There are two stories about him, which if they are not pure legend, may indicate something about the sort of person he was. St. Lawrence was in charge of caring for the poor and had a great love for the destitute and the needy. Jude Ifeanyi Ifezime, C.S.Sp. In 1960, however, all the feasts of St Lawrence's rank lost their first Vespers. Instead, they went forward and faced those who refused to believe in the Lord and persecuted them, and showed to all what it meant to be a follower of God, inspiring legions and many more others who saw what they have done and became a believer as well. HOMILY FOR THE PATRONAL SOLEMNITY OF ST LAURENCE 10 AUGUST 2018 . Responsorial Psalm. The word deacon comes from the Greek word diakonos, which means servant. 9:6 God loves a cheerful giver. He was responsible for the social services of the Church. He and the other six deacons of Rome were martyred three days before St. Lawrence. THE ROMAN CHURCH commends this day to us as the blessed Laurence's day of triumph, on which he trod down the world as it roared and raged against him; spurned it as it coaxed and wheedled him; and in each case, conquered the devil as he persecuted him. He was a Roman deacon under Pope St. Sixtus II. His work to save the material wealth of the Church, including its documents, brought librarians and those in related fields to see him as a patron, and to ask for his intercession. Liturgical Colour: green/white, FR. Wednesday, 10 August 2016 : Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (Homily and Scripture Reflections) Liturgical Colour : Red Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the feast day of a major figure in the Church, namely the feast of the holy saint and martyr, St. Lawrence the Deacon, the deacon of Rome and one of its greatest . Lawrence was a deacon born in AD 225 in modern-day Spain. Feast of St. Katherine Drexel (Mt. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M. Bible Study: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, Psalm 112:1-9, John 12:24-26). Death only strengthens their existence. (5), HOMILY FOR THE 2ND SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A. DAILY HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II (1), FR BENS HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT (1). 25 Years of Thursdays: The Legacy of Angela Baird, Second Sunday in Lent: The Transfiguration, St. Katharine Drexel: First Family of Charity. (3), HOMILY FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY OF THE ADVENT YEAR A. This is the blessed Lawrence, who gave himself up for the treasure of the Church: for this he earned the suffering of martyrdom to ascend with joy to the Lord Jesus Christ. HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 10 2022 . (3), HOMILY FOR THE 2ND SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A. Now you can turn me over. With his dying words, Lawrence personified Pauls words from our first reading: God loves a cheerful giver.. 4. He had a great gridiron prepared with coals beneath it, and had Lawrences body placed on it. The first reading of today reminds us of the importance of giving. Homily: Nativity of Saint John the Baptist: Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul: Acts . August 10, 2018. As the 1st reading puts it, St. Lawrence and the other martyrs sowed with their blood and their lives and they reaped the harvest of eternal life. Your email address will not be published. We know very little about his life. GERALD MUSA HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II (1), HOMILA PARA EL XXXIII DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO AO B, HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B (1), YEAR B: HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1), HOMILY FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR A. (1), HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF ST. LAWRENCE - 10 AUGUST, FR. . The church built over his tomb became one of the seven principal churches in Rome and a favorite place for Roman pilgrimages. There will be times in our Christian life when we will be asked to tender our lives. Have Faith. GERALD MUSA HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II (1), Reading for Saturday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time Year B. God is in the Details - John 12:24-26; Feast of St. Lawrence, August 10th. Trust No Matter What Week 1. St. Lawrence is known primarily for two features, which are reflected in our readings today: his care for the poor and his martyrdom. Apocalypse 14:1-3. The Prefect of Rome felt insulted by Saint Lawrences action, he arrested him and sentenced him to death. Jeremiah 1:4-9 Psalm 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-9 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 John 12:24-26. Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who . When Lawrence knew he would be arrested like the pope, he sought out the poor, widows, and orphans of Rome and gave them all the money he had on hand, selling even the sacred vessels of the altar to increase the sum. In August of A.D. 258, the emperor Valerian ordered that all deacons, priests, and Bishops be put to death. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr This young deacon and heroic martyr is numbered among those saints who were most highly venerated by the ancient Roman Church. On 10 AugustLawrence was commanded to appear for his execution, and to bring along the treasure with which he had been entrusted by the pope. August 10, 2020 Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church Keller, Texas. St. Lawrence, and all the Martyrs, witness to the reality of God's love and what it should be worth to us. On days when we celebrate the lives of martyrs red vestments are to be worn. 07:06. In making a plea for generosity to the Church of Macedonia, St. Paul asks the Corinthians to do so gratefully. The young cleric held a position of great trust, caring for the goods of the Church and distributing its alms among the poor. The blood of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, testifies to the supreme worth of possessing God. In the end, defiant and adamant towards the end, he refused to give in to the Emperor and his demands, and when forced to reveal where the treasures of the Church to be seized, he showed the poor, the sick and the dying as the true treasures of the Church, saying defiantly that they all are far richer and wealthier than the Emperor and the whole state would ever be. Advertise on Catholic Exchange
St. Joseph Church - Rice Lake Whenever we make sacrifices for Gods sake we are giving away grains of wheat like a farmer dashing seeds to the ground. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:24-25). Let each one give according to what he has decided in his heart, not with sadness or by force, because God loves those who give with joy. When we offer good things to others, we also receive the reward from God either immediately, or later. And he worked hard to fulfil that assignment, caring for the least of the society, all those who have no food to eat and no one to love them. St. Lawrence was one of the seven deacons serving the holy city of Rome under the Pontificate of Pope St. Sixtus II, with whom he eventually was martyred under the particularly vicious persecution of all Christians by the Roman Emperor Valerian. (4), HOMILY FOR THE 2ND SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A. He is the Patron saint of Rome and so many other groups. August 20, 2012 - Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot August 19, 2012 - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Four days earlier, the great Bishop of Rome, Sixtus, was arrested by soldiers of the emperor Valerian, along with his beloved deacons, and beheaded. Insulted by St. Lawrences action, he was arrested and sentenced to death by being grilled alive. He offered His life joyfully. Pointing to the poor, Lawrence said: These are the treasures of the Church. He went on to explain that he had used the Churchs entire wealth to care for the needs of the poor. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. St. Lawrence was tasked to take care of the material goods of the Church. Tradition via the Golden Legend tells us that Pope Sixtus II met with Lawrence, saying to him: "I shall not leave thee, my son, but greater strifes and battles be due to thee for the faith of Jesu Christ. We can also give from our . 5:20-26) Righteousness should be the aim of every believer. First, Jesus talks about the necessity of putting our light on a lampstand, or locating a city on a hill. Jerome (/ d r o m /; Latin: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; Greek: ; c. 342-347 - 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was a Christian priest, confessor, theologian, and historian; he is commonly known as Saint Jerome.. Jerome was born at Stridon, a village near Emona on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia. 7Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (Mass Homily on Feast of St. Lawrence, August 10, 2017, on the occasion of the perpetual profession of a Diocesan Hermitess). The Story of St. Lawrence (2), HOMILY FOR CHRISTMAS, SOLEMNITY YEAR A. This volume, entitled SEASONAL SERMONS, is the seventh volume of the writings of Saint Lawrence translated into English. August 23, 2012 - Thursday of the Twentieth Week i August 22, 2012 - Memorial of the Queenship of the August 21, 2012 - Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope. While in prison awaiting execution Sixtus reassured Lawrence that he was not being left behind; they would be reunited in four days. Jesus says unless a grain of wheat falls and dies, it remains alone but after it dies, it bears much fruit. Summary of Ideas of the Sunday readings. Deacon Lawrence was captured by the Roman governor but released on the condition that he return within three days and turn over the entire Church treasury to him. In the final homily I mentioned two steps to . I will show you a valuable part. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Responsorial Psalm: Ps 112:1-2,5-9. He is one of those whose martyrdom made a deep and lasting impression on the early Church. As Father Lasance notes, Lawrence was so dearly venerated in Rome that his feast was one of the greatest saints' days in the ancient Roman liturgy, second only to that of Ss. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Even today, St. Lawrence is highly esteemed by the Roman people as well as by Latinos as he was actually born in Spain. Bring these treasuresthe emperor needs them to maintain his forces. In todays gospel reading, Jesus says, Whoever loves his life loses it and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (6). HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF ST. LAWRENCE (1) HOMILY THEME: THE TRUE MEANING OF LIFE. And we have to heed what is always said, that the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians. St. Pauls original intent in making this statement was to emphasize that followers of Jesus were expected to be generous out of a sense of gratitude for what God had given them. 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm: SJ -FE - Adoration Praise & Worship.