Saint Lawrence: Deacon, Martyr, Grail-Bearer

I often think about Saint Lawrence, the Deacon martyr whose feast is today. Many is the time I’ve sought his intercession. There are so many stories about him that it’s hard to sum him up briefly, although Pope Saint Leo the Great did his best: “The Lord has desired to exalt his glorious name in the world so much that from the East to the West, in the lively flaring of the light radiated by the greatest deacons, the same glory that came to Jerusalem from Stephen has also touched Rome thanks to Lawrence”.

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 told Lawrence that if he 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 days, 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 of the remaining Church property to the poor as possible.

On the third day, at the head of a small delegation, he presented himself to the Prefect, Valerian. 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, “turn me over – I’m done on this side!”

Clearly, Saint Lawrence was something of a smart-alec. Among other things, he is patron saint of comedians.

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. Saint 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.

This feast day was so important in Rome that it had a proper vigil and an octave from at least the sixth century right up to the 20th.

On this feast, in your kindness please pray for the Deacons and for the men in Diaconate discernment or formation.

O God, giver of that ardor of love for you
by which Saint Lawrence
was outstandingly faithful in service
and glorious in martyrdom,
grant that we may love what he loved
and put into practice what he taught.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Amen.