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 The
esteem in which the Church holds Laurence is seen in the fact that today’s
celebration ranks as a feast. We know very little about his life. He is one
of those whose martyrdom made a deep and lasting impression on the early
Church. Celebration of his feast day spread rapidly.
He was a Roman deacon under Pope St. Sixtus II. Four days after this pope
was put to death, Laurence and four clerics suffered martyrdom, probably
during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian.
A well-known legend has persisted from earliest times. As deacon in Rome,
Laurence was charged with the responsibility for the material goods of the
Church, and the distribution of alms to the poor. When Laurence knew he
would be arrested like the pope, he sought out the poor, widows and orphans
of Rome and gave them all the money he had on hand, selling even the sacred
vessels to increase the sum. When the prefect of Rome heard of this, he
imagined that the Christians must have considerable treasure. He sent for
Laurence and said, "You Christians say we are cruel to you, but that is not
what I have in mind. I am told that your priests offer in gold, that the
sacred blood is received in silver cups, that you have golden candlesticks
at your evening services. Now, your doctrine says you must render to Caesar
what is his. Bring these treasures—the emperor needs them to maintain his
forces. God does not cause money to be counted: He brought none of it into
the world with him—only words. Give me the money, therefore, and be rich in
words."
Laurence replied that the Church was indeed rich. "I will show you a
valuable part. But give me time to set everything in order and make an
inventory." After three days he gathered a great number of blind, lame,
maimed, leprous, orphaned and widowed persons and put them in rows. When the
prefect arrived, Laurence simply said, "These are the treasure of the
Church."
The prefect was so angry he told Laurence that he would indeed have his wish
to die—but it would be by inches. He had a great gridiron prepared, with
coals beneath it, and had Laurence’s body placed on it. After the martyr had
suffered the pain for a long time, the legend concludes, he made his famous
cheerful remark, "It is well done. Turn it over and eat it!"
The church built over Laurence’s tomb became one of the seven principal
churches in Rome and a favorite place for Roman pilgrimages.
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