Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr
(II Corinthians 9:6-10; John 12:24-26)
In one of his letters St. Ignatius of Antioch compares a
bishop to God the Father and priests to the Holy Spirit. He reserves a comparison to Christ for
deacons. Like Christ deacons are
ordained specifically to preach to the poor and to visit the sick and
incarcerated.
Today the Church honors St. Lawrence, one of her most
illustrious deacons. He lived in Rome
during the third century and was martyred by being burned alive in the Valerian
persecution. A famous story has him
telling his executioners that it was time to turn him over for he was cooked
enough on one side! It has been claimed
that his martyrdom led to the conversion of the entire city.
St. Lawrence makes us proud to be called by Christ. He tended to the needs of the poor
and remained cheerful under severe duress.
Most of all, Lawrence was faithful to the Lord Jesus until the end.
