St. Lawrence, Martyr

St. Lawrence was a deacon in Rome around the middle of the second century. As one of the principle assistants to Pope St. Sixtus II, he was in charge of the Vatican treasury. When Lawrence received word that Sixtus was about to be executed, he visited him. At this time, Sixtus told Lawrence that he would receive the crown of martyrdom four days after his own execution. This prophesy held true. Lawrence was martyred four days after Pope Sixtus II and his companions during the persecution by Valerian.

Quickly after the death of Lawrence, legends began to arise about his life. One of the legends holds that days before he died Lawrence distributed all the riches of the Church to the poor. When Lawrence was arrested the Roman prefect wished to confiscate the riches and demanded an inventory of the riches from Lawrence. In response, Lawrence gathered the poor of the city and brought them before the prefect saying that they were the treasure of the church. Lawrence was burned to death on the gridiron and was buried in the field of Verabi near the Via Tiburtina where a cathedral was later built.

Since the fourth century, St. Lawrence has been one of the most honored martyrs of the Roman Church. Constantine the Great built an oratory over his burial-place, which was later enlarged and beautified by Pope Pelagius II. In the mid-400's, Pope Sixtus III built a large basilica with three naves, the apse leaning against the older church. In the thirteenth century, Honorius III made the two buildings into one, creating the basilica of San Lorenzo which still remains today. After Sts. Peter and Paul, Lawrence is venerated as the patron of Rome.