Lawrence: the Treasures of the Church

Today is the feast of the deacon martyr, Saint Lawrence. There are so many stories about him, that it’s hard to sum him up briefly.

In the confused days after the martyrdom of Pope Sixtus, the administration of the Roman churches fell to the Deacon, Lawrence. He was captured by the Imperial authorities, but he bargained for his release.

The prefect of Rome said that if Lawrence would hand over the riches of the Church to the Imperial authorities, he would grant Lawrence his freedom.

Lawrence asked for three days to gather together the wealth. During those three day, Lawrence posted the Holy Chalice to his brother in Spain. This chalice, now known as The Chalice of Valencia is most probably the Holy Grail – the cup used by Christ and the apostles at the Last Supper.

Lawrence then distributed as much Church property to the poor as possible.

On the third day, at the head of a small delegation, he presented himself to the prefect. When the prefect ordered him to give up the treasures of the Church, Lawrence presented the members of his delegation: the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the suffering. He told the prefect that these were the true treasures of the Church.

The prefect was not amused. He had Lawrence roasted to death on a gridiron.

Legend has it that at one point the martyr called out to his executioners to turn him over – he was done on that side!

Clearly, Saint Lawrence was something of a smart-alec.

The saint’s remains now reside at the great Roman basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura. There are little carvings of a gridiron on the door lintels, which I always thought was a nice touch.

From a homily by Saint Augustine:

The Roman Church commends this day to us as the blessed Lawrence’s day of triumph, on which he trod down the world as it roared and raged against him; spurned it as it coaxed and wheedled him; and in each case, conquered the devil as he persecuted him. For in that Church, you see, as you have regularly been told, he performed the office of deacon; it was there that he administered the sacred chalice of Christ’s blood; there that he shed his own blood for the name of Christ. The blessed apostle John clearly explained the mystery of the Lord’s supper when he said Just as Christ laid down his life for us, so we too ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. St Lawrence understood this, my brethren, and he did it; and he undoubtedly prepared things similar to what he received at that table. He loved Christ in his life, he imitated him in his death.

And we too, brethren, if we truly love him, let us imitate him. After all, we shall not be able to give a better proof of love than by imitating his example; for Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, so that we might follow in his footsteps. In this sentence the apostle Peter appears to have seen that Christ suffered only for those who follow in his footsteps, and that Christ’s passion profits none but those who follow in his footsteps. The holy martyrs followed him, to the shedding of their blood, to the similarity of their sufferings. The martyrs followed, but they were not the only ones. It is not the case, I mean to say, that after they crossed, the bridge was cut; or that after they had drunk, the fountain dried up.

The garden of the Lord, brethren, includes – yes, it truly includes – includes not only the roses of martyrs but also the lilies of virgins, and the ivy of married people, and the violets of widows. There is absolutely no kind of human beings, my dearly beloved, who need to despair of their vocation; Christ suffered for all. It was very truly written about him: who wishes all men to be saved, and to come to the acknowledgement of the truth.

So let us understand how Christians ought to follow Christ, short of the shedding of blood, short of the danger of suffering death. The Apostle says, speaking of the Lord Christ, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not think it robbery to be equal to God. What incomparable greatness! But he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and being made in the likeness of men, and found in condition as a man. What unequalled humility!

Christ humbled himself: you have something, Christian, to latch on to. Christ became obedient. Why do you behave proudly? After running the course of these humiliations and laying death low, Christ ascended into heaven: let us follow him there. Let us listen to the Apostle telling us, If you have risen with Christ, savour the things that are above us, seated at God’s right hand.

Saint Lawrence, pray for us.