6-10; Resp Ps 112; Jn 12:24-26

The upright generation shall be blessed.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

HEART OF MARY, TABERNACLE OF GOD INCARNATION,

PRAY FOR US.

Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

(2 Cor 9:6)

So that in all things God may be glorified.

(Rule of Saint Benedict, 57:9/1 Pet 4:11)

Give praise to God as we commemorate Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, "one of the most celebrated saints in the history of the Church" ... "one of the most venerated martyrs of the Roman church since the fourth century" (Butler's Lives of the Saints). Yes, he of gridiron fame; he "who ransacked Rome for the poor supported by the Church", then "assembled the decrepit, blind, lame, cripples, lepers, orphans, widows, and maidens and invited the prefect [of Rome] to inspect the Church's real treasure." For this Lawrence would perish, slowly. It is to Saint Lawrence that we look for inspiration and intercession. We must keep going, united in faith and prayer. About Saint Lawrence and about us too, Saint Augustine preached this: 

In his life he loved Christ; in his death he followed in His footsteps ... we too must imitate Christ if we truly love Him. We shall not be able to render better return on that love than by modeling our lives on His ... Let us understand, then, how a Christian must follow Christ even though he does not shed his blood for Him, and his faith is not called upon to undergo the great test of the martyr's sufferings ... Christ humbled Himself. Christian, that is what you must make your own. Christ became obedient. How is it that you are proud? When this humbling experience was completed and death itself lay conquered, Christ ascended into heaven. Let us follow Him there, for we hear Paul saying: If you have been raised with Christ, you must lift your thoughts on high, where Christ now sits at the right hand of God.

 (From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop, in Office of Readings, August 10). 

SAINT LAWRENCE,

PRAY FOR US.

NB. With fond memories I recall 5th and 6th grades at Saint Lawrence Catholic School in Muncie, Indiana, my hometown. It was the same school my father attended as a boy, after he and his parents immigrated from Germany in 1933. God is praised. Saint Lawrence, as of the 2021-22 school year, is now unified with Saint Mary Catholic School (where I attended 4th grade) in a single Catholic School, Saint Michael Catholic School. May Saint Lawrence, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Saint Michael intercede for all students, teachers, and staff, and all the faithful in Muncie, Indiana. 

Today's photo: On the prowl for a flower or greenery, I found this. His generosity shall endure forever.

© Gertrude Feick 2022