THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Her Doctrine and Morals

St. Lawrence

10 August 2025

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Dear Friends in Christ,

St. Lawrence was the archdeacon for Pope Sixtus II. He was martyred on August 10, 258.

He was arrested by the prefect of the city and called on to deliver up the property of the Church, in his charge. His only answer was to point to a crowd of poor people: "Here are the true treasures of the Church. They convert our alms into imperishable treasures for us." He was roasted to death on a gridiron, displaying a courage that continues to inspire us today.

St. Lawrence offered his life in martyrdom for the love of God, just as Christ offered His life for the love of us.

The Gospel for today shows us Christ explaining His death. Just as the grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die before it can bring forth fruit, so must it be with Christ. His death is not an end, but a beginning. He must die before the Church can bring forth the fruits of the conversion of the nations, a testament to the transformative power of His sacrifice.

It is truly in Christ's death that we are to find life.

In the sacrifice of the Mass, we recall the death of Christ. We have the crucifix placed prominently over the altar to constantly and deeply impress upon us the truth of Christ's death on the Cross and His sacrifice on our Altar.

The bread and wine at the time of Consecration through Transubstantiation become Christ. Christ is living in the Holy Eucharist — Body and Soul. The Council of Trent defines: "If anyone denieth that in the Sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist are contained truly, really, and substantially the Body and Blood together with the Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ... let him be anathema." (Sess. XIII can. 1).

The Sacrifice of the Mass is made complete when we receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist in Communion. When the Host or Wine are corrupted, Christ is no longer present. Thus, His physical presence remains with us in Holy Communion until the appearances of bread and wine are dissolved.

The Mass focuses our attention on the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and, likewise, on our altar. The living Christ comes upon our altar to sacrifice Himself for us in a renewal of the sacrifice of Calvary. This is what we refer to as the 'sacrifice of the Mass'. It is the same sacrifice offered, only on our altar, in an unbloody manner. This reenactment of Christ's sacrifice is not a repetition, but a re-presentation, making the graces of Calvary present to us today.

It was necessary that Christ should die for our sins. It is essential that this sacrifice should be continually renewed until the end of time in the Sacrifice of the Mass. This continuous renewal of His sacrifice in the Mass makes us feel connected to a larger spiritual journey, a journey towards life and salvation.

This is not all. It is not enough that Christ has died for us; that He has paid the price of our redemption with His own life. He expects us to love Him with such a love that we are ready, willing, and able to accept martyrdom for Him, just as St. Lawrence did. Only with such love and sacrifice on our part are we then deserving of salvation. Christ has redeemed us without our cooperation, but He will not save us unless we do what He has commanded us to do. The principal commandment is to love Him with our whole being; with a love of preference that is willing to sacrifice everything, even our own lives, for the love of Him.

When we are filled with such love, there is no sacrifice too great; there is no fear of anything, not even death. On the contrary, death is looked upon as a dear friend, as it opens up the door to eternity for us.

Christ willingly gave up His life for us; St. Lawrence willingly went to his death for the love of God. And we are called upon as Christians to be followers of Christ, just as the saints in Heaven were when they were on earth.

Let us ponder the words of St. Francis' Peace Prayer and ever strive to develop that love of God and fearlessness in the pursuit of our eternal happiness, such that we can make his words our own and not fear death: "It is in dying that we are born to eternal life".

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our loving and compassionate Mother, inspire us with her unwavering faith, guide us with her gentle wisdom, and protect us with her maternal care. Let us turn to her in our times of need, knowing that she is always ready to intercede for us before her Son, Jesus.