Saint Lawrence Justinian

S. Laurentii Justiniani Episcopi et Confessoris refers to Saint Lawrence Justinian, who was a bishop and confessor. He was the first Patriarch of Venice and is celebrated for his piety, humility, and dedication to the Church. His feast day is observed on September 5th.

Saint Lawrence Justinian was born in 1381 and became a priest in 1406. He was known for his ascetic lifestyle and deep spirituality. In 1433, he was appointed as the Bishop of Castello, and later, in 1451, he became the first Patriarch of Venice. He passed away on January 8, 1456.

Saint Lawrence Justinian is remembered for his numerous writings on spiritual and theological matters, as well as his efforts to reform the clergy and promote religious education. His life and works continue to inspire many in the Christian faith.

Saint Lawrence Justinian, also known as Lorenzo Giustiniani, was born on July 1, 1381, in Venice, Italy. He was a member of the illustrious Giustiniani family, which included several saints. His mother’s piety greatly influenced his spiritual development.

Early Life and Religious Vocation
Lawrence was known for his serious character and dedication to piety from a young age. In 1404, after being ordained a deacon, he joined a community of canons regular on the island of San Giorgio in Alga. He was admired for his poverty, mortification, and fervency of prayer. Two years after his ordination to the priesthood in 1407, he became the first prior of the community.

Bishop and Patriarch
In 1433, Pope Eugene IV appointed Lawrence as the Bishop of Castello. He found the diocese in disarray and worked diligently to reform and grow it. In 1451, Pope Nicholas V united the Diocese of Castello with the Patriarchate of Grado, making Lawrence the first Patriarch of Venice. He held this position until his death in 1456.

Contributions and Works
Saint Lawrence Justinian was known for his numerous writings on spiritual and theological matters. His works include sermons, letters, and ascetic treatises. Some of his notable works are:
- **Lignum vitae (1419)**
- **De casto connubio Verbi et animae (1425)**
- **De compunctione et complanctu christianae perfectionis (1428)**

Legacy and Veneration
Saint Lawrence Justinian passed away on **January 8, 1456**. He was beatified on **October 7, 1524**, by Pope Clement VII and canonized on **October 16, 1690**, by Pope Alexander VIII. His feast day is celebrated on **September 5th** in the General Roman Calendar and on **January 8th** in the Catholic Church.

Saint Lawrence Justinian is remembered for his deep spirituality, dedication to reforming the clergy, and promoting religious education. His life and works continue to inspire many in the Christian faith.

(1) Lawrence Justinian - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Justinian.
(2) Lawrence Justinian, Saint | Catholic Answers Encyclopedia. https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/lawrence-justinian-saint.
(3) Saint Lawrence Justinian - Catholicism Has the Answer. https://catholicismhastheanswer.com/saint-lawrence-justinian/.
(4) Lawrence Justinian, St. - Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/lawrence-justinian-st.
(5) 1721 Saint Lawrence Justinian Catholic Bishop of Medieval Venice .... https://www.schilbantiquarian.com/product/1721-saint-lawrence-justinian-catholic-bishop-of-medieval-venice-sermons-folio/.
(6) St Lawrence Giustiniani – Feast Day – January 8 2025. https://catholicreadings.org/saint-lawrence-giustiniani/.

Te Deum

We praise thee, O God, * we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee, * the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud, * the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim * continually do cry.

bow head

Holy, Holy, Holy * Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full * of the Majesty of thy glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles * praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets * praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs * praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world * doth acknowledge thee;
The Father, * of an infinite Majesty.
Thine honourable, true, * and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost, * the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory, * O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting * Son of the Father.

During the following verse all make a profound bow:


When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man, * thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death, * thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, * in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come * to be our Judge.

Kneel for the following verse

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants, * whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious Blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints, * in glory everlasting.
O Lord, save thy people, * and bless thine heritage.
Govern them, * and lift them up for ever.
Day by day * we magnify thee;

During the following verse, by local custom, all make a profound bow.

And we worship thy Name * ever, world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us * this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us, * have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, * as our trust is in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted, * let me never be confounded.

Te Deum, an ancient Christian hymn of praise, traditionally attributed to Saints Ambrose and Augustine. It is often used in liturgical services, particularly in the **Liturgy of the Hours** and during special occasions of thanksgiving and celebration.

Here is a brief overview of the **Te Deum**:

- **Opening Praise**: The hymn begins with a declaration of praise to God, acknowledging Him as the Lord and Creator of all things.

- **Angelic Worship**: It describes the worship of God by angels, cherubim, and seraphim, who continually cry out "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth."

- **Praise by Saints**: The hymn continues by mentioning the praise given to God by the apostles, prophets, and martyrs.

- **Universal Church**: It acknowledges the holy Church throughout the world, which honors the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

- **Christ's Glory**: The hymn praises Christ as the King of Glory and the everlasting Son of the Father, who took on human nature to redeem mankind.

- **Petitions**: The latter part of the hymn includes prayers for God's help, mercy, and protection for His people.

The **Te Deum** is a powerful expression of faith and devotion, and it has been set to music by many composers throughout history.

⁴: [Hymnary.org](^4^)
⁵: [Church of England](^5^)
⁶: [Genius Lyrics](^6^)

Alphas the Themanite, and Baldad the Suhite, and Sophar the Naamathite

**Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite** are three friends of **Job** mentioned in the Book of Job in the Bible. They are known for visiting Job during his time of suffering and engaging in lengthy dialogues with him about the nature of his suffering and the justice of God.

- **Eliphaz the Temanite**: He is considered the eldest and most prominent of Job's friends. Eliphaz is often seen as a symbol of human experience or history.

- **Bildad the Shuhite**: Bildad is known for his traditionalist views and is seen as a symbol of human tradition or philosophy.

- **Zophar the Naamathite**: Zophar is the most dogmatic of the three friends and represents human merit or moral law.

These friends initially come to comfort Job but end up debating with him about the reasons for his suffering, each offering different perspectives based on their understanding of divine justice.

Saint Pius X

**S. Pius X Papae Confessoris** refers to **Saint Pius X**, who was a Pope and Confessor.

He served as the Pope from 1903 to 1914 and is known for his efforts to reform the Church and promote traditional Catholic teachings.

He was canonized as a saint in 1954. Saint Pius X is particularly remembered for his emphasis on liturgical renewal and the promotion of biblical studies.

Saint Pius X, born **Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto** on June 2, 1835, in Riese, Venetia, Austrian Empire (now in Italy), was the Pope from 1903 to 1914. He is known for his staunch political and religious conservatism, which dominated the early 20th-century Roman Catholic Church.

He came from a humble background. His father, **Giovanni Battista Sarto**, was a village messenger and postman, and his mother, **Margarita Sanson**, helped out as a seamstress. Despite their modest means, his parents provided him with a deeply religious upbringing, especially his mother.

From a young age, Giuseppe felt a strong call to the priesthood. He received his early education in his home village and later in **Castelfranco**. At the age of 15, in 1850, he entered the **seminary of Padua** to pursue his vocation. He was ordained as a priest in 1858 and began his ministry as a parish priest in the Italian region of Venetia.

His early life was marked by a strong commitment to his faith and a dedication to serving the Church, which eventually led him to rise through the ranks and become Pope Pius X.

From the Breviary
Pope Pius X, whose name previously was Joseph Sarto, was born in the village of Riese in the Venetian province. He enrolled among the students in the seminary of Padua and, when he had been ordained priest, was first curate in the town of Tombolo, then pastor at Salzano, then canon and chancellor of the bishop's curia at Treviso. He was so outstanding in holiness that Leo XIII made him bishop of the Church of Mantua. Lacking in nothing that maketh a good pastor, he laboured particularly to teach young men called to the priesthood; he fostered the beauty of divine worship and the growth of devout associations; he saw to the needs of the poor with generous charity. Because of his great merits, he was made a cardinal and created Patriarch of Venice. After the death of Pope Leo XIII he took up the supreme pontificate as a cross, having refused it in vain. Placed upon the chair of Peter, he gave up nothing of his former way of life. He shone especially in humility, simplicity and poverty. He ruled the Church firmly and adorned it with brilliant teachings. As a most vigilant guardian of the Faith, he condemned and suppressed Modernism, the sum of all heresies; as a most zealous defender of the freedom of the Church, he boldly resisted those who strove to bring about her downfall; he provided for the sound education of clerics, brought the laws of the Church together into one body; and greatly fostered the cult and more frequent reception of the Eucharist. Worn out with his labours and overcome with grief at the European war which had just begun, he went to his heavenly home on August 20th in the year 1914. Pope Pius XII numbered him among the Saints.

**Key Facts about Saint Pius X**:

- **Ordination**: He was ordained in 1858 and became a parish priest in the Italian region of Venetia.

- **Bishop and Cardinal**: Pope Leo XIII made him bishop of Mantua in 1884 and cardinal and patriarch of Venice in 1893.

- **Papacy**: He was elected Pope on August 4, 1903.

- **Reforms**: He is particularly remembered for his efforts to reform the Church, promote traditional Catholic teachings, and his emphasis on liturgical renewal and biblical studies.

- **Modernism**: Pius X vigorously opposed modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine. He issued the decree **Lamentabili Sane Exitu** and the encyclical **Pascendi Dominici Gregis** in 1907, rejecting Modernist teachings.

- **Canonization**: He was canonized as a saint on May 29, 1954, and his feast day is celebrated on August 21.

Saint Pius X's motto was **"Instaurare Omnia in Christo"** (To restore all things in Christ). His legacy includes his strong stance against Modernism and his promotion of liturgical reforms and scholastic theology.

(1) Saint Pius X | Biography, Legacy, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Pius-X.

(2) Pope Pius X - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_X.

(3) Pope Pius X - Wikiwand. https://www.wikiwand.com/simple/Pope_Pius_X.

Saint Stephen of Hungary

**S. Stephani Hungariae Regis Confessoris** refers to **Saint Stephen of Hungary**, also known as **Stephen I of Hungary**. He was the first King of Hungary and is considered the founder of the Hungarian state. He was born around 975 and died on August 15, 1038. He was canonized by Pope Gregory VII in 1083.

Saint Stephen is celebrated for his efforts to convert Hungary to Christianity and for establishing a stable and organized kingdom. He is also known for his piety and dedication to the Church. His feast day is celebrated on **August 16** in the Roman Catholic Church.

The title "Confessor" indicates that he was a saint who suffered for his faith but was not martyred. Saint Stephen is often depicted in royal attire, holding a church or a model of a church, symbolizing his role in building the Church in Hungary.

Saint Stephen of Hungary, also known as Stephen I of Hungary, was born around 975 in Esztergom, Hungary. He was originally named Vajk and was the son of Grand Prince Géza and his wife, Sarolt. Stephen was baptized by Archbishop Saint Adalbert of Prague in 985, at which time he took the name Stephen.

Stephen married Gisela of Bavaria, the sister of Duke Henry II of Bavaria, around 995 or 996. This marriage helped to strengthen Hungary's bond with the Holy Roman Empire. When his father died in 997, Stephen became the Grand Prince of the Hungarians. He had to contend for his rulership against other family members and rival factions, but ultimately he succeeded.

Stephen was crowned the first King of Hungary on December 25, 1000, or January 1, 1001, with a crown sent by Pope Sylvester II. He unified the Carpathian Basin through a series of wars against semi-independent tribes and chieftains. Stephen established at least one archbishopric, six bishoprics, and three Benedictine monasteries, leading the Church in Hungary to develop independently from the archbishops of the Holy Roman Empire.

Stephen was known for his efforts to convert Hungary to Christianity and for establishing a stable and organized kingdom. He encouraged the spread of Christianity by meting out severe punishments for ignoring Christian customs. Hungary enjoyed a lasting period of peace during his reign and became a preferred route for pilgrims and merchants traveling between Western Europe, the Holy Land, and Constantinople.

Saint Stephen died on August 15, 1038, and was buried in his new basilica, built in Székesfehérvár and dedicated to the Holy Virgin. He was canonized by Pope Gregory VII in 1083, together with his son, Emeric, and Bishop Gerard of Csanád.

From the Breviary
Stephen, King of Hungary, brought the faith of Christ and the title of kingdom to his country. He obtained his royal crown from the Pope, and, when he had been anointed King at the Pope's command, he offered his kingdom to the Apostolic See. He founded various religious houses at Rome, at Jerusalem, and at Constantinople. In Hungary, with wonderful devotion and generosity, he established the archiepiscopal See of Esztergom and ten other bishoprics. He was famous for his great love of the poor and his constancy in prayer. He ardently venerated the Mother of God, declaring her the Patroness of Hungary and building a very large church in her honour. In turn, he was received into heaven by the Virgin on the Feast of her Assumption, which in Hungary, by edict of the Holy King, was called the Day of the Great Lady. By decree of Pope Innocent XI, however, the Feast of this saintly King is kept on the day on which, with his help, the Christian army, in a hard-fought engagement, recovered the strongly fortified citadel of Buda.

(1) Stephen I of Hungary - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_I_of_Hungary.

(2) St. Stephen of Hungary | EWTN. https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/stephen-of-hungary-773.

(3) Saint Stephen of Hungary - My Catholic Life!. https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/august-16-saint-stephen-of-hungary/.

(4) Saint Stephen of Hungary - FIND THE SAINT. https://bing.com/search?q=Saint+Stephen+of+Hungary+life.

(5) Saint Stephen of Hungary - Catholic Saint | Saint for a Minute: Saints .... https://www.saintforaminute.com/saints/saint_stephen_of_hungary.

HYMN:Iste Confessor

Why is Jesus called the Resurrection and the Life

Jesus is called the **Resurrection and the Life** because of His unique role in granting eternal life and demonstrating power over death. This title is derived from His statement in **John 11:25-26**, where He says to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."

In the Douay-Rheims Bible, Jesus is called the Resurrection and the Life in John 11:25-26. Here is the passage:

Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live: And every one that liveth, and believeth in me, shall not die for ever. Believest thou this?

This statement is made by Jesus to Martha, affirming His power over life and death and His ability to grant eternal life to those who believe in Him.

Here are some key reasons why Jesus is referred to as the Resurrection and the Life:

1. **Power Over Death**: Jesus demonstrated His power over death by raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43). This miracle showed that He has authority over life and death.

2. **Eternal Life**: Jesus offers eternal spiritual life to His followers. Believing in Him grants eternal life with God, which begins the moment one believes and continues beyond physical death.

3. **Resurrection**: Jesus' own resurrection from the dead is the ultimate proof of His power over death. It confirms His identity as the Son of God and assures believers of their own future resurrection.

4. **Spiritual Renewal**: Jesus brings spiritual renewal and awakening to those who are spiritually dead. He calls people to rise from their spiritual slumber and receive the light of life.

In summary, Jesus is called the Resurrection and the Life because He has the power to give life, both physically and spiritually, and to overcome death, offering eternal life to all who believe in Him.

Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo 44th Discourse on the Words of the Lord

That her son was called again to life was the joy of that widowed mother; that souls of men are every day called to life is the joy of our Mother the Church. He was dead in body they have been dead in mind. His death was outward, and was outwardly bewailed; their inward. Death hath been neither mourned for nor seen. But He hath sought for them, Who hath seen that they are dead, and He only hath seen that they are dead, Who hath been able to make them alive. If He had not come to raise the dead, the Apostle had not said: "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

This passage reflects on the miracle of Jesus raising the widow's son from the dead, as described in **Luke 7:11-17**. It draws a parallel between the physical resurrection of the widow's son and the spiritual resurrection that occurs within the Church. Here is a breakdown of the key points:

- **Joy of the widowed mother**: The physical resurrection of her son brought immense joy to the mother.

- **Joy of the Church**: The spiritual resurrection of souls brings joy to the Church, which is referred to as "our Mother."

- **Physical vs. Spiritual Death**: The widow's son was dead in body, while the souls of men are often dead in mind or spirit. The physical death was outwardly mourned, while spiritual death is often unseen and unmourned.

- **Jesus' Role**: Jesus seeks out those who are spiritually dead and has the power to bring them back to life. This is emphasized by the Apostle's words: "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

This passage highlights the transformative power of Jesus, both in physical miracles and in the spiritual renewal of believers. It underscores the importance of spiritual awakening and the joy it brings to the Church.