From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   -- Philippians 1:6 --    
      
      Being confident of this very thing: that he who hath begun a good   
   work in you will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.   
   [Philippians 1:6] DRB   
   =================   
       Do you sometimes feel as though you aren't making progress in your   
   spiritual life? When God starts a project, he completes it! He will   
   help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life.   
       When you are discouraged, remember that God won't give up on you.   
   He promises to finish the work he has begun. When you feel incomplete,   
   unfinished or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God's promise   
   and provision. Don't let your present condition rob you of the joy of   
   knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to him.   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   August 10: Saint Lawrence of Rome   
   (225-258)   
      
   Saint Lawrence of Rome was arch-deacon, distributor of alms, and   
   “Keeper of the Treasures of the Church” during a time when   
   Christianity was outlawed. Saint Lawrence was martyred for his faith   
   after refusing to give the Roman authorities the material wealth of   
   the Church. Instead, when they demanded it, Saint Lawrence produced   
   the crippled, blind, sick, and indigent of Rome, proclaiming them the   
   “true treasures of the Church.”   
      
   Little is known about the life of Saint Lawrence, with the exception   
   that he was born in Spain and later moved to Rome, earning the respect   
   of the Pope and elevated to the position of Arch-Deacon. The   
   inspiration of Saint Lawrence comes in the final days of his life, and   
   the courageous acts of his death.   
      
   Saint Laurence was chief of the seven Roman deacons of Pope Sixtus II.   
   In 258, Emperor Valerian increased his persecutions of the Christians.   
   One day when Pope Sixtus II was in the cemetery of Saint Calistus   
   celebrating Mass accompanied by some members of his clergy, he was   
   arrested. Along with him, the other six Roman deacons were arrested.   
   As the soldiers took the Pontiff to be put to death, Laurence followed   
   him in anguish crying out: “Where are you going, my father, without   
   your son? Where are you going, Holy Pontiff, without your deacon?   
   Isn’t it the custom to offer the sacrifice with an assistant? Let me   
   prove I am worthy of the choice you made when you entrusted me with   
   the distribution of the Blood of Our Lord.”   
      
   The Pope replied to Saint Lawrence: “I am not leaving you, my son.   
   They are lenient on old men, not the youth. A greater combat is   
   reserved for you. You will follow me in three days.” With the   
   Pontiff’s execution, Lawrence was the highest ranking church authority   
   left in Rome.   
      
   Saint Lawrence was brought before Cornelius Secularis, prefect of Rome   
   under the Emperor Valerian, who, according to Dom Prosper Guéranger in   
   his Liturgical Year: "aimed at ruining the Christians by prohibiting   
   their assemblies, putting their chief men to death, and confiscating   
   their property." Saint Lawrence asked for a short delay, so he could   
   gather these riches for the prefect, and true to the promise of Pope   
   Sixtus, returned three days after the pontiff’s death to hand them   
   over. However, heeding Pope Sixtus II’s final words, Lawrence used his   
   three days to distribute the material wealth of the Church to the   
   poor, before the Roman authorities could lay their hands on it.   
      
   When the archdeacon returned, instead of bringing vessels of gold and   
   silver, he brought the poor of the city, saying, “Behold, these choice   
   pearls, these sparkling gems that adorn the temple, these sacred   
   virgins, I mean, and these widows who refuse second marriage....   
   Behold then, all our riches." In response to his boldness, Cornelius   
   ordered the scourging and torture of Saint Lawrence upon the rack.   
      
   Saint Lawrence is remembered for his recognition of the true treasures   
   of the Church--the Body of Christ alive in the world. Not limited by   
   the literal, Lawrence used his opportunity to witness to the world the   
   mission of the Church on earth, the communion of her members, and the   
   importance and sanctity of every life to Christ. Through his acts, we   
   are reminded of those who we might forget--the sick, indigent,   
   crippled, lame--those on the fringes of society--and see them for what   
   they are: the beloved of Christ. What have we done lately, in our own   
   acts, to welcome them into our lives, our communities, our Church?   
      
      
   Father, You called Saint Lawrence to serve you by love   
   and crowned his life with glorious martyrdom.   
   Help us to be like him in loving you and doing   
   your work. Grant this through our Lord Jesus   
   Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with   
   You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and   
   ever. Amen.   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you   
   may know how you ought to answer every one. Colossians 4:6  RSVCE   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Hymn: Deus, tuorum militum   
      
   O God, of those that fought Thy fight,   
   Portion, and prize, and crown of light,   
   Break every bond of sin and shame   
   As now we praise Thy Martyr's name.   
      
   He recked not of the world's allure,   
   But sin and pomp of sin forswore:   
   Knew all their gall, and passed them by,   
   And reached the throne prepared on high.   
      
   Bravely the course of pain he ran,   
   And bare his torments as a man:   
   For love of Thee his blood outpoured,   
   And thus obtained the great reward.   
      
   With humble voice and suppliant word   
   We pray Thee therefore, holy Lord,   
   While we thy Martyr's feast-day keep,   
   Forgive Thy loved and erring sheep.   
      
   All honor, laud, and glory be,   
   O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee,   
   All glory, as is ever meet,   
   To Father and to Paraclete. Amen   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)