Over the next few months, twenty men from the formation programme centred at St John’s Seminary at Wonersh will be ordained as Permanent Deacons.

At this final stage of their formation, they would like to ask you for prayers in the time leading up to their ordination.

Please consider acting as a prayer sponsor for one of these men by giving up a few minutes of your time in the days leading up to their ordination and offering a novena to St Lawrence.

St Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of the Church of Rome and was martyred under the Emperor Valerian on the 10th of August 258, four days after Pope Sixtus II and his companions. He was famously asked by the emporer to bring the riches of the Church to him; his response was to bring the poor of Rome.

Novena

Almighty God, Who called Your deacon Lawrence to serve You with deeds of love, and gave him the crown of martyrdom: Grant that N., following his example, may fulfill Your commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving You with all our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

O glorious St Lawrence, blessed deacon of the church, filled with compassion for those who invoke you, with love for those who suffer, I kneel at your feet and humbly beg you to take under your special protection N. who is to be ordained deacon. Vouchsafe to recommend N. to our Lord who gave you the grace to withstand great torture before being burned to death in His name. Cease not to intercede for him that he may true to his calling to the diaconate. Above all, obtain for N. the grace to one day meet God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the angels and saints praise Him through all eternity. Amen.

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, and 1 Glory Be…