St. Lawrence

Their story

Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of the Church of Rome in the third century, serving under Pope St. Sixtus II. As deacon he was responsible for the Church's goods and for distributing help to the poor, the widows and the orphans of the city. In 258 the emperor Valerian ordered that the clergy of Rome be put to death. Pope Sixtus was arrested and beheaded on August 6. According to the story told by St. Ambrose, Lawrence followed his bishop, grieving that he could not die with him, and Sixtus told him he would follow in three days. The Roman prefect, believing the Church was rich, ordered Lawrence to hand over its treasures. Lawrence asked for a few days to gather them. He quickly gave away all the Church's money to the poor. Then he returned, bringing with him the poor, the sick, the blind and the orphans, and said, "Here are the treasures of the Church." The furious prefect condemned him to a cruel death. According to tradition, Lawrence was roasted on a gridiron, and he kept such peace and good humor that he told his executioners, "Turn me over, I am done on this side." He died on August 10, 258. He became one of the most honored martyrs of Rome, and his name is among the saints of the First Eucharistic Prayer. He is a patron of deacons, of the poor and, because of his famous joke, of cooks and comedians.