“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

 

Matthew 5:3

 

St Laurence of Rome

      ArchDeacon and Martyr

St Laurence was born on 26 December AD 255 in Valencia, now in Spain but then a Roman colony. He met the man who would later become Pope Sixtus II, and eventually both left to travel to Rome.

In AD 257, Sixtus became Pope and ordained the young Laurence as one of the seven deacons who served in the patriarchal church. This was a position of significant trust, and included care of the treasury and riches of the church, and the distribution of alms to the poor and needy.

Roman authorities created a rule that all Christians who were denounced must be executed, and their goods confiscated for the Imperial Treasury. In August 258, the Roman Emperor Valerian issued a decree that all bishops, priests and deacons should immediately be put to death. Pope St Sixtus II was captured on 6 August 258 whilst saying mass and promptly executed.

Following this Decius, the Prefect of Rome, demanded that St Laurence hand over the riches of the church. Laurence asked for three days in which to gather the wealth, but he used that time to distribute as much church property to the needy as possible. On the third day, Laurence presented himself to the Prefect.

When Decius demanded that Laurence hand over the treasures of the church, Laurence presented the poor, needy, crippled, blind and suffering people who had accompanied him and told Decius that these people were the true treasures of the Church. He allegedly said: “Behold in these poor persons the treasures which I promised to show you; to which I will add pearls and precious stones, those widows and consecrated virgins, which are the Church’s crown.”

At this, Decius was enraged and demanded that Laurence be executed. He had a large gridiron prepared with hot coals underneath it and, on 10 August 258, Laurence was martyred by being roasted alive over the gridiron which, along with a book to indicate learning, are his symbols.

Saint Lawrence at Vittoriosa Square in Birgu, Malta