S. Laurence, Deacon & Martyr

Collects

1962

Da nobis, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: vitiórum nostrórum flammas exstínguere; qui beáto Lauréntio tribuísti tormentórum suórum incéndia superáre.

Grant us, we beseech thee, Almighty God, grace to quench the flames of our sins: as thou didst endue blessed Laurence with power to overcome the fire of his torments.

 2002

Deus, cuius caritátis ardóre beátus Lauréntius servítio cláruit fidélis et martýrio gloriósus, fac nos amáre quod amávit et ópere exercére quod dócuit.

 O God, by whose charity blessed Laurence shined forth in faithful service and was glorious in martyrdom: grant that we may love what he loved and do the works which he taught.

Both these prayers are commendable but in quite different ways: 1962 we need grace to quench sin; in 2002 we are encouraged to practice charity, as St. Laurence did. Probably the collects should trade places: the new collect for the Extra-ordinary Form and the old collect for the Novus Ordo.

Sermon by S. Leo the Great: Sermon 85: On the Birthday of S. Laurence

 THEN the power of the  heathen was raging  against Christ's chosen members, and was especially seeking out those in priestly orders, the wicked persecutor bore down on the Levite Laurence, who was pre-eminent in distributing the Church's substance, as well as in ministering the sacraments; the persecutor promised himself a two-fold booty from one man, for if he could make him hand over the holy funds, he would also make him an apostate from the true religion.

THIS man, then, was furnished with a double motive, greed for money, and hatred of the truth: avarice, for he would seize the treasure, wickedness for he would rob Christ. He orders the spotless minister of the sanctuary to bring him the Church's wealth, which he so greedily desires. The most chaste Levite, to show him where that treasure lay, brought him a great crowd of the holy poor, on whose food and clothing he had invested those resources so that they could never be lost; for they were all the more safe, for the holy way in which they had been spent.

THUS frustrated, the robber rages, and seething with hatred for a religion which had appointed such use for wealth, he tries to steal a higher treasure from him in whose hands he found no money; he attempts to rob him of that wealth which made him rich in holiness. He orders Laurence to renounce Christ, and prepares fearful tortures to overcome the Levite's most steadfast strength of soul; when the first tortures are of no avail worse ones follow. He orders his lacerated limbs, cut by many stripes, to be roasted over a fire; so that the torture should be more severe and the suffering prolonged, his body was to be turned from side to side on the gridiron, the bars Of which were themselves burning hot by reason of the slow fire beneath

O RAGING cruelty, gaining nothing, obtaining nothing! That which can die is withdrawn from thy tortures, and Laurence goes forth to heaven, while thou failest with thy flames. The love of Christ could not be overcome by flames. The fire which licked around him was slower than that which burned within. Thou didst rage, O persecutor of a martyr; thou didst rage, and by increasing his tortures thou didst help him to his palm. For what could thy imagination find that was not conducive to the victor's glory, when the very instruments of torture turned to the honor of his triumph? Let us rejoice, therefore, with spiritual joy, beloved brethren, and in the most happy end of this illustrious man let us glory in the Lord, who is wonderful in his Saints, in whom he hath given us both help and example. He hath thus made his glory to shine throughout the world, that from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same, amidst the shining brightness of the Levitical lights, as Jerusalem is made glorious by Stephen, so Rome is made illustrious by Laurence.

 Ad Laudes matutinas: Prudentius

 To give Prudentius credit for this hymn is no great favor to such an accomplished, learned and skillful poet. This hymn is pieced together from various lines from Prudentius’ Peristephanon II with, one suspects, some tinkering from Dom Anselmo’s team. The result is a very obscure and difficult to translate hymn. However, Walpole’s suggestion (noted on a somewhat different centoization)  is helpful: The first two lines are explained by the preceding passage of the original, the sense of which is: the one glory formerly lacking to Rome, now given up to Christ, was the final subjugation of foul Jove, not by the turbulent might of Cossus, Camillus, or Caesar, but by the not bloodless strife of the martyr Lawrence”  (Early Latin Hymns p. 138).  Would that this notion were more clearly expressed in the office hymn.

 

 

In mártyris Lauréntii

non incruénto prœlio,

armáta pugnávit Fides

próprii cruóris pródiga.

 

Hic primus e septem viris

qui stant ad aram próximi,

levíta sublímis gradu

et céteris præstántior.

 

Hic dímicans fortíssimus

non ense præcínxit latus,

hostíle sed ferrum retro

torquens in auctórem tulit.

 

Sic, sancte Laurénti, tuam

nos passiónem quærimus;

quod quisque supplex póstulat,

fert impetrátum próspere,

 

Dum cæli inenarrábili

alléctus urbi múniceps,

ætérnæ in arce cúriæ

gestas corónam cívicam.

 

Honor Patri cum Fílio

et Spíritu Paráclito,

qui nos tuis suffrágiis

ditent perénni láurea. Amen.

 

In the not bloodless strife of the martyr Laurence, armed with faith he fought, his own blood prodigally shed.  He was the first of seven men, standing next to the altar, a lofty deacon by rank, surpassing all the others. This most courageous fighter girded no sword at his side, but taking the enemy’s sword in  his back, bore the torture with calm authority.  Thus, O holy Laurence, we seek a passion like yours; may, what each humble soul asks of you, succeed and prosper.  Chosen a fellow-citizen of the city of ineffable heaven,  in height of the eternal court you wear a civic crown. Honor to the Father with the Son and Spirit Paraclete, who by your prayers, O Laurence, enriches us with eternal laurels.  Amen.

 

Ad Officium lectionis & Vesperas: Petrus Damianus

 

Mártyris Christi cólimus triúmphum,

dona qui mundi peritúra spernit,

fert opem nudis, aliménta, nummos

  tradit egénis.

 

Igne torquétur, stábili tenóre

cordis accénsus súperat mináces

ígnium flammas in amóre vitæ

  semper opímæ.

 

Spíritum sumpsit chorus angelórum,

íntulit cælo bene laureándum,

ut scelus laxet hóminum, precándo

  omnipoténtem.

 

Súpplici voto rogitámus ergo

ómnibus, martyr, véniam precéris,

cordis ardóres, fídei tenácem

  usque vigórem.

 

Glóriam Patri resonémus omnes,

eius et Nato modulémur apte,

cum quibus regnat simul et creátor

  Spíritus almus. Amen.

 

We celebrate the triumph of a martyr of Christ, who spurned the passing gifts of the world, brought help to the naked, handed over to the needy food and money.  Tortured by fire, he stood strong, his heart enkindled, overcoming the menacing flames of fire, for the sake of his love for abundant life. The choir of angels receives his spirit, he wears well the victory laurels rightly given by heaven to loosen the sins of men by praying to God almighty. Therefore, O martyr, we humbly ask that you pray pardon for all, for fervent hearts, tenacious faith, and strength. Let us all resound glory to the Father and sing rightly of his Son, with whom the Spirit Creator rules. Amen.