Vigil of St Laurence, Martyr; Comm. of St Romanus, Martyr (9 August) ~ Dom Prosper Guéranger

About this sermon

“Fear not, My servant, for I am with thee, saith the Lord. If thou pass through fire, the flame shall not hurt thee.” On August 9, the traditional Roman liturgy prepares for the glorious feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr, while also commemorating St. Romanus, Martyr. In this meditation from The Liturgical Year by Dom Prosper Guéranger, we enter the final hours preceding the martyrdom of St. Lawrence. Three days had passed since the martyrdom of Pope St. Sixtus II. Lawrence, his faithful deacon, knew that his own earthly exile was nearly finished. Soon he would stand beside his pontiff once again — this time before the altar of Heaven. But first Lawrence had to give the ultimate proof of his fidelity. Having distributed the treasures of the Church to the poor, Lawrence had nothing left to surrender except himself. Filled with supernatural joy, he prepared to become a living holocaust for Christ. His faith would prove stronger than the flames. ✝️ ST. LAWRENCE, DEACON AND MARTYR St. Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of Rome under Pope St. Sixtus II during the persecution of Emperor Valerian. According to ancient Christian tradition, Lawrence was entrusted with the treasures of the Roman Church and their distribution to the poor. When Sixtus went to martyrdom, Lawrence desired to follow him. His hour soon came. The Church remembers Lawrence as one of the greatest martyrs of Rome — a servant of Christ whose courage in the face of torture became a powerful testimony to the Faith. 🩸 ST. ROMANUS, MARTYR This vigil also commemorates St. Romanus, whose conversion beautifully demonstrates the ancient Christian truth that the blood of the martyrs becomes the seed of new Christians. Witnessing the constancy of Lawrence under torment, Romanus was won to Christ. The sufferings intended to destroy the Faith instead produced another Christian. Another martyr. Another saint. As Dom Guéranger beautifully reflects: “The seed of new Christians sprung from the blood of martyrs.” 🙏 PRAYER Attend, O Lord, to our supplications, and by the intercession of blessed Lawrence Thy Martyr, whose festival we anticipate, graciously extend to us perpetual mercy. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that by the intercession of blessed Romanus Thy Martyr, we may both be delivered from all adversities in body and be purified from all evil thoughts in mind. St. Lawrence, pray for us. St. Romanus, pray for us. Pope St. Sixtus II, pray for us. May the courage of the martyrs strengthen us to remain faithful to Jesus Christ regardless of the cost. 📖 Reading: The Liturgical Year — Dom Prosper Guéranger 📅 August 9 — Vigil of St. Lawrence, Martyr ✝️ Commemoration of St. Romanus, Martyr If these traditional Catholic readings help strengthen your faith, please like, subscribe, and share this video so that more Catholics can discover the lives, prayers, and heroic examples of the saints. May God bless you, and may the holy martyrs intercede for us. 00:00 The Vigil of St. Lawrence, Martyr 00:09 August 9 — Dom Prosper Guéranger 00:18 “Fear Not, My Servant, for I Am With Thee” 00:33 St. Lawrence Prepares for His Final Combat 00:48 Three Days After the Death of St. Sixtus II 01:04 Lawrence’s Faithfulness as a Deacon 01:21 The Treasures of the Church Given to the Poor 01:37 Lawrence Longs to Give Himself to Christ 01:52 A Living Holocaust Rising to Heaven 02:00 The Prayer of the Just Man 02:23 The Blood of Martyrs Bears Fruit 02:31 The Seed of New Christians 02:38 St. Romanus Is Converted to Christ 02:46 Prayer Through the Intercession of St. Lawrence 03:03 Prayer Through the Intercession of St. Romanus https://sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/august/august-9-vigil-of-st-laurence-martyr-comm-of-st-romanus-martyr/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ 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 #CatholicSaints #StRomanus #CatholicMartyrs #DomProsperGueranger #TheLiturgicalYear #TraditionalCatholic #CatholicTradition #CatholicFaith #CatholicChurch #LivesOfTheSaints #SaintOfTheDay #CatholicHistory #CatholicPrayer #CatholicDevotional #CatholicMen

Topics

• Suffering & Trials