Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
(yeah 12.2426)
At that time Jesus said to his disciples: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a grain of wheat; but when it dies, it bears much fruit.
Whoever clings to his life loses it; but he who thinks little of his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever wants to serve me, follow me, and where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, my father will honor them.”
Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr, is celebrated in the Church today with special honors not only because he was one of the most beloved and beloved saints among Latin Rite Catholics, but also because of his example of constancy and fidelity to Christ in his martyrdom , which took place in 258.
Laurentius lived his diaconate in close association with the Bishop of Rome, then Pope St. Sixtus II, whom he served as a good and obedient son and followed him as a brother in the blood of the Lord until his death. While Sixtus was engaged in what is proper to the episcopal ministry preaching to the faithful people the truths contemplated in the Word of God Lourenço assisted him in the celebration of the divine mysteries and devoted himself without a break to the various ministries required by Christian charity feed the poor, help the widows, help the orphans, support the elderly, welcome the homeless, help the beggars, in short, reach out to all those who constitute the true treasure of the Church, whose greatest treasure is the supernatural love for Jesus Christ is that shines in his works.
When Valerian’s soldiers sentenced the Vicar to death, Lourenço said to him with tears in his eyes: “Where are you going, Father? You never went to the altar without my company. Why don’t you take me with you now if you sacrifice your own life?” The holy deacon, who had always accompanied the bishop in the celebration of the liturgy, did not want him to raise the chalice of his sacrifice alone. That is why, just three days later, he faced the martyrdom of the grill with a strong spirit, between whose flames, moved by the power of the spirit, he could still say to the executioners: “Hand me over for this page is already well done”.
Let us therefore entrust ourselves to the patronage of St. Laurentius. Just as he was able to mercifully resist the antiChristian rage of the Roman authorities in such adverse times, so we, trusting in divine help, commit ourselves to the fulfillment of our state duties, ready to sacrifice our own lives for the sake of God. .