Saint Lawrence of Rome

Biography

Saint Lawrence of Rome, also known as Laurence, Laurentius, Lorenço, and Lorenzo, was a third-century archdeacon of Rome. He was a devout Christian who dedicated his life to caring for the poor, the ill, and the neglected. During this time, Christianity was outlawed, and Lawrence found himself in a position of great responsibility as the ranking Church official in Rome. On August 6, 258, Emperor Valerian issued a decree ordering the beheading of Pope Saint Sixtus II and six deacons, leaving Lawrence as the highest-ranking Church official in Rome. While imprisoned, Sixtus reassured Lawrence that they would be reunited in four days. Lawrence saw this time as an opportunity to disperse the material wealth of the Church to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Roman authorities. On August 10, Lawrence was commanded to appear for his execution and to bring along the treasure entrusted to him by the pope. When he arrived, he was accompanied by a multitude of Rome's crippled, blind, sick, and indigent. Lawrence declared that these were the true treasures of the Church, emphasizing the importance of caring for the less fortunate. Despite facing imminent death, Lawrence displayed incredible strength and courage. Lawrence was martyred by being grilled to death on a gridiron. This horrifying death led to his patronage of cooks and those who work in or supply things to the kitchen. The meteor shower that occurs during the passage of the Swift-Tuttle comet was called the "burning tears of Saint Lawrence" in the Middle Ages because they appear at the same time as Lawrence's feast day. Saint Lawrence's selflessness and care for the poor, as well as his efforts to save the material wealth and documents of the Church, have led to his patronage of various groups and professions. He is considered the patron saint against fire, lumbago, and is revered as the patron of archives, archivists, armories, armourers, bibliophiles, book lovers, book collectors, brewers, butchers, charcoal burners, chefs, cooks, comedians, comediennes, comics, confectioners, cutlers, deacons, glaziers, laundry workers, librarians, libraries, paupers, poor people, restaurateurs, schoolchildren, seminarians, stained glass workers, students, tanners, vine growers, vintners, wine makers, the Worshipful Company of Girdlers, the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, and more. Saint Lawrence's relics are enshrined in various places around the world. His head is preserved at the Quirinal Chapel of the Vatican Apostolic Library in Rome, and other relics, including the gridiron believed to have been his deathbed, are enshrined in the crypt of the Basilica of San Lorenzo Outside the Walls in Rome. Some of his garments are kept in Our Lady's Chapel in the Lateran Palace in Rome. Additionally, his body was once buried in the cemetery of Saint Cyriaca on the road to Tivoli, Italy, but it was later opened by Pelagius to inter the body of Saint Stephen the Martyr. Saint Lawrence is venerated and honored in several places worldwide. He is the patron saint of various towns, cities, and dioceses, including Alba, Italy; Amarillo, Texas; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Berlin, Germany; Gyõrszemere község, Hungary; Limbazi, Latvia; Il-Birgu and San Lawrenz in Gozo, Malta; Alvelos, Portugal; and Alaior, Menorca, El Escorial, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, and Sant Llorenς de Balafia in Spain. There are also many churches, chapels, streets, and schools around the world dedicated to Saint Lawrence. Saint Lawrence of Rome's life and martyrdom serve as an inspiration for all Christians to serve and care for the less fortunate, even in times of persecution and adversity.