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Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 08-10-13, Feast, St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
USCCB.org/RNAB ^
| 08-10-13
| Revised New American Bible
Posted on 08/09/2013 8:21:01 PM PDT by Salvation
August 10, 2013
Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
Brothers and sisters:
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:
He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
R. (5) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Lavishly he gives to the poor,
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.”
TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; ordinarytime; prayer; saints
For your reading, reflection, faith-sharing, comments, questions, discussion.
1
posted on
08/09/2013 8:21:01 PM PDT
by
Salvation
To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...
Alleluia Ping!
If you aren’t on this ping list NOW and would like to be,
please Freepmail me.
2
posted on
08/09/2013 8:25:44 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
From: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10
Blessings To Be Expected
[6] The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and
he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7] Each one must do
as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to provide you with every
blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything
and may provide in abundance for every good work. [9] As it is written,
“He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for
ever.” [10] He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will
supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your
righteousness.
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
6-15. The collection appeal ends with some remarks about the benefits
that accrue from it. First, St Paul says that the generous almsgiving of
the Corinthians will stand to them in this life and in the next (vv. 6-10),
and then he refers to its effects on the faithful in Jerusalem: they will
praise God and feel closer to the Christians of Corinth (vv. 11-15).
A person who is generous in almsgiving draws down on himself the
blessings of God. St Augustine says: “Your Lord says this to you, [...]
Give to me and receive. In due course I will give back what is due to
you. What will I give back? You gave little to me, you will receive a
great deal; you gave me earthly things, I will give back heavenly things;
you gave me temporal things you will receive eternal things; you gave
me what was mine, you will receive me, myself [...].’ See whom you
lent to. He nourishes (others) and (yet he himself) suffers hunger for
your sake; he gives and is needy. When he gives, you wish to receive;
when he is needy, you are unwilling to give. Christ is needy when a
poor man is needy. He who is disposed to give eternal life to all his
own has deigned to receive temporal things in (the person of) anyone
who is needy’ (”Sermon 33”, 8).
6. This image of sowing and reaping is often used in Sacred Scripture
to indicate the connection between one’s actions and reward or
punishment in the next life (cf. Prov 22:8; Mt 25:24-26; Gal 6:7f). What
the Apostle says here reminds us of our Lord’s promise: “Give and it
will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
running over, will be put into your lap” (Lk 6:38). However much we
give God in this life, he will reward us with much more in the next.
7. “God loves a cheerful giver”: a teaching often found in Scripture (cf.
Deut 15:10; Ps 100:2; Sir 35:11; Rom 12:8). An alms or a service done
reluctantly can never please anyone, particularly God our Lord: “If you
give bread and it makes you sad to do so,” St Augustine comments,
“you lose both the bread and the reward” (St Augustine, “Enarrationes
in Psalmos”, 42, 8); whereas the Lord is delighted when a person gives
something or gives himself lovingly and spontaneously, not as if he
were doing a great favor (cf. “Friends of God”, 140).
8-10. St Paul emphasizes the abundant divine blessings—both temporal
and spiritual—which generous almsgiving brings. In the Old Testament
we read in the Book of Tobias: “Give alms from your possessions to all
who live uprightly, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you
make it. Do not turn your face away from any poor man, and the face of
God will not be turned away from you. If you have many possessions,
make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give
according to the little you have. So you will be laying up a good treasure
for yourself against the day of necessity. For charity delivers from death
and keeps you from entering the darkness; and for all who practice it
charity is an excellent offering in the presence of Most High” (4:7-11).
To almsgiving can be applied our Lord’s promises about the hundred-fold
in this life and then everlasting life—promises made to all those who give
up something in his name (cf. Mt 19:28f).
“Righteousness” is equivalent to holiness. In the Bible the person is
described as righteous or “just” who strives to do God’s will and serve
him to the best of his ability (cf., e.g., notes on Mt 1:19; 5:6).
10. “For,” comments St John Chrysostom, “if even to those who sow the
earth and to those who are concerned about the needs of the body, God
gives in great abundance, much more will he give to those who till the
soil of heaven and apply themselves to the salvation of their souls,
for he wills that we should spare no sacrifice in that regard [...].
“This holy apostle gives these two principles: in temporal things one
should limit oneself to what is necessary; but in spiritual things one
should seek as much as possible. Therefore he asks that we should not
simply give alms, but give alms generously. That is why he calls alms
‘seed’. Just as corn cast into the ground produces a crop, so generous
alms produces righteousness and abundant harvest” (”Hom. on 2 Cor”,
20).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
3
posted on
08/09/2013 8:33:05 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
From: John 12:24-26
Jesus Foretells His Glorification (Continuation)
(Jesus said to his disciples,) [24] “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of
wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much
fruit. [25] He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world
will keep it for eternal life. [26] If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and
where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father
will honor him.”
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
24-25. There is an apparent paradox here between Christ’s humiliation and his
glorification. Thus, “it was appropriate that the loftiness of his glorification
should be preceded by the lowliness of his passion” (St Augustine, “In Ioann.
Evang.”, 51, 8).
This is the same idea we find in St Paul, when he says that Christ humbled
himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross, and that
therefore God the Father exalted him above all created things (cf. Phil 2:8-9).
This is a lesson and an encouragement to the Christian, who should see every
type of suffering and contradiction as a sharing in Christ’s cross, which redeems
us and exalts us. To be supernaturally effective, a person has to die to himself,
forgetting his comfort and shedding his selfishness. “If the grain of wheat does
not die, it remains unfruitful. Don’t you want to be a grain of wheat, to die through
mortification, and to yield a rich harvest? May Jesus bless your wheatfield!” ([St]
J. Escriva, “The Way”, 199). 26. Our Lord has spoken about his sacrifice being
a condition of his entering into glory. And what holds good for the Master also
applies to his disciples (cf. Mt 10:24; Lk 6:40). Jesus wants each of us to be of
service to him. It is a mystery of God’s plan that he—who is all, who has all and
who needs nothing and nobody—should choose to need our help to ensure that
his teaching and the salvation wrought by him reaches all men.
“To follow Christ: that is the secret. We must accompany him so closely that
we come to live with him, like the first Twelve did; so closely, that we become
identified with him. Soon we will be able to say, provided we have not put
obstacles in the way of grace, that we have put on, have clothed ourselves with
our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Rom 13:14). [...]
“I have distinguished as it were four stages in our effort to identify ourselves with
Christ—seeking him, finding him, getting to know him, loving him. It may seem
clear to you that you are only at the first stage. Seek him then, hungrily; seek
him within yourselves with all your strength. If you act with determination, I am
ready to guarantee that you have already found him, and have begun to get to
know him and to love him, and to hold your conversation in heaven (cf. Phil 3:20)”
([St] J. Escriva, “Friends of God”, 299-300).
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
4
posted on
08/09/2013 8:33:34 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Scripture readings taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd
Readings at Mass
|
First reading |
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 © |
Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works. As scripture says: He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten.
The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one.
|
Psalm |
Psalm 111:1-2,5-9 © |
Happy the man who takes pity and lends.
Happy the man who fears the Lord,
who takes delight in all his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth;
the children of the upright are blessed.
Happy the man who takes pity and lends.
The good man takes pity and lends,
he conducts his affairs with honour.
The just man will never waver:
he will be remembered for ever.
Happy the man who takes pity and lends.
He has no fear of evil news;
with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
With a steadfast heart he will not fear;
he will see the downfall of his foes.
Happy the man who takes pity and lends.
Open-handed, he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory.
Happy the man who takes pity and lends.
|
Gospel Acclamation |
Jn8:12bc |
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
anyone who follows me will have the light of life.
Alleluia!
I tell you, most solemnly,
unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,
it remains only a single grain;
but if it dies,
it yields a rich harvest.
Anyone who loves his life loses it;
anyone who hates his life in this world
will keep it for the eternal life.
If a man serves me, he must follow me,
wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.
5
posted on
08/09/2013 8:44:20 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
6
posted on
08/09/2013 8:58:31 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
7
posted on
08/09/2013 8:59:22 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
8
posted on
08/09/2013 8:59:39 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Jesus, High Priest
We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.
Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.
Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.
Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.
Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.
O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.
Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests
This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.
The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.
The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.
Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.
St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.
9
posted on
08/09/2013 9:03:00 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Pray a Rosary each day for our nation.
1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. The Apostles Creed: I BELIEVE in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
3. The Lord's Prayer: OUR Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
4. (3) Hail Mary: HAIL Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen. (Three times)
5. Glory Be: GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.
End with the Hail Holy Queen:
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve! To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears! Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Final step -- The Sign of the Cross
The Mysteries of the Rosary
By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary.
The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
The Joyful Mysteries
(Mondays and Saturdays)
1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) [Spiritual fruit - Humility]
2. The Visitation (Luke 1: 39-56) [Spiritual fruit - Love of Neighbor]
3. The Nativity (Luke 2:1-20) [Spiritual fruit - Poverty of Spirit]
4. The Presentation (Luke 2:21-38) [Spiritual fruit - Purity of mind & body]
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52) [Spiritual fruit - Obedience ]
10
posted on
08/09/2013 9:03:47 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
~ PRAYER ~
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+
11
posted on
08/09/2013 9:04:38 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
12
posted on
08/09/2013 9:05:07 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
Thank you friend in Christ. Could use a prayer or to St. Jude. I’m trying to find a better job but it’s tough. Gray haired old guys like me are not a hiring managers first choice.
13
posted on
08/09/2013 9:06:24 PM PDT
by
jmacusa
(Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
To: jmacusa
14
posted on
08/09/2013 9:09:21 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
August Devotion -- The Immaculate Heart [of Mary]
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of August is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The physical heart of Mary is venerated (and not adored as the Sacred Heart of Jesus is) because it is united to her person: and as the seat of her love (especially for her divine Son), virtue, and inner life. Such devotion is an incentive to a similar love and virtue.
This devotion has received new emphasis in this century from the visions given to Lucy Dos Santos, oldest of the visionaries of Fatima, in her convent in Tuy, in Spain, in 1925 and 1926. In the visions Our Lady asked for the practice of the Five First Saturdays to help make amends for the offenses given to her heart by the blasphemies and ingratitude of men. The practice parallels the devotion of the Nine First Fridays in honor of the Sacred Heart.
On October 31, 1942, Pope Pius XII made a solemn Act of Consecration of the Church and the whole world to the Immaculate Heart. Let us remember this devotion year-round, but particularly through the month of August.
INVOCATIONS
O heart most pure of the Blessed Virgin Mary, obtain for me from Jesus a pure and humble heart.
Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.
ACT OF CONSECRATION
Queen of the most holy Rosary, help of Christians, refuge of the human race, victorious in all the battles of God, we prostrate ourselves in supplication before thy throne, in the sure hope of obtaining mercy and of receiving grace and timely aid in our present calamities, not through any merits of our own, on which we do not rely, but only through the immense goodness of thy mother's heart. In thee and in thy Immaculate Heart, at this grave hour of human history, do we put our trust; to thee we consecrate ourselves, not only with all of Holy Church, which is the mystical body of thy Son Jesus, and which is suffering in so many of her members, being subjected to manifold tribulations and persecutions, but also with the whole world, torn by discords, agitated with hatred, the victim of its own iniquities. Be thou moved by the sight of such material and moral degradation, such sorrows, such anguish, so many tormented souls in danger of eternal loss! Do thou, O Mother of mercy, obtain for us from God a Christ-like reconciliation of the nations, as well as those graces which can convert the souls of men in an instant, those graces which prepare the way and make certain the long desired coming of peace on earth. O Queen of peace, pray for us, and grant peace unto the world in the truth, the justice, and the charity of Christ.
Above all, give us peace in our hearts, so that the kingdom of God may spread its borders in the tranquillity of order. Accord thy protection to unbelievers and to all those who lie within the shadow of death; cause the Sun of Truth to rise upon them; may they be enabled to join with us in repeating before the Savior of the world: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."
Give peace to the nations that are separated from us by error or discord, and in a special manner to those peoples who profess a singular devotion toward thee; bring them back to Christ's one fold, under the one true Shepherd. Obtain full freedom for the holy Church of God; defend her from her enemies; check the ever-increasing torrent of immorality; arouse in the faithful a love of purity, a practical Christian life, and an apostolic zeal, so that the multitude of those who serve God may increase in merit and in number.
Finally, even as the Church and all mankind were once consecrated to the Heart of thy Son Jesus, because He was for all those who put their hope in Him an inexhaustible source of victory and salvation, so in like manner do we consecrate ourselves forever to thee also and to thy Immaculate Heart, O Mother of us and Queen of the world; may thy love and patronage hasten the day when the kingdom of God shall be victorious and all the nations, at peace with God .and with one another, shall call thee blessed and intone with thee, from the rising of the sun to its going down, the everlasting "Magnificat" of glory, of love, of gratitude to the Heart of Jesus, in which alone we can find truth, life, and peace. — Pope Pius XII
IN HONOR OF THE IMMACULATE HEART
O heart of Mary, mother of God, and our mother; heart most worthy of love, in which the adorable Trinity is ever well-pleased, worthy of the veneration and love of all the angels and of all men; heart most like to the Heart of Jesus, of which thou art the perfect image; heart, full of goodness, ever compassionate toward our miseries; deign to melt our icy hearts and grant that they may be wholly changed into the likeness of the Heart of Jesus, our divine Savior. Pour into them the love of thy virtues, enkindle in them that divine fire with which thou thyself dost ever burn. In thee let Holy Church find a safe shelter; protect her and be her dearest refuge, her tower of strength, impregnable against every assault of her enemies. Be thou the way which leads to Jesus, and the channel, through which we receive all the graces needful for our salvation. Be our refuge in time of trouble, our solace in the midst of trial, our strength against temptation, our haven in persecution, our present help in every danger, and especially) at the hour of death, when all hell shall let loose against u its legions to snatch away our souls, at that dread moment; that hour so full of fear, whereon our eternity depends. An,; then most tender virgin, make us to feel the sweetness of thy motherly heart, and the might of thine intercession with Jesus, and open to us a safe refuge in that very fountain of mercy, whence we may come to praise Him with thee in paradise, world without end. Amen.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
|
Sacred Heart Of Jesus
 |
|
Immaculate Heart of Mary
 |
The Holy Heart of Mary Is, After the Heart of Jesus, the Most Exalted Throne of Divine Love
Let us recollect that God has given us the feast of the most pure Heart of the Blessed Virgin so that we may render on that day all the respect, honor and praise that we possibly can. To enkindle this spirit within us let us consider our motivating obligations.
The first is that we ought to love and honor whatever God loves and honors, and that by which He is loved and glorified. Now, after the adorable Heart of Jesus there has never been either in heaven or on earth, nor ever will be, a heart which has been so loved and honored by God, or which has given Him so much glory as that of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Never has there been, nor will there ever be a more exalted throne of divine love. In that Heart divine love possesses its fullest empire, for it ever reigns without hindrance or interruption, and with it reign likewise all the laws of God, all the Gospel maxims and every Christian virtue.
This incomparable Heart of the Mother of our Redeemer is a glorious heaven, a Paradise of delights for the Most Holy Trinity. According to St. Paul, the hearts of the faithful are the dwelling place of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself assures us that the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost take up Their abode in the hearts of those who love God. Who, therefore, can doubt that the Most Holy Trinity has always made His home and established the reign of His glory in an admirable and ineffable manner in the virginal Heart of her who is the Daughter of the Father, the Mother of the Son, the Spouse of the Holy Ghost, who herself loves God more than all other creatures together?
How much then are we not obliged to love this exalted and most lovable Heart?
— St. John Eudes
Today: Immaculate Heart of Mary [DEVOTIONAL]
The Immaculate Heart of Mary [Devotional] Catholic/Orthodox Caucus
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
Saturdays and the Immaculate Heart of Mary [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus]
The Brown Scapular (Catholic Caucus)
The History of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Catholic Caucus)
Homilies preached by Father Robert Altier on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Marian Associations Unite to Celebrate Immaculate Heart
Solemnity Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, AUGUST 22ND
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
15
posted on
08/09/2013 9:12:35 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
August 2013
Pope's Intentions
Parents and Teachers. That parents and teachers may help the new generation to grow in upright conscience and life.The Church in Africa. That the local Church in Africa, faithfully proclaiming the Gospel, may promote peace and justice.
16
posted on
08/09/2013 9:14:28 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Daily Gospel Commentary
Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr - Feast
Commentary of the day
Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 302, for the Feast of Saint Lawrence
«Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure for ever» (Ps 112[111],9)
Saint Lawrence was a deacon in Rome. The Church's persecutors ordered him to hand over the treasures of the Church. It was to win a real treasure in heaven that he underwent the torments we cannot listen to without horror: for he was stretched out on a gridiron over a fire... Nevertheless, he triumphed over all his bodily sufferings by means of the extraordinary strength he drew from his charity and in the help of Him who made him resolute. “For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them” (Eph 2,10).
Now this is what stirred up his persecutors' wrath... Lawrence said: “Order wagons to come along with me on which I can bring you the treasures of the Church.” He was given some wagons, he filled them up with the poor and brought them back, saying: “These are the Church's treasures.”
Nothing is truer, my brethren. The great wealth of Christians is found in the needs of the poor provided we grasp how to put our possessions to good use. The poor are always before us; if we entrust our wealth to them, we shall not lose it.
17
posted on
08/09/2013 9:18:02 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Saturday, August 10, 2013
St. Lawrence, Deacon, Martyr (Feast) |
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
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2 Corinthians 9:6-10
Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9
John 12:24-26
Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are. -- Gaudium et Spes |
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18
posted on
08/09/2013 9:21:24 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
 |
Just A Minute (Listen)
Some of EWTN's most popular hosts and guests in a collection of one minute inspirational messages. A different message each time you click. |
19
posted on
08/09/2013 9:23:15 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
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The Angelus
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The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary . . .
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary . . .
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen. |
20
posted on
08/09/2013 9:33:34 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Saint Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr
Saint Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr
Feast Day
August 10th
FRA ANGELICO
St Sixtus Ordains St Lawrence
1447-49
Fresco, 271 x 197 cm
Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican
(+258) A Roman deacon, he died four days after Pope Sixtus II, during the persecution of Valerian. Arrested by the prefect and called on to deliver up the property of the Church, his answer was a to point to a crowd of poor people. "Here are the true treasures of the Church," he said. He was burned to death on a gridiron.
Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
Collect:
O God, giver of that ardor of love for you
by which Saint Lawrence was outstandingly faithful in service
and glorious in martyrdom,
grant that we may love what he loved
and put into practice what he taught.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10
The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever."
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
Gospel Reading: John 12:24-26
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.
BartolomeoVivarini
St Lawrence the Martyr
Panel
Church of S. Stefano, Venice
21
posted on
08/10/2013 7:24:26 AM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
22
posted on
08/10/2013 7:37:22 AM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Information:
St. Lawrence Feast Day: August 10
Born: 225, Osca, Hispania (now modern-day Spain)
Died: August 10, 258, Rome
Major Shrine: Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura in Rome
Patron of: Rome, comedians, librarians, students, tanners, chefs
23
posted on
08/10/2013 7:41:43 AM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Interactive Saints for Kids
St. Lawrence
Feast Day: August 10
Born: (about) 100 :: Died: 158
This famous martyr of Rome lived in the third century. He was one of seven deacons who were in charge of giving help to the poor and the needy.
Then big trouble started and the troublemakers who did not like Christians decided to kill Pope St. Sixtus II. As they took the Pope away for execution (to chop off his head), Lawrence followed him weeping.
"Father, where are you going without your deacon?"
"I am not leaving you, my son," answered the Pope. "In three days you will follow me."
Full of joy, Lawrence gave to the poor the rest of the money he had with him. He even sold expensive church vessels so he would have more money to give away.
The prefect of Rome, a greedy man, thought the Church had a great fortune hidden away. He ordered Lawrence to bring the Church's treasure to him. The saint said he would, in three days.
Then he went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church. He showed them to the prefect and said: "These people are the Church's treasure."
The prefect was furious. In his anger he asked them to kill Lawrence slowly so he would suffer more. The saint was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted him.
God gave him so much strength and joy that Lawrence joked with the judge saying "Turn me over".
Before he died, he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus. He prayed that the Catholic faith would spread all over the world.
Lawrence died on August 10, 158. His feast spread throughout Italy and northern Africa. Emperor Constantine built a beautiful basilica in Lawrence's honor. St. Lawrence is among the saints mentioned in the First Eucharistic Prayer at Mass.
24
posted on
08/10/2013 7:56:56 AM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Catholic AlmanacSaturday, August 10
Liturgical Color: Red
The Church dedicates August to the
Immaculate Heart of Mary. Devotion to
Mary’s Immaculate Heart began in the
11th century. It reminds us of her love
for God and offers us a model as we
work to increase our own holiness.
25
posted on
08/10/2013 12:06:51 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Catholic Culture
Collect: O God, giver of that ardor of love for you by which Saint Lawrence was outstandingly faithful in service and glorious in martyrdom, grant that we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
o Andalusian Beef Roll
o Cherries Jubilee
o Duckling Sevilla
o Escargots
o Garlic Butter for Snails
o Gazpacho
o Glow Wine
o Iced Cold Soup
o Jiffy On-Fire Dessert
o Lasagne
o Lasagne (Easy)
o Lasagne Sauce
o Snowballs on Fire
o Developing Our Friends the Senses
o The Immaculate Heart
o Prayer to St. Laurence, Deacon and Martyr
Ordinary Time: August 10th
Feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr
Old Calendar: St. Lawrence
Lawrence was chief among the seven deacons who served the Roman Church during the mid-third century. The young cleric held a position of great trust, caring for the goods of the Church and distributing its alms among the poor. He was arrested under the Emperor Valerian in 258, laid upon a gridiron and slowly roasted to death. Lawrence rejoiced in his awful martyrdom and died praying for the conversion of the city of Rome, in the hope that from it the faith of Christ might spread throughout the world. From that time idolatry began to decline in Rome.
St. Lawrence
This young deacon and heroic martyr is numbered among those saints who were most highly venerated by the ancient Roman Church. Next to the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, that of St. Lawrence ranked highest in the Roman sanctoral cycle. "From the rising of the sun unto its setting," says St. Leo, "whenever the glory of Levites beams forth in splendor, Rome is deemed no less illustrious because of Lawrence than Jerusalem because of Stephen."
Even though we have no genuine account of St. Lawrence's martyrdom, we do possess considerable evidence from most ancient times regarding the particulars of his passion. Legendary Acts tell how Lawrence was a disciple of Pope Sixtus II (257-258), who dearly loved him because of his special talents, but principally because of his innocence; in spite of his youth, the Pope numbered him among the seven deacons of Rome and raised him to the position of archdeacon. As such, Lawrence had the immediate care of the altar and was at the side of the saintly Pope whenever he offered the holy Sacrifice; to him also was confided the administration of the goods of the Church and the responsibility of caring for the poor.
During the persecution of Emperor Valerian (253-260), Sixtus II and his four deacons were martyred. Very ardently Lawrence desired to die with his spiritual father and therefore said to him: "Father, where are you going without your son? Where are you hastening, O priest, without your deacon? Never before did you offer the holy Sacrifice without assistants. In what way have I displeased you? In what way have you found me unfaithful in my office? Oh, try me again and prove to yourself whether you have chosen an unworthy minister for the service of the Church. So far you have been trusting me with distributing the Blood of the Lord."
This loving complaint of joyous self-oblation Sixtus answered with words of prophecy: "I am not forsaking you, my son; a severer trial is awaiting you for your faith in Christ. The Lord is considerate toward me because I am a weak old man. But for you a most glorious triumph is in store. Cease to weep, for already after three days you will follow me". After these comforting words he admonished him to distribute all the remaining Church goods allocated to the poor. While Lawrence was dispersing these items in the house of a certain Narcissus, a blind man named Crescentius asked for healing help by the imposition of hands. The holy deacon made the Sign of the Cross over him and the man began to see.
From his relations with Pope Sixtus, it was known that he acted as the steward over the Church's property. He was arrested therefore and placed under the watch of a certain Hippolytus. There in prison Lawrence cured the blind Lucillus and several other blind persons; impressed thereby, Hippolytus embraced the faith and died a martyr. Ordered by the authorities to surrender the treasures of the Church, Lawrence asked for two days time during which to gather them. The request was granted and he brought together in the house of Hippolytus the poor and the sick whom he had supported. These he led to the judge. "Here are the treasures of the Church!"
Lawrence was tortured, scourged, and scorched with glowing plates. In the midst of excruciating pain he prayed: "Lord Jesus Christ, God from God, have mercy on Your servant!" And he besought the grace of faith for the bystanders. At a certain point the soldier Romanus exclaimed: "I see before you an incomparably beautiful youth. Hasten and baptize me." He had observed how an angel dried the wounds of Lawrence with a linen cloth during his passion.
Again during the night he was dragged before the judge and threatened with immediate death. But he replied: "My God I honor and Him alone I serve. Therefore I do not fear your torments; this night shall become as brightest day and as light without any darkness." When placed upon the glowing gridiron, he jested with his executioners and the cruel tyrant. "Now you may turn me over, my body is roasted enough on this side." Shortly after this had been done, he cried again: "At last I am finished; you may now take from me and eat." Then turning to God in prayer: "I thank You, O Lord, that I am permitted to enter Your portals." To comfort him during his torments God said to him: "My servant, do not be afraid. I am with you." He was put to death upon the Viminal Hill and buried on the Tiburtinian Way.
Such the passion and death of this Christian hero, a story that in the Roman Breviary is told by the antiphons and responsories. Already in Constantine's time there was erected over his grave a church that belonged to the seven major basilicas of Rome, St. Lawrence Outside the Walls.
Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch
Patron: Archives; archivists; armories; armourers; brewers; butchers; Ceylon; comedians; comediennes; comics; confectioners; cooks; cutlers; deacons; fire; glaziers; laundry workers; librarians; libraries; lumbago; paupers; poor people; restauranteurs; Rome; schoolchildren; seminarians; Sri Lanka; stained glass workers; students; tanners; vine growers; vintners; wine makers.
Symbols: Dalmatic; thurible; gridiron, dish or money; palm and crucifix; censer; processional cross; cross and book of Gospels; money purse.
Often Portrayed As: Deacon holding a gridiron; deacon holding a book; deacon holding a bag of money.
Things to Do:
- St. Lawrence was a deacon in the early Church, not a priest. The word deacon comes from the Greek word "diakonia," which means service. Deacons of the early Church often helped widows, orphans, the poor and the elderly. If there is someone elderly in your family try to do something nice for them today. If not pay a visit to a local nursing home and cheer someone up.
- From the Catholic Culture library: St. Lawrence: Proto-Deacon of the Roman Church.
- Many times we do not realize how important patron saints are in various parts of the world. For example in GOA (south of Bombay, India), where the people are poor in material possessions, the feast of St. Lawrence marks the beginning of the fishing season and the vessels used are blessed by the priest. Make a donation to the poor box and remember to pray for those who live in less developed countries.
26
posted on
08/10/2013 12:19:49 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
The Word Among Us
Meditation: John 12:24-26
Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. (John 12:24)”
This image of the grain of wheat certainly applies to St. Lawrence, a deacon of the early church who was martyred during the persecution of Valerian in a.d. 258. But as much as this passage applies to martyrs, it can be applied to all of us as well.
Fourth-century accounts tell of Lawrence’s bold response to the agents of the emperor Valerian, who gave him twenty-four hours to produce the treasures of the Church. The next day, Lawrence appeared with a throng of Rome’s poor and disabled—all of whom he served. “These are the treasures of the Church,” he announced. For his audacity, Lawrence was roasted alive.
Now, to the world, Lawrence’s death would appear a waste—just another noble fellow whose life was snuffed out too soon. But that’s not how God sees it. And it isn’t how the Church sees it. In fact, Lawrence and all the martyrs are powerful witnesses to us, examples for us to follow as we face the “little martyrdoms” of our everyday lives.
Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household, once explained it this way: “A mother … goes home and begins her day made up of a thousand little things. Her life is literally reduced to crumbs, but what she does is no little thing: It is Eucharist with Jesus! A religious sister … goes to her daily work among the old, the sick, the children. Her life too might seem split by many small things that leave no trace at night—another day wasted. But her life too is Eucharist… . No one should say, ‘What use is my life? What am I doing in this world?’ You are in the world for the most sublime of reasons, to be a living sacrifice. To be Eucharist with Jesus.”
When we put aside ourselves to help others, or when we stand up for the gospel, we join martyrs like Lawrence in sharing in Jesus’ sacrifice for the world. The “crumbs” of our lives are gathered together and bring hope to other people. Each one of us is a treasure of the Church.
“Jesus, help me to empty myself so that I can serve your people. Help me to bear fruit for your kingdom.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-10; Psalm 112:1-2,5-9
27
posted on
08/10/2013 12:35:25 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Marriage = One Man and One Woman Til' Death Do Us Part
Daily Marriage Tip for August 10, 2013:
“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes!” (Jack Handey) To curb the urge to criticize your beloved, you may need a little distance and perspective, but make sure to come back.
28
posted on
08/10/2013 12:39:06 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
A Christian Pilgrim
ST. LAWRENCE: A SEED THAT DIED AND ROSE TO BEAR MUCH FRUIT
TODAY, August 10, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Lawrence, and the Gospel reading is taken from John 12:24-26.
A seed contains within it the potential for growing, maturing and bearing fruit. For growth to begin, however, it must first be planted in the ground and die (that is, yield itself to change). Only then can it produce life.
A Christian receives life in a similar manner. In order to live, we must first die. To die is to be baptized into the death of the Lord Jesus. By uniting ourselves in faith to His death, we agree in our hearts that we no longer desire to be ruled by the life we inherited from our first parents as a result of the fall. We want the sacramental sign of our death in baptism to be actualized so that we would experience even now death to our self-love and self-drives.
In baptism, the “seed” has been buried and we are able to accept new life. As we share in Jesus’ death, we also share in His resurrection (Romans 6:4). Since He was raised up and is seated at the right hand of the Father, the life we receive has its origin in heaven. The Holy Spirit works this new life in us by renewing our minds. We cooperate by praying, repenting, receiving life from the liturgy and the sacraments, studying scripture, and seeking God’s will. Over time, we begin to produce good fruit. Our actions and our words become less self-centered and more Christ-centered. We begin to long for God more than for the world.
St. Lawrence (+ 258) exemplifies a seed that died and rose to bear much fruit.
Today we commemorate the life of this man who loved God more than he loved the world. During the pontificate of Sixtus II (257-258), Lawrence was a deacon in Rome. Asked by the Roman commander to hand over the church’s treasure, he assembled the poor and presented them as the true treasure of the Church. For this action he was punished by death on the gridiron.
St. Lawrence was able to die bravely and serenely because his mind had been renewed by the Holy Spirit and his heart was set on Christ. We may not be called by the Lord to endure martyrdom, but we are called to die to the flesh and to live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:12-14). Let us be confident today as we yield to God’s grace of renewal, that the seed on new life will take root within us and grow.
29
posted on
08/10/2013 1:41:10 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
Vultus Christi
Saint Laurence, Deacon and Martyr
Saturday, 10 August 2013 07:55
0 Comments
I preached this homily in 2007, and decided to post it again today.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10
Psalm 111: 1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9
John 12:24-26
Live With Christ and Laurence
I wish that I could put you all in a bus today and accompany you to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City just to see there the small round glass medallion dating from the fourth century that depicts Saint Laurence. The medallion bears the simple inscription: “Live with Christ and Laurence.” What some would see as a simple cultural artifact is for us a witness to the unchanging faith of the Church. The saints are those who have passed into eternal life with Christ. “Live with Christ and Laurence.” To live with Christ is to live in the society of the saints. Not only do we remember each year the anniversary of their birthday into the life of heaven; we seek their intercession and rely on it. We make our pilgrimage through this life in their company, having “over our head,” as the Letter to the Hebrews says, “so great a cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1).
A Saint Painting A Saint
I also wish that I could transport all of you to the Chapel of Pope Nicholas V in the Vatican to see there the series of frescoes that Blessed Fra Angelico painted to depict the life of Saint Laurence. This in itself is remarkable: a saint painting a saint.
Laurence and the Poor
In one scene of the series he shows Saint Laurence coming out of a basilica to meet the poor who are waiting for him. Laurence is youthful; he is dressed as a deacon for the liturgy. His dalmatic is deep rose in colour, suggesting joy, and trimmed in gold, hinting at the glory that is already transforming him. On the ground in front of him is a crippled man holding out his hand and begging for alms. To his right is an old man with a white beard, quite bent over, and leaning on his walking stick; he too is asking for alms. To Laurence’s left stands an impoverished widow in a dark dress and, just behind her, a young mother with a baby in her arms. Again to his left, is a man in need of medicine, pointing to a wound in his knee. On both sides of Laurence are little children; two of them, having already received their alms, are walking away, while a third is still waiting to receive something.
The Cheerful Giver
The fresco is a kind of homily on today’s First Reading and Responsorial Psalm. Laurence is the cheerful giver, beloved of God (cf. 2 Cor 9: 7). “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever” (2 Cor 9:9, Ps 111:9). Blessed Fra Angelico painted theology: by showing the open basilica in the background, he is indicating that the Church is the servant of the hospitality of God, that her doors are open to all.
From Christ to Christ
By painting Saint Laurence in his dalmatic, he is suggesting that Laurence has just come from Mass where it is the deacon’s function to sing the dismissal, “Ite, missa est,” “Go forth, the Mass is ended,” or “Go, it is the sending forth.” The mission of the Church begins at the altar; leaving the altar, Laurence goes straight out the front door of the basilica to the poor who wait for him. He goes from Christ to Christ.
The Pope and His Deacon
In yet another fresco of the series, Fra Angelico shows Saint Laurence kneeling before Pope Saint Sixtus the Second whose feast we celebrated with the Blessing of Grapes on Tuesday. The scene takes places shortly before the martyrdom of Pope Sixtus together with four of his deacons on August 6, 458. Laurence’s death followed four days later. The bishop of Rome and his faithful deacon are looking at one another; both understand what is to come. They will both fall into the earth like grains of wheat (cf. Jn 12:24) to produce a harvest for Christ and for the Church.
The Chalice and Paten
The scene depicts Saint Laurence’s ordination to the holy diaconate. Saint Sixtus is handing over a chalice and paten to the new deacon. Laurence, clothed in his rose dalmatic, extends his hands to receive the sacred vessels; they are the sign of Christ’s sacrifice. It is as if the Pope is saying to his deacon, “Receive these sacred vessels and become what they are set apart to contain: the Body and Blood of Christ offered in sacrifice and given for the life of the world.”
The Drama of the Cross
All around Saints Sixtus and Laurence, Fra Angelico shows the clergy of Rome; they are grave and engaged in serious conversation. All seem to be aware of the drama that is about to unfold. Here again, Fra Angelico is preaching, not merely painting. He is showing that what is made present in the Eucharist — the sacrifice of the Cross — must unfold in all of life
Laurence and Valerian
Finally, in a third fresco of the series, Fra Angelico shows Saint Laurence standing before the Roman Emperor Valerian. The Emperor is crowned and seated on his throne in an apse. The hands of Laurence are bound and he is surrounded by soldiers. A threatening array of whips lies ready on the ground before him. Laurence is dressed in the same rose-coloured dalmatic. He appears before the Emperor as a deacon of Christ, consecrated for the service of Christ’s altar and Christ’s poor.
His Face Like That of an Angel
Laurence looks at Valerian with a pure and steady gaze; he is not intimidated. He reminds us of that other deacon, Saint Stephen, of whom it is written that “all who sat in council saw that his face was like that of an angel” (Ac 6:15). The Emperor cannot look Laurence in the face; he lowers his eyes. The servant of Christ is possessed of a majesty that the world cannot give and the majesty of this world fades and shrinks before it. “If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him” (Jn 12:26).
From Holy Images into the Holy Mysteries
The little medallion conserved in the Metropolitan Museum and the frescoes of Blessed Fra Angelico in the Vatican are, in their own way, a preaching of the Word of God given us by Mother Church for this feast of Saint Laurence. May it be given us to pass from holy images into the Holy Mysteries.
30
posted on
08/10/2013 1:59:18 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Vultus Christi
Saturday, 10 August 2013 08:05
On the Gridirons of Lust
Saint Laurence is the patron saint of those who have sizzled (or may be sizzling) on the gridirons of lust. I have long appreciated the oration in honour of Saint Laurence that the Church recommends to her priests in the daily Thanksgiving After Mass of the Roman Missal:
Grant to us, O Lord, we beseech Thee,
to extinguish within us the flames of vice,
even as Thou didst strengthen blessed Laurence
to overcome his fiery torments.
Through Christ our Lord.
A Gift
Continence is a gift, not an achievement. One becomes chaste by grace, not by dint of stress and strain. Mother Church has known this all along. This, I suppose, is why she bids her priests pray daily for the angelic virtue. What I like about the official prayers for chastity (found in the Roman Missal) is that they are utterly realistic. It is assumed that one is engaged in spiritual combat. Out of weakness or weariness or a combination of both, one may at times emerge from the battle scarred and bruised.
The Secret
What is the secret of chaste living? 1) You have to want it, 2) you have to ask for it, and 3) you may have to wait for it. Does not Sirach say, “Humble thy heart and endure . . . and in thy humiliation keep patience” (Eccl 2:2-4)?
It pleases God to bestow the gift of chastity through the hands of the All-Pure Mother of God. In this particular combat, the rosary is the mighty weapon of the weak. That being said, let’s look at the prayers for chastity given by the Church in the Roman Missal. It is recommended that most of these find a place in the daily prayer rule of the priest.
From the Preparation for Mass
Ure igne Sancti Spiritus
Refine our hearts and affections, Lord,
in the fire of the Holy Spirit,
so that our bodies may be chaste and our hearts clean
to serve Thee according to Thy pleasure.
Rex virginum, amator castitatis
With the heavenly dew of Thy blessing,
God, King of virgins and Lover of stainless chastity,
quench the wildfire of lust in my body,
leaving all of me, body and soul, steadfast in purity.
Deaden within me the stings of desire and all lustful excitements.
Give me true, complete, and abiding chastity,
and therewith all those other gifts of Thine in which Thou truly delightest,
enabling me to offer daily sacrifice in praise of Thee
with a chaste body and clean heart.
While Vesting for Mass
As he washes his hands:
Lord, give power to my hands, washing away all stain,
and enabling me to serve Thee with mind and body unsoiled.
While putting on the alb:
Lord, purify me and cleanse my heart,
so that being purified in the Blood of the Lamb
I may come to enjoy everlasting bliss.
While putting on the cincture:
Gird my loins with the cincture of purity, Lord,
quenching lustful desires and leaving me strong in chastity and self-restraint.
Mass Orations for the Grace of Continence
Note: These orations disappeared in the 1970 Missale Romanum (!) and reappeared under Pope John Paul II in the 2002 edition.
Collect
Refine our hearts and affections, Lord,
in the fire of the Holy Spirit,
so that our bodies may be chaste and our hearts clean
to serve Thee according to Thy pleasure.
Secret
Lord, break the fetters of our sins,
and give us back the innocence Thou gavest us before,
so that we may offer sacrifice to Thy praise in perfect freedom and purity of heart.
It was Thy grace that saved us first; let Thy forgiveness save us now.
Postcommunion
O Lord, our Helper and protector, come to our aid;
let modesty and chastity blossom anew in our hearts and bodies
with all their strength and freshness;
and let this sacrifice that we have offered to Thy lovingkindness
cleanse us from all temptation.
From the Thanksgiving After Mass
In addition to the oration in honour of Saint Laurence, there is the Virginum custos et pater, addressed to Saint Joseph:
Saint Joseph, father and guardian of virgins,
to whose faithful keeping Christ Jesus, innocence itself,
and Mary, the Virgin of virgins, were entrusted,
I pray and beseech thee by that twofold and most precious charge,
by Jesus and Mary, to save me from all uncleanness,
to keep my mind untainted, my heart pure, and my body chaste;
and to help me always to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity. Amen.
In addition to these prayers of the Church, priests may also want to say two other invocations after Mass every day:
Saint Michael the Archangel, set a shield of protection about me
to preserve my priesthood from every taint of scandal and every assault of the Evil One.
Saint Joseph, pray for me and for all priests in need of thy intercession.
31
posted on
08/10/2013 2:09:58 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
| John |
| |
English: Douay-Rheims |
Latin: Vulgata Clementina |
Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) |
| |
John 12
|
| 24. |
Amen, amen I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, |
Amen, amen dico vobis, nisi granum frumenti cadens in terram, mortuum fuerit, |
αμην αμην λεγω υμιν εαν μη ο κοκκος του σιτου πεσων εις την γην αποθανη αυτος μονος μενει εαν δε αποθανη πολυν καρπον φερει |
| 25. |
Itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. |
ipsum solum manet : si autem mortuum fuerit, multum fructum affert. Qui amat animam suam, perdet eam ; et qui odit animam suam in hoc mundo, in vitam æternam custodit eam. |
ο φιλων την ψυχην αυτου απολεσει αυτην και ο μισων την ψυχην αυτου εν τω κοσμω τουτω εις ζωην αιωνιον φυλαξει αυτην |
| 26. |
If any man minister to me, let him follow me; and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour. |
Si quis mihi ministrat, me sequatur, et ubi sum ego, illic et minister meus erit. Si quis mihi ministraverit, honorificabit eum Pater meus. |
εαν εμοι διακονη τις εμοι ακολουθειτω και οπου ειμι εγω εκει και ο διακονος ο εμος εσται και εαν τις εμοι διακονη τιμησει αυτον ο πατηρ |
(*) "αυτος μονος μενει εαν δε αποθανη πολυν καρπον φερει" went to verse 25 in the translations.
32
posted on
08/10/2013 2:11:32 PM PDT
by
annalex
(fear them not)
To: annalex
24. Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit.
25. He that loves his life shall lose it, and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.
26. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.
AUG. Listen we to the voice of the corner stone: And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Did He think Himself glorified, because the Gentiles wished to see? No. But He saw that after His passion and resurrection, the Gentiles in all lands would believe in Him; and took occasion from this request of some Gentiles to see Him, to announce the approaching fullness of the Gentiles, for that the hour of His being glorified was now at hand, and that after He was glorified in the heavens, the Gentiles would believe; according to the passage in the Psalm, Set up Yourself, O God, above the heavens, and your glory above all the earth (Ps 56 and 107).
But it was necessary that His exaltation and glory should be preceded by His humiliation and passion; wherefore He says, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: out if it die, it brings forth much fruit. That corn was He, to be mortified in the unbelief of the Jews, to be multiplied in the faith of the Gentiles.
BEDE, He Himself, of the seed of the Patriarchs, was sown in the field of this world, that by dying, He might rise again with increase. He died alone; He rose again with many.
CHRYS. He illustrates His discourse by an example from nature. A grain of corn produces fruit, after it has cried. How much more then must the Son of God? The Gentiles were to be called after the Jews had finally offended; i.e. after His crucifixion. Now then that the Gentiles of their own accord offered their faith, He saw that His crucifixion could not be far off. And to console the sorrow of His disciples, which He foresaw would arise, He tells them that to bear patiently not only His death, but their own too, is the only way to good:
He that loves his life shall lose it.
AUG. This may be understood in two ways: 1. If you love it, lose it: if you would preserve your life in Christ, fear not death for Christ. 2. Do not love your life here, lest you lose it hereafter. The latter seems to be the more evangelical sense; for it follows, And he that hates his life in this world, shall keep it to life eternal.
CHRYS. He loves his life in this world, who indulges its inordinate desires; he hates it, who resists them. It is not, who cloth not yield to, but, who hates. For as we cannot bear to hear the voice or see the face of them whom we hate; so when the soul invites us to things contrary to God, we should turn her away from them with all our might.
THEOPHYL. It were harsh to say that a man should hate his soul; so He adds, in this world: i.e. for a particular time, not forever. And we shall gain in the end by so doing: shall keep it to life eternal.
AUG. But think not for an instant, that by hating your soul, is meant that you may kill yourself. For wicked and perverse men have sometimes so mistaken it, and have burnt and strangled themselves, thrown themselves from precipices, and in other ways put an end to themselves. This did not Christ teach; nay, when the devil tempted Him to cast Himself down, He said, Get you hence, Satan. But when no other choice is given you; when the persecutor threatens death, and you must either disobey God's law, or depart out of this life, then hate your life in this world, that you may keep it to life eternal.
CHRYS. This present life is sweet to them who are given up to it. But he who looks heavenwards, and sees what good things are there, soon despises this life. When the better life appears, the worse is despised. This is Christ's meaning, when He says, If any man serve Me, let him follow Me, i.e. imitate Me, both in My death, and life. For he who serves, should follow him whom he serves.
AUG. But what is it to serve Christ? The very words explain. They serve Christ who seek not their own things, but the things of Jesus Christ, i.e. who follow Him, walk in His, not their own v ways, do all good works for Christ's sake, not only works of mercy to men's bodies, but all others, till at length they fulfill that great work of love, and lay down their lives for the brethren. But what fruit, what reward? you ask. The next words tell you: And where I am, there shall also My servant be. Love Him for His own sake, and think it a rich reward for your service, to be with Him.
CHRYS. So then death will be followed by resurrection. Where I am, He says; for Christ was in heaven before His resurrection. Thither let us ascend in heart and in mind.
If any man serve Me, him will My Father honor. This must be understood as an explanation of the preceding. There also shall My servant be. For what greater honor can an adopted Son receive than to he where the Only Son is?
CHRYS. He says, My Father will honor him, not, I will honor him; because they had not yet proper notions of His nature, and thought Him inferior to the Father.
Catena Aurea John 12
33
posted on
08/10/2013 2:11:50 PM PDT
by
annalex
(fear them not)
To: annalex
The Dead Christ and the Adoration of the Infant Jesus
Francescuccio Ghissi
after 1373
Tempera and gold on wood, 39 x 29 cm
Pinacoteca, Vatican
34
posted on
08/10/2013 2:12:18 PM PDT
by
annalex
(fear them not)
To: All
Regnum Christi
| The Force of Love |
| | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY |
|
|
|
Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr
|
|
|
Father John Connor, LC
John 12:24-26 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” Introductory Prayer: Lord, today you give me the example of St Lawrence. He gave his life so that your name would be honored and loved by all people. I would like to have the courage to follow his example of courageous love and die to myself so that I will merit graces for the many souls in need. Petition: Lord, help me to forget myself and put your interests before mine. 1. Christ’s Love: Christ would never demand something of us that he has not already lived himself. There is no deity worshiped by men, other than Jesus Christ, who has sacrificed his life out of love for his believers. It is Christ’s sacrificial love which has the power to multiply love in our lives. Christ’s act of selfless love gives birth to other acts of the same kind. 2. St Lawrence: St Lawrence was a deacon of the early Church in the middle of the third century. He died a martyr by being roasted slowly on a grill. When he had been grilled for some time he asked his murderers to turn him over so as to “grill the other side”! Lawrence’s faith and courageous love are fruits of Christ’s sacrifice. Although we may not be called to such heroism, Christ won the same grace for us to bear our crosses and live a life of selfless love and generosity. 3. Fruit of Fidelity: When we reflect on the lives of the saints we are inspired by their faithful service to Christ and his Church. Their fidelity is a fruit of Christ’s fidelity. Our own acts of fidelity will give life and courage to others to do the same. Constant fidelity is above all the fruit of the grace of God, and our cooperation with it. Constant fidelity until death is the fruit of the fruits of this grace combined with our response. God is the one who creates in a soul the indispensable greatness needed for fidelity. Above all, he grants us the daily gift of his fortitude to persevere in it. Dialogue with Christ: Lord, help me to be more generous in my daily commitments to you. Although you may not be calling me to be a martyr like St Lawrence, please allow me to offer small sacrifices each day for the Church and the salvation of souls. Resolution: I will offer a sacrifice of fidelity to my prayer or apostolic commitments today for the souls in purgatory.
|
35
posted on
08/10/2013 2:14:40 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
One Bread, One Body
Language: English | Español
All Issues > Volume 29, Issue 5
| << Saturday, August 10, 2013 >> |
St. Lawrence
|
|
| |
2 Corinthians 9:6-10
View Readings |
Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9 |
John 12:24-26
Similar Reflections |
| |
GIVE UP FEAR; GIVE IN FAITH
|
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| "An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord." —Psalm 112:7 |
| |
|
The stock market is often reactionary. Many who invest in stocks fear evil reports (see Ps 112:7). It is not unusual to see financial measures such as the Dow Jones index drop dramatically because investors and stock analysts fear that the market will plunge in response to the bad news. The health of a given stock is based on investor confidence. An "evil report" about a certain company can cause the value of its stock to plummet overnight. God's economy, however, does not operate on fear. "Fear is useless. What is needed is trust" (Mk 5:36). Like St. Lawrence, we are called to trust God with such confidence that we will lay down our lives, and our finances, for Him unreservedly. Instead of focusing on receiving financial returns, as happens in the worldly economy, the people of God are called to focus on giving and sowing. We focus on giving generously; God focuses on multiplying what was given generously (see 2 Cor 9:8, 10). What is important is not the return we get, but rather the return God and His people get. Don't give in to "anxieties over life's demands, and the desire for wealth...it bears no yield" (Mk 4:19). Instead, have "great confidence in God" (2 Cor 3:4). "Do not, then, surrender your confidence; it will have great reward" (Heb 10:35). |
| |
| Prayer: Father, give me a firm heart that trusts in You (Ps 112:7). Help me to express my confidence in You by giving cheerfully (2 Cor 9:7), lavishly (Ps 112:9), and generously (2 Cor 9:10). |
| Promise: "Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory." —Ps 112:9 |
| Praise: When commanded by the emperor to bring him the Church's treasures, St. Lawrence brought him those who were lame, maimed, orphaned, and widowed. |
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36
posted on
08/10/2013 2:18:22 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
At the Cross, Mary mourns her Son's death.
In today's world, Mary mourns the deaths of all the aborted children.
37
posted on
08/10/2013 2:19:57 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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