FEAST OF ST. LAWRENCE
Now Jobs other friend speaks saying that “If iniquity is in your
hand, remove it, and do not let injustice dwell in your tent” then you may be
unafraid. Yet, Job has not been immoral he hates his life and what is happening
to him.
Life can and is hard and tough and painful at times. That doesn’t
mean it can’t change. Life goes through ebbs and flows all the time and the key
to getting through it all without cutting off your social circle and eating
your local grocery store out of Ben & Jerry’s, is to cultivate some
techniques and methods of going through life with some stability and grace.
It’s not a guarantee against life’s hardships but take the steps you want to
use and you won’t dislike life.
Step 1) Get plenty of sleep.
Seriously, you’re obviously going to be grouchy as hell and more
inclined towards the more miserable side, if you’re not getting your
recommended seven or more hours of sleep a night. Start checking in how much
you sleep and then start making steps to go to bed earlier and sleep for longer.
It might cure every problem but at least you’ll be well-rested and less likely
to nap throughout the day. If you are having trouble getting to sleep; try
eating right.
Step 2) Eat healthily.
Eating a lot healthier improves mood and makes you feel better.
Step 3) Write it all down.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is let it all out. Keeping
things that are making you hate life all bottled up is neither helpful to
getting out of that cycle nor healthy for your overall wellbeing. Grab yourself
a notebook, a journal, a diary, a bit of paper, whatever, and just start
writing down how you feel. As soon as you’ve done that, start thinking about
what you could do in theory to stop this from happening or to stop you from
feeling like this.
Step 4) Get some fresh air.
It’s underrated and we all take it for granted, but really, getting
out of your home and going for a walk can be really beneficial. It gets you
outside in the (hopefully) sunshine and getting to see the whole of life as you
walk around can be really grounding and calming. Believe me, if you’re stuck
inside mulling over on the bad things of your life, grab a pair of sneakers and
go for a walk. Plus, it’s free.
Can’t say better than that, can you?
Step 5) Get some exercise.
This is practically a Part II of the previous step, but as someone
who used to look at the gym as something people did when they were feeling
particularly masochistic, I can actually say I enjoy it now. You don’t even
have to subscribe to a fancy gym—go for a run around the block with your
headphones in or lift some heavy boxes to build up muscle tone.
Step 6) Treat yourself.
Hating your life can be exhausting, and I mean that literally. It
drains the energy from you until all you want to do is lie in bed with a pint
of ice cream and the last five seasons of a TV show on Netflix. Therefore, a good
thing to keep your spirits up can be to treat yourself. Life is too short,
after all, to deny yourself some treats. Go see that movie that looks awesome
in the cinema, grab a gelato with a friend, paint your nails, whatever makes
you happy, do it. You deserve it.
Step 7) Cut out those negative triggers.
Chances are that if you hate life, something is setting off those
triggers in your head. Until you’re able to deal with them without turning all
misanthropic, the best thing might be just to get rid of all of those negative
triggers. If you’re suffering from what AllGroanUp refer to as “Obsessive
Comparison Disorder” (i.e. obsessively checking out the lifestyles of all your
“successful” friends), then stop using Facebook and Twitter as much. Social media
can be a fantastic way to connect, but it can be also be a toxic environment
for neuroses and comparisons to breed. Trust me, I know. If it sets you off,
cut it out.
Step 8) Dance.
Yes you can dance. No, really, you can. It doesn’t matter if you’re
not some breakdancing dynamo or ballroom extraordinaire, everyone can dance.
It’s programmed into the human race, the ultimate expression of emotion. Dance
like no one’s watching, dance like you don’t care. Tap your feet, sway your
hips, go as mad or as wild as you want to your favorite songs. Nothing quite
shakes the cobwebs off than losing yourself in rhythm and dance to a song you
love.
Step 9) Get organized.
A great way to start moving forward and looking at what you can
change in your life to make it better, is to get organized. Spend a weekend
going through your home and clearing the hell out of it. Get rid of the stuff
you don’t need or don’t want anymore and start to give everything a space. It
doesn’t have to look like it’s stepped off the pages of Good Housekeeping, but
clearing a lot of space and making sure that your home has a bit of harmony can
do wonders for your mental well being.
Step 10) Pay it forward.
Life is a mystery and it can be a minefield to get through.
Sometimes you stumble, sometimes you fall. The important part is picking
yourself back up and keeping walking forward. Paying it forward is simply
helping others. Charity is something that is often thrown around as an
accessory to human behavior—how many celebrities have you read about who have
done something heinous, but are defended by the phrase “but [they] do charity
work”?
Go volunteer. If you think you’re at breaking point, go help other
people. People in the world out there will be going through the same things
that you are going through and while you might not run into someone who’s going
through the exact same circumstances, you will be helping people who need help.
Helping out a soup kitchen, or at a church bake sale, or at a homeless shelter
or wherever needs help, can make a huge difference to the lives of those
individuals involved, and believe me, it’ll do a hell of a lot for your state
of mind.
1274 The Holy Spirit has marked us with the
seal of the Lord ("Dominicus character") "for the day of redemption." "Baptism indeed is the
seal of eternal life." The faithful Christian who has "kept the
seal" until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism,
will be able to depart this life "marked with the sign of faith,"
with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation
of faith - and in the hope of resurrection.
St. Lawrence is the patron of cooks-today, have a BBQ in
honor of his death for the faith.
This young deacon and heroic martyr is numbered
among those saints who were most highly venerated by the ancient Roman Church.
Even though we have no genuine account of St. Lawrence's martyrdom, we do
possess considerable evidence from most ancient times regarding the particulars
of his passion. Legendary Acts tell how Lawrence was a disciple of Pope
Sixtus II, who dearly loved him because of his special talents, but principally
because of his innocence; in spite of his youth, the Pope numbered him among
the seven deacons of Rome and raised him to the position of archdeacon. As
such, Lawrence had the immediate care of the altar and was at the side of the
saintly Pope whenever he offered the holy Sacrifice; to him also was confided
the administration of the goods of the Church and the responsibility of caring
for the poor. During the persecution of Emperor Valerian (253-260), Sixtus II
and his four deacons were martyred. Lawrence was dispersing items in the house
of a certain Narcissus, a blind man named Crescentius asked for healing help by
the imposition of hands. The holy deacon made the Sign of the Cross over him
and the man began to see. From his relations with Pope Sixtus, it was known
that he acted as the steward over the Church's property. He was arrested and
while in prison Lawrence cured the blind Lucillus and several other blind
persons. Ordered by the authorities to surrender the treasures of the Church,
Lawrence asked for two days’ time during which to gather them. The request was
granted and he brought together the poor and the sick that he had supported.
These he led to the judge. "Here are the treasures of the Church!"
Lawrence was tortured, scourged, and scorched with glowing plates; in other words Barbequed alive. In the
midst of excruciating pain he prayed: "Lord Jesus Christ, God from God,
have mercy on Your servant!" And he besought the grace of faith for the
bystanders. At a certain point the soldier Romanus exclaimed: "I see
before you an incomparably beautiful youth. Hasten and baptize me." He had
observed how an angel dried the wounds of Lawrence with a linen cloth during
his passion. Again during the night he was dragged before the judge and
threatened with immediate death. But he replied: "My God I honor and Him
alone I serve. Therefore I do not fear
your torments; this night shall become as brightest day and as light without
any darkness." When placed upon the glowing gridiron, he jested with his
executioners and the cruel tyrant. "Now
you may turn me over, my body is roasted enough on this side."
VIDEO
Shortly
after this had been done, he cried again: "At last I am finished; you may
now take from me and eat." Then turning to God in prayer: "I thank
You, O Lord, that I am permitted to enter Your portals." To comfort him
during his torments God said to him: "My servant, do not be afraid . I am with you." He was put
to death upon the Viminal Hill and buried on the Tiburtinian Way.
Daily Devotions/Prayers
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