Vigil of Saint Laurence

now, according to the Pontiff's wish, distributed to the poor the treasures of the Church ; as the chants of the Liturgy tell us on this very morning. But he knew that if a man should give all the substance of his house for love, he shall despise it as nothing ;% and he longed to give himself as well. Overflowing with joy in his generosity he hailed the holocaust, whose sweet perfume he seemed already to perceive rising up to heaven. And well might he have sung the offertory of this Vigil's Mass: "My prayer is " pure, and therefore I ask that a place be given to " my voice in heaven : for my judge is there, and he "that knoweth my conscience is on high: let my " prayer ascend to the Lord."3

Sublime prayer of the just man which pierces the clouds! Even now we can say with the Church: His seed shall be mighty upon earth? the seed of new Christians sprung from the blood of martyrdom ; for to-day we greet the first fruits thereof in the person of Romanus, the neophyte whom his first torments won to Christ, and who preceded him to heaven. Let us, with the Church, unite the soldier and the deacon in our prayers :

PRAYER. sup- Adesto, Domine, supplicationibus nostris : et, in torsion cessione beati Laurentii, ti- Martyris tui, cujus pnevenimus festivitatem, perpetuam nobis misericordiam benignus impende. Per

Attend, O Lord, to our iplications, and by the intercesof blessed Laurence, thy martyr, whose festival wean cipate, graciously extend to us perpetual mercy. Through our Lord, &c.

Dominum.

1 Introit and Gradual of the Vigil fr. Pa. xci.

2 Cant. viii. 7.

3 Offertory f r. Job xvi.

4 Verse of Gradual fr. Ps. cxi.

PRAYER.

Praesta, qusesumus omnipotens Deus: ut, intercedente beato Romano, tuo, et a cunctis ad- nus, versitatibus liberemur in cor pore, etapra vis cogitationibus mundemur in mente. Per Dominum.

Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that by the Mar- intercession of blessed Romatyre thy martyr, we may both be delivered from all adversities in body, and be purified from all evil thoughts in mind. Through our Lord, dec.

August 10, SAINT LAURENCE,

DEACON AND MARTYR.

" Once the mother of false gods, but now the bride "of Christ, O Rome, it is through Laurence thou "art victorious! Thou hadst conquered haughty " monarchs and subjected nations to thine empire ; "but though thou hadst overcome barbarism, thy "glory was incomplete fill thou hadst vanquished " the unclean idols. This was Laurence's victory, a " combat bloody yet not tumultuous like those of " Camillus or of Caesar ; it was the contest of faith, " wherein self is immolated, and death is overcome "by death. What words, what praises suffice to " celebrate such a death ? How can I worthily sing " so great a martyrdom."1

Thus opens the sublime poem of Prudentius, composed little more than a century after the Saint's martyrdom. In this work the poet has preserved to us the traditions existing in his own day, whereby the name of the Roman deacon was rendered so illustrious. About the same time St. Ambrose, with his irresistible eloquence, described the meeting of Sixtus and his deacon on the way to martyrdom. -But, before both Ambrose and Prudentius, Pope St.

1 Prudent. Peristephanon., Hymn ii.

2 Am br. De offic i. 41.

Damasus chronicled the victory of Laurence's faith, in his majestic monumental inscriptions, which have such a ring of the days of triumph.

Rome was lavish in her demonstrations of honour towards the champion who had prayed for her deliverance, upon his red-hot gridiron. She inserted his name in the Canon of the Mass, and moreover celebrated the anniversary of his birth to heaven with as much solemnity as those of the glorious Apostles her founders, and with the same privileges of a Vigil and an Octave. She has been dyed with the blood of many other witnesses of Christ, yet, as though Laurence had a special claim upon her gratitude, every spot connected with him has been honoured with a Church. Amongst all these sanctuaries dedicated to him, the one which contains the martyr's body ranks next after the churches of St. John Lateran, St. Mary's on the Esquiline, St. Peter's on the Vatican, and St Paul's on the Ostian Way. St. Laurence outside the Walls completes the number of the five great basilicas, that form the appanage and exclusive possession of the Roman Pontiff. They represent the patriarchates of Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem, which divide the world between them, and express the universal and immediate jurisdiction of the Bishops of Rome over all the churches. Thus through Laurence the eternal City is completed, and is shown to be the centre of the world and the source of every grace.

Just as Peter and Paul are the riches, not of Rome alone, but of the whole world, so Laurence is called the honour of the world, for he, as it were, personified the courage of martyrdom. At the beginning of this month, we saw Stephen himself

1 De Rossi, Inscript. ii. 82. come to blend his dignity of Protomartyr with the glory of Sixtus II. 's deacon, by sharing his tomb. In Laurence, it seemed that both the struggle and the victory of martyrdom reached their highest point; persecution, it is true, was renewed during the next half century, and made many victims, yet his triumph was considered as the death-blow to paganism.

" The devil/' says Prudentius, " struggled fiercely " with God's witness, but he was himself wounded "and prostrated for ever. The death of Christ's " martyr gave the death-blow to the worship of idols, " and from that day Vesta was powerless to prevent " her temple from being deserted. All these Roman " citizens, brought up in the superstitions taught by "Numa, hasten, O Christ, to thy courts, singing " hymns to thy martyr. Illustrious senators, flamens "and priests of Lupercus, venerate the tombs of "Apostles and Saints. We see patricians and " matrons of the noblest families vowing to God the " children in whom their hopes are centered. The " Pontiff of the idols, whose brow but yesterday was "bound with sacred fillet, now signs himself with "the cross, and the Vestal Virgin Claudia visits thy "sanctuary, O Laurence."1

It need not surprise us, that this day's solemnity carries its triumphant joy from the city of the seven hills to the entire universe. "As it is impossible "for Rome to be concealed," says St. Augustine, "so it is equally impossible to hide Laurence's "crown." Everywhere, in both East and West, churches were built in his honour ; and in return, as the Bishop of Hippo testifies, " the favours he con-

" of his power with God ; who has ever prayed to " him and has not been graciously heard ?"2

" ferred were innumerable, and the greatness

Prudent.

2 Aug. Serra. 303 and 302.

Let us then conclude with St. Maximus of Turin that, " in the devotion wherewith the triumph of St " Laurence is being celebrated throughout the entire " world, we must recognise that it is both holy and " pleasing to God to honour, with all the fervour of " our souls, the birth to heaven of the martyr, who " by his radiant flames has spread the glory of his "victory over the whole Church. Because of the "spotless purity of soul which made him a true " Levite, and because of that fulness of faith which "earned him the martyr's palm, it is fitting that "we should honour him almost equally with the "Apostles."1

FIRST VESPERS.

Laurence lias entered the lists as a martyr, and has confessed the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such is the Antiphon wherewith the Church opens the first Vespers of the feast ; and in fact, by this hour he has already entered the arena; with noble irony he has challenged the authorities, and has even shed his blood.

On the very day of the martyrdom of Sixtus H., Cornelius Secularist prefect of Rome, summoned Laurence before his tribunal, but granted him the delay necessary for gathering together the riches required by the imperial treasury. Valerian did not include the obscure members of the Church in his edicts of persecution; he aimed at ruining the Christians by prohibiting their assemblies, putting their chief men to death, and confiscating their property. This accounts for the fact that, on the 6th August, the faithful assembled in the cemetery of Pretextatus were dispersed, the Pontiff executed, and the chief deacon arrested and ordered to deliver

1 Maxim. Taurin. Homil. 75 and 74. 2 Elenchus, Philocal. up the treasures which the government knew to be in bis keeping. " Acknowledge my just and peace- " able claims," said the prefect. " It is said that at "your orgies, your priests are accustomed, according " to the laws of your worship, to make libations in "cups of gold; that silver vessels smoke with the " blood of the victims, and that the torches that give "light to your nocturnal mysteries are fixed in "golden candlesticks. And then you have such " love and care for the brotherhood : report says you " sell your lands in order to devote to their service "thousands of sesterces; so that while the son is "disinherited by his holy parents and groans in " poverty, his patrimony is piously hidden away in

"immense treasures, the shameful spoils you have "won by deceiving the credulous; the public good " demands them ; render to Caesar the things that " are Caesar's, that he may have wherewith to fill his " treasury and pay his armies."

Laurence, untroubled by these words and as if quite willing to obey, gently answered : " I confess " you speak the truth ; our Church is indeed wealthy; "no one in the world, not even Augustus himself, " possesses such riches. I will disclose them all to "you, and I will show you the treasures of Christ. " All I ask for is a short delay, which will enable "me the better to perform what I have promised. " For I must make an inventory of all, count them " up, and value each article."

The prefect's heart swelled with joy and gloating over the gold he hoped soon to possess, he granted him a delay of three days. Meanwhile Laurence hastened all over the town and assembled the legions of poor whom their Mother the Church supported ; lame and blind, cripple and beggars, he called them all. None knew them better than the Archdeacon.

"the secrecy

Next he counted them, wrote down their names, and arranged them in long lines. On the appointed day he returned to the judge and thus addressed him : " Come with me and admire the incomparable riches " of the sanctuary of our God." They went together to the spot where the crowds of poor were standing, clothed in rags and filling the air with their supplications. " Why do you shudder V9 said Laurence to the prefect, "do you call that a vile and contemptible " spectacle ? If you seek after wealth, know that " the brightest gold is Christ, who is the light, and "the human race redeemed by him; for they are " the sons of the light, all these who are shielded by "their bodily weakness from the assault of pride " and evil passion ; soon they will lay aside their " ulcers in the palace of eternal life, and will shine " in marvellous glory, clothed in purple and bearing " golden crowns upon their heads. See here is the "gold which I promised you — gold of a kind that " fire cannot touch or thief steal from you. Think " not then that Christ is poor : behold these choice " pearls, these sparkling gems that adorn the temple, "these sacred virgins I mean, and these widows who "refuse second marriage; they form the priceless " necklace of the Church, they deck her brow, they " are her bridal ornaments, and win for her Christ's "love. Behold then all our riches; take them: " they will beautify the city of Romulus, they will "increase the Emperor's treasures, and enrich you "yourself"1

From a letter of Pope St. Cornelius, written a few years after these events, we learn that the number of widows and poor persons that the Church of Borne supported, exceeded 1500.* By thus exhibiting them before the magistrate, Laurence knew that

1 Prudent. 8 Cornelius ad Fabium Antioch. he endangered no one but himself, for the persecution of Valerian, as we have already observed, overlooked the inferior classes and attacked the leading members of the Church. Divine Wisdom thus confronted Csesarism and its brutality with Christianity which it so despised, but which was destined to overcome and subdue it.

This happened on the 9th August, 258. The first answer the furious prefect made, was to order Laurence to be scourged and tortured upon the rack. But these tortures were only a prelude to the great ordeal he was preparing for the noble-hearted Deacon. We learn this tradition from St. Damasus, for he says that, besides the flames, Laurence triumphed over "blows, tortures, torments, and chains." 1

We have also the authority of the notice inserted by Ado of Yienne in his martyrology in the ninth century, and taken from a still more ancient source. The conformity of expression proves that it was partly from this same source that the Gregorian Antiphonal had already taken the Antiphons and Responsories of the feast.

Besides the details which we learn from Prudentius and the Fathers, this Office alludes to the converts Laurence made while in prison, and to his restoring sight to the blind. This last seems to have been the special gift of the holy deacon during the days preceding his martyrdom.

1. Ant. Laurence has entered 1. Ant. Laurentius inthe lists as a martyr, and has gressus est Martyr, et conconfessed the name of our fessus est nomen Domini

Fa. Dixit Dominus, page 36.

1 Verbera, carnifices, flammas, tormenta, catenas, Vincere Laurenti sola fides potuit. Haee Damasus cumulat supplex altaria donis, Martyris egregium suspicions meritum.

Jesu Christi.

2. Ant. Laurentiusbonum opus operatus est, qui per sign u tn crucis csecos illuminavit.

3. Ant. Adhaesit anima inea post te, quia caro mea igne cremata est pro te Deus meus.

4. Ant. Misit Dominus Angelum suum, et liberavit me de medio ignis, et non sum aestuatus.

5. Ant. Beatus Laurentius orabat, dicens : Gratias tibi ago Domine, quia januas tuas ingredi merui.

6. ANT.Laurence has wrought a good work, who by the sign of the Cross gave sight to the blind.

Ps. Confitebor tibi Domine, page 37.

3. Ant. My soul has eleaved to thee, for my flesh has been burnt with fire for thy sake, O my God.

Ps. Beatus vir, page 38.

4. Ant. The Lord sent his Angel and delivered me from the midst of the fire, and I have not been consumed.

Ps. Laudate pueri, page 39.

5. Ant. Blessed Laurence prayed, saying: I give thee thanks, O Lord, that I have been found worthy to enter thy gates.

PSALM 116.

Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes : * laudate eum, omnes populi.

Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia ejus: * et Veritas Domini manet in se tern um.

O, praise the Lord, all ye nations, praise him, all ye people.

For his mercy is confirmed upon us, and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.

Fratres : Qui parce seminat, parce et metet : et qui seminat in benedictionibus, de benedictionibus et metet

CAPITULUM. (2 Cor. ix.)

Brethren: He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap spar* ingly : and he who soweth iij blessings, shall also reap blessings.

Deus tuorum militum Sors, et corona, premium,

HYMN.

O God! thou the inheritance, crown and reward of thy Soldiers ! absolve from the bonds of our sins us who sing the praises of thy Martyr.

For, counting the joys of the world,' and the deceitful bait of its caresses, as things embittered with call, thy Martyr obtained the delights of heaven.

Bravely did he go through, and manfully did he bear, his pains : and shedding his blood for thy sake, he now possesses thy eternal gifts.

Therefore, most merciful Father! we beseech thee, in most suppliant prayer, forgive us, thy unworthy servants, our sins, for it is the feast of thy Martyr's triumph.

Praise and eternal glory be to the Father, and to the Son, as also to the Holy Paraclete, for everlasting ages. Amen.

'ff. Thou hast crowned him, O Lord, with glory and honour.

And hast placed him over the works of thy hands.

Laudes canentes Martyris Absolve nexu criminis.

Hie nempe mundi gaudia, Et blanda fraudum pabula Imbuta felle deputans, Pervenit ad coelestia.

Pcenas cucurrit f ortiter, Et sustulit viriliter, Fundensque pro te sanguineus iEterna dona possidet.

Ob hoc precatu supplici Te poseimus piissiroe : In noc triumpho Martyris Dimitte nozam servulis.

Laus et perennis gloria Patri sit, atque Filio, Sancto simul Paraclito, In sempiterna ssecula. Amen.

^. Gloria et honore corona8ti eum, Domine.

1$. Et constituisti eum super opera manuum tua* rum.

ANTIPHON OF THE MAGNIFICAT.

Laurence the Levite hath wrought a good work: he restored sight to the blind by the sign of the Cross, and distributed to the poor the treasures of the Church.

The Canticle, Magnificat, page 44.

Levita Laurentius bonum opus operatus est, qui per signum crucis csecos ilium inavit, et thesauros Ecclesiae^ dedit pauperibus.

COLLECT.

Da nobis, qusesumus om- Grant us, we beseech thee, nipotens Deus: vitiorum Almighty God, to extinguish nostrorum flammas exstin- the flames of our vices : thou guere ; qui beato Laurentio who unto blessed Laurence tribuisti tormentorum suo- didst give a strength that rum incendia superare. Per overcame the fire of his tor-

Dominum. ments. Through, <fcc.

The August sun has set behind the Vatican, and the life and animation, which his burning heat had stilled for a time, begins once more upon the seven hills. Laurence was taken down from the rack about mid-day. In his prison, however, he took no rest, but wounded and bleeding as he was, he baptized the converts won to Christ by the sight of his courageous suffering. He confirmed their faith, and fired their souls with a martyr's intrepidity. When the evening hour summoned Rome to its pleasures, the prefect re-called the executioners to their work; for a few hours' rest had sufficiently restored their energy to enable them to satisfy his cruelty.

Surrounded by this ill-favoured company, the prefect thus addressed the valiant deacon : " Sacrifice "to the gods, or else the whole night long shall be "witness of your torments." "My night has no " darkness," answered Laurence, " and all things are " full of light to me." They struck him on the mouth with Btones, but he smiled and said : " I give thee " thanks, O Christ"

Then an iron bed or gridiron with three bars was brought'in and the Saint was stripped of his garments and extended upon it while burning coals were placed beneath it. As they were holding him down with iron forks, Laurence said : " I offer myself as a sacri- " fice to God for an odour of sweetness." The executioners continually stirred up the fire and brought fresh coals, while they still held him down with their forks. Then the Saint said : " Learn, unhappy man, " how great is the power of my God ; for your burning " coals give me refreshment, but they will be your " eternal punishment. I call thee, O Lord, to witness: " when I was accused, I did not deny thee ; when I " was questioned, I confessed thee, O Christ ; on the " red-hot coals I gave thee thanks." And with his countenance radiant with heavenly beauty, he continued: "Yea, I give thee thanks, O Lord Jesus " Christ, for that thou hast deigned to strengthen me." He then raised his eyes to his judge, and said: "See, " this side is well roasted ; turn me on the other and " eat." Then continuing his canticle of praise to God: " I give thee thanks, O Lord, that I have merited to " enter into thy dwelling-place."1 As he was on the point of death, he remembered the Church. The thought of the eternal Kome gave him fresh strength, and he breathed forth this ecstatic prayer: " O Christ, " only God, O Splendour, O Power of the Father, O " Maker of heaven and earth and builder of this city's " walls ! Thou hast placed Rome's sceptre high over " all ; thou hast willed to subject the world to it, in " order to unite under one law the nations which "differ in manners, customs, language, genius, and " sacrifice. Behold the whole human race has sub- " mitted to its empire, and all discord and dissensions "disappear in its unity. Remember thy purpose: "thou didst will to bind the immense universe " together into one Christian Kingdom. O Christ, " for the sake of thy Romans, make this city Chris- " tian ; for to it thou gavest the charge of leading all the rest to sacred unity. All its members in every " place are united, — a very type of thy Kingdom ; " the conquered universe has bowed before it Oh !

1Adon. Martyrol.

" may its royal head be bowed in turn ! Send thy " Gabriel and bid him heal the blindness of the sons " of Jul us that they may know the true God. I see "a prince who is to come — an Emperor who is a " servant of God. He will not suffer Rome to remain " a slave ; he will close the temples and fasten them " with bolts for ever."

Thus he prayed, and with these last words he breathed forth his soul. Some noble Romans who had been conquered to Christ by the martyr's admirable boldness, removed his body: the love of the Most High God had suddenly filled their hearts and dispelled their former errors. From that day the worship of the infamous gods grew cold ; few people went now to the temples, but hastened to the altars of Christ. Thus Laurence, going unarmed to the battle, had wounded the enemy with his own sword.

The Church, which is always grateful in proportion to the service rendered her, could not forget thi& glorious night. At the period when her children's piety vied with her own, she used to summon them together at sunset on the evening of the 9th August for a first Night-Office, At midnight the second Matins began, followed by the first Mass called " of "the night or of the ewrty morning."2 Thus the Christians watched around the holy deacon during the hours of his glorious combat. " O God, thou hast " proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast " tried me by fire, and iniquity hath not been found " in me. Hear, O Lord, my justice ; attend to my "supplication."3 Such is the grand Introit which immediately after the night vigils, hallowed the dawn of the 10th August, at the very moment when

1 Prudent.

2 De nocte, in primo mane: Sacramentar. Greg, apvd H. Menard,

3 Introit, ex Ps. xvi. : Antiphona ctptid Tommasi.

33»

Laurence entered the eternal sanctuary to fulfil his office at the heavenly altar.

Later on certain churches observed on this feast a custom similar to one in use at the Matins of the commemoration of St. Paul ; it consisted in reciting a particular Versicle before repeating each Antiphon of the Nocturns. The Doctors of the sacred Liturgy tell us that the remarkable labours of the Doctor of the Gentiles and those of St. Laurence earned for them this distinction.

Our forefathers were greatly struck by the contrast between the endurance of the holy deacon under his cruel tortures and his tender-hearted, tearful parting with Sixtus II., three days before. On this account, they gave to the periodical showers of " falling stars/' which occur about the 10th August, the graceful name of St Laurence's tears : a touching instance of that popular piety which delights in raising the heart to God through the medium of natural phenomena.

MASS.

The deacon has followed his Pontiff beyond the veil ; the faithful Levite is standing beside the ark of the eternal covenant. He now gazes on the splendour of that tabernacle not made with hands, feebly figured by that of Moses, and but partially revealed by the Church herself.

And yet to-day, though still an exile, Mother Church thrills with a holy pride, for she has added something to the glory and the sanctity of heaven. She triumphantly advances to the altar on earth, which is one with that in heaven. Throughout the night she has had her eyes and her heart fixed on

1 Beleth. cxlv. ; Sicard. ix., xxxix. ; Durand. vii., xxiii.

PENT. IV. Z her noble son; and now she dares to sing of the beauty, the holiness, the magnificence of our fatherland, as though they were already hers ; for the rays of eternal light seem to have fallen upon her as the veil lifted to admit Laurence into the Holy of Holies.

The Introit and its verse are taken from Psalm xcv.:

INTROIT.

Confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu ejus: sancti- fore tas et magnificentia in san- jesty in ctificatione ejus.

Praise and beauty are behim: holiness and mahis sanctuary,

Ps. Cantate Domino can- Ps. Sing ye to the Lord a ticum novum : cantate Do- new canticle ; sing to the mino omnis terra. Gloria Lord all the earth, y . Glory,

Patri. Confessio. <fec Praise.

No doubt our weakness will not be called upon to endure the ordeal of a red-hot gridiron; nevertheless, we are tried by flames of a different kind, which, if we do not extinguish them in this life, will feed the eternal fire of hell. The Church, therefore, asks on this feast of St. Laurence that we may be gifted with prudence and courage.

COLLECT.

Da nobis, qusesumus om- Grant us, we beseech thee, nipotens Deus : vitiorum Almighty God, to extinguish nostrorum flammas exstin- the names of our vices ; who guere ; qui beato Laurentio didst grant to blessed Lau- tribuisti tormentorum suo- rence to overcome the fire of rum incendia superare. Per his torments. Through our

Dominum. Lord, &c

EPISTLE.

Lectio Epistolae beati Pauli Lesson of the Epistle of St Apostoli ad Corinthios, Paul the Apostle to the IL Cap. ix. Corinthians, II. Ch. ix.

Fratres, Qui parce semi- Brethren, he who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly ; and he who soweth in blessings, shall also reap of blessings. Every one as he has determined in his heart ; not with sadness, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound in you ; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work, as it is written: He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his justice remaineth for ever. And he that ministereth seed to the sower, will both give you bread to eat and will multiply your seed, and increase the growth of the fruits of your justice. nat, parce et metet : et qui seminat in benedictionibus, de benedictionibus et metet. Unusquisque prout destinavit in corde suo, non ex tristitia, aut ex necessitate: hilarem enimdatorem diligit Deus. Potens est autem Deus oranem gratiam abundare facere in vobis: ut in omnibus semper omnem sufficientiam habentes, abundetis in omne opus bonum, sicut scripturn est: Dispersit, dedit pauperibus : justitia ejus manet in speculum sseculL Qui autem administrat semen seminanti: et panem ad manducandumpraestabit, et multiplicabit semen vestrum, et augebit incrementa f rugum justitiae vestrae.

He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor : his justice remaineth for ever. The Roman Church loves to repeat these words of Psalm cxi. in honour of her great archdeacon. Yesterday she sang them in the Introit and Gradual of the Vigil ; again they were heard last night in the Responsories, and this morning in the Versicle of her triumphant Lauds. Indeed, the Epistle we have just read, which also furnishes the Little Chapters for the several Hours, was selected for to-day because of this same text being therein quoted by the Apostle. Evidently the choice graces which won for Laurence his glorious martyrdom were, in the Church's estimation, the outcome of the brave and cheerful fidelity wherewith he distributed to the poor the treasures in his keeping. He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap .sparingly ; and he who soweth in blessings, shall also reap of blessings; such is the supernatural economy of the Holy Ghost in the distribution of his gifts, as exemplified in the glorious scenes we have witnessed during these three days.

We may add with the Apostle : What touches the heart of God, and moves him to multiply his favoursr is not so much the work itself as the spirit that prompts it. God loveth a cheerful giver. Noble-hearted, tender, devoted, and self-forgetful, heroic with a heroism born of simplicity no less than of courage, gracious and smiling even on his gridiron : such was Laurence towards God, towards his father Sixtus II., towards the lowly; and the same he was towards the powerful and in the very face of death. The closing of his life did but prove that he was as faithful in great things as he had been in small. Seldom are nature and grace so perfectly in harmony as they were in the young deacon, and though the gift of martyrdom is so great that no one can merit it, yet his particularly glorious martyrdom seems to have been the development, as if by natural evolution, of the precious germs planted by the Holy Ghost in the rich soil of his noble nature.

The words of Psalm xvi., which formerly composed the Introit of the Mass of the night, are repeated in the Gradual of the morning Mass. The Alleluia Verse reminds us of the miracles wrought by St. Laurence upon the blind ; let us ask him to cure our spiritual blindness, which is more terrible than that of the body.

GRADUAL.

Probasti, Domine, cor Thou hast proved my heart, meum, et visitasti nocte. O Lord, and visited it by night y. Igne me examinasti, p. Thou hast tried me by et non est inventa in me fire, and iniquity hath not iniquitas. been found in me.

Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia. ft. The Levite Laurence wrought a good work, who gave sight to the blind by the sign of the cross. Alleluia.

Levita Laurentius bonum opus operatus est : qui per signum crucis caecos llluminavit Alleluia.

Sequel of the Holy Gospel according to John. Ch. xii.

At that time : Jeaus said to his disciples : Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, itself remaineth alone • but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit He that loveth his life, shall lose it ; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to me, let him follow me; and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour.

Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Johannem. Cap. xii.

In illo tempore: Dixit J esus discipulis suis: Amen, amen dico vobis, nisi granum frumenti cadens in terrain, mortuum f uerit, ipsum solum manet: si autem mortuum fuerit, multum fructum affert. Qui amat animam suam, perdet earn; et qui odit animam suam in hoc mundo, in vitam seternam custodit earn. Si quis mihi ministrat, me sequatur: et ubi sum ego, illic et minister meus erit Si quis mihi ministraverit, honorificabit eum Pater mens.

The Gospel we have just read was thus commented by St Augustine on this very feast : " Your " faith recognises the grain that fell into the earth, "and, having died, was multiplied. Your faith, I " say, recognises this grain, for the same d welleth in " your souls." That it was concerning himself Christ spake these words no Christian doubts. But now that that seed is dead and has been multiplied, many grains have been sown in the earth ; among them is the blessed Laurence, and this is the day of his sowing. What an abundant harvest has sprung from these grains scattered over all the earth ! We see it, we rejoice in it, nay, we ourselves are the harvest ; if so be, by his grace, we belong to the granary. For not all that grows in the field belongs to the granary. The same useful, nourishing rain feeds both the wheat and the chaff. God forbid that both should be laid up together in the granary; although they grew together in the field, and were threshed together in the threshing floor.

Now is the time to choose. Let us now, before the winnowiDg, separate ourselves from the wicked by our manner of life, as in the floor the grain is threshed out of the chaff, though not yet separated from it by the final winnowing. Hear me, ye holy grains, who, I doubt not, are here ; for if I doubted, I should not be a grain myself : hear me, I say ; or rather, hear that first grain speaking by me. Love not your life in this world : love it not if you truly love it, so that by not loving you may preserve it ; for by not loving, you love the more. He that loveth his life in this world, shall lose it}

Thus because Laurence was as an enemy to himself and lost his life in this world, he found it in the next. Being a minister of Christ by his very title, for deacon means minister, he followed the Man-God, as the Gospel exhorts; he followed him to the altar, and to the altar of the Cross. Having fallen with him into the earth, he has been multi-

Elied in him. Though separated from St. Laurence y distance of time and place, yet we are, ourselves, as the Bishop of Hippo teaches, a part of the harvest that is ever springing from him. Let this thought excite us to gratitude towards the holy deacon ; and let us all the more eagerly unite our homage with tbe honour bestowed on him by our heavenly Father, for having ministered to his Son.

The Offertory repeats the words of the Introit to

1 Aug. Sermo cccv., a/, xxvi., in Nat. S. Laurent. a different melody ; it is earth's echo to the music of heaven. The. beauty and sanctity that so magnificently enhance the worship of praise around the eternal altar ought to shine by faith in the souls of the Church's ministers, as the Angels beheld them shining in Laurence's soul while he was still on earth.

OFFERTORY.

Praise and beauty are before Conf essio et pulchritudo him: holiness and majesty are in conspectu ejus : sanctitas in his sanctuary. et magnificentia in aanctifi- catione ejus.

At this point of the Mysteries it was once Laurence's duty to present the offerings ; the Church, while now presenting them, claims the suffrage of his merits.

SECRET. munera dignanter oblata, et beati Laurentii suffragantibus meritis, ad nostrae salutis auxilium provenire concede. Per Dominum.

Graciously accept the offer- Accipe,qusesumusDomine, ings made to thee, O Lord, we beseech thee ; ana the merits of blessed Laurence thy martyr, pleading for us, grant them to become a help to our salvation. Through, &c

Laurence worthily fulfilled his august ministry at the Table of his Lord; and he, to whom he thus devoted himself, keeps his promise made in the Gospel, by calling him to live for ever where he is himself.

COMMUNION.

Qui niibi ministrat, me sequatur : et ubi ego sum, illic et minister meus erit

If any man minister to me, let him follow me: and where I am, there also shall my minister be.

After feasting at the sacred banquet of which

Laurence was once the dispenser, we beg that the homage of our own service may draw down upon us, through his intercession, an increase of grace.

POSTCOMMUNION.

Sacro nmnere s&tiati, sup- Replenished with thy sacred plices te, Domine, depre- gifts, we suppliantly beseech camur: ut, quod debitse thee, O Lord, that what we servitutis celebramus officio, celebrate with due service, by intercedente beato Lauren- the intercession of blessed tio Martyre tuo, palvationis Laurence, tby martyr, we may tua sentiamus augmentum. perceive to contribute towards

Per Dominum. our salvation. Through our

Lord, &c

SECOND VESPERS.

This morning, as soon as Laurence had given up his brave soul to his Creator, his body was taken, like precious gold from the crucible, and wrapt in linen cloths with sweet spices. As in the case of Stephen the protomartyr, and of Jesus the Bang of martyrs, so now, too, noble persons vied with each other in paying honour to the sacred remains. In the evening of the 10th August, the noble converts mentioned by Prudentius bowed their heads beneath the venerable burden; and followed by a great company of mourners, they carried him along the Tiburtian Way, and buried him in the cemetery of Cyriacus. The Church on earth mourned for her illustrious son; but the Church in heaven was already overflowing with joy, and each anniversary of the glorious triumph was to give fresh gladness to the world.

The Office of Second Vespers is the same as that

1 Adon. Martyrolog. of the First, except for the last Psalm, the Versicle, and the Magnificat Antiphon. This Psalm, which the Church sings for all her Martyrs, is the 115th. It admirably expresses Laurence's exulting gratitude: his confession of faith was the cause of his triumph over suffering and over snares; he filled with his own blood the chalice committed to his cq,re, thus proving himself a true deacon, a minister of God's altar, and a son of the Church, the handmaid of the Lord. And now that his bonds are broken, he has begun his everlasting service in the company of the Saints, in the midst of thee, 0 Jerusalem. psalm 115.

I have believed, therefore Credidi, propter quod lo- have I spoken: but I have cutus sum: * ego autem been humbled exceedingly. humiliatus sum nimis.

I said in my excess : Every Ego dixi in excessu meo : man is a liar. * Omnis homo mendax.

What shall I render unto Quid retribuam Domino : the Lord, for all the things * pro omnibus quad retribuit that he hath rendered unto mihif me?

I will take the chalice of Calicem salutaris acci- salvation, and I will call upon piam : * et Nomen Domini the Name of the Lord. mvocabo.

I will pay my vows to the Votamea Domino reddam

Lord before all his people ; coram omni populo ejus : *

Erecious in the sight of the pretiosa in conspectu Do- iord is the death of his saints, mini mors sanctorum ejus.

0 Lord, for I am thy ser- O Domine, quia ego servant : I am thy servant, and vus tuns : * ego servus tuus, the son of thy handmaid. et filius ancillse tuaa.

Thou hast broken my bonds : Dirupisti vincula mea : *

I will sacrifice unto thee the tibi sacrificabo hostiam sacrifice of praise, and 1 will laudis, et Nomen Domini call upon the Name of the inrocabo. Lord.

1 will pay my vows to the Votamea Domino reddam Lord in the sight of all his in conspectu omnis populi people: in the courts of the ejus: * in atriis aomus

Domini, in medio tui, Jeru- house of the Lord, in the salem. midst of thee, O Jerusalem.

. After the Hymn the following versicle is sung, and then the Magnificat Antiphon :

"ff. Levita Laurentius bo- J^. The Levite Laurence num odus operatus est. wrought a good work.

1$. Qui per signum cru- Who gave sight to the cis caecos illuminavit. blind by the sign of the cross.

ANTIPHON OF THE MAGNIFICAT.

Beatus Laurentius dum in craticula superpositus ureretur, ad impiissimum gridiron, tyrannum dixit: Assatum est jam, versa, et manduca : nam facultates Ecclesiae, quas requiris, in coelestes demandest, thesauros manus pauperum deportaverunt.

While blessed Laurence was burning, stretched upon the he said to the wicked tyrant: I am now roasted, turn and eat : as to the goods of the Church which thou the hands of the poor have already conveyed them into the heavenly trea- sures.

After the Collect of the Feast a commemoration is made of two holy Martyrs, whose passion occurs to-morrow.

Commemoration of Ss. Tiburtius and Susanna.

Ant. Istorum est enim Ant. Theirs is the kingdom regnum ccelorum, qui con- of heaven, who despising an tempserunt vitam mundi, earthly life, have obtained et pervenerunt ad praemia heavenly rewards, and washed regni, et laverunt stolas suas their robes in the blood of the in sanguine Agni. Lamb.

^. Lsetamini in Domino, J. Be glad in the Lord and et exsultate justi. rejoice ye just.

]$. Et gloriamini omnes IJ. And glory all ye right recti corde. of heart.

COLLECT.

Sanctorum Martyrum tuo- May the constant protection of thy holy martyrs, Tiburtius and Susanna, support us, O Lord ; for thou never ceasest mercifully to regard those whom thou grantest to be assisted by such helps. Through, <fcc. rum Tiburtii et Susannae nos, Domine, foveant continuata presidia : quia non desinis propitius intueri, ^uos talibus auxiliis concesseris adjuvari. Per Dominum.

The Greeks in their Menaea echo the homage paid by the West to the conqueror.

MENSIS AUGUSTI. DIE X. In Matutino.

The deacon of the Word, adorned with the beauty of the Word, freely lays down his life for love of the Word, and justly now he reigneth with the Word, inebriated with his joy and glory.

Strengthened with the armour of truth and of piety against the wicked contradictions of the erring, thou by thy faith and thy wise words hast destroyed for ever the stronghold of falsehood.

With thine eyes fixed, O Laurence, on the beauty of God, thou didst contemn alike the flatteries of the world and its torments, O hero, worthy of admiration !

Christ, the true deacon who dispenses to us the gifts of the Father, had revealed himself to thee ; and thou, longing to be his own deacon, didst go to him by the path of love, O thou who art truly to be envied !

Like an auspicious sun, rising in the West by a pro-

Diaconus Verbi, Verbo decorus, vitam amore Verbi sponte litat, et cum Verbo jure nunc regnat, ipsius lsetitia gloriaque inebriatus.

Contra errantium impias redargutiones, veritatis pietatisque armatura firmatus, falsitatis munimentum fide tua dictisque ex sententia evertisti in finem.

In Dei pulchritudine, Laurenti, fixus oculos, terra blanditias necnon et cruciatus contempsisti, o admirande.

Christus quum diaconus seu minister nobis donorum quae sunt ex Patre tibi innotuisset, diaconus illius et ipse fieri cupiens, per sanguinem ad ipsum commigrasti, o invidende.

Tamquam sol felix ab Occidente oriens, stupen- dam et admirabile valde, digy universam coruscationibus illustrasti Ecclesiam, o admirande, cunctique ardore liant fidei tu8B calefacti sunt : tyr, ideo te omnes glorificamus. ceived ar- exceeding wonderful, thou hast enlightened the whole Church with thy brillight, O admirable marand all mankind have rewarmth from the dour of thy faith: therefore do we all glorify thee. triu Perfectis gaudiis expleatwr oblatio . . . Gratias 4<tibi, Domine, quoniam sanctum Lawrentium " Martyrem tuvm% te vn&pira/nte diligimus : u

Let us seek from the ancient Liturgies their bute of praise to the holy Martyr. The Leonian Sacramentary offers us this Preface, which in its noble brevity expresses in all their freshness the feelings of the Church towards her glorious son: May our offering be made with perfect joy . • . We give 4< thanks to thee, O Lord, that, by thy inspiration, we "love thy holy Martyr Laurence." Such is the character of the formulae which precede and follow, in the Holy Sacrifice, the words we here give :

PREFACE.

Vers dignum. Tuam misericordiam deprecantes, ut mentibus nostris beati rentii Martyris tui tribuas jugiter suavitatem, qua et nos amemus ejus meritum passionis, et mdulgentiam nobis semper iidelis ille Patronus obtineat

It is truly right and just to glorify thee, O God, be- Lau- seeching thy mercy, that thou wouldst ever bestow upon our souls the sweetness of thy blessed Martyr Laurence, whereby we may love the reward of his passion, and he, as an ever-faithful patron, may obtain pardon for us.

The so-called Gothic Missal, which represents, as we know, the Liturgy of the Churches of France before Pepin and Charlemagne, is to-day in full harmony with the sentiments of the Mother Church.

MISSA S. LAURENTI, MART.

O God, the Saviour and guide of thy faithful, Almighty, eternal God, be propitious to our prayers on this day of solemnity, and lovingly favour the joys conceived by the Church for the glorious passion of thy blessed Martyr Laurence: may the faith of all be increased by the appearance of such great virtue; and may the hearts of all who rejoice be kindled by the suffering of the martyrs : that in presence of thy mercy we may be aided by his merit, at whose example we exult . Through our Lord, <fcc.

Deus, fidelium tuorum Salvator et rector, omnipotens sempiterne Deus, adesto votis solemnitatis hodiernae ; et Ecclesiae gaudiis de gloriosa Martyris tui passione beati Lauren ti concepts, benignus adspira : augeatur omnium fides tantse virtutis ortu ; et corda laetantium supplicio Martyrum igniantur: ut apud misericordiam tuam illius juvemur merit o, cujus exsultatnus exemplo. Per Dominum.

IMMOLATIO MISSiE.

It is truly right and just, O Almighty, eternal God, to offer, on the solemnity of the great Martyr Laurence, sacrifices of praise to thee: who this day, by the ministry of the same Martyr Laurence, thy blessed Levite, didst receive as a living holocaust the flower of his chaste body. We have heard his voice, attuned to the harmony of the melodious Psalm, singing and saying : " Thou hast proved my " heart, O God, and visited it "by night, that is, iu the " darkness of this world ; thou "hast tried me by fire, and 44 iniquity hath not been found "in me. O glorious valour in the strife! O unshaken constancy of the confessor! His limbs are stretched and

„ Vere dignum et justum est, omnipotens sempiterne Deus, tibi in tanti Martyris Laurenti laudis hostias: immolare : qui hostiam viventem hodie in ipsius Levitae tui beati Laurenti Martyris ministerio per florem casti corporis accepisti. Cujus vocem per hymnidicum modolamini Psalmi audivimus canentis atque dicentis : Probasti cor meum, Deus, et visitasti noctem, id est in tenebris saeculi: igne me examinasti ; et non est inventa in me iniquitas. O gloriosa certaminis virtus ! o inconcussa constantia confitentis! Stridunt membra viventis super craticulum imposita, et prunis saevientibus anhelantis, incensum suum in modnm thymiamatis divinis naribus exhibent odorem. Dicit enim Martyr ipse cum Paulo : Christi bonus odor sumus Deo. Non enim cogitabat quomodo in terra positus, a passionis periculo liberaretur, sed quomodo inter Martyres in ccelis coronaretur. Per Christum. hiss upon the gridiron, while yet he lives, and gasping, breathes the fiery heat of the burning coals ; and they send up their smoke like incense, a sweet odour to God. For the Martyr himself said with Paul: "We are the good odour " of Christ to God." For he thought not how on earth he might escape the danger of suffering, but how in heaven he would be crowned among the martyrs. Through Christ our Lord, &&

From the Mozarabic Liturgy we will take but one prayer for to-day :

CAPITULA.

Domine Jesu Christe, qui beatissimum Laurentium igne charitatis tuse ardentem, et cupiditatum et passionum incendia f ecisti evincere: dum et aurum calcat et flammam, et in pauperum erogationem munificus et in combustionem suis corporis reperitur devotus ; da nobis obtentu suffragii illius, ut vapore Spiritug Sancti accensi flammas superemus libidinis, et igne concrememur omnimodae sanctitatis : quo inter Sanctos illos sors nostra inveniatur post transitum, pro quibus nunc tibi dependimus famulatum.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst enable the most blessed Laurence, burning with the fire of thy charity, to overcome the heat both of passions and of sufferings : for he trampled alike both on gold and the fire, and was found liberal in giving to the poor, and faithful in the burning of his body; grant us, through his intercession, that being kindled by the breath of the Holy Spirit, we may overcome the names of concupiscence and may be consumed by the fire of all sanctity: so that after our passage through this life, our lot may be found among those saints for whom we now offer thee our homage.

Adam of St. Victor shall crown the day with one of his admirable sequences :

SEQUENCE.

Let us admire Laurence laid upon hot coals: let us with praises honour the laurelcrowned: let us reverence with trembling, and beseech with love, this illustrious martyr.

Being accused, he did not deny ; but being struck he answered back with a longsounding trumpet, when in his wished-for sufferings he exulted and sounded forth the divine praises.

As the musical chord struck with the plectrum gives forth its loud melody, so he, stretched on the lyre of the torture, sounded the strain of the confessors of Christ.

See, Decius, how he stands invincible in faith, amid the blows, and threats, and flames: hope within, and a voice from above, console him and exhort him to constancy.

For the treasures which thou seekest are not gotten to thee by the torments, but to Laurence. He gathers them in

Prunis datum

Admiremur,

Laureatum,

Veneremur Laudibus Laurentium ;

Veneremur

Cum tremore,

Deprecemur

Cum amore Martyrem egregium.

Accusatus

Non negavit ;

Sed pulsatus

Eesultavit In tubis ductilibus,

Cum in pcenis

Voto plenis

Exsultaret

Et sonaret In divinis laudibus.

Sicut chorda musicorum Tandem sonum dat sonorum

Plectri ministerio ; Sic, in chely tormentorum, Melos Christi confessorum

Dedit hujus tensio.

Deci, vide

Quia fide

Stat invictu

Inter ictus, Minas et incendia :

Spes interna,

Vox superna

Consolantur

Et hortantur Virum de constantia.

Nam thesauros quos exquiris

Per tormenta non acquiris Tibi, sed Laurentio.

Hos in Christo coacervat, Hujus pugna Christus ser~ vat,

Triumphantis praemio.

Nescit sancti nox obscurum, Ut in pcenis quid impurum

Fide tractet dubia ; Neque csecis lumen daret, Si non eum radiaret

Luminis prsesentia.

Christ, and for his combat Christ keeps them for him as the reward of his triumph.

Fidei confessio Lucet in Laurentio : Non ponit sub modio, Statuit in medio Lumen coram omnibus. Juvat Dei famulum Crucis suae bajulum, Assum quasi ferculum, Fieri spectaculum Angelis et gentibus.

Non abhorret prunis volvi, Qui de carne cupit solvi

Et cum Christo vivere, Neque timet occidentes Corpus, sed non praevalentes

Animam occidere.

Sicut vasa figulorum Probat fornax, et eorum

Solidat substantiam, Sic et ignis hunc assatum Velut testam solidatum Eeddit per constantiam.

Nam cum vetus corrumpatur,

Alter homo renovatur - Veteris incendio ; Unde nimis confortatus Est athletse principatus In Dei servitio.

To the holy one the night knows no darkness, nor in his sufferings is he defiled by wavering faith ; for he could not have given light to the blind, had not the light been present shining upon him.

The confession of faith shines bright in Laurence: he hides not the light beneath a bushel, but sets it in the midst before all. It is pleasant to the servant of God, the bearer of his Cross, to .be roasted as food, to be made a spectacle to Angels and to the nations.

He shrinks not from being turned upon the coals, who desires to be delivered from the flesh, and to live with Christ; nor fears he them that slay the body, but are not able to hurt the souk

As the furnace proves the potter's vessels, and hardenstheir substance, so does the fire, roasting him, make him firm by constancy like the fired clay.

For when the old man is destroyed, the other is renewed in the burning of the old ; hence the power of the combatant is exceedingly strengthened in the service of God.

Through the strength of his love and his zeal for Justice he deems this outward heat bat dew ; the fire that burns but not consumes, outdoes thy heaped-up coals, O impious minister.

Thou knowest not the virtue of the mustard-seed, unless thou touch it, unless thou crush it; and more fragrant is the incense when it smokes upon the fire; even so, the martyr, oppressed and burned with suffering and with heat, exhales more fully the fragrance of his virtue.

O Laurence exceedingly honourable, having conquered a king, thou hast become an eminent king, thou, brave soldier of the King of kings, who didst make small account of sufferings when fighting for Justice ; thou who didst overcome so many evils by contemplating the good things of Christ, make us by the grace of thy merits, spurn evil and rejoice in good.

Amen.

Hunc ardorem

Factum foris

Putat rorem

Vis amoris Et zelus Justitiae ;

Ignis urens,

Non comburens,

Vincit nrunas

Quas aaunas, O minister impie.

Parum sapis

Vim sinapis,

Si non tangis,

Si non frangis ;

Et plus f ragrat

Quando flagrat Thus injectum ignibus.

Sic arctatus

Et assatus,

Sub labore,

Sub ardore,

Dat odoreni

Pleniorem Martyr de virtutibus.

O Laurenti, laute nimis, Rege victo rex sublimis, Regis regum fortis miles, Qui duxisti poenas viles

Certans pro Justitia; Qui tot mala devicisti Contemplando bona Christi , Fac nos malis insultare, Fac de bonis exsultare

Meritorum gratia.

Amen.

" Thrice blessed are the Roman people, for they "honour thee on the very spot where thy sacred "bones repose! They prostrate in thy sanctuary,

PENT. IV. 2 A

" and watering the ground with their tears they pour " out their vows. We who are distant from Rome, " separated by Alps and Pyrenees, how can we even "imagine what treasures she possesses, or how " rich is her earth in sacred tombs ? We have not " her privileges, we cannot trace the martyrs' bloody " footsteps ; but from afar we gaze on the heavens. " O holy Laurence ! it is there we seek the memorial "of thy passion; for thou hast two dwelling-places, " that of thy body on earth and that of thy soul in " heaven. In the ineffable heavenly city thou hast "been received to citizenship, and the civic crown " adorns thy brow in its eternal Senate. So brightly " shine thy jewels that it seemeth the heavenly Rome " hath chosen thee perpetual Consul. The joy of the "Quirites proves how great is thine office, thine "influence, and thy power, for thou grantest their " requests. Thou nearest all who pray to thee, they " ask what they will and none ever goes away sad.

" Ever assist thy children of the queen city ; give " them the strong support of thy fatherly love, and a " mother's tender, fostering care. Together with them, " 0 thou honour of Christ, listen to thy humble client " confessing his misery and sins. I acknowledge that " I am not worthy that Christ should hear me ; but " through the patronage of the holy Martyrs, my evils " can be remedied. Hearken to thy suppliant ; in thy " goodness free me from the fetters of the flesh and of " the world."1

1 Prudent.