St. Laurence Justinian, Bishop and Confessor (5 September) ~ Dom Prosper Guéranger

About this sermon

St. Lawrence Justinian was drawn from the passing pleasures of the world into a mystical espousal with Divine Wisdom. Born into the illustrious Giustiniani family of Venice, he rejected a promising marriage and worldly honors to embrace prayer, poverty, penance, and religious life among the Canons Regular of San Giorgio in Alga. Known for his humility, Lawrence chose the lowliest monastic duties, begged publicly in the streets, silently endured insults, and became deeply absorbed in contemplative prayer. Pope Eugene IV appointed him Bishop of Castello despite his attempts to refuse the dignity. As bishop, he maintained his austere manner of life and regarded Christ’s poor as his true household. When Pope Nicholas V transferred the Patriarchate of Grado to Venice, Lawrence became the first Patriarch of Venice. He reformed ecclesiastical discipline, founded monasteries, cared tirelessly for his flock, and wrote works filled with heavenly doctrine. His confidence in Divine Providence never failed. During Midnight Mass, he was granted a vision of the Christ Child. Miracles, prophecy, healings, and deliverance from demonic oppression accompanied his ministry. At death, he refused a comfortable bed out of love for the crucified Savior and prayed: “I come to Thee, O good Jesus.” This reading from Dom Prosper Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year concludes with a profound meditation upon creation, Divine Wisdom, and the soul’s transforming union with the Eternal Word. St. Lawrence Justinian, pray for us! 0:00 St. Lawrence Justinian, Bishop and Confessor 0:20 Seeking an unchangeable good 0:37 Divine Wisdom appears to Lawrence 1:02 “The peace thou seekest is with me” 1:21 The mystical espousal of his soul 1:45 Divine Wisdom becomes his inseparable companion 2:09 The key to St. Lawrence’s life 2:18 His noble birth and devout childhood 2:33 Called to the religious life 2:41 Austerity and the choice between marriage and the cloister 3:06 “Thou, O Lord, art my hope” 3:13 Entering San Giorgio in Alga 3:28 Renunciation of family comforts 3:42 Obedience, meekness and humility 3:51 Begging publicly and enduring mockery 4:09 Ecstasy and the transforming love of God 4:24 Appointed bishop by Pope Eugene IV 4:40 Preserving holy poverty as a bishop 4:49 Christ’s poor become his household 5:06 His complete trust in Divine Providence 5:22 Founding monasteries and reforming Christian life 5:46 “The honor and glory of prelates” 5:54 First Patriarch of Venice 6:03 His Masses and gift of tears 6:09 Vision of the Christ Child at Christmas 6:18 Venice protected through his prayers 6:33 Prophecy, exorcisms and miraculous healings 6:41 His writings filled with heavenly doctrine 6:48 Refusing a comfortable deathbed 7:04 “I come to Thee, O good Jesus” 7:20 His incorrupt and fragrant body 7:35 Canonization and September 5 feast 7:52 Prayer to Eternal Wisdom 8:09 Revealing the mysteries of divine love 8:33 Man’s call to the heights of holiness 8:42 Creation reflects God’s eternal beauty 8:58 Reaching charity through truth and virtue 9:07 The soul’s intimacy with Divine Wisdom 9:22 Creation becomes a nuptial harmony 9:39 Living in desire, union and love #SaintLawrenceJustinian #CatholicSaints #FeastDay #LivesOfTheSaints #CatholicChurch #CatholicFaith #ChristianWisdom #Venice #CatholicHistory #CatholicPrayers #CatholicDevotion #CatholicMysticism https://sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/september/september-5-st-laurence-justinian-bishop-and-confessor/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ 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/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴