St. Lawrence & the Joy of the Cross | Offer Your Suffering for the Church

About this sermon

What does St. Lawrence the Martyr teach Catholics living through times of confusion, persecution, and suffering? In this powerful reflection for the Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, we consider the extraordinary witness of the Roman deacon who gave the Church’s possessions to the poor and ultimately surrendered his own life for Jesus Christ. When commanded to surrender the treasures of the Church, St. Lawrence presented the poor. Arrested, tortured, and finally martyred on a gridiron in A.D. 258, Lawrence remained faithful to Christ—and even maintained his famous Christian joy in the midst of terrible suffering. Our Lord says in the Gospel: “Where I am, there also shall my minister be.” The word minister means servant. St. Lawrence served Pope St. Sixtus II as a deacon, but above all he became a servant of the crucified Christ. And where was Christ? On the Cross. The Church has endured persecution and trials throughout her history, yet Our Lord promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against her. Therefore, do not despair. Turn to Our Lady. Go to St. Joseph. Ask St. Lawrence for courage. And above all, remain close to Jesus Christ Crucified. 🙏 St. Lawrence, pray for us. 🙏 St. Joseph, pray for us. 🙏 Mary, Queen of Martyrs, pray for us. ✝️ Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. 00:00 – Opening Prayer 00:31 – Feast of St. Lawrence, Martyr 00:39 – St. Lawrence and Pope St. Sixtus II 00:46 – Giving the Church’s Possessions to the Poor 01:02 – St. Lawrence Presents the Church’s Treasures 01:19 – The Torture and Martyrdom of St. Lawrence 01:37 – Martyred on the Gridiron in A.D. 258 01:46 – “Where I Am, There Shall My Minister Be” 02:04 – St. Lawrence as Servant and Deacon 02:32 – Where Christ Is, We Must Be 02:40 – Be With Christ on the Cross 02:48 – The Church and Her Way of the Cross 03:04 – Diaconia: The Meaning of Christian Service 03:13 – The Apostolate of Suffering 03:28 – Unite Your Sufferings to Christ Crucified 03:43 – Sickness, Temptation, Persecution and Injustice 04:04 – Offer Your Sufferings for Holy Mother Church 04:14 – Mary, Handmaid of the Lord and Queen of Martyrs 04:29 – Our Lady’s Spiritual Martyrdom 04:46 – The Church Cannot Be Destroyed 05:08 – The Trials Facing the Church Today 05:39 – Confusion Within the Church 06:01 – Spiritual Danger and Apostasy 06:17 – The Call to Spiritual Martyrdom 06:42 – Do Not Waste Your Suffering 06:57 – Offering Suffering for the Church 07:05 – Christ, His Church and Our Lady 07:21 – The Restoration and the Age of Mary 07:36 – St. Joseph’s Role in These Times 07:51 – The Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph 08:07 – Ite ad Joseph: Go to Joseph 08:14 – Learning Service From St. Lawrence 08:30 – The Poor Are the Treasures of the Church 08:45 – Almsgiving and Helping the Poor 08:53 – Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit 09:11 – Faithful Souls Suffering Within the Church 09:27 – Suffer for the Church With Christ 09:43 – Do Not Let Suffering Steal Your Joy 09:50 – St. Lawrence’s Famous Humor on the Gridiron 10:06 – The Victory Has Already Been Won 10:22 – Sharing the Victory of the Cross 10:30 – The Cross Gives Joy and Peace 10:40 – Embrace, Hug and Kiss the Cross 10:49 – St. Lawrence: Suffer and Give With Joy 11:03 – Mary, Queen of Martyrs, Pray for Us 11:20 – Subscribe & Support the Apostolate For more please visit https://www.themarianfranciscans.org/ Please sign up at this link https://lifecrusade.org/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ 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 #Catholic #CatholicChurch #CatholicFaith #CatholicSaints #CatholicMartyrs #Martyr #JesusChrist #TheCross #CrossOfChrist #RedemptiveSuffering #OfferItUp #ChristianSuffering #CatholicTradition #TraditionalCatholic #CatholicHomily #CatholicSermon #BlessedVirginMary #OurLady #QueenOfMartyrs #SaintJoseph #StJoseph #HolyMotherChurch #CatholicSpirituality

Topics

• Suffering & Trials
• Church & Fellowship
• Joy
• Jesus Christ
• The Church