St. Lawrence

Deacon of Rome Under Sixtus II

St. Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of the Church of Rome under Pope St. Sixtus II, entrusted with the care of the Church's material goods and its ministry to the poor. According to tradition he was born in Spain, at Huesca, though nothing certain is known of his early life. He was martyred in Rome on August 10, 258, during the persecution of the emperor Valerian, just days after Pope Sixtus and four fellow deacons were put to death.

The Poor as the Church's Treasure

The most cherished story of his martyrdom, related by St. Ambrose and the poet Prudentius, tells that when the Roman prefect demanded that Lawrence hand over the treasures of the Church, the deacon asked for three days, then gathered the poor, the sick, and the outcast and presented them, saying that these were the Church's true treasure. Tradition holds that he was then roasted alive on a gridiron, cheerfully telling his executioners to turn him over, though some historians suggest he was more likely beheaded as the other Roman clergy were. Whatever the manner of his death, his witness made an extraordinary impression: his martyrdom was said to have hastened the conversion of Rome, and devotion to him spread throughout the Christian world.

Burial on the Via Tiburtina

Lawrence was buried on the Via Tiburtina, and the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls (San Lorenzo fuori le Mura), one of the traditional seven pilgrim churches of Rome, rose over his tomb, where pilgrims still venerate him today. His name is invoked in the Roman Canon of the Mass, and early calendars rank his feast among the most solemn celebrations of the Roman Church.

Patron of Deacons, Cooks, and the Poor

His feast is kept on August 10 throughout the universal Church. He is honored as a patron of deacons, cooks, the poor, and librarians, and his example of joyful generosity in suffering has made him one of the most beloved martyrs of Christian Rome.

Significance

The beloved story of Lawrence presenting the poor as the Church's true treasure still challenges Christians to measure wealth by love. Whatever the exact manner of his death, his faithful witness during persecution moved the early Church deeply and made him one of the most honored martyrs of Rome. Deacons, cooks, librarians, and all who serve the poor can find in him an example of generosity that stays joyful even in suffering.