Today is the feast day of Saint
Lawrence. Here's all you need to know about his story, what he's patron of and his relics.
- He is thought to have been born on 26 December AD 225, in Valencia.
- Sainthood and martyrdom ran in the family - his parents were St Orencio and St Paciencia, also martyrs.
- Lawrence was a deacon, who, when still relatively young, caught the eye of Pope St Sixtus II, who ordained him as a deacon. In fact, he was the first one to be ordained by Sixtus which earned him the title "archdeacon of Rome" and a lot of responsibility. He was in charge of the wealth of the church and the distribution of alms to the poor.
- Pope St Sixtus II was executed by the Emperor Valerian in 258AD and then demanded that Lawrence hand over all the treasures of the church to him within three days. Lawrence gathered up as much of the Money and assets as he could... and gave it to the poor. On the third day, he arrived to meet Valerian along with a crowd of poor, sick and disabled people, telling Valerian, "These are the true treasures of the church."
- Valerian was not impressed and decreed that Lawrence should be roasted to death on a gridiron. According to legend, Lawrence remained cheerful to the end, at one point quipping to his torturers, "I'm done on this side. Turn me over."
- Which is probably why St Lawrence is the patron of deacons, chefs, firefighters, the poor, and comedians. He's also patron of students, librarians, miners, tanners, brewers, Wine makers, butchers, confectioners, glaziers, and laundry workers. He is invoked against fire and lumbago. He is the third patron of Rome after saints Peter and Paul. Other places which claim him as their patron include Sri Lanka, Canada, Amarillo Texas, and Rotterdam.
- A miracle associated with St Lawrence after his death concerns a priest called Fr. Sanctulus, who was rebuilding a church dedicated to the saint, which had been burned down. A lot of builders were required to complete the job and at one point Fr. Sanctulus realised he had nothing to feed them. He prayed to St Lawrence for help. When he looked in his basket, he found a small, fresh loaf of Bread. Not enough to feed everybody, he thought, but it was a start, and he began distributing it. It turned out to be a miraculous loaf which kept on multiplying and in the end, kept the workmen fed for ten days.
- The Perseid Meteor Shower is sometimes referred to as the "Tears of St Lawrence" as it occurs in mid-August, around his feast day.
- He is usually pictured wearing liturgical vestments and holding a gridiron.
More saints:
Mother Teresa
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