by Rev. Herbert Nichols

There are few martyrs in the church whose names are as famous as St. Lawrence, who was one among the seven deacons serving the Church in Rome in the mid 3rd century.

In the year 257 the Emperor Valerian published his edicts against the Christians. Pope Sixtus II was arrested and executed on August 7. Three days later his faithful deacon, Lawrence followed him to death. That is all we know for certain of the life and death of St. Lawrence.

Tradition coming from St. Ambrose among others, tells us as Pope Sixtus was led to execution, Lawrence had followed weeping and prophesying: Holy Father, where are you going without your deacon? To which Sixtus answered, "I am not going without you. In 3 days you shall follow me."

Lawrence was filled with joy when he heard that he would also be called to God so soon. He set out immediately to seek all the poor widows and orphans and gave them the money was in the treasury. He even sold many sacred vessels in order to increase the treasure.

When the Prefect of Rome was informed of his charities, he demanded to know the whereabouts of the church's wealth. He told Lawrence "You Christians constantly complain that the we treat you with cruelty, but I am informed that your priests offer in gold the blood of your sacrifices and burn wax candles in golden candlesticks. Bring me these treasures, for the emperor has need of melting the gold for the maintenance of his forces. Is it not true that your Bible says: "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesars? I do not think that your God needs money to be coined. He brought only words. So give us the money and be rich only in words.

St. Lawrence replied, "The Church is indeed rich, and the emperor has no treasure equal to what she possesses. Allow me a little time that I might make an inventory."

The Prefect did not understand that Lawrence was speaking of spiritual treasure, but imagined caves of hidden wealth to be granted him in three days.

During those Days Lawrence continued seeking out the poor who were supported by the church. On August 10 he gathered a great number arranging them in rows: the decrepit, the blind, the lame, the maimed, the lepers, orphans widows and maidens. He then invited the prefect to come see the royal treasury.

The prefect astonished at the sight of misery and misfortune, asked where was the treasure he was promised? St. Lawrence answered: "These are the treasures of the Church."

The prefect's anger rose to a raging fury as h e shouted: You mock me. The insignias of Roman Power are not to be insulted. He ordered a giant gridiron to be prepared with flaming hot coals Lawrence was stripped an bound upon the iron grill over the fire to be slowly roasted

St. Augustine says that Lawrence was spared from feeling any of the agonizing pain, his face glowing with brilliant light -- and after roasting for some time he called out to the judge: Let my body be turned over, this side is broiled enough. After being turned, he said: "Enough now," and then prayed for the conversion of his executioners and breathed his last.

Is this merely poetic fiction or does it represent some genuine tradition handed down either orally or in documents which have since perished perhaps in other persecutions. St. Ambrose as well as other early Christian authors shared the belief that Lawrence was roasted to death.

Although St. Ambrose has left us a great moral lesson, and reasons for questioning the historical reliability may be raised, the message is the same as that of St. Paul: God loves a cheerful giver, one who gives freely and not grudgingly. What can God say--or what can we honestly say about how we are called to give our lives for the service of God.