Lives of the Saints
1. HOLY MARTYR LAURENCE THE ARCHDEACON, AND POPE SIXTUS, AND OTHERS WITH THEM
When Pope Stephen perished (see August 2), the holy Sixtus was appointed in his place. He was an Athenian by birth, at first a philosopher and then a Christian. At that time the Roman bishops perished one after another, so that to become a bishop in Rome meant the same as being led out to death. Emperor Decius was determined to destroy Christianity, and Pope Sixtus was soon brought to trial with his two deacons, Felicissimus and Agapitus. When they were being led to prison, Laurence said to the pope: "Where are you going, father, without your son? Where, O hierarch, without your archdeacon?" The pope comforted him, prophesying that he too would endure even greater sufferings for Christ and would soon follow him. And indeed, as soon as Sixtus and his two deacons were beheaded, Laurence was seized. He had previously set in order all his own and the church's affairs. As the treasurer and steward of the church, he transferred all the church's valuables to the home of a certain widow, Cyriaca. On that occasion he healed Cyriaca of a severe headache by the touch of his hands, and restored sight to the blind man Crescention. Cast into prison, Laurence healed from blindness also a certain long-time prisoner Lucillus, and then baptized him. Seeing this, the jailer Hippolytus was also baptized, and afterward suffered for Christ (see August 13). Since Laurence would not deny Christ, but rather counseled Emperor Decius to renounce the false gods, he was struck with stones upon his face and over his whole body with a scorpion, that is, a chain with sharp barbs. A certain soldier, Romanus, who was present at the torture, believed in Christ and was immediately beheaded. Finally they placed Laurence naked upon an iron grate and set fire beneath it. Being roasted on the fire, Saint Laurence gave thanks to God and mocked the emperor for his paganism. When he surrendered his pure and heroic soul to God, Hippolytus took his body at night and carried it first to the house of Cyriaca, and then to a cave, where he honorably buried it. Saint Laurence and the others suffered in the year 258.
2. SAINT IRON
A Christian philosopher. He is mentioned by Saint Gregory the Theologian in his writings. He peacefully reposed and departed to the Lord.
“Where, O hierarch, without your archdeacon?" The pope comforted him, prophesying that he too would endure even greater sufferings for Christ and would soon follow him.”
Hymn of Praise
The impious emperor asked Laurence:
"Where are you from? What is your rank?"
Laurence answered the emperor:
"From Spain, raised in Rome,
And I am a servant of the one God."
"You are the keeper of the church's treasure?"
"I am, O emperor, of that good treasure."
"Give us the treasure and save your life!"
"The treasure of the Church, O emperor, is in heaven.
Believe also in the Lord Christ,
And you shall be an heir of that treasure."
"Laurence, renounce Christ!"
"Renounce your idols, O emperor!"
The emperor flew into a rage and waved at his servants;
They beat and broke Laurence
And placed him on a red-hot grate.
"This fire is refreshment for me,
But for you, a fire is being prepared in the midst of Hades!"
"Laurence, renounce Christ!
Do you not regret dying young?"
"Christ suffered on the Cross for me,
He died for me, I die for Him!"
One side of the body was all burned;
Laurence spoke to the executioners:
"One half of the body is roasted —
Turn it, here is food for you —
Turn it, let the other side be roasted!"
He spoke these words, and his soul flew away
Into the sweet courts of heaven.
“One half of the body is roasted — turn it, here is food for you — turn it, let the other side be roasted!”
Reflection
How should we overcome the enmity of our enemies? By yielding, by meekness, and by prayer. Yielding in everything except faith and purity of life; meekness and prayer always and always. Saint Ambrose writes: "This is the weapon of the righteous: to conquer by yielding, just as skilled archers have the custom of shooting more powerfully than themselves while fleeing." A certain brother was offended by his friend, yet still desiring peace with him, he went to him to make peace. But his friend would not even open the door to him and, reviling him from within, drove him away from his house. The brother complained to a certain spiritual father, and the latter said to him: "Going to your friend to make peace, you were along the whole way in your thoughts condemning him and justifying yourself. I counsel you that even if your friend has sinned against you, establish the thought within yourself as though you have sinned against him, and go to him so, and in your thoughts justify him and condemn yourself." The brother did just so. And what happened? The brother had scarcely come near the house of his friend when the latter opened the door wide, ran up and embraced the offended brother, and was reconciled with him.
“This is the weapon of the righteous: to conquer by yielding, just as skilled archers have the custom of shooting more powerfully than themselves while fleeing.”
Contemplation
Contemplate the calamity that befell the Philistines because of the stolen Ark of the Covenant (I Samuel 5-6), namely:
1. How tumors struck the people and mice devoured the crops of the fields wherever the Philistines placed the Ark of the Covenant;
2. How the frightened Philistines themselves returned the Ark of the Covenant to the land of Israel;
3. How the holiness of God punishes those who keep it in a land unclean from idols, or in a heart unclean from passions.
“How the holiness of God punishes those who keep it in a land unclean from idols, or in a heart unclean from passions.”
Homily
on the enfeebling of sinners
Magnificent and most wise is all that is from God. Every creature of God goes obediently on the path that God has appointed for it. The stars move, the animals live, and the currents of air are directed — all according to the order established by God. Only man, the most rational of creatures, often falls into irrationality, and leaving the path of God, devises new paths according to his own imaginings. Hence it can happen that instead of elders, children become rulers, and instead of men, women come to dominate. But when children rule, violence reigns; and when women dominate, disorder usually prevails. When this is permitted by God — for it does not occur without the sin of the people and the permission of God — then the people find themselves under punishment for their sins, just as when war comes and the enemy conquers the land, for all violence is war, and all disorder is punishment for sin. But just as violence and disorder can prevail over a whole nation, so can they prevail in the soul of one man. Immature and impious thoughts represent the children, and carnal, sensual reasonings represent the women. When immature and impious thoughts predominate, they do violence to a man and drag him from evil to evil, as when children judge; and when carnal reasonings predominate over the spiritual, manly wisdom which is from God, they dominate the man as an evil woman. By "women" the prophet means not only females but also males with female weaknesses. That childish folly and female caprice may not rule over a man or a people, it is necessary to hold strictly to the law of God prescribed by God for mankind, just as all created creatures hold to the law of God prescribed by God for them. O Lord, our Creator and Lawgiver, enlighten us and strengthen us. Enlighten us by the grace of Thy Spirit, that we may always know Thy law, and strengthen us by the power of Thy Spirit, that we may always keep Thy law. To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
“By "women" the prophet means not only females but also males with female weaknesses.”