Catholic devotions for the 5th September

Scroll down for today's

Saint of the Day
Reading of the Martyrology
Dedication of the Month
Dedication of the Day
Rosary
Five Wounds Rosary in Latin
Seven Sorrows Rosary in English
Latin Monastic Office
Reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict
Celebration of Mass
Reading from the School of Jesus Crucified

The Charity of the Saint

Feast of Saint Lawrence Giustiniani

Lawrence Justinian was a member of the well-known Giustiniani family, which includes several saints. The piety of his mother seems to have served as an inspiration for his own spirituality, as he chose a life of prayer and service. In 1404, after he had been ordained a deacon, at the suggestion of an uncle who was a priest, he joined a community of canons regular following a monastic form of life on the island of San Giorgio in Alga. He was admired by his fellows for his poverty, mortification, and fervency of prayer. Two years after his ordination to the Catholic priesthood in 1407, the community accepted the Rule of St. Augustine. He was chosen to be the first prior of the community.

Lawrence promoted the Constitutions which had been established for the Canons Regular of St. George, which was embraced by other communities of Canons in the region and shortly thereafter he became the Prior General of a Congregation. He was so zealous in spreading it that he was looked upon as if he were the actual founder of the Order.

In 1433, Pope Eugene IV, one of the founders of the Monastery of San Giorgio, named Gustiniani as the Bishop of Castello. He found a diocese in shambles and his administration was marked by considerable growth and reform. In 1451, Pope Nicholas V united the Diocese of Castello with the Patriarchate of Grado, and the seat of the patriarchate was moved to Venice, making Giustiniani the first Patriarch of Venice, a post that he held for over four years.

It was during Lawrence's rule that Constantinople fell to Muslim forces. Due to their centuries of close trading partnerships with Byzantine Empire, the people of Venice were in panic as to their future. He took a leading role in helping the Republic to deal with the crisis, working with the Senate to help chart its future, as well as with the clergy and people to calm them.

The Reading from the Martyrology - will replace as soon as becomes available

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

Mary, most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, accept the sincere homage of my filial affection. Into Thy heart, pierced by so many swords, do Thou welcome my poor soul. Receive it as the companion of Thy sorrows at the foot of the Cross, on which Jesus died for the redemption of the world. With Thee, O sorrowful Virgin, I will gladly suffer all the trials, contradictions, and infirmities which it shall please Our Lord to send me. I offer them all to Thee in memory of Thy sorrows, so that every thought of my mind, and every beat of my heart may be an act of compassion and of love for Thee. And do Thou, sweet Mother, have pity on me, reconcile me to Thy divine Son Jesus, keep me in His grace and assist me in my last agony, so that I may be able to meet Thee in Heaven and sing Thy glories. Amen.

An indulgence of 500 days — (S.C. Ind., Mar. 20, 1887).

Monday is the Day dedicated to the Holy Angels

Oratio Ad Angelum Custodem / Prayer to One's Guardian Angel

Credo quod sis angelus sanctus, a Deo omnipotente ad custodiam mei deputatus. Propterea peto, et per illum qui te ad hoc ordinavit, humiliter imploro, ut me miseram fragilem atque indignam semper et ubique in hac vita custodias, protegas a malis omnibus atque defendas, et cum Deus hinc animam meam migrare iusserit, nullam in eam potestatem daemonibus habere permittas, sed tu eam leniter a corpore suscipias, et in sinu Habrae suaviter usque perducas iubente ac iuvante creatore ac salvatore Deo nostro, qui est benedictus in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

I believe that thou art the holy angel appointed by almighty God to watch over me. On this account, I beg and humbly implore thee, through Him who hast ordained thee to this task, that in this life thou wouldst always and everywhere guard me, wretched, weak, and unworthy that I am. Protect and defend me from all evil, and when God has bid my soul to leave this world, permit not the devil to have any power over it. Rather that thou wouldst gently take it from my body and lead it sweetly unto the bosom of Abraham with the biding and assistance of God our Creator and Savior, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

The Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary are prayed on Tuesday

The Rosary in Latin 

Chaplet of the Five Holy Wounds of Christ in Latin 

Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady in English

 Latin Monastic Office for today from Le Barroux in France     Texts also provided

The Reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict for September 5

Prologos 

33 Unde et Dominus in Evangelio ait: Qui audit verba mea haec et facit ea, similabo eum viro sapienti qui aedificavit domum suam super petram; 

34  venerunt flumina, flaverunt venti, et impegerunt in domum illam, et non cecidit, quia fundata erat super petram.

35 Haec complens Dominus expectat nos cotidie his suis sanctis monitis factis nos respondere debere.  36 Ideo nobis propter emendationem malorum huius vitae dies ad indutias relaxantur, 

37 dicente apostolo: An nescis quia patientia Dei ad paenitentiam te adducit?  

38 Nam pius Dominus dicit: Nolo mortem peccatoris, sed ut convertatur et vivat.

The Prologue

33 Hence also the Lord says in the Gospel: He who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house upon rock: 

34 the floods came, the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it did not fall; because it was founded upon rock. (Mt. 7:24-5)

35 With these admonitions concluded, the Lord is waiting daily for us to respond by our deeds to his holy guidance.  

36 Therefore, in order that we may amend our evil ways, the days of our lives have been lengthened as a reprieve, 

37 as the apostle says: Do you not know that the patience of God is leading you to repentance? (Rom. 2:4)  

38 For the loving Lord says: I do not desire the death of a sinner, but that he should be converted and live. (Ezek. 33:11)

Today's Celebration of the Mass

Meditation for the 5th Day of the Month from the School of Jesus Crucified

Jesu Christi Passio sit semper in cordibus nostris

May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts