For it is known, brethren, that if anyone's garment touches blood, it will be stained. But the blood of the immaculate Lamb knows how to whiten, and knows not how to bloody. And so blessed Lawrence, comely in bearing, in countenance, and in holiness, had a white conscience before his passion, and through his passion whitened yet more the robe of body and mind. O holy Lawrence, white in mind, white also in the garment of the body, I am not able worthily to praise thy merit; because thou didst take a great counsel, receiving the treasures of the Church, thou didst distribute them to the Christian poor; and thou didst merit to receive the heavenly treasures. For thus the Lord admonishes in the Gospel, saying: «Sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor;
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven» (Matt. XIX, 21). Thou didst fulfil the Lord's precept; and He gave thee the reward of His kingdom. In what manner shall I honour thee, with what proclamation shall I praise thee — thou who, set in the very battle of confession, while thou wast still under the custody of Hippolytus, ever showing forth the power of the Lord, didst make the sign of the Cross of Christ over the eyes of the blind, didst enlighten the blind, and didst wondrously convert Hippolytus to the faith of Christ. 3. Lawrence is compared with Stephen. Whom shall I compare like unto thee? Whom shall I set equal to thy honour? I shall find one like unto thee, and in some way prior both in honour and in confession: in honour, the first deacon of Christ; in confession, blessed Stephen.
He who, after Christ's ascension, was first among the seven deacons ordained by the Apostles, was crowned by a martyrdom that went before, ahead of the Apostles. Attend, brethren, to the equal working and confession of these two princes of the victorious army of martyrs. Stephen was stoned, and he prayed; Lawrence was roasted, and with a cheerful face he rejoiced together. Stephen prayed for Saul who stoned him; and Lawrence made a Christian of Hippolytus his keeper. Great marvels did these archdeacons work: on those from whom they suffered torments, they themselves bestowed beforehand divine benefits. For this they did which they had heard Christ the Lord doing in His passion, who prayed on the Cross for His enemies, saying: «Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do» (Luke XXIII, 34). This same thing the Lord also taught them, where He says: «If any man minister to me, let him follow me; and where I am, there also shall my minister be» (John XII, 26). They indeed merited to be with Christ, who, confessing Christ with great constancy, overcame Antichrist. Therefore let us also, brethren, with all the intent of our mind confess the Lord Jesus Christ, let us fear and love Him with all our strength: that with all the saints we may merit to attain to the rewards of the heavenly kingdom. Amen. SERMON 317. On the Nativity of the Martyrs of the White Mass (Massa Candida). Whence the White Mass is so called. Of whom it was gathered.
Most beloved brethren, we celebrate the birthday of the martyrs whom their multitude made a mass, their splendour made white. For it was called a mass because of the number, white because of the merit. For what else is the White Mass to be understood as, but a multitude made white by martyrdom? Even as just now, when the Apocalypse was being read, we heard that the blessed disciple and apostle — he who was wont to recline upon the breast of Christ — saw the throngs of martyrs shining in white raiment and triumphing with green palms; and what he happily saw, he faithfully declared to us. For he says, as we heard just now:
«I saw, and behold a great multitude which no man could number, of all peoples, and tribes, and tongues, all clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands» (Apoc. VII, 9). The white robe signifies innocence, the palms victory. And a certain one of the elders said to John: «These who are, and whence came they?» (ibid. 13). But John: «Lord, thou knowest.» And he who had therefore asked in order to teach, said: «These are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb» (ibid. 14). What blood, brethren? This blood washes, it does not stain: it has indeed redness, yet cannot stain whiteness. This is a wonder, most beloved:
for it is the blood of Him of whom His spouse says in the Song of Songs: «My beloved is white and ruddy» (Cant. V, 10). If white, why ruddy? For if no blemish of sin overspread the whiteness of Christ's innocence, why did He shed blood? If white, why ruddy? If that white One darkened Himself with no night of iniquity, why did He, immaculate, ascend the Cross? Do you ask why? Hear the Gospel: «Unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, itself remaineth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit» (John XII, 24, 25). Behold the Mass, and understand the cause of the seed. This Mass, brethren (as you have heard, of all peoples, and tribes, and tongues), was gathered of both sexes and of every age.
No old man, broken by his now-declining years, with withering throat, withdrew his trembling neck: no aged woman, worn out by her sixth age, escaped the right hand of the bloody executioner: the sweetness of this present life did not call back the young from the crown: the bloody executioner did not shrink in horror from the quivering limbs of expiring little ones: but if perchance any of the infants, gaping at their mothers' breasts, were able to escape the sword of the persecutor, they were crushed by the falling ruin of the corpses, and died amid their mothers' sweet embraces. He crowned them all in that contest, who redeemed every age.
What a spectacle of things then, most beloved — how bloody an hour, whereby it seemed pitiable and dreadful to those beholding it, yet «precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints» (Ps. CXV, 15). Do you wish to know how precious it is? Recall how it was read to us in the apostolic Epistle: «Therefore,» it says, «God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city» (Heb. XI, 16). Oh, if we could see, when there was such great sorrow on earth over their slaughter, how great was the joy in that heavenly city; when, as these martyrs pressed toward heaven in one host, the citizens of that blessed city — that is, thousands of angels — ran to meet them!
Oh, if we could see these martyrs, leaving their bodies, treading, as it were, upon the roofs of their houses of clay! Let us therefore also, most beloved, make joy in heaven for the holy Angels. The holy martyrs too ought to rejoice over us; for they cease not to pray for us. But when do they rejoice over us? When we imitate those whom we venerate. For they wish their solemnities to be so celebrated in our assemblies, that we may gladden their devotion by our own manners of life.