Jeremiah 1:1,4-10; Psalm 71 I will sing of your salvation; Matthew 13:1-9
Today we celebrate in the Church the feast of Lawrence of Brindisi, a doctor of the church. LAwrence of course is his religious name. He was named Julius Caesar upon his birth by his father who was quite fond of the Julius Caesar of history.
Julius Caesar became Brother Lawrence of Brindisi in the Franciscan Capuchin novitiate at Verona. He was well known for his gift at preaching. Though reluctant to be ordained a priest he did so out of obedience to his superiors who commanded that he be an ordained minister.
one thing that St. Lawrence is known for outside of his preaching is that he often took a stand for the rights of Catholics and the rights of the Catholic church. It was in Donauwoerth that he began to denounce the authorities for not upholding to the terms of the Peace of Augsburg, which allowed freedom of worship for Catholics in Protestant areas. St. Lawrence boldly scolded the authorities for this reality until the rights of the Catholic minority was secured by military force. This of course led to the Thirty Years War, between the Catholic League and the Protestant Union.
But somethings are worth fighting for...
Here is a lesson we need today as we try to live out our faith especially in what has become a secular society that seeks to denounce the Catholic Faith and the role of Christ in forming that society. We need St. Lawrence's intercession more than ever so that we might have the courage not only to take a stand for our rights but the courage to live our faith no matter the opposition.
Another story of St Lawrence is as follows:
In October of 1601 there was a battle between the Christian army and the Turks. The Christians were greatly outnumbered 60,000 to 18,000 troops. St. Lawrence tried to rally the troops and told them that he would lead them into battle, marching at their head carrying the cross, to fight the enemies of the Cross. HE rode into the thick of the battle holding the Cross aloft, amidst cannon balls, arrows, bullets, scimitars and the like. He went through unscathed with the cross held high.
St. Lawrence teaches us that we can not go through life without a fight. We must learn what is worth fighting for in this life we have received.
One of St. Lawrence's favorite sayings was "Ah, Simplicita!" He simply trusted in Divine providence to lead him through.
Word from St. Lawrence
"Preaching, therefore, is a duty that is apostolic, angelic, Christian, divine. The word of God is replete with manifold blessings, since it is,s o to speak, a treasure of all goods. It is the source of faith, hope, charity, all virtues, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, all the beatitudes of the Gospel, all good works, all the rewards of life, all the glory of paradise: Welcome the word that has taken root in you, with its power to save you. For the word of God is a light to the mind and a fire to the will. It enables man to know God and to love him. Against the hardness of a heart tat persist in wrongdoing, it acts as a hammer. Against the world, the flesh and the devil it serves as a sword that destroys all sin."
St. Lawrence pray for us that we may have the courage to fight for our faith and fight for the word and allow the word to show us what to fight in this life. Amen
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