St Lawrence
- International
- August 10, 2012
The legend of St Lawrence, deacon and martyr, comes to us from 3rd century Rome during the fierce persecution of the emperor Valerius, around 258 AD.
Pope Sixtus II and four of his deacons had been arrested while saying Mass in the catacombs, and condemned to be thrown to the beasts. Lawrence, also his deacon, begged to be joined to them, and wept loudly because he was excluded. “Do not cry, my son,” said Pope Sixtus, as they led him away, “for in three days you will follow me!” Never were words more truly spoken
The Prefect of Rome who knew that Lawrence was in charge of the Church’s properties and finances, sent word that he would be paying a visit to examine the wealth of the Church. Lawrence asked for a delay of three days, during which time he disposed of all the money he had by distributing it to the poor. Then he collected all the blind, the cripples, the lepers, widows and orphans, and filled the church with them. When the Prefect arrived, Lawrence proudly exclaimed, “Behold, excellency, the true treasures of the Church!”
Furious at the trick played on him, the Roman official ordered Lawrence arrested, stripped naked, and roasted to death over a slow fire. As he lay burning on the gridiron, Lawrence’s humour did not fail him: “Turn me over,” he exclaimed to his guards, “I’m done well enough on this side!”
The lives and deaths of the martyrs astonish us. They were ordinary men and women, most of them, and yet they took on the mighty Roman Empire, stood fast to their convictions, and witnessed courageously their faith in Jesus. Well does the prayer for the feast say, “…you choose the weak and make them strong, in bearing witness to you.”
Pope Sixtus II and four of his deacons had been arrested while saying Mass in the catacombs, and condemned to be thrown to the beasts. Lawrence, also his deacon, begged to be joined to them, and wept loudly because he was excluded. “Do not cry, my son,” said Pope Sixtus, as they led him away, “for in three days you will follow me!” Never were words more truly spoken
The Prefect of Rome who knew that Lawrence was in charge of the Church’s properties and finances, sent word that he would be paying a visit to examine the wealth of the Church. Lawrence asked for a delay of three days, during which time he disposed of all the money he had by distributing it to the poor. Then he collected all the blind, the cripples, the lepers, widows and orphans, and filled the church with them. When the Prefect arrived, Lawrence proudly exclaimed, “Behold, excellency, the true treasures of the Church!”
Furious at the trick played on him, the Roman official ordered Lawrence arrested, stripped naked, and roasted to death over a slow fire. As he lay burning on the gridiron, Lawrence’s humour did not fail him: “Turn me over,” he exclaimed to his guards, “I’m done well enough on this side!”
The lives and deaths of the martyrs astonish us. They were ordinary men and women, most of them, and yet they took on the mighty Roman Empire, stood fast to their convictions, and witnessed courageously their faith in Jesus. Well does the prayer for the feast say, “…you choose the weak and make them strong, in bearing witness to you.”
