St Lawrence

One of seven Roman deacons, Lawrence distributed alms to the poor.

The deacons and Pope Sixtus II were arrested Aug. 6, 258, during the persecution of Valerian.

All but Lawrence were martyred by the next day.

When Rome’s prefect demanded church funds from Lawrence, the deacon assembled the poor and said, “This is the treasury of the church.”

On Aug. 10, the prefect began roasting Lawrence on a gridiron, thinking it would break him.

But, according to legend, he asked to be turned and roasted on the other side.

Text: Catholic News Service. Image: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain