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"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

 

The Feast of St. Lawrence!

Laura DeMaria

Saint Lawrence and the means of his death

As a Laura, the feast day of St. Lawrence is special to me. In honor of this mighty saint, below are three things to know about him.

  1. He is known for his charity. Specifically, for his understanding of the centrality of the poor in the life, mission, and purpose of the Church, and for knowing and living what “treasure” really is. The most famous story of his charity, and the event which led to his martyrdom, is this:

A well-known legend has persisted from earliest times. As deacon in Rome, Lawrence was charged with the responsibility for the material goods of the Church, and the distribution of alms to the poor. When Lawrence knew he would be arrested like the pope, he sought out the poor, widows, and orphans of Rome and gave them all the money he had on hand, selling even the sacred vessels of the altar to increase the sum. When the prefect of Rome heard of this, he imagined that the Christians must have considerable treasure. He sent for Lawrence and said, “You Christians say we are cruel to you, but that is not what I have in mind. I am told that your priests offer in gold, that the sacred blood is received in silver cups, that you have golden candlesticks at your evening services. Now, your doctrine says you must render to Caesar what is his. Bring these treasures—the emperor needs them to maintain his forces. God does not cause money to be counted: He brought none of it into the world with him—only words. Give me the money, therefore, and be rich in words.”

Lawrence replied that the Church was indeed rich. “I will show you a valuable part. But give me time to set everything in order and make an inventory.” After three days he gathered a great number of blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned, and widowed persons and put them in rows. When the prefect arrived, Lawrence simply said, “These are the treasure of the Church.”

  1. He died a martyr. See above. The method of his martyrdom was to be roasted alive on a spit. For the reason, he is known as the patron of barbecuing!

  2. He is also known as a patron of jokes and good humor, as legend has it that while roasting over the fire he joked to his murderers, “I’m well done on this side, turn me over!”

I love barbecuing and jokes, so that fits. Now I can work on my love for the poor. St. Lawrence, pray for us!

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