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.
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Commentary:
6-15. The collection appeal ends with some remarks about the benefits that ac-
crue 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 re-
ceive. 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 hun-
ger 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 spiri-
tual—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 ex-
cellent offering in the presence of Most High” (4:7-11). To almsgiving can be ap-
plied 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 har-
vest” (”Hom. on 2 Cor”, 20).
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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.
Feast: St Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
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.”
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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 ideas as 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. Philippians
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 re-
deems 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 wheat
field!” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 199).
26. Our Lord has spoken about his sacrifice being a condition of his entering his
glory. And what holds good for the Master applies also to his disciples (cf. Mat-
thew 10:24; Luke 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 identi-
fied 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 Je-
sus Christ (cf. Romans 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.
Aug 10, Office of Readings for Lawrence, De & M
Ribbon Placement:
Liturgy of the Hours Vol. IV:
Ordinary: 615
Common of One Martyr: 1721
Proper of Saints: 1304
Office of Readings for the Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
God, come to my assistance.
– Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
HYMN
Faith of our fathers, living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whenever we hear that glorious Word!
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach Thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.
“Faith of Our Fathers” performed by Metropolitan Boys Choir; Text: Frederick W. Faber, “Jesus and Mary” (London: 1849); refrain by James G. Walton, 1874.
PSALMODY
Ant. 1 Men will hate you because you are mine, but he who perseveres will be saved.
Psalm 2
The Messiah, king and conqueror
The rulers of the earth joined forces to overthrow Jesus, your anointed Son (Acts 4:27).
Why this tumult among nations,
among peoples this useless murmuring?
They arise, the kings of the earth,
princes plot against the Lord and his Anointed.
“Come let us break their fetters,
come, let us cast off their yoke.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord is laughing them to scorn.
Then he will speak in his anger,
his rage will strike them with terror.
“It is I who have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will announce the decree of the Lord:
The Lord said to me: “You are my Son.
It is I who have begotten you this day.
Ask and I shall bequeath you the nations,
put the ends of the earth in your possession.
With a rod of iron you will break them,
shatter them like a potter’s jar.”
Now, O kings, understand,
take warning, rulers of the earth;
serve the Lord with awe
and trembling, pay him your homage
lest he be angry and you perish;
for suddenly his anger will blaze.
Blessed are they
who put their trust in God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. Men will hate you because you are mine, but he who perseveres will be saved.
Ant. 2 The sufferings of this life cannot be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us in the life to come.
Psalm 11
God is the unfailing support of the just
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice; they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).
In the Lord I have taken my refuge.
How can you say to my soul:
“Fly like a bird to its mountain.
See the wicked bracing their bow;
they are fixing their arrows on the string
to shoot upright men in the dark.
Foundations once destroyed,
what can the just do?”
The Lord is in his holy temple,
the Lord, whose throne is in heaven.
His eyes look down on the world;
his gaze tests mortal men.
The Lord tests the just and the wicked:
the lover of violence he hates.
He sends fire and brimstone on the wicked;
he sends a scorching wind as their lot.
The Lord is just and loves justice:
the upright shall see his face.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. The sufferings of this life cannot be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us in the life to come.
Ant. 3 The Lord tested his chosen ones as gold tested by fire; he has received them for ever as a sacrificial offering.
Psalm 17
Save me, Lord, from those who hate you
During his life on earth…Jesus prayed to his Father and was heard (Hebrews 5:7).
Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips.
From you may my judgment come forth.
Your eyes discern the truth.
You search my heart, you visit me by night.
You test me and you find in me no wrong.
My words are not sinful as are men’s words.
I kept from violence because of your word,
I kept my feet in your paths;
there was no faltering in my steps.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Display your great love, you whose right hand saves
your friends from those who rebel against them.
Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the violent attack of the wicked.
My foes encircle me with deadly intent.
Their hearts tight shut, their mouths speak proudly.
They advance against me, and now they surround me.
Their eyes are watching to strike me to the ground
as though they were lions ready to claw
or like some young lion crouched in hiding.
Lord, arise, confront them, strike them down!
Let your sword rescue my soul from the wicked;
let your hand, O Lord, rescue me from men,
from men whose reward is in this present life.
You give them their fill of your treasures;
they rejoice in abundance of offspring
and leave their wealth to their children.
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Ant. The Lord tested his chosen ones as gold tested by fire; he has received them for ever as a sacrificial offering.
Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.
I have known tribulations and distress.
– But in your commands I have found consolation.
READINGS
First reading
From the Acts of the Apostles
6:1-6; 8:1b, 4-8
The seven deacons are chosen by the apostles
In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the ones who spoke Greek complained that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food, as compared with the widows of those who spoke Hebrew. The Twelve assembled the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Look around among your own number, brothers, for seven men acknowledged to be deeply spiritual and prudent, and we shall appoint them to this task. This will permit us to concentrate on prayer and the ministry of the word.”
The proposal was unanimously accepted by the community. Following this they selected Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit; Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, who had been a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who first prayed over them and then imposed hands on them.
That day saw the beginning of a great persecution of the church in Jerusalem. All except the apostles scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.
The members of the church who had been dispersed went about preaching the word. Philip, for example, went down to the town of Samaria and there proclaimed the Messiah. Without exception, the crowds that heard Philip and saw the miracles he performed attended closely to what he had to say. There were many who had unclean spirits, which came out shrieking loudly. Many others were paralytics or cripples, and these were cured. The rejoicing in that town rose to fever pitch.
RESPONSORY Matthew 10:32; John 12:26
If anyone declares himself for me before men,
– I will declare myself for him before my Father in heaven.
If anyone wishes to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, there my servant will be with me.
– I will declare myself for him before my Father in heaven.
Second reading
From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop
He ministered the sacred blood of Christ
The Roman Church commends to us today the anniversary of the triumph of Saint Lawrence. For on this day he trod the furious pagan world underfoot and flung aside its allurements, and so gained victory over Satan’s attack on his faith.
As you have often heard, Lawrence was a deacon of the Church at Rome. There he ministered the sacred blood of Christ; there for the sake of Christ’s name he poured out his own blood. Saint John the apostle was evidently teaching us about the mystery of the Lord’s supper when he wrote: Just as Christ laid down his life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. My brethren, Lawrence understood this and, understanding, he acted on it. Just as he had partaken of a gift of self at the table of the Lord, so he prepared to offer such a gift. In his life he loved Christ; in his death he followed in his footsteps.
Brethren, we too must imitate Christ if we truly love him. We shall not be able to render better return on that love than by modeling our lives on his. Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps. In saying this, the apostle Peter seems to have understood that Christ suffered only for those who follow in his steps, in the sense that Christ’s passion is of no avail to those who do not. The holy martyrs followed Christ even to shedding their life’s blood, even to reproducing the very likeness of his passion. They followed him, but not they alone. It is not true that the bridge was broken after the martyrs crossed; nor is it true that after they had drunk from it, the fountain of eternal life dried up.
I tell you again and again, my brethren, that in the Lord’s garden are to be found not only the roses of his martyrs. In it there are also lilies of the virgins, the ivy of wedded couples, and the violets of widows. On no account may any class of people despair, thinking that God has not called them. Christ suffered for all. What the Scriptures say of him is true: He desires all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. Let us understand, then, how a Christian must follow Christ even though he does not shed his blood for him, and his faith is not called upon to undergo the great test of the martyr’s sufferings. The apostle Paul says of Christ our Lord: Though he was in the form of God he did not consider equality with God a prize to be clung to. How unrivaled his majesty! But he emptied himself, taking on the form of a slave, made inthe likeness of men, and presenting himself in human form. How deep his humility!
Christ humbled himself. Christian, that is what you must make your own. Christ became obedient. How is it that you are proud? When this humbling experience was completed and death itself lay conquered, Christ ascended into heaven. Let us follow him there, for we hear Paul saying: If you have been raised with Christ, you must lift your thoughts on high, where Christ now sits at the right hand of God.
RESPONSORY
Blessed Lawrence cried out: I worship my God and serve only him.
– So I do not fear your torture.
God is my rock; I take refuge in him.
– So I do not fear your torture.
TE DEUM
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord: we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the King of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come, and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
– Govern and uphold them now and always.
Day by day we bless you.
– We praise your name for ever.
Keep us today, Lord, from all sin.
– Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy,
– for we have put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope:
– And we shall never hope in vain.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
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.
ACCLAMATION (only added when praying in community)
Let us praise the Lord.
– And give him thanks.
The following is the longer version of the vital prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 after his startling vision as to the future of the Church. This prayer was dedicated for the Feast of St. Michael 1448 years from the date of the election of the first Leo - Pope Saint Leo the Great. Everyone is familiar with the first prayer below which was mandated by His Holiness as part of the Leonine Prayers after Low Mass. After Vatican II, in legion with the devil Giovanni Montini outlawed this necessary prayer and then one wonders how "the smoke of satan" got into the sanctuary? The conciliarists wanted to make sure the words in bold below would never see the light of day again for in it Leo foretold what would happen: The shepherd would be struck, the sheep scattered. Below are both the short and longer versions of this poignant prayer which should never be forgotten.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, O heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.Look down upon me, O good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; the while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my good Jesus: "They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones."
PRAYERS AFTER 
