August 10, 2026
Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr
Gospel: John 12:24–26
Today is Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time. Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, Deacon. The recently published Roman Missal tells us: St. Lawrence († 258) was one of the seven deacons of Pope St. Sixtus II who were killed during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian. On his arrest, he was ordered to hand over the riches of the Church, but he pointed to a crowd of poor people, saying, “These are the true treasures of the Church.” According to tradition, he was roasted to death on a gridiron.
The Scripture passage from the Gospel of John today tells us about the relationship between Christians and the world. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections. In fact, this is Jesus’ final address to the crowds before His Passion.
In this discourse, we see Jesus using an example from nature to illustrate the relationship between Christians and the world. (Cf. John 12:24) We know that in many countries, the number of believers in Christianity accounts for only a small portion of the total population. Even Catholics make up only a small part of all Christian believers. Thus, we can understand the relationship between the grain of wheat and the world that Jesus spoke of.
The grain of wheat that Jesus speaks of refers to Himself. He was to sacrifice Himself, be crucified, and destroy death through His holy death on the Cross. When He died on the Cross, He was like a grain of wheat dying to this passing world. After His Resurrection, He conquered death and restored vitality to a world that had lost its life due to the disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve.
Today, a fracture has appeared within our Church. Some brothers and sisters in the Lord, in matters of faith and in every aspect of their lives, are in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter. They receive the sacraments from pastors who are in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter, and they live according to their teachings. Like Saint Lawrence the Deacon, they often proclaim the Word of God to the world with the fervor of martyrdom, and bear witness to the Word of God through concrete actions. Other brothers and sisters in the Lord, although they, like us, have received the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are not in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter. They choose to follow and be in communion with those pastors who are not in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter, and they receive illicit sacraments from them.
I would like to take this feast day to exhort those brothers and sisters in the Lord who follow pastors not in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter: be guided by the Holy Spirit. Do not follow those shepherds who cannot lead you into the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus spoke of. The kingdom they preach to you is entirely a kingdom understood according to the logic of this world. You should follow those pastors who are in communion with the Successor of the Apostle St. Peter. They are faithful to the Word of God and preach to you the Kingdom of Jesus—that realm composed of a God who loves man and men who are loved by God. If you follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and live according to His inspirations, you will surely be able, just as we are, to be filled with trust in God and longing for the Kingdom that Jesus spoke of. Then, at the end of this life, you will desire to join with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Lawrence the Deacon, all the saints in Heaven, and all the holy angels to praise God, proclaim His mercy, and serve Him forever.
On this feast of the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence the Deacon, let us join with Saint Lawrence the Deacon in offering this prayer to God:
O God, giver of that ardour of love for you by which Saint Lawrence was outstandingly faithful in service and glorious in martyrdom, grant that we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica
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