Hello everyone! Heyo! Welcome back to Scattering Flowers with Elise and Miles, a podcast where you read the daily Gospels and the Saint of the Day.
Let’s get started! Today is Tuesday, June 23rd, and for the summer weeks we are going to do the ABCs of our Catholic faith and saints.
Today is the letter L for Lavabo, and the scripture to reflect on is Psalms 26, 6.
I wash my hands in ignorance and go about your altar, O Lord.
Have you ever noticed the priest washing his hands during the Mass?
If you look closely, you’ll see him washing his hands in a little bowl of water right before he starts the part of the Mass called the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
This special moment has a name in the Catholic Church.
It’s called the Lavabo.
It’s an important part in the Mass that many Catholics don’t really know too much about.
The word Lavabo is Latin for I will wash.
That’s exactly what the priest does.
He washes his hands.
But there’s a lot more to it than just washing hands.
A Lavabo is a device used to provide water for washing hands and a bowl to catch the water as it falls off the hands.
At churches from the time of Constantine the Great, they included a fountain where Christians would wash their hands, face, and feet before entering the worship space.
That prayer symbolizes separation from sin before entering the presence of the Lord.
Today’s Saint of the Day is L, Saint Leo the Great.
He was born in the 4th century.
He is the patron saint of Catholic doctrine.
Leo was born in Tuscany in Italy.
He remained as Pope in 440 to 461.
At this time Attila, called the Scourge of God, with his hordes of hunts, invaded Italy.
Having conquered the city of Aquila, after a three year siege, Attila marched towards Rome.
Moved with a pity for the suffering people, Leo went out to meet him.
Leo’s pleadings pressured the invader to leave Rome untouched.
People wanted to know how humble conduct of the Pope could change Attila’s mind.
Attila declared that while Leo addressed them, he had become frightened at the sight of a person in priestly robes who stood nearby with a bared sword, threatening his life should he disobey Leo’s commands.
Leo was devoted to Saint Peter.
In Mass, the priest says the prayer, Lord wash away my iniquity and cleanse me of my sin.
Next time you go to Mass, pay attention and look for the lavabo.
It might help you prepare your heart and soul to receive Jesus in the Holy Communion.
Later, when Genseric entered Rome, Leo’s sanctity and eloquence again saved the city.
Seeing the heresies which were attacking the church, Leo called the council of Chalcedon and condemned them.
The council exclaimed, Peter has spoken by the mouth of Leo.
The holy pontiff built many churches.
He left many letters and writings on the great historical value.
Saint Pope Leo, surnamed the Great, a doctor of the church, died on April 11, 461.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, thank you for forgiving me and washing me clean of my sins.
And thank you for popes who lead us in our Catholic faith.
Saint Pope Leo the Great, pray for us.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Thank you so much for listening.
We’ll be back tomorrow scattering more flowers.
See ya!