|
St Lawrence, 1559-1619. Doctor of Conversions and Missions, Feast Day July 21st.
You have a valuable spiritual model and guide in St Lawrence and will benefit tremendously to implore him for help. He is sought by all especially appropriate would be military personnel, patriots, veterans, diplomats, orphans, peacemakers, linguists and heads of religious orders. Those engaged in conversion efforts and missions will benefit immensely when they call upon Lawrence for God's blessing. He, himself, was greatly helped and so will you too when you petition him.
There are many saints whose name is Lawrence and one in particular was a deacon in the early Church. St Lawrence the deacon was martyred with his four companions. We know hardly anything about him except that he was well known for service to the poor and killed by being roasted on a gridiron. Devotion to him was widespread by the fourth century.
There are extraordinary manifestation of the gifts of God in Lawrence from Brindisi, Italy. Normally when we speak of God, we speak of the spiritual life of God. However, our natural gifts are a reflection of the more interior life of our Sanctifier, Redeemer and Father. Lawrence possessed abundant natural and supernatural gifts.
Lawrence lost his parents at an early age and was educated by his uncle. He was first sent to the Conventual Franciscans for his early education. His parents named him Julius Caesar. In many respects, his presence was as a leading general as the famous Julius Caesar of Rome. As appointed chaplain-general, he led armies during European battles and skirmishes. The crushing defeat of the Turks was attributed to Lawrence. Emperors, kings, popes, dukes and heads of state requested his support. He gave advice to generals, rallied the troops and led many missions carrying the cross of Christ as his effective sign and weapon.
He labored for the Church, his Franciscan Religious Order-the Capuchins, his country, those who supported religion and all that Christ was sent to save. God would have sent the Savior of the world, according to St Lawrence, even if Adam had not sinned. That is how much God wants to share eternal love with us even before we possess it later in eternity. God is, in a sense, impatient, when it comes to love. He is an impetuous, impressive and impassionate Lover first and foremost. God's Savior role came after sin entered into the soul of humankind.
According to this champion doctor, the Father would have sent His Son if no original sin occurred. Perhaps his main goal in his lifetime was to provide, preach and expose missions. It has been said that Lawrence was one of the greatest preachers in the history of Christianity. Lawrence realized fully that the Savior had been sent. His efforts were to talk, convert and help people to be saved. In addition, for Lawrence, the Son was sent to save all with no exceptions. We too, according to the degree of our faith, have the same mission as Lawrence. We are called and chosen to assist others as they need help and according to our gifts.
Lawrence was gifted with remarkable talent, intelligence and, most of all, language ability. He spoke eight languages fluently. He served through his preaching and missions. He led missions against other religions and anywhere Catholicism needed support. He performed reconciliation efforts against heretics all over Europe and always with empathy, sensitivity and compassion.
He was a biblical scholar and the pope requested him to preach to the Jews. He spent much time in conversion attempts. His language abilities were flawless and wherever he spoke the people thought he was a native of that place. The rabbis felt he was a Jew who had become a Christian.
This amazing Franciscan wrote extensively filling many volumes including his sermons, which were always substantiated by scriptural quotations. His brilliance was matched with great human compassion and administrative skills. He was quickly elected to the highest office in his religious order, minister-general. He was responsible for the Capuchin's growth and geographical expansion.
St Lawrence was appointed papal emissary. He was a powerful peacemaker. His positions took him to many foreign countries. He was so influential that he was asked to settle royal quarrels, be a diplomat and work for pacification and healing among many nations.
Our saint burned himself out with goodwill for those whom he served. He realized how deeply God loved all creations in sending Jesus Christ. He felt we too should ask to be sent, as our Brother, to help others. This made sense to Lawrence’s way of thinking because humankind had sinned and committed original sin. His main goal was to give mission (talks and instructions about the faith) to change hearts and be drawn back to God. This is conversion. He decided early to be God's messenger and active minister.
We, today, generally are not gifted with speaking multiple languages. Nor do we have diplomatic skills, as Lawrence. However, in our own unique way, we too can be a champion of our faith. Just as effectively as Lawrence, we can practice charity, holy example and strong commitment to our Church, country and neighbor. This we do by living out our faith. That's our mission and it all comes about through radical change of heart and openness to God's Word in our lives. This Word has become Flesh.
We are charged with eating this Flesh if we want eternal life. That is precisely what Jesus exclaimed. It includes not only the physical eating but also the assimilation of the Word. The taking in of the Word by what we see, hear, touch, smell, desire, taste, and feel. The Word is the total communication, life and existence bestowed as God's love. God wants to enter into us today totally. The Word continually opens up new dimensions for us in order that the complete absorption and assimilation is possible. We see this accessibility, approachability and outpouring of God's communication in everyday life through TV, the Internet and many other audio-visuals.
God's Word is Life and it is everywhere. The book of Job tells us: Ask the beast of the field to teach you and the birds of the air to tell you; or, the reptiles of the earth to instruct you and the fishes of the seas to inform you. Which of these do not know that the hand of God has done this and that in God's hand is the lifebreath of all living things. We see God's Word predominantly through God's many churches and their own sacramental sytems. The Catholic Church sacramentals and sacraments are extraordinarily unique and abundantly rich with the divine and human realities of the Word make Flesh.
Through the inspiration of profound Franciscan women followers such as St Clare, St Colette and a host of others who followed Christ as Francis of Assisi and as Lawrence of Brindisi, we have the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). Mother Angelica carries on the rich tradition which their founder, St Clare, began. Clare is the patroness of television. The Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC and other Franciscan centers throughout the world carry on the rich traditions of Francis, Clare, Colette, Lawrence, Joseph and a multitude of holy women, men and children.
Another Franciscan, St Maximilian Mary Kolbe, who could easily be called saint of the emprisoned because he gave his life for a prisoner at Auschwitz concentration camp, speaks about what St Lawrence stood for: MISSIONS. I quote from the Magnificat 3/01, p233 : "Every man and woman in this world has been assigned a mission by God. In fact, ever since God created the universe, He arranged the first causes in such a way that the unbroken chain of their effects should create the most favorable conditions and circumstances for each person to fulfill the mission that God has assigned him."
By praying this peace prayer attributed to St Francis of Assisi we will be communicating the spirit of conversions and missions:
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as
to console, to be understood as to
understand and to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, it is in
pardoning that we are pardoned and in
dying that we are born to eternal life."
Conversions can come immediately and they can come with our last breath. We never know. Lawrence would tell us that God is calling us daily to conversion of heart. God calls everyone for special missions. We are called continually to be Christ-like by exploring and living out our vocation daily.
Three beautiful examples of how God continually converts, calls us and sends us on our missions can be seen in the lives of saints especially Raymond Lull, Margaret of Cortona and Angela of Foligno. These three were Franciscan tertiaries of the thirteen-century and are listed in Secular Saints found in the Sources.
Our missions are toward our families, other religions, government, society, foreign counties and people down the street. All are called to convert, have spiritual conversions daily and achieve our mission. We are all called and chosen to be for others as Lawrence, Raymond and Angela have so vividly demonstrated.
Missions are not only for Churches and people. In earlier generations missions were only given and associated with spiritual functions. Not any more. Many classifications such as corporations, organizations, companies, and government, and all serious groups of people, who aim to achieve objectives or goals have mission statements.
Conversions can be associated with non-church or church groups who are attempting to change bad habits or addiction. All conversions are spiritual whether they are physical, psychological or mental. Authentic change may come from the outside. Lasting change will surely come from the inside. Not wanting to indulge in excessive drinking or smoking can be more enriching and permanent than not having the urge to drink or smoke uncontrollably. Our addictions make us slaves to habits.
True change of heart enables us to want goodness for goodness sake. Although it may sound strange, even holy things can be addictive. We always need the spirit of poverty and detachment as Lawrence, Francis and Clare advocated. The Franciscans are superb models and embrace sister-poverty as a prized treasure.
St Lawrence's missions focused on the spiritual. This can be most rewarding and fulfilling. We can convert people in our own unique way. God uses us according to divine wisdom and there are no exceptions. None are exempt.
The bible informs us that we can gain wisdom by observing one of the most insignificant of God's creatures. For example, the ant is amazing not only for its industriousness but also because of its strength. That’s right, strength. What appears weak in our eyes can be enormously strong. Consider that a human being can hardly pick up his own weight. However, the mighty ant can lift 52 times its own weight. Isn’t that ironic? God can use us in ways we can not imagine. When God strengthens us, we can accomplish incredible deeds, as the ant so vividly shows us. God makes straight lines with broken and crooked lines. What appears to be weak is really strong.
Spiritual insight and strength come to us from many sources if we allow God to use us according to the divine plan rather than the human plan we choose. We need to convert and be mission oriented as St Lawrence to become divinized. Plead, pray and ask for God's help, especially the gift of fortitude. Fortitude or spiritual strength will enable us to help ourselves and others overcome challenges. It will give us more strength than we need to overcome all odds. Jesus’ strength will be ours.
There will not be anything we can’t achieve to fulfill the plan of God for us. Divine providence has its own timetable and deadline for all. The more we allow that plan to unfold, the happier we will become despite the mystery, the uncertainties and the unknown. Trust will give us assurance and more confidence to allow God to use us as God used St Lawrence of Brindisi to complete our mission and conversion and return to God as intended in the divine plan.
Parishes conduct missions for renewal, reform and conversion. In this manner they serve as retreats. Retreats aim to reawaken in us spiritual dimensions to sanctify us. We can easily become lax in our practice of prayer and virtue because we get caught up excessively with our work, family and social involvement. We can always make retreats by ourselves. Conversion is not necessarily a one-day affair. It is a continual movement to surrender ourselves to God to fulfill the divine will. The more we allow God to move our hearts and souls in prayer and actions, the more we will be converted and find our mission in life joyfully. Then we will reach the pinnacle of sanctity. By our union with God we will have converted as many souls and lives as St Lawrence.
It is through the Mystical Body, the Church, that God allows us to be most effective. Even though we may be lacking in natural gifts, such as the ability to speak many languages as this doctor, God will hear and answer all our prayers when the mighty One raises us up to intimate oneness with the infinite Godhead. God will always repay us with spiritual gifts, although the natural gifts may not be forthcoming or obvious to others. There is absolutely nothing we can not achieve in terms of drawing others to God when we are totally joined to God's own heart and mind. Love is most efficacious when it is done in One spirit. Then we share in the eternal strength and love of God's power and its effect is worldwide and beyond the time dimensions. We can even pray and have our prayers positively answered for people not yet born.
Having personally visited and read about the Capuchins, one can readily see the holiness and distinction of an outstanding, holy religious Order. Recently, one of their more celebrated and popular known members, Padre Pio of Pietreleina, has been canonized. Padre Pio's holiness speaks volumes and he has been a most charismatic priest whose influence has been worldwide. His exterior mission in assisting the sick and infirm has resulted in the building of a large medical and caring facility in Italy. His interior mission of caring the heavy cross of Jesus and bearing Christ's wounds are well known. His followers and those who visited Blessed Pio in his lifetime are legion. He is perhaps the most celebrated Capuchin ever due to his extraordinary service and holiness to the Universal Church. However, the Franciscan family have more saintly models and example of holiness than, I believe, any other religious order.
We can be sure that Father Pio learned from St Lawrence and those who had gone before him. It was the newly Blessed Pope John XXIII, who was also a third order Franciscan member, who proclaimed in 1959, St Lawrence of Brindisi, a doctor of the Catholic Church. He also had the wisdom and courage to convene the Second Vatican Council. This opened the door to worldwide changes, reforms and renewals and none too soon for the people of God's Church.
There are also more Franciscan family members than any other Catholic religious order. Their goals are to be instruments and ambassadors of peace. Christ has generously given the gift of peace to us but we will never be able to appreciate this gift fully unless we imitate the life, words and actions of Jesus.
We must be rethinking the words of Jesus often. Listen to what He said one day. This is taken from Matthew. “Do not suppose that my mission on earth is to spread peace. My mission is to spread not peace, but division. I have come to set a man at odds with his father, a daughter with her mother, a daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law: in short, to a man’s enemies those of his own household.
How is it that Christ can say, peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you on the one hand and then on the other hand, He states about what seems to be the opposite? There are really two types of peace: the peace that God gives and the peace that the ‘world’ gives. One is false and short-lived and the other is lasting and true.
If we are to act in the spirit of Lawrence, in a spirit of poverty, surrender, goodwill and abandonment to God’s Holy Will, we must not hate, but show love. When confronted with despair, hardship and lost causes, we must retain hope. When we have doubt, we must practice more faithfulness. Where there is darkness about us, we must show the light of Christ in goodness and kindness.
This action no one can do, not even St Lawrence and the saints, unless they are gifted and graced by almighty God. And we know that God will always give the necessary help when we turn to the Blessed One. St Lawrence and all the saints surmounted many crosses, hardship and hostile odds. They all achieved spiritual victory and God also permitted some earthly ones too. We can do the same when we attempt to imitate their virtues and goodwill toward others, pray continually as the Spirit moves us, and live out our duties and responsibilities to best of our abilities and strength.
Our daily mission is give ourselves to God wholeheartedly. Who knows, this may cause a pain or conflict with family members or loves ones. Jesus didn’t say it was going to be easy. We can’t have it both ways. Some of the people in his own town of Nazareth attempted to throw Him off the cliff as He started His public mission. Some hated Him. Jesus said give honor to God first and do not be too upset when family, friend and neighbors are hostile or try to kill you. Focus on the will of God primarily.
We have a conscience. We mustn’t be afraid of division. Christianity is a contradiction; it’s a cross; there is going to be misunderstanding. Be brave; Christ overcame the world and so can we when we are converted from our selfish ways and surrender to the ways of Jesus’ Spirit. Conversion is not a one-time event. It is a daily battle, struggle and upward movement to the spiritual heights. We do not like to give up our old ways. We feel comfortable and they are easy. It’s hard to be unselfish at times. It requires sacrifice.
It is only when we possess the fullness of charity that God allows us to feel joy through the pain and the sacrifices. Suffering then becomes meaningful and even sought after. That is why conversion is so important and powerful. It leads to life and the mission that God is calling us towards. They both work together. Our missions convert us and our daily conversion gives new meaning to our mission. St Lawrence is a marvelous example.
The Capuchin order completed a compilation of 15 volumes of Lawrence's writings in 1956. Eleven of these 15 contain his sermons. I quote from another Franciscan, Father Foley, OFM, about St Lawrence: "His constant devotion to Scripture, coupled with great sensitivity to the needs of people, present a life-style which appeals to the 20th-century Christians. He had a balance in his life that blended self-discipline with a keen appreciation for the needs of those whom he was called to serve."
We are all called to serve ourselves and others. In fact, we can't really have a mission to serve others unless we take care of our selves first. It has to begin with ourselves and then extended. When we find ourselves authentically, we will be able to help others in a genuine manner. Our mission and conversion efforts must be continually. All have a lasting mission as long as we live. Our hearts burn with God's love and we can offer it to God as Jesus and Lawrence did. It matters not if we help but one person or a million persons. God see the intensity and quality of our service and love to others and not necessarily the quantity. Our spiritual light will be seen and understood by others the more the perfect light of God dwells within us. It is a great honor to share it with others according to the gifts that have been given us.
Inasmuch as the Lord keeps coming to us daily, we need to turn those gifts around for others so that our conversion becomes a daily event, fruitful and thankful. The more we get from God, the more God expects us to share with others.
Living fully up to one's potential is a daily mission and a great gift to share. The more we mature in charity, the more charity will be tasted and become pleasing to ourselves and others. Charity renews us, forgives us (covers a multitude of sins) and affords us a zealous prayer-life that St Lawrence was unmistakably imbued with during Mass and his daily prayer life.
It is so tragic and sad that many never reached maturity either physically or spiritually. Life is full of surprises and each day 139,000 die because of unknown diseases or infectious diseases. And that's only in the USA. Over 25,000 children, under five years of age, die daily because of diseases. That is a fact of life that seems unfair and a mystery. What can we do to change these facts?
The deaths due to spiritual diseases are even more rampant than physical diseases. By seeking out our mission and living it fully, we will gain peace of mind and heart for ourselves and others. Our contributions to the human race can be monumental when we maximize our potential. God can do it in us. We can't do it by ourselves alone.
I have save the best for last regarding this holy Capuchin. In fact, another living, holy Capuchin, Fr. Christoper Rengers, O.F.M. Cap. has written beautifully and inspiringly about St Lawrence. His recently published book is entitled: "The 33 Doctors of the Church". It is listed in the Sources. He allocates around 35 pages on this saintly diplomat and his works in Germany, Italy, Spain and many other countries. Fr. Christopher rightly categories St Lawrence as "The Apostolic Doctor".
Perhaps no other doctor traveled so far and spoke more languages toward the spreading of the faith as Lawrence. As the great missionary apostle, St Paul, Lawrence's influences are world known. His writings on Sts. Mary and Joseph alone are entire Mariologies and Josephologies in themselves. His preaching, popularity and miracles are vast. Rengers informs us that it would be a hard choice to decide if Lawrence was a greater Marian Scholar or a greater lover of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St Lawrence's writing entitled the Mariale consist of 84 sermons and is the outstanding Mariological work of his time. Pope John XXIII said that the Mariale contains "the most complete doctrine regarding the Mother of God"
Christopher undertook writing his book on the doctors in 1959, the year that Pope John XXIII declared him a doctor. Blessed John XXIII was recently declared a blessed and he was also a Franciscan secular and a great admirer of Lawrence of Brindisi.
The paltry effort I have made on this website about the doctors would hardly be but a footnote in "The 33 Doctors of the Church". It is published by TAN and Fr Christopher has filled the stories with charming anecdotes and memorable stories. It also includes writings on all the Doctors and frames their lives in the times during which they lived. No one will be disappointed with this book. Any one story on a particular doctor is worth the price for this book which contains about 700 inspiring pages. The authors' insights and tremendous sensitivity will greatly enrich, motivate and bless the reader.
This is a charming hymn that I would like to quote taking from the Magnificat, 7/21/01, on the feast day of St Lawrence of Brindisi:
Sing we of the blessed Mother who received the angel's word, and obedient to the summons bore in love the infant Lord; sing we of the joys of Mary at whose breast that child was fed who is Son of God eternal and the everlasting bread.
Sing we, too, of Mary's sorrows, of the sword that pierced her through, when beneath the cross of Jesus she his weight of suff'ring knew, looked upon her Son and Savior reigning from the awful tree, saw the price of our redemption paid to set the sinner free.
Sing again the joys of Mary when she saw the risen Lord, and in prayer with Christ's apostles, waited on his promised word: from on high the blazing glory of the Spirit's presence came, heav'nly breath of God's own being tokened in the wind and flame.
This last verse I found from the above song comes from George B. Timms,born 1910, copyright 1975, from Oxford University Press. This verse with the above 3 are like a complete mariology on Mary regarding her role with Her Son in our salvation.
Sing the greatest joy of Mary, when on earth her work was done, and the Lord of all creation brought her to his heav'nly home: Virgin Mother, Mary blessed, raised on high and crowned with grace, may your Son, the world's redeemer, grant us all to see his face.- Taken from "Gather", an GIA Publications, Inc. Chicago.
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintl15.htm
The following is a most comprehensive link.
http://www.capuchins.org
HOME
|
