One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion.

St. Francis de Sales

The Angelus

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.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42).

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

St. Lawrence and the Holy Grail
[CATHOLIC/ORTHODOX CAUCUS] Feast Of St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence -- Deacon and Martyr (Early historical accounts)
St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr -- St. Augustine
Saint Lawrence
Meteors on the Feast of St. Lawrence
The Martyrdom of St. Laurence (Lawrence)

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.

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

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

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

Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

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.

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Monday, 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.

Day 222 - The Lesson of the Fig Tree // Exhortation to Watchfulness

Today’s Reading: Luke 21:29-38
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

34 “But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare; 35 for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth. 36 But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.” 37 And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

Today’s Commentary:
this generation: Jesus insists that God’s judgment will fall upon Jerusalem within the lifetime of his contemporaries (A.D. 70).

to stand: i.e., to withstand temptation and face the divine Judge with confidence (Eph 6:13; 1 Jn 2:28).

Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: August 10th

Feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr

Daily Readings for: August 10, 2015
(Readings on USCCB website)

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.

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

Developing Our Friends the Senses

PRAYERS

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.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (Feast)

Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Imagine the amount of strategy wit shrewdness you need to play a card game like bridge or poker. Every hand dealt contains literally thousands of possible outcomes, so you have to be sharp. Now, have you ever thought that living the Christian life might require a similar kind of shrewdness?

That’s one way to think about St. Lawrence, whose feast we celebrate today. In ad 258, the Roman emperor Valerian issued an edict that all the clergy were to be killed. The prefect of Rome also demanded that Lawrence hand over the Church’s wealth. Knowing that his days were numbered, Lawrence, a deacon and the treasurer of the Roman Church, took a calculated risk. First, he distributed the Church’s wealth to the poor instead of giving it to the prefect. Then, he brought the poor before the prefect, saying, “These are the treasures of the Church.”

Enraged, the prefect had Lawrence put to death. But it was too late—the story of his good humor and bravery spread, encouraging believers in Rome and beyond, right down to the present day!

St. Paul once wrote, “Watch carefully then how you live, . . . making the most of the opportunity”

(Ephesians 5:15, 16). Lawrence clearly had been training his mind so that he could see opportunities before him, even when he was facing the threat of death. He had already been “watching carefully” how he lived in smaller situations, and so he was prepared to keep doing so when the stakes were high. And so, because of his shrewdness and good wit, Lawrence was able to sow “bountifully” for God (2 Corinthians 9:6).

What challenging situations do you find yourself in? Take a look around, and ask the Spirit to show you creative, even shrewd, ways to turn them into opportunities to glorify the Lord. The more we know we are safe in his hands, the more brave we become. And that courage opens up new paths for us to walk—paths of glory that we never before knew existed!

“Holy Spirit, set me free from fear so that I can glorify you in every situation.”

Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9
John 12:24-26

Homily of the Day

August 7, 2015

In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the Israelites of the mighty deeds God had done for them, especially in their liberation from slavery in Egypt. Israel’s God is the only living and rue God among all the so-called gods of the nations and peoples around them. And this living god had favored, loved and protected them. And Israel is then especially favored in having a covenant with this true God.

In the Gospel reading Our Lord teaches his followers about the true meaning of discipleship and of the following of Christ. A follower and a disciple must be like the Master: “If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.”

In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius puts the following of Christ the leader and King this way: “To all His summons goes forth, and to each one in particular He addressed the words: ‘It is my will to conquer the whole world and all my enemies, and his to enter into the glory of my Father. Therefore, whoever wishes to join me in this enterprise must be willing to labour with me, that by following me in suffering, he may follow me in glory.’ ”
Indeed, this is the paradox of the following of Christ and of the Paschal mystery: “For whoever chooses to save his life will lose it, but the one who loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Marriage = One Man amd One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for August 10, 2015:

Temper Taming Tip #2: Noise can lower your resistance to anger. If whining, TV, roughhousing, or crowds are on your nerves, lower the decibel level. Call for a “Quiet Time Out.” For example, turn off the TV, have kids go outside (or to separate rooms). Talk softly yourself.

Regnum Chrisiti

The Force of Love

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

August 10, 2015. Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr

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.

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.

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.

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.

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Español

All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 5

<< Monday, August 10, 2015 >>

St. Lawrence

2 Corinthians 9:6-10
View Readings

Psalm 112:1-2, 5-9

John 12:24-26
Similar Reflections

THE SCHOOL OF GIVING

"Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever." —Psalm 112:9

St. Lawrence resembled God in his giving. God loves us so much that He gave His Son for our salvation (Jn 3:16). Lawrence loved the poor so much that he gave the church's treasures to them and even gave his life for them and for Jesus.

On this special feast day, the Lord may give us a special grace to grow in giving in several ways:

Amount: How much are you giving to build God's kingdom on earth? After your tithe, what percent of your income do you give as alms?
Areas: Are you giving not only your time, treasures, and talents but also your work, will, relationships, plans, pain, heart, etc. to the Lord? Break new ground by giving in an area where you've never consciously given before.
Attitude: Are you a cheerful (2 Cor 9:7), willing, humble, thankful, and zealous giver in all the areas where you give?
Sacrifice: It's one thing to give from your surplus but it's something else to give till it hurts (Lk 21:4). The Lord emphasizes sacrificial giving.

Today, grow in giving. Give, and keep giving, as never before. "Freely have you received, freely give" (Mt 10:8, our transl.).

Prayer: Father, may I major in giving and graduate with honors.

Promise: "I solemnly assure you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit." —Jn 12:24

Praise: St. Lawrence died a martyr being grilled slowly over a hot fire. Just before he died, he prayed for the conversion of his city of Rome and that the message of Christ would spread throughout the world.

Let's take the money away from Planned Parenthood!

August 10, 2015

Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

Reading 1 2 Cor 9:6-10

Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9

Alleluia Jn 8:12bc

Gospel Jn 12:24-26

St. Lawrence

Ordinary Time: August 10th

Feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr

Daily Readings for: August 10, 2015
(Readings on USCCB website)

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

Meditation: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

One Bread, One Body

THE SCHOOL OF GIVING

August 10, 2015

Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

Reading 1 2 Cor 9:6-10

Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9

Alleluia Jn 8:12bc

Gospel Jn 12:24-26

St. Lawrence

Ordinary Time: August 10th

Feast of St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr

Daily Readings for: August 10, 2015(Readings on USCCB website)

RECIPES

ACTIVITIES

PRAYERS

Meditation: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10

One Bread, One Body

THE SCHOOL OF GIVING

Daily Readings for: August 10, 2015
(Readings on USCCB website)