5th September, St. Laurence Justinian, Bishop, Confessor

St. Laurence Justinian, Bishop, Confessor

St. Laurence, born in Venice in the 15th century, of the illustrious family of Giustiniani, preferred the severe austerities of the cloister to a glorious alliance arranged for him by his mother. Looking at a crucifix, he exclaimed: "It is Thou, O Lord, who art my hope and in Thee is consolation and strength." He then entered among the Canons of St. George of Alga.

All his life, he practised the greatest austerity and it was chiefly in assiduous prayer that he was inflamed with ardent love for God and devotion to his neighbour. He was called by Eugenius IV to share in the full power of Christ's priesthood: he was made patriarch of Grado, but transferring the see to Venice in 1451, he became the first patriarch of this city. He died in 1455, saying: "I am going to Thee, O good Jesus."

Statuit ei Dominus testamentum pacis, et principem fecit eum: ut sit illi sacerdotii dignitas in aeternum. * Memento Domine David et omnis mansuetudinis ejus.
The Lord made to him a covenant of peace, and made him a prince; that the dignity of the priesthood should be to him for ever. * O Lord, remember David: and all his meekness.
(Ecclus. 45:30 and Psalm 131:1. From the Introit at Mass).

Da, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut beáti Laurentii Confessóris tui atque Pontíficis veneránda sollémnitas, et devotiónem nobis áugeat et salútem.

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09091a.htm