"Unless...

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Gospel and commentary by St. Augustine for the Feast of St. Lawrence, today, encourage our 33 day journey to Total Consecration:

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 12:24-26.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me."

Commentary of the day - Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

“Fervor of love for you, O Lord, enabled the deacon, Saint Lawrence, to remain outstandingly faithful”

The example of Saint Lawrence encourages us to give up our lives, set alight our faith, furbish our devotion. Not the flames of a scaffold but those of a living faith are what consume us. Our bodies are not burned for Jesus Christ’s sake but our souls are transported with the fervor of love for him…, our hearts burn with love for Jesus. Did not the Savior himself say of this sacred fire: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk 12,49). Cleopas and his companion experienced the effects of it when they said: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke ot us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (Lk 24,32).

It was also thanks to this interior burning that Saint Lawrence remained insensible to the flames of his martyrdom. He burned with desire to be with Jesus and did not feel the torture. The more the fervor of his faith grew within him, the less he suffered from the tortures… The power of the divine brasier alight in his heart calmed the flames of the gridiron kindled by the torturer

The preliminary 12 days offered by St. Louis de Montfort are a time for ridding ourselves of the spirit of the world. Obviously we cannot do this in 12 days, but we can renew our desire to follow Jesus and hear more deeply His words: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” St. Lawrence heard those words and willingly gave his all. May God give us the grace to be willing to give all, to rid ourselves of the spirit of this world, which seeks to separate us from Christ. Jesus told us we cannot serve two masters. Aug. 13 begins our first 12 days on the journey; let us be willing to “travel light”. Come Holy Spirit kindle in us the Fire of Your Love.