St. Lawrence

Tomorrow, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Lawrence, a popular choice for “favorite saint” amongst Catholics. Lawrence was a deacon of the early Church, serving in Rome in the 3rd Century. He was known for his tremendous love for the poor. When the emperor Valerian accused the Church of hoarding tremendous wealth and ordered it to be surrendered to the empire, Lawrence gathered the city’s poor into one location. When the emperor himself arrived to collect the treasure, Lawrence presented the poor and destitute to him, saying, “Behold the wealth of the Church!” Lawrence was subsequently arrested and sentenced to be executed by being grilled alive. He is perhaps most famous for his final words during his execution. While lying on the grill, Lawrence joked with his executioners, telling them: “You can turn me over now; I am done on this side!” 

What makes St. Lawrence such a popular saint is his joy even in the face of great suffering and struggle. While we do not know much about his earlier life, we can still see the power of Christ’s grace at work in his heart and the joy he experienced because of it. Many wonder today, “Why bother with religion? What do I get from it?” St. Lawrence presents us with the answer: God brings us true happiness; a happiness that can endure even in the face of suffering. If we truly surrender ourselves to God as he did, letting go of our sins and seeking that intimacy in prayer and the sacraments, God will fill us with His love such that we overflow with joy and peace. May St. Lawrence pray for us and help us to experience that same joy!