St Lawrence Lore And Legends PDF Download

St. Lawrence Feast Day: August 10\sBorn (approximately) 225 - Died 258 This great martyr of Rome lived in the second century. He was one of seven deacons who were in charge of delivering relief to the impoverished and the needy. Then tremendous commotion erupted and the troublemakers who did not like Christians planned to murder Pope St.Sixtus II. As they brought the Pope away for death (to chop off his head), Lawrence followed him crying. "Father, where are you leaving without your deacon?" The Pope answered, "I am not abandoning you, my son, in three days you will accompany me." Full of delight, Lawrence donated to the impoverished the balance of the money he had with him. He even sold valuable church vessels so he would have more money to give away. The prefect of Rome, a greedy man, felt the Church had a large sum stashed away. He instructed Lawrence to deliver the Church's riches to him. The saint said he would, in three days. Then Jesus proceeded around the city and brought together all the destitute and ill people sponsored by the Church. He introduced them to the prefect and said: "These folks are the Church's treasure." The prefect was outraged. In his wrath he instructed them to murder Lawrence slowly so he would suffer more. The saint was bound on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that cooked him. God gave him so much courage and pleasure that Lawrence joked with the court saying "Turn me over". Before he died, he prayed that the city of Rome could be turned to Jesus. He hoped that the Catholic religion would spread all throughout the globe.