TODAY'S SAINT (Lawrence)
LAWRENCE
(d. 258)
Deacon and martyr
Lawrence was one of seven deacons of the Church in Rome under Pope Sixtus II (r. 257-258). He was martyred following the execution of Sixtus II. Little else is known about Lawrence, but tradition has built up a story around him.
In 257 Emperor Valerian issued an edict against Christians, forbidding them too asemble and requiring them to participate in pagan rites. In August 258, Valerian order all bishops, priests and deacons killed. On August 6, Sixtus II defied the order and assembled his followers in the Catacomb of Praetexiatus (on the Appian Way across from the Catacomb of St. Callistus). He and several church officials were beheaded.
Accordding to lore, Lawrence was told by Sixtus that he would follow in martydom in three days' time. Lawrence gladly awaited his fate. He gave away all his money to the poor. The prefect of Rome heard about this and ordered Lawrence too produce the Church's wealth. Lawrence said he would in three days' time. He gathed up the sick, beggars, the lame and the poor-all the cast-offs of society-and summoned the prefect. The prefect was not amused at the sight of this sorry lot and demanded to see the treasures. Lawrence is said to have replied, "What are you displeasedat? These are the Church treasures!"
The enraged prefect ordered Lawrence to be executed by slow death over a gridiron. He was stripped and tied to an iron bed over a slow fire. His flesh roasted little by little and gave off a sweet smell. He was surrounded by a bea-utiful light. After a long time, he said to the judge, "Let my body be turned; one side is broiled enough." When his body was turned, he said, "It is cooked enough; you may eat." Lawrence then prayed for the conversion of Rome, and expired. Noblemen gave him an honorable burial in the cemetery of Cyriaca on the Via Tiburtina.
The martyrdom of Lawrence was cited by SS. Augustine, Maximus and Jerome, and by the poet Prudentius, who said his death marked the end of idolatry in Rome. Lawrence became one of the most venerated of the Roman martyrs, and miracles were ascribed to his intercession. At the spot where Law-rence was buried emperor Constantine the Great (Blessed) builtt the first chap-pel of what became St. Lawrence-Outside-the-Walls Church, the fifth patriarc-hal basilica of Rome.
For many years, a small quantity of Lawrence's blood, kept in a reliquary, would liquefy for eight days every August.
Feast: August 10
Patronage: cook; cutlers; glaziers; against lumbago; the poor; Sri Lanka
posted by US Catholic @ 12:32 AM
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