St Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr.

St Lawrence was martyred shortly after Pope Sixtus II in 258. There are many stories of how he died, most cannot be confirmed, except that he was the last of the seven deacons killed at that time.

We remember him as one who died for the faith and held firm until the end.

 

Ambrose relates (De officiis min. xxviii) that when St. Lawrence was asked for the treasures of the Church he brought forward the poor, among whom he had divided the treasure, in place of alms; also that when Pope Sixtus II was led away to his death he comforted Lawrence, who wished to share his martyrdom, by saying that he would follow him in three days. The saintly Bishop of Milan also states that St. Lawrence was burned to death on a gird-iron (De offic., xli). In like manner, but with more poetical detail, Prudentius describes the martyrdom of the Roman deacon in his hymn on St. Lawrence (“Peristephanon”, Hymnus II).

 

The details given in these Acts concerning the martyrdom of St. Lawrence and his activity before his death cannot claim any credibility. However, in spite of this criticism of the later accounts of the martyrdom, there can be no question that St. Lawrence was a real historical personage, nor any doubt as to the martyrdom of that venerated Roman deacon, the place of its occurrence, and the date of his burial. Pope Damasus built a basilica in Rome which he dedicated to St. Lawrence; this is the church now known as that of San Lorenzo in Damaso. The church of San Lorenzo in Lucina, also dedicated to this saint, still exists. The feast day of St. Lawrence is kept on 10 August. He is pictured in art with the gridiron on which he is supposed to have been roasted to death.

 

For us he is an example for us to remember in times of struggle and challenges to our faith. We too should remain steadfast in our convictions and faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

 

Today Jesus reminds us that this life is nothing compared to the life to come and that we are called to hold on to that vision of the kingdom when we struggle so we too will face Jesus knowing we persevered to the end. St Lawrence pray for us.