Feast: August 10
Date of Martyrdom: A.D. 258
Patronage: Rome, cooks, the poor, comedians, and archivists
Early Life
Saint Lawrence (Latin: Laurentius) was a Spaniard by birth, probably from Huesca in Aragon. As a young man, he came to Rome where he was ordained a deacon by Pope Sixtus II. In that office, he had a dual role:
- Liturgical Service – assisting at the altar during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
- Charitable Administration – caring for the goods of the Church and distributing alms to the poor.
The Persecution under Valerian
In 258, the Emperor Valerian issued a decree targeting the clergy and prominent Christians. Pope Sixtus II was arrested while celebrating Mass in the catacombs and led away to execution. Lawrence, heartbroken, followed his bishop, and is said to have cried out:
“Father, where are you going without your deacon? You never offered the Holy Sacrifice without me!”
The Pope replied prophetically:
“I am not leaving you, my son; in three days you will follow me.”
The Treasures of the Church
The Prefect of Rome, knowing Lawrence was the treasurer of the Church, demanded that he hand over its riches. Lawrence asked for three days to gather them. During that time, he distributed all the Church’s wealth to the poor, the sick, and the needy.
On the appointed day, Lawrence brought before the Prefect a crowd of beggars, orphans, widows, the crippled, and the blind, declaring:
“These are the treasures of the Church.”
The Prefect, furious, ordered him to a slow and cruel death.
Martyrdom on the Grid-iron
Tradition holds that Lawrence was roasted alive on a large iron grid over hot coals. Showing the joy and courage of a true martyr, he is said to have joked to his executioners:
“Turn me over; I am done on this side.”
Veneration and Legacy
- Burial: His body was buried in the Cemetery of Cyriaca on the Via Tiburtina.
- Basilica: Constantine the Great built a church over his tomb — today, the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence Outside the Walls).
- Cultus: His feast was celebrated in Rome from very early times, and he is one of the most honored martyrs of the Western Church, named in the Roman Canon of the Mass.
Spiritual Lessons from Saint Lawrence
- Charity above all – he saw the poor as the real treasures of the Church.
- Joy in suffering – he bore torment with wit and unshakable peace.
- Fidelity to one’s mission – he served his bishop and Church to the very end.