August 10 2021 - St. Lawrence deacon and martyr,

 Last night, at the latin mass, we celebrated the vigil mass of St. Lawrence. So great was the reverence and respect for this holy saint, deacon, and martyr of Rome that he had his own vigil mass. In fact, prior to the council, for the vigil of Lawrence, the priest wore the purple vestments, for yesterday would have been a day of fasting and abstinence: to prepare for today’s feasting! The romans loved St. Lawrence! Last night, with the Young Adult Club, we did not fast, rather, we had a barbeque in honor of St. Lawrence. Those who know the story of Lawrence’s martyrdom detected the connection.

As a deacon in Rome, Lawrence was in charge of the Roman Church’s treasury, and had the responsibility of distributing alms to the poor.  When Pope Sixtus was arrested and killed, Lawrence knew that he would be next—he sold all of his personal possessions and gave them away to the poor widows, orphans, and beggars of Rome.

When the prefect of Rome heard this, he imagined that Church must have a considerable treasure hidden somewhere in the city.  He ordered Lawrence to bring the Church’s treasure to him.  So, Deacon Lawrence gathered a great number of blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned and widowed persons.. When the prefect arrived, Lawrence simply said, “These are the treasures of the Church.” 

In great anger, the Prefect condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. The Saint was to be slowly roasted alive upon an iron grill.  Lawrence however was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flame. He even joked.  I'm done on this side! Turn me over” Hence, last night’s barbeque. 

In fact, at his vigil mass, a passage from the book of sirach is read, which describes God’s faithful one being saved by God from the flames. “From many dangers you have saved me, from flames that beset me on every side”

Before his death he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic Faith might spread all over the world. On today’s feast we read from the Gospel, where the Lord tells us that the grain which falls to the ground and dies bears fruit for the kingdom. St. Lawrence certainly is that holy grain, who dies for the Lord, who, after 1700 years, continues to bear fruit for the kingdom, in inspiring us to love and care for the poor, to give witness to the Gospel with our lives, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Christians persecuted for the faith may be courageous in their witness to the saving Truth of Christ. And that the witness of the martyrs may never be in vain. 

That all Christians may grow in their awareness of and charitable attentiveness to the needs of the poor in their midst.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests, deacons and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.