Octave of St. Laurence (17 August) ~ Dom Prosper Guéranger

About this sermon

On August 17, the traditional Roman liturgy closes the Octave of St. Lawrence, one of the greatest martyrs of the Church. In this meditation from Dom Prosper Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year, St. Lawrence is presented not only as a martyr, but as the model of the Catholic deacon: set apart from worldly desires, guardian of the Church, servant of her poor, defender of her sacred treasures, and fearless witness to Christ. Lawrence refused to hand over the Church’s goods to imperial authority, recognizing that the Bride of Christ ultimately answers to God alone. Caesar possessed armies, laws, palaces, and earthly power. Lawrence possessed faith. The emperor who persecuted him disappeared in disgrace, while St. Lawrence became one of the most honored saints of Rome, with churches, monasteries, cities, rivers, mountains, and lands across the world bearing his name. The reading also recalls the ancient tradition linking St. Lawrence’s fiery martyrdom with prayer for the souls in Purgatory and concludes with prayers asking for his courage: “May we by no adversities be terrified from hastening to confess Thy name.” May St. Lawrence obtain for us courage, purity, detachment from the world, love for the Church, and fidelity to Christ whatever the cost. St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr, pray for us. 0:00 – The Octave of St. Lawrence 0:17 – St. Lawrence and the Triumph of Our Lady 0:25 – The Deacon at the Triumphs of Divine Love 0:41 – Deacons as Guardians of the Church 0:57 – The Privilege and Duty of the Diaconate 1:13 – Support, Adorn and Strengthen the Church 1:22 – “Levi” Means Set Apart 1:29 – Separation From Earthly Desires 1:38 – Detachment and True Christian Liberty 1:54 – The Face of St. Lawrence Like an Angel 2:10 – A Deacon Ready to Give His Own Blood 2:26 – His Eyes on Heaven, His Heart With the Church 2:41 – Guardian of the Church’s Treasures 2:49 – The Poor as the Jewels of the Church 3:04 – A Lesson Especially Needed Today 3:11 – St. Lawrence Refuses to Surrender Church Property 3:27 – When Civil Law Becomes Injustice 3:43 – The Church Ultimately Answers to God 4:00 – Persecutors Eventually End in Shame 4:16 – The Fall of Emperor Valerian 4:26 – St. Lawrence’s Glory Surpasses Caesar 4:35 – Rome Becomes the Conquest of St. Lawrence 4:42 – Churches Dedicated to St. Lawrence 4:57 – St. Lawrence Across the New World 5:13 – Spain’s Special Devotion to St. Lawrence 5:27 – St. Lawrence of the Escorial 5:44 – Prayer for the Spirit of St. Lawrence 6:01 – The Ancient Mass of the Octave Day 6:17 – St. Lawrence and Souls in Purgatory 6:32 – Praying for the Dead at His Basilica 6:47 – Burial Near the Tomb of St. Lawrence 7:04 – Ancient Sequence in Honor of the Martyr 7:21 – Love Makes Christ’s Soldiers Fearless 7:38 – St. Lawrence Laughs at the Judge’s Threats 7:47 – The Grid Iron and Triumph of the Martyr 8:04 – St. Lawrence, Soldier of the Eternal King 8:16 – Final Prayer for Courage in Confessing Christ https://sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/august/august-17-octave-of-st-laurence/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #StLawrence #SaintLawrence #CatholicMartyrs #ChristianMartyrs #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #LiturgicalYear #ProsperGueranger #TraditionalCatholic #TraditionalLiturgy #CatholicLiturgy #LatinMass #Deacon #CatholicDeacon #Diaconate #ChurchHistory #CatholicHistory #EarlyChurch #RomanMartyrs #ChristianCourage #FaithUnderPersecution #ConfessChrist #Purgatory #PrayForTheDead #SoulsInPurgatory #CatholicFaith #CatholicChurch #Martyrdom #August17