Tuesday, September 14 : Saint Augustine

Saint Lawrence was a deacon in Rome. The Church’s persecutors ordered him to hand over the treasures of the Church. It was to win a real treasure in heaven that he underwent the torments we cannot listen to without horror: for he was stretched out on a gridiron over a fire… Nevertheless, he triumphed over all his bodily sufferings by means of the extraordinary strength he drew from his charity and in the help of Him who made him resolute. “For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them” (Eph 2,10). Now this is what stirred up his persecutors’ wrath… Lawrence said: “Order chariots to come along with me on which I can bring you the treasures of the Church.” When he was given some chariots, he filled them up with the poor and brought them back, saying: “These are the Church’s treasures.” Nothing is truer, my brethren. The great wealth of Christians is found in the needs of the poor provided we grasp how to put our possessions to good use. The poor are always before us; if we entrust our wealth to them, we shall not lose it.

maronite readings – rosary,team