St. Lawrence

St. Lawrence (died 258, Rome [Italy]; feast day August 10) is one of the most venerated Roman martyrs, celebrated for his Christian valor. He is the patron saint of the poor and of cooks, comedians, deacons, and firefighters.

Lawrence was among the seven deacons of the Roman church serving Pope Sixtus II, whose martyrdom preceded Lawrence’s by a few days. They were executed during the persecution under the Roman emperor Valerian, who ordered that all bishops, deacons, and priests be put to death. Legend says that Lawrence gave the church’s riches to the poor and the sick before his arrest. Hearing of this generous act, the emperor offered to spare Lawrence’s life if he surrendered the church’s treasures. In response, Lawrence assembled all the poor, the hungry, the widowed, and the orphaned people of Rome and presented them to Valerian, telling him, “These are the treasures of the church.”

Although Lawrence was probably beheaded, St. Ambrose of Milan and the Latin poet Prudentius, among others, recorded that he was roasted to death on a gridiron, remarking to his torturers at one point, “I am cooked on that side; turn me over, and eat.” For this reason, images of St. Lawrence typically show him holding a gridiron. Many conversions to Christianity throughout Rome reportedly followed Lawrence’s death, including those of several senators who witnessed his execution.

The Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence Outside the Walls) in Rome was built over his burial place and is a popular pilgrimage site. St. Lawrence is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox traditions. He is named in the canon of the Roman mass.