Saint Lawrence the Martyr

"S. Laurentii Martyris" refers to Saint Lawrence the Martyr. He was one of the seven deacons of Rome, Italy, under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman Emperor Valerian ordered in 258.

There are hymns and chants dedicated to him, such as "In martyris Laurentii", and his passion is commemorated in various texts. There is also a temple dedicated to Saint Lawrence the Martyr in Verolanuova, in the diocese of Brescia, which has been elevated to the dignity of a minor basilica.

Saint Lawrence, also known as Laurence, was born on December 31, AD 225. He was from Huesca, a town in the later region of Aragon that was then part of the Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis². His parents are traditionally held to be the martyrs Orentius and Patientia.

Lawrence encountered the future Pope Sixtus II, a famous teacher born in Greece, in Caesaraugusta (Zaragoza), and they traveled together from Spain to Rome. When Sixtus became the Pope in 257, he ordained Lawrence, who was only 32, as a deacon, and later appointed him as the "archdeacon of Rome", the first among the seven deacons who served in the cathedral church. This was a position of great trust that included the care of the treasury and riches of the Church and the distribution of alms to the indigent.

At the beginning of August 258, the Emperor Valerian issued an edict that all bishops, priests, and deacons should immediately be put to death. Pope Sixtus II was captured on August 6, 258, at the cemetery of St. Callixtus while celebrating the liturgy and was executed immediately. After the death of Sixtus, the prefect of Rome demanded that Lawrence turn over the riches of the Church. St. Ambrose wrote that Lawrence asked for three days to gather the wealth. He worked swiftly to distribute as much Church property to the indigent as possible to prevent it from being seized by the prefect.

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. He is famously quoted as saying to his torturers at one point, “I am cooked on that side; turn me over, and eat”. Many conversions to Christianity throughout Rome reportedly followed Lawrence’s death, including those of several senators witnessing his execution.

Saint Lawrence is celebrated for his Christian valour. He is the patron saint of the poor and of cooks. His feast day is celebrated on August 10. The Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence Outside the Walls), Rome, was built over his burial place. He is named in the canon of the Roman mass.

(1) Saint Lawrence - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lawrence.

(2) Saint Lawrence | Tradition, Martyrdom, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Lawrence.

(3) The Life and Legacy of Saint Lawrence of Rome: Courage and Humility in .... https://www.catholic365.com/article/25950/the-life-and-legacy-of-saint-lawrence-of-rome-courage-and-humility-in-the-face-of-persecution.html.

(4) Saint Lawrence of Brindisi | Biography, Legacy, & Facts. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Lawrence-of-Brindisi.