10 August 2011: Feast -- St Lawrence, deacon and martyr

A Roman deacon, he was arrested during the persecution of Valerian and ordered to deliver the property of the Church. Pointing to a crowd of poor people, he answered, ‘Here are the true treasures of the Church’. Roasted to death on a gridiron. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1601)

Patron of the poor
In the year 257, when St Sixtus became Pope, he ordained St Lawrence deacon, and though still young, appointed him the first of seven deacons who served in the Church of Rome. To this office was annexed the care of the treasury of the Church and the distribution of its revenues among the poor.
In that same year, the Emperor Valerian published his edict of persecution and commanded all Bishops, priests, and deacons to be put to death immediately. St Sixtus was arrested twelve months later. As the holy man was led to execution, St Lawrence followed him in tears. The Pope then ordered him to distribute the treasures of the Church among the poor. St Lawrence did as he was commanded, selling even the sacred vessels to increase the sum.
At that time the Church of Rome, besides providing for its ministers, supported 1,500 poor people and even sent alms to distant countries. The Prefect of Rome commanded St Lawrence to surrender the treasures of the Church. He promised to show them. On the third day, instead of gold and silver he presented the poor whom he had gathered.
The enraged Prefect commanded that he should be slowly roasted on a gridiron. The order was mercilessly executed but the martyr, strengthened by Divine grace, supported his suffering with heroic fortitude. He even found strength to jest [an account is he asked to be turned lest his back gets overdone] at the expense of his tormentors and persecutor.
To his last breath the holy deacon prayed for conversion of the city of Rome, that the faith of Christ might thence spread throughout the world. Several heathen senators who had witnessed his execution were converted to Christianity and gave his body decent burial. His martyrdom was in 258 AD.
Ref: Rev Hugo Hoever, SOCist, PhD, “Lives of the Saints”, 1955, pp331-2

Parable of the householder
“Our Lord asked his disciples, ‘Have you understood all these things?’ They answer, ‘Yes’.” (Mt 13:51) Desiring to make them understand further how they ought to use the treasures of light, he added, ‘Thus, every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure new things and old” (Mt 13:52), and gives them to his children according to their needs.
This is a command to whoever must instruct whatever class of persons. They can not be content with simply repeating the same things; but should strive to acquire fresh knowledge, or to explain unchangeable truths under new and more attractive forms. Or to find new ways of exciting and keeping young people interested if placed under their direction.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp499-500

Formation in the truths of faith
If we are to give Christ’s doctrine to others we must meditate on it and love it. All Christians need to acquire this doctrine which can begin by thoroughly learning “the Catechism”, which is “faithful to the essential truths contained in Revelation, and brought up-to-date”; and “is capable of educating each new generation of Christians robustly in the faith”. (cf John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, “Catechesis tradendae”, 16 October 1979)
The living faith of the Church is constantly being received and passed on. From Christ to the Apostles; from the Apostles to their successors; and so on to our days. The Faith continues ever the same in the living Magisterium of the Church. (cf P Rodriguez, “Faith and Life of Faith”)
The doctrine of the Faith is received and handed down by parents of a family, by a student, a business man, or secretary; ie, spontaneously spreading it in an informal but extraordinarily effective way, as the first Christians did. All places become channels for a discreet catechesis into men’s lives.
How God must be moved by those mothers who, often, with very little time to spare, patiently explain the truths of the catechism to their children, perhaps, even to the children of their neighbors and friends.
We must exert every effort to acquire a deep knowledge of the doctrine of Jesus Christ; to understand the implications of these teachings for society and for individuals. Loving God with deeds will mean alloting as much time this formation requires.
As our faith grows stronger we become instruments in the hands of God. Lord, teach us to make you known. Holy Mary, help us avail of every opportunity to make your Son Jesus Christ known. Guide us so we can make many other people long to carry out this noble task of spreading the truth!
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:81-4

Faith in Action
To be a Christian means to continue to receive and accept the witness of the apostles, eyewitnesses of our salvation. To believe in Christ with the same faith born from the works and words of the risen Lord.
The Apostle John writes: “The way we can be sure of our knowledge of him is to keep his commandments. The man who claims, ‘I know him’, without keeping his commandments, is a liar; in such a one there is no truth. But whoever keeps his word, truly has the love of God been made perfect in him.” (1 Jn 2:3-5)
He is speaking of a living faith: when it bears the fruit of good works; the works of love. Faith is alive through God’s love in us. Love is expressed in the observance of the commandments. There can be no contradictions between the knowledge of ‘I know him’ and the actions of one who confesses Christ. Only he who completes his faith with good works remains in the truth.
Ref: Cf “Pope John Paul II, Breakfast with the Pope”, 1984, 53

• Institution of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, at Barcelona, in the year 1218. — Surius, Life of St. Raymond. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Institution of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, Barcelona, Spain (1218). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Order of Our Lady of Mercy is instituted. Barcelona, Spain. 1218. Created by St. Peter Nolasco to ransom Christian captives and slaves from Barbary Coast Moors. A military order of the Kingdom of Aragon. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Ransom. (http://mariedenazareth.com)